1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Google Pixel Fold | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | The Pixel Fold offers a larger, tablet-like screen when unfolded, enabling more immersive media consumption and multitasking. The Mi 11 Pro is a standard smartphone design, more pocketable. |
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | 139.7 × 158.7 × 5.8 mm (unfolded) | The Mi 11 Pro is taller but the Pixel Fold is significantly wider when unfolded. The Pixel Fold's thickness is for the folded state, where it is about 12mm thick. The Mi 11 Pro is thicker than either folded or unfolded Pixel Fold. |
| Weight | 208g | 283g | The Mi 11 Pro is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for one-handed use and extended periods of holding the phone. The Pixel Fold is noticeably heavier, which may lead to fatigue during extended use. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Google Pixel Fold | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 7.6" | The Pixel Fold offers a much larger screen, providing a more immersive experience for media consumption, gaming, and multitasking. The Mi 11 Pro is more compact and easier to handle one-handed. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1840x2208 | The Mi 11 Pro's higher resolution results in more detail, making text and images look sharper. The Pixel Fold sacrifices sharpness for overall screen size. |
| Pixel Density | 515 PPI | 378 PPI | The Mi 11 Pro has a noticeably sharper display, with finer details and less pixelation, especially noticeable with text. |
| Technology | AMOLED | - | The Mi 11 Pro's AMOLED screen offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than a non-specified display type. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall experience during usage. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 1500 nits | The Mi 11 Pro has better outdoor visibility, making it easier to use in direct sunlight compared to the Google Pixel Fold. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Google Pixel Fold | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G | Google Tensor G2 | Both are high-end chips but differ in architecture and AI capabilities. The Snapdragon focuses on raw power, while Tensor focuses on AI/ML tasks and image processing. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 793,800 | The Mi 11 Pro demonstrates slightly higher benchmark scores, suggesting it may offer marginally better overall performance in CPU-intensive tasks. The real world difference is likely to be minimal. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G710 MP7 | Both are high-end GPUs for gaming, but real-world differences are minimal for daily usage. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Google Pixel Fold | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 50MP | 48MP | Marginally higher resolution on the Mi 11 Pro. Differences are unlikely to be noticeable without heavy cropping. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.95 | f/1.7 | The Pixel Fold has a wider aperture, which lets in more light for better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 8MP | The Mi 11 Pro's front camera should capture more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/1.9 | The Pixel Fold's front camera is better in low light compared to the Mi 11 Pro. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10.8MP | The Pixel Fold has dedicated telephoto lens for better zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 13MP | 10.8MP | The Mi 11 Pro has slightly higher resolution for wider shots. |
| Telephoto + Macro | 8MP | None | The Mi 11 Pro has a dedicated lens for macro photos. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@60fps | The Mi 11 Pro supports higher video resolution for professional-grade videos. Both include stabilization features, with different slow motion fps. |
| DxOMark Score (Mobile) | 124 | 133 | The Pixel Fold provides a higher overall score, performing better in still image capture. The Mi 11 Pro scores slightly higher in video. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Google Pixel Fold | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4821mAh | Similar battery capacity for both. Real world usage will vary based on use case. |
| Charging Speed | 67W | 30W | The Mi 11 Pro charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Wireless Charging | 67W | None | The Mi 11 Pro provides significantly faster wireless charging than the Pixel Fold, while the Pixel Fold does not specify wireless charging. |
| Reverse Wireless Charging | 10W | None | The Mi 11 Pro is capable of charging other devices wirelessly. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages
- Sharper Display: Significantly higher pixel density (515 PPI) for a clearer and more detailed visual experience.
- Brighter Display: 1700 nits brightness provides superior outdoor visibility.
- Faster Charging: 67W wired charging and 67W wireless charging speeds allow for much faster recharge times. 10W reverse wireless charging, enabling use as a powerbank.
- Advanced Audio: Hi-Res Audio and 3 microphones for higher quality sound, better immersion and voice capturing.
