Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs. Asus ROG Phone 8
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-04-02 | 2024-01-18 | The ROG Phone 8 is significantly newer, benefitting from more recent tech. |
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | ROG Phone 8 is slightly wider and thicker, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use. |
| Weight | 208g | 225g | Mi 11 Pro is noticeably lighter, easier to handle for extended periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.78" | Virtually identical screen sizes. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | Mi 11 Pro offers sharper text and images due to its higher pixel count. |
| PPI | 515 | 388 | Mi 11 Pro's display is significantly crisper with higher pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Similar vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | ROG Phone 8 offers smoother scrolling and animations, especially noticeable in gaming. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 2500 nits | ROG Phone 8 is significantly better for outdoor use in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | ROG Phone 8 is significantly more powerful, handling demanding tasks and gaming with ease. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 2,020,000 | ROG Phone 8 offers drastically better performance for gaming and resource-intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | ROG Phone 8 has a more powerful GPU, providing smoother graphics in games and demanding apps. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5500mAh | ROG Phone 8 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 67W wired | 65W wired | Mi 11 Pro charges slightly faster using its 67W charger. |
| Battery Features | Reverse charging, 67W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging | None | Mi 11 Pro offers more versatile charging options, including wireless and reverse charging. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.95, 1/1.12" sensor | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56" sensor | Mi 11 Pro has a larger sensor, typically resulting in better low-light performance; ROG has a wider aperture. |
| Front Camera | 20MP, f/2.3 | 32MP | ROG Phone 8 has higher resolution, leading to more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP | None | Mi 11 Pro has a dedicated wide-angle camera for more versatile shots. |
| Macro Lens | None | 5MP | ROG Phone 8 offers a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP | ROG Phone 8 offers a combined wide angle and macro lens |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP | None | Mi 11 Pro has a dedicated telephoto camera for better zoom. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Both phones offer similar video recording capabilities, with slight variations in slow-motion capabilities. |
| DXOMark | Main Score: 124 | Not Available | Mi 11 Pro is rated in DXOMARK, indicating good camera performance. ROG Phone 8 camera performance is not yet rated. |
| Camera Features | Many, including OIS, PDAF, Laser AF, RAW | Many, including OIS, Gimbal, Laser AF, Night Mode | Both have similar camera feature sets, but Mi 11 Pro has RAW and ROG Phone 8 has Night Mode |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | ROG Phone 8 has a much newer OS, meaning more features and longer support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 7 | ROG Phone 8 has the newer WiFi 7 standard, offering faster speeds and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | ROG Phone 8 has a more up-to-date Bluetooth version, providing slightly better power efficiency and connections. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | ROG Phone 8 has more location services and capabilities. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones support dual SIM cards. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256 GB | ROG Phone 8 offers a fixed 256 GB storage configuration, whereas the Mi 11 Pro comes in 128GB or 256GB configurations. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 12/16 GB | ROG Phone 8 offers more RAM, which greatly helps with multitasking and gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers | Both phones offer quality audio experiences through stereo speakers, with differing enhancements. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint | Fingerprint | Both phones use a basic fingerprint sensor for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Both phones use similar durable screen protection technology |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Heart Rate; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Both phones have similar core sensors, with some additional sensors in both. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density, providing a crisper viewing experience.
- Versatile Charging: Offers faster wired charging and wireless charging and reverse charging options, offering more flexibility.
- Wider Variety of Camera Lenses: Includes a Wide Angle and Telephoto lens.
- Lighter Weight: More comfortable to hold for extended use.
- Camera Features: Has more camera features for manual camera controls.
- Heart Rate Sensor: The Mi 11 Pro comes with a built in heart rate sensor.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Significantly more powerful processor and GPU, ideal for gaming and demanding tasks.
- Smoother Display: Higher refresh rate display, resulting in smoother animations and scrolling.
- Brighter Display: Much higher peak brightness, significantly improving outdoor visibility.
- Larger Battery: Slightly larger battery capacity for potentially longer usage times.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 14, guaranteeing longer software updates.
- WiFi 7 Support: Offers faster and more stable Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Camera Features: Has Night mode for better low light capture, and a gimbal for video stabilization.
- More RAM: Offers more RAM for multitasking and gaming performance.
Trade-offs:
- The Mi 11 Pro's superior display clarity comes at the cost of a much older chipset and less optimized gaming performance.
- The ROG Phone 8 excels in performance but is slightly heavier and lacks wireless charging.
- The Mi 11 Pro offers a wider variety of camera lenses, whereas the ROG Phone 8 offers a night mode and gimbal.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Ideal Users:
- Users who prioritize display clarity: Those who value sharp text and detailed images for reading and media consumption.
- Users who value versatile charging: Benefit from wireless charging, reverse charging, and faster wired charging.
- Users who value more camera lens variety: Users who need the flexibility of Wide Angle and Telephoto lenses in their camera.
- Users who prefer lighter devices: More comfortable for long reading or media consumption sessions.
- Users who want a phone with a heart rate sensor
Use Cases for Mi 11 Pro:
- E-book reading: The high-resolution display provides crisp text.
- Media consumption: Enjoy movies and TV shows with sharp details.
- General usage: Good for daily tasks and moderate gaming.
- Photography: Good for general photography, with flexible camera lens options.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal Users:
- Gamers: Demand the best performance for smooth, responsive gaming.
- Power Users: Need high processing power for resource-intensive tasks.
- Outdoor Users: Require a bright display to see clearly in sunlight.
- Users who prefer latest software: Benefit from timely software updates and enhancements.
- Users who value night mode and gimbal stabilization: Provides for better low light and video performance.
Use Cases for ROG Phone 8:
- Gaming: Demanding games run smoothly and at high frame rates.
- Video Editing: Handles video processing and editing on the go.
- Outdoor Use: The bright display allows clear visibility in bright sunlight.
- Long-Term Use: Benefits from newer software and the latest WiFi standard.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize display clarity and wireless charging, or raw performance and smooth gaming?
- Is the weight and size of the phone a major consideration for you?
- Do you want the latest software updates, or a phone with a wide variety of camera lenses?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming Enthusiast: Choose the Asus ROG Phone 8 for its superior performance, high refresh rate display, and cutting-edge features like the gimbal and night mode on the camera.
- Scenario 2: Media Consumer: The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is suitable if you prioritize the sharper display and wireless charging options.
- Scenario 3: All-Around User: If you prioritize camera versatility, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is a good choice, but if you prefer the latest software and better overall performance, and a better set of features for video, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is better.
- Scenario 4: Photography Enthusiast: If you want RAW capture, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is better, but if you want a better night mode, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is better.
My Choice
Given my own preference for newer technology, high performance, and long-term software support, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8. Although the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has a superior display on paper, the real world use case benefits of the ROG Phone 8's brighter display and vastly superior performance, combined with a newer OS and WiFi 7 capabilities, make it a more appealing and future-proof option. I also value the better video recording capabilities offered by the gimbal on the ROG Phone 8, which is more important to me than the added lens variety of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro. While the Mi 11 Pro is lighter and has more charging options, the advantages of the ROG Phone 8 heavily outweigh these benefits for my typical use cases.
