Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs. Honor 70
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | Mi 11 Pro is slightly larger and thicker; Honor 70 is more compact and pocketable. |
| Weight | 208g | 178g | Honor 70 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build Material | Not Specified | Not Specified | Impacts durability and aesthetics, but details are unavailable for full comparison. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.67" | Mi 11 Pro has a slightly larger screen for more immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | Mi 11 Pro offers much sharper and more detailed visuals due to higher pixel density. |
| PPI | 515 | 395 | Mi 11 Pro provides significantly crisper text and images; less pixelation is noticeable. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, the difference is negligible. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both have smooth scrolling and animations, great for gaming and media consumption. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is much better for outdoor visibility under sunlight, but Honor 70’s brightness isn't specified making a direct comparison impossible, assuming 0 nits is a data error. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Mi 11 Pro has a flagship chipset, offering faster processing and better graphics. |
| Antutu Score | 854,267 | 600,525 | Mi 11 Pro demonstrates higher performance, useful for demanding applications and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 642L | Mi 11 Pro has a more powerful GPU that enables smoother gameplay and more complex graphics. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 50MP (1/1.12" sensor) | 54MP (1/1.49" sensor) | Honor 70 has a slightly higher resolution, but Mi 11 Pro’s larger sensor captures more light and detail. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.95 | f/1.9 | Both have a wide aperture, good for low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP (1/3.4" sensor) | 32MP (1/3.2" sensor) | Honor 70 has a higher selfie resolution but with a slightly smaller sensor. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/2.4 | Mi 11 Pro's wider aperture helps in low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP | 50MP | Honor 70’s wide-angle has much higher resolution, capturing significantly more detail. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | Honor 70 includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Telephoto/Macro Lens | 8MP | None | Mi 11 Pro offers a telephoto lens with some macro capability. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 4K@30fps | Mi 11 Pro offers 8K recording, useful for higher-resolution videos. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS, OIS, Ultra stable | EIS, Ultra stable | Mi 11 Pro with OIS provides superior stabilization, especially beneficial in shaky environments. |
| DXOMark Score (Mobile) | 124 | 115 | Mi 11 Pro has an edge in overall image quality and video performance. |
| Camera Features | Comprehensive, including RAW, OIS, advanced focus modes | Standard, including Night Mode | Mi 11 Pro has more professional camera options, while the Honor 70 offers a good general-purpose set of features. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | Mi 11 Pro has a slightly larger battery capacity, potentially offering a bit more usage time. |
| Charging | 67W wired, 67W wireless | 66W wired | Mi 11 Pro charges slightly faster and offers wireless charging. |
| Battery Features | Wireless, reverse wireless charging | Reverse charging | Mi 11 Pro is more flexible with charging options and allows reverse wireless charging for other devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages
- Superior Display: Higher resolution and pixel density, resulting in sharper and more detailed images and text.
- Higher Performance: Flagship-level chipset and GPU offer much faster app loading, smoother gaming, and better overall performance.
- Advanced Camera System: Higher DXOMark score, 8K video recording, optical zoom, and optical image stabilization (OIS) give it an edge in photo and video quality.
- Wireless Charging & Reverse Wireless Charging: Offers more flexibility in charging and can charge other devices.
- Superior Audio features: 3 microphones offer higher quality audio playback, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture.
Honor 70 Advantages
- Lighter and More Compact: More comfortable to hold and easier to carry around.
- Higher Resolution Wide Angle Lens: Captures detailed wide-angle shots.
- Macro Lens: Adds flexibility to photography by enabling detailed close-up shots.
- Newer Operating System: Ships with a newer Android version.
- Larger storage Option: Provides the option for 512 GB of storage.
Trade-offs
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro: Heavier and bulkier, may not be as pocketable; more expensive.
- Honor 70: Lower performance, lacks some advanced camera features, no wireless charging, lower resolution display and pixel density.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Ideal User
- Power Users: Individuals who need top-tier performance for demanding applications and gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize camera quality, advanced features, and video capabilities.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who value high-resolution displays and immersive viewing experiences.
- Users wanting the highest audio fidelity and better voice recording: Beneficial for content creation and communication.
Honor 70 Ideal User
- Everyday Users: People who need a reliable and capable smartphone for daily tasks and light media consumption.
- Casual Photographers: Those who appreciate versatile camera options with a dedicated macro and high-resolution wide-angle lens.
- Users seeking a Lightweight Device: Individuals who prefer a more compact and comfortable phone.
- Users Seeking more storage: The 512 GB storage variant is ideal for users storing lots of media.
Use Cases
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro: Gaming, video editing, high-quality photography, content creation, professional use where performance is key, outdoor usage in bright light.
- Honor 70: Daily communication, social media, casual photography, general media consumption, users wanting to prioritize portability and storage.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers
- Performance Priority: Do you need a phone for demanding tasks and gaming, or is general use sufficient?
- Camera Requirements: Do you need advanced photo/video features and the highest possible image quality, or is a versatile camera system enough?
- Portability vs. Display: Do you prefer a lighter, more compact phone or a larger, higher-resolution display?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Power User/Gamer - Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is the better choice for its superior chipset, GPU, and display.
- Scenario 2: Casual User/Social Media - Honor 70 is adequate with its good cameras and compact design.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast - Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is preferable due to advanced features, better low light performance, OIS, and superior overall image quality.
- Scenario 4: Portability Focused - Honor 70 is better due to its lighter and more compact design.
My Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would personally lean towards the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro.
Here's why:
While I appreciate the Honor 70's lighter design and higher resolution wide-angle lens, the performance gap between the two phones is significant. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro’s flagship processor, higher-resolution display, and advanced camera features, make it a much better all-around device for my use case. As someone who uses their phone for both work and content consumption, including gaming, I highly value the fluidity and performance that the Mi 11 Pro offers. The higher quality display, better camera performance, and additional features such as wireless charging are valuable to me. While it might be slightly heavier and bulkier, the advantages it provides in terms of performance and overall user experience are, for me, worth the extra size and weight.
