Global Redmi Note 11 arrives with SD680, Note 11S brings 108MP camera

While the Pro duo has big ambitions, the Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S will try to win it over by being smaller, lighter and cheaper. Even so, they share some characteristics with the professionals and with each other.

With a 6.43-inch AMOLED screen, these two are a few millimeters shorter and narrower, as well as 20g lighter. They still have a 1080p+ (20:9) resolution and a high refresh rate – just 90Hz – but it’s still an improvement over last year’s Note 10 and 10S. The touch sampling rate is doubled (180 Hz) and Xiaomi has managed to increase the typical brightness to 700 nits (instead of 450 nits). Gorilla Glass 3 protection and IP53 rating (splash resistance) are the same.

Redmi Note 11/11S with 6.43″ AMOLED screen – 1080p+ resolution, 90 Hz, Gorilla Glass 3

The camera is a much bigger upgrade. The Redmi Note 11S gets the same 108MP ISOCELL HM2 as the pros: a 1/1.53″ sensor with 0.7µm pixels and 9-in-1 pixel binning (for 2.1µm pixels). .

The standard Note 11 has a 50 MP sensor instead. Both include a 118° ultra-wide camera with an 8MP sensor, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor.

The Redmi Note 11S has the same 108MP main and 8MP ultra-wide cameras as the Pro models.

The Redmi Note 11 gets a 50 MP main camera instead

The chipsets are carryovers from last year: the Model S gets the Helio G96 (instead of the G95), the vanilla gets a Snapdragon 680 (instead of the 678). The G96 is made on an old 12nm process, but has relatively new Cortex-A76 cores (two of them). Well, “new” compared to the Cortex-A73 based cores (four of them) in Snapdragon. Rather than performance, the Snapdragon has its sights set on efficiency: it’s made on a modern 6nm process.

MIUI 13 based on Android 11 will be pre-installed. The Redmi Note 11 starts at 4/64GB and maxes out at 6/128GB, the Note 11S starts at 6/64GB and maxes out at 8/128GB. Unlike the Pros though, these have dedicated microSD card slots on the Dual SIM tray.

Both phones have side-mounted fingerprint readers and can also use their front-facing cameras for biometric unlocking: 16MP for the S-phone and 13MP for the other. These have IR emitters and (in some regions) NFC, plus dual speakers and 3.5mm headphone jacks.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S in Graphite Grey, Pearl White and Twilight Blue

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro in Graphite Grey, Polar White and Star Blue

The Note 11 and 11S are powered by 5,000mAh batteries, the same capacity as last year’s models. However, Xiaomi managed to optimize the 33W fast charge, so 100% is now reached in 58 minutes (the Note 10 needed 74 minutes).

Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S will be available later this month in a limited “pre-sale” offer, with wide availability next month. The Redmi Note 11 will start at $180 for the 4/64GB model and go all the way up to $230 for the top 6/128GB model. The Redmi Note 11S will start at $250 (6/64GB) and go up to $300 (8/128GB).

Pricing information: Redmi Note 11 • Redmi Note 11S

But these prices may be lower, if you get caught by the worm: early bird prices will only be available on AliExpress and only on January 28 and 29. They’re dropping Note 11 prices by $20 for the 4/64GB and 4/128GB models and $30 for the top 6/128GB model. As for the Note 11S, only the 6/64GB version gets a refund of up to $20.

Redmi Note 11 and 11S Early Deals, AliExpress Exclusive (January 28-29)

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