Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs. Realme 12x
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Realme 12x | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm | 165.6 x 76.1 x 7.9 mm | Realme 12x is slightly taller and wider but thinner, potentially feeling less bulky in hand. |
| Weight | 208g | 190g | Realme 12x is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.67" | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 720 x 1604 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has a significantly sharper display with much more detail. Text, images, and videos will look crisper. |
| PPI | 515 | 264 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has a much higher pixel density, resulting in a more detailed and sharper display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has superior color reproduction, deeper blacks, and better power efficiency, especially with dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animation, though the impact will be greater on the higher resolution Xiaomi display. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro's display is much more visible outdoors in bright sunlight. Brightness for Realme 12x is not available. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G | Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has a much more powerful chipset, offering significantly faster app loading, better multitasking and gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 442,599 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will handle demanding tasks and games much more smoothly than Realme 12x. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G57 MC2 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro's GPU is significantly more powerful, resulting in better graphics performance in games and graphic-intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.95, 1/1.12", 1.4µm pixel size | 50MP, f/1.8, | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro's main camera boasts a larger sensor and larger pixels, resulting in better low-light performance. The aperture is slightly better on the Realme 12x. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4", 0.8µm pixel size | 8MP, f/2.1 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro's front camera has higher resolution and more detail, but slightly smaller aperture than the Realme 12x, which will be slightly better in low-light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.06", 1.12µm pixel size | None | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro provides ultrawide photography, offering versatility not available on Realme 12x |
| Portrait Camera | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm pixel size | Realme 12x has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro relies on software processing for portrait mode. |
| Telephoto/Macro | 8MP, 1/4.4", 1.0µm pixel size | None | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro offers optical zoom and macro photography, offering versatility not available on Realme 12x |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, EIS | 1080p@30fps | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro provides much higher resolution video recording with advanced stabilization and slow-motion. |
| DXOMark Score | 124 (Mobile), 118 (Photo), 132 (Video) | Not Available | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is rated significantly higher in camera quality. |
| Camera Features | Extensive (OIS, Optical Zoom, Laser AF, etc) | Basic (Digital Zoom, Autofocus, etc.) | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has a much more robust set of camera features, providing a more versatile and professional photography experience. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life in daily usage |
| Charging | 67W Fast Charging, 67W Wireless, 10W Reverse Wireless | 15W Fast Charging | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro charges much faster, both wired and wirelessly, and offers reverse wireless charging for other devices. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 14 | Realme 12x has a newer version of Android providing access to latest features and security patches |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has faster Wi-Fi speeds and better performance in congested networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 LE, APT-x, LDAC, AAC | 5.2 LE | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro provides better audio quality through the bluetooth connection |
| GPS | More Systems | Fewer Systems | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has more precise and reliable location tracking due to support for additional satellite systems. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB | Realme 12x offers more storage capacity for media, apps, and other files. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 12GB | Both offer ample memory for multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phones provide expandable storage |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 3 Microphones | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro offers slightly better audio recording with its 3 microphones |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Basic Sensor | Side-Mounted | Realme 12x has a more convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro has a higher level of screen protection, offering more resistance to scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Biometric: Fingerprint, Heart Rate; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro can track heart rate. Realme 12x provides a compass for orientation. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, AMOLED technology, better brightness, resulting in a significantly better viewing experience.
- Much Stronger Performance: Flagship-level chipset (Snapdragon 888) results in faster, smoother performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Advanced Camera System: Versatile triple camera setup with telephoto zoom, significantly better video capabilities, including 8K recording, and high DxOMark score.
- Fast Charging & Wireless Charging: Much faster 67W wired and wireless charging, plus reverse wireless charging, offering more flexibility and convenience.
- Higher Quality Audio: Enhanced audio quality with 3 microphones, and Bluetooth codecs (APT-x, LDAC, AAC)
- Better Build: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for better screen protection.
- More precise GPS: Supports more satellite systems
- Heart Rate Sensor: Additional health tracking capabilities.
Realme 12x Advantages:
- Newer Android OS: Ships with Android 14 for the latest features and security updates.
- Longer storage capacity options: Option of 512GB compared to 256GB of the Mi 11 Pro.
- Lighter Weight: More comfortable for prolonged use, due to its lower weight.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: More convenient placement for unlocking the device.
- Magnetometer: Can assist in orientation and other applications.
- Wider Main Camera Aperture: Slightly better performance in low-light due to a wider aperture on the primary camera.
- Lower price: The Realme 12x has a significantly lower price tag
Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro trades increased thickness and weight for a premium build, a superior display and performance.
- The Realme 12x trades processing power, camera versatility, and display quality for a more affordable price and lighter, more comfortable design.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Ideal User:
- Power Users: Demanding users who prioritize performance, multitasking, and intensive gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who need versatile camera systems for high-quality photos and videos, and a lot of camera features.
- Media Consumers: Users who prioritize display quality for movies, videos, and gaming.
- Travelers: Benefit from accurate GPS, fast charging, and high-quality display for on-the-go content.
Realme 12x Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Individuals seeking a reliable phone with essential features at an affordable price.
- Casual Users: Users who primarily browse the web, use social media, and perform basic tasks.
- Users Seeking Light and Comfortable Devices: Those who prefer a lighter phone that's easy to hold and carry.
- Users Wanting Latest OS: Desire latest features and security updates
Specific Use Cases:
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro:
- Professional photography and videography.
- High-end mobile gaming with demanding graphics.
- Watching HDR movies and shows on a vibrant, high-resolution display.
- Fast charging and reverse charging for convenience on the go.
- Realme 12x:
- Daily social media browsing and messaging.
- General multimedia consumption.
- Light gaming and simple productivity tasks.
- Everyday users wanting basic functionality at an affordable price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What's your budget? The Realme 12x is more affordable than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro.
- How important is performance and display quality to you? The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro offers a vastly superior experience for demanding tasks.
- How often will you use the camera, and how critical is image quality? The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro offers a much more versatile and capable camera system.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Heavy Gamer/Content Creator: Choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro for its superior performance, display, and camera capabilities.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious Casual User: Choose the Realme 12x for its affordability and adequate performance for everyday tasks.
- Scenario 3: Multimedia Lover: Choose the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro for its outstanding display quality and stereo speakers, plus its better storage options.
- Scenario 4: User needing latest Android OS: Choose the Realme 12x for its latest Android OS
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would personally select the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro. While the Realme 12x is a more modern phone and offers a better fingerprint scanner, my priorities lean towards performance, display quality, and a high-quality camera system, all of which the Mi 11 Pro excels at. While the device is older, the flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset and the AMOLED display provide a significantly better user experience for my use cases, which include content creation, gaming, and consuming a lot of media. The much faster charging speeds and wireless charging are also significant advantages for me. I am willing to pay a higher price for the superior experience provided by the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, making it my preferred choice despite its age.