- Better Video Recording: Capable of recording in 8K resolution.
- Telephoto and Macro Lens: Offers more versatile photography with additional lenses.
- Lower Weight: More comfortable for prolonged use and one-handed use due to its lighter weight (208g) compared to the Pixel Fold (283g).
- More GPS Options: More accurate GPS performance due to more supported systems.
Google Pixel Fold Advantages
- Foldable Design: Offers a large, immersive tablet-like screen for enhanced media consumption and multitasking.
- Telephoto Lens: Offers optical zoom, enhancing the phone's versatility for capturing distant objects and portraits.
- Wider Aperture Main Camera: Provides better low-light performance with a larger aperture (f/1.7) in the main camera.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 13 with update to 14, offering better features and security.
- Better overall Camera Score: Higher DxOMark score for stills photography indicates better still camera performance compared to Xiaomi.
- eSIM Support: Offers eSIM support for digital switching of carriers.
- Additional Environmental Sensors: Includes Barometer and magnetometer, useful in certain scenarios.
- Wider Aperture Selfie Cam: Better low-light performance in selfie camera, with f/1.9 aperture.
Trade-offs
- Pixel Fold: Sacrifices portability for its foldable design, resulting in a heavier and bulkier device. Also the Pixel Fold suffers from a less sharp display, and slightly lower brightness when compared to the Mi 11 Pro.
- Mi 11 Pro: Lacks the foldable form factor and telephoto lens but provides faster charging and sharper display, with a lower price tag.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize display quality, fast charging, and versatile photography features, prefer a standard form factor without a foldable screen, value audio quality and a lower price tag.
- Use Cases:
- Daily social media browsing, content consumption, and gaming
- High-quality photography with a versatile set of lenses
- Users who want faster charging, and often need to quickly top off their phone's battery.
- Users who prioritize audio quality.
Google Pixel Fold
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize a large display for media consumption and multitasking, value Google's software and camera capabilities, and are willing to pay a premium price for the foldable form factor.
- Use Cases:
- Immersive media consumption, such as watching videos and browsing photos.
- Multitasking across multiple applications.
- Professional use cases that benefit from a larger display
- Users who want a more portable tablet experience in a phone.
- Users who require additional features like eSIM support.
- Users who take a lot of photos and appreciate the image processing from google camera.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider
- Form Factor Preference: Do you prefer a traditional smartphone or a foldable device with a larger screen for more immersive use?
- Usage Priorities: Is display quality, charging speed, or camera flexibility more important for your needs?
- Budget: Are you willing to pay a premium for a foldable phone with unique features, or do you prefer a standard phone with better price-to-value?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: On-the-Go Media Consumption: If you prioritize watching videos and multitasking on the go, the Google Pixel Fold's large display would be better.
- Scenario 2: Photography Enthusiast (with budget constraints): If you enjoy photography and want a device that charges quickly, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro would be a good fit for you, with macro and 8k video capabilities, and better audio.
- Scenario 3: Professional User (budget not a constraint): If you need a large screen for productivity, while also wanting to take good photos, the Google Pixel Fold is suitable, with its ability to run multiple applications.
- Scenario 4: Budget Conscious Buyer: The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro would likely have a lower price tag, and offers a better value to the user who prioritizes technical specifications and performance.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro. The primary reason for this is because I value a sharper, brighter display over a foldable form factor. The faster charging is also very beneficial for my use case, as I am often on the go and do not have a lot of time to charge my phone. Additionally, the Mi 11 Pro includes a macro camera lens, which the Pixel Fold lacks. I find this feature very useful in my day-to-day usage of my mobile device. The price tag of the Mi 11 Pro is also likely to be much lower than the Pixel Fold, adding to its appeal. The Google Pixel Fold is a great device for its use case and form factor, however for my personal use, the Mi 11 Pro would be more suitable and cost effective.
