The Redmi Note 11S is the fifth Note 11 model we are reviewing, and just when we thought our review series was finally complete, we received its 5G-enabled sibling as well. As a tech enthusiast, I recently had the opportunity to test out the Redmi Note 11 Pro, and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed.

B1 (2100) , B2 (1900) , B3 (1800) , B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) , B5 (850) , B7 (2600) , B8 (900) , B20 (800) , B28b (700) , B28a (700) , B38 (TDD 2600) , B40 (TDD 2300) , B41 (TDD 2500) The Redmi Note 11S employs this year's Xiaomi mid-range camera combo with a 108MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro cams, plus a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is a 16MP shooter, and all cameras (except for the macro) support 1080p video capturing.The Redmi Note 11S runs MIUI 13, but this version is still based on Android 11 and not 12. It's a familiar experience if you've used any recent Xiaomi smartphone. All the usual theming options, shortcuts and gestures are present, along with a tonne of preinstalled apps. All the third-party apps can be uninstalled but some first-party ones such Mi Pay cannot be. Redmi Note 11S performance and battery life Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S is a great mid-range device with some impressive specs and features. With its quad-camera array, 6.43 inch Amoled screen, powerful processor and other features, it is capable of capturing some great shots and providing a great user experience. It is also a great value for money device, making it well worth considering if you’re looking for a new smartphone. Read More Brand How is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G for gaming? It is far from Xiaomi's best. With this sort of budget you could get the Xiaomi Poco F3. Its Snapdragon 870 5G chipset is one of the best cost-to-performance processors in years. It’s a beast.

The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera has a more restrained colour profile when shooting during the day, which for once, is a good thing. Low-light photos came out expectedly weak and blurry, with poor colour reproduction. The Redmi Note 11S has a basic 2-megapixel macro camera, not the impressive tele-macro one we had on the Note 10 Pro series, so the results are not as good. There's also a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Videos looked good on the phone's display but the stereo sound wasn't well balanced as the bottom speaker sounded a lot clearer than the earpiece. Games ran well enough, but some heavy onesran with restricted graphics options on this phone. For instance, Call of Duty: Mobile didn't even show the ‘High' graphics option and I wasn't able to use most of the advanced quality toggles either. Gameplay was smooth though, it's just that it didn't look as good as it normally does. There are mitigating factors, of course. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s screen is lovely, the speakers are good. You can simply get phones much better suited to the job of playing games if that is your top priority. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G software

Splash Protection and Slender Design

It could be worse. Phones at this level often do not have software stabilization at 4K, making the entire mode of limited value. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G at least stabilizes footage at 1080p. But having a frame rate cap of 30fps rather than 60fps feels like an insult. It’s not a super-cheap phone, and has “Pro” in its name. Such titles never meant much of anything removed from the context of their own ranges, but c’mon Xiaomi. Second, the Redmi Note 11 Pro's camera setup is genuinely impressive. A 108-megapixel main sensor, an ultra-wide lens, a macro lens, and a depth sensor are all included in its quad-camera setup. The camera produces stunning images in both bright and dim lighting, and the different lenses allow for versatility in taking a variety of pictures.

This camera’s secondary cameras are standard fodder. You get an 8MP ultra-wide and a poor 2MP macro. As is the case with all ultra-low-res macros, it takes bad pictures. Sure, you can focus up close, but the detail is rendered at such low fidelity you just don’t get the eye beguiling effect that makes macro photography worthwhile. Both phones support common LTE networks, and I experienced solid cellular reception with my T-Mobile SIM card. The Note 11 Pro 5G supports 5G on many different bands, but with my T-Mobile SIM, only band n41 (old Sprint 2.5 GHz network) is supported, so 5G support is limited in the US. Fortnite plays at up to 30fps with reasonable solidity, apart from the usual drop as fresh assets are loaded. However, you can only run it at medium settings, meaning it just doesn’t look quite as good as it does on a more powerful phone. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G stereo speakers are the part we’ve appreciated most, though. A stereo array is always beneficial for gaming and video streaming, but these speakers also provide solid maximum volume and a decent amount of mid-low frequency substance. The Redmi Note 10 Prowas tested last year, and a year later, the hardware hasn't changed much in the 11 Pro. 5G is an obvious addition, but in the US, that has a limited impact on cellular connectivity. Unfortunately, the Note 11 Pro is still currently being powered by Android 11, the same as the Note 10 Pro in early 2021, so Xiaomi needs to step up the firmware game.The Redmi Note 11S retail bundle is quite familiar. The box contains the phone, a 33W power adapter, and a 3A-rated USB cable. Display: 6.43" AMOLED, 90Hz, 700 nits, 1000 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 409ppi, Gorilla Glass 3.

Switching to 60Hz, which is an option, will increase battery life a bit. But we’re just too fond of the smooth scrolling of a 120Hz refresh rate to give it up at this point. The IR blaster, 3.5mm audio port, and microSD card support are relics of the past on flagship smartphones, so if these features are important to you, then you may want to consider a Redmi Note 11S or 11 Pro 5G. Specifications The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G isn’t a full-proof smash of a camera like, say, the Pixel 5a. But it is fun to play around with, and some of the controls are worth exploring. For example, sometimes you’ll get more satisfying results by switching from “Auto HDR” to “HDR.” You can think of the latter as “maximum HDR,” because it almost always takes dynamic range enhancement a step further. It can be useful for high light contrast scenes like sunsets. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G runs Android 11 and has Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 interface. It is, for the most part, pretty inoffensive.

Good for data but less so for photography

Still, we are living in challenging times, and we can imagine the manufacturers have to go through many hurdles to push a new phone and keep the price as low as possible. And with that being said, let's unbox this Redmi Note 11S and see what happens. Unboxing the Redmi Note 11S First of all, the display is absolutely stunning. The phone's 6.67-inch AMOLED screen, which has a 120Hz refresh rate, is an eye-pleasing treat for those who use it to browse social media or stream their favorite shows. The screen is bright enough to be used outside in direct sunlight, and the colors are vivid. Xiaomi's Redmi phones have been dominating the entry-level and mid-range segments for some time now and the Redmi Note 11 is yet another model that is ideal for shoppers that want a competent device at a bargainous price. First of all, it comes with an impressive AMOLED display with 1000 nits of peak brightness and 1080 x 2400 pixels. Quality displays like this are getting more widespread as the tech gets cheaper, but it's still difficult to find these at this price segment. It doesn't support HDR, sadly, but the refresh rate is a smooth 90 Hz, which is yet another surprise on the display front. Splash Protection and Slender Design You have three color modes to play around with. These are vivid, saturated, and standard. Xiaomi recommends “vivid,” which changes the color saturation based on the app you’re using. We chose “standard” because it removes the radioactive red effect from your app icons. Plenty of people will love that kind of saturation, though.