1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | 161.1 × 75 × 7.9 mm | Mi 11 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, potentially feeling less comfortable in hand for some. |
| Weight | 208g | 181g | Poco F5 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and one-handed operation. |
| Build | | | Mi 11 Pro's screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, while the F5 has Gorilla Glass 5. Mi 11 Pro offers slightly more robust screen protection. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.67" | Mi 11 Pro offers a marginally larger viewing area, good for immersive media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 1080 x 2400 | Mi 11 Pro provides significantly sharper visuals with finer details, noticeable in text and high-resolution images. |
| PPI | 515 | 395 | Mi 11 Pro has a higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper image quality. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both deliver vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations for fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 0 nits | Mi 11 Pro is significantly better for outdoor use in bright sunlight, while we are missing Poco F5 brightness information. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | Poco F5 has a newer, more power-efficient chipset, potentially offering better performance and battery efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 1,134,558 | Poco F5 demonstrates better performance in benchmarks, suggesting faster app loading, and smoother multitasking. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 725 | Poco F5 has a newer GPU, potentially offering better graphics performance in gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 50MP (f/1.95, 1/1.12", 1.4µm) | 64MP (f/1.79, 1/2", 0.7µm) | Poco F5 captures more detailed images due to the higher resolution but the Mi 11 Pro has a larger sensor, better for low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP (f/2.3, 1/3.4", 0.8µm) | 16MP (f/2.45, 1/3.1", 1.12µm) | Mi 11 Pro has a higher resolution, while Poco F5 has a larger pixel size, resulting in more light absorption. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP (f/2.2, 1/3.06", 1.12µm) | 8MP (f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.12µm) | Mi 11 Pro has higher resolution, while the F5 has a larger sensor, which is better for low-light wide angle shots. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 2MP (f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm) | Poco F5 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, while Mi 11 Pro doesn't. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP (1/4.4", 1.0µm) | N/A | Mi 11 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, while Poco F5 doesn't. |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps | Mi 11 Pro offers higher video resolution and frame rates. |
| DxOMark | 124 (Mobile), 118 (Photo), 132 (Video) | N/A | Mi 11 Pro has been tested, demonstrating good performance. Poco F5 is missing DxOMark score. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have similar battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 67W wired, 67W wireless, 10W reverse wireless | 67W wired | Mi 11 Pro offers wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities. |
| Features | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 67W wireless charging, 10W reverse-wireless charging | Non-removable | Mi 11 Pro has more charging features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages
- Superior Display: Higher resolution (1440x3200) and pixel density (515 ppi) offer much sharper visuals and better clarity.
- Advanced Camera System: 8K video recording, dedicated telephoto lens, and a larger main sensor.
- Wireless Charging: Includes both 67W fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, a convenient addition.
- Brighter Display: With 1700 nits, it provides significantly better outdoor visibility.
- Better screen protection: Uses Gorilla Glass Victus, better than Gorilla Glass 5 on Poco F5
Xiaomi Poco F5 Advantages
- Newer Chipset: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is more power-efficient and scores higher in benchmarks.
- Lighter Design: At 181g, it's much more comfortable for extended use and one-handed operation.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
- Newer OS: Android 13 with upgrade to 14, versus Android 11 on Mi 11 Pro.
- Bluetooth 5.3: More efficient and faster Bluetooth communication with peripherals
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: More convinient and quicker unlock system.
Significant Trade-offs
- Mi 11 Pro: Heavier, older chipset, and no macro lens.
- Poco F5: Lower display resolution, lacks wireless charging, and lower camera specifications, except for macro.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Ideal User
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize a high-resolution, sharp display for watching videos and viewing images.
- Photography and Videography Lovers: Users who want higher video recording quality and telephoto capabilities with a better low-light performance on the main camera.
- Power Users: Individuals who want wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- Outdoor Users: People who need a bright screen that's easily viewable in bright sunlight.
Use Cases: Professional photography, 4K/8K video recording, high-resolution media consumption, and general use where wireless charging is a priority.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Ideal User
- Gamers and Performance Seekers: Users who prioritize a smooth experience and responsiveness with better benchmarks score.
- Casual Photographers: Users who want good photos for social media and casual use.
- Value Seekers: Individuals who prioritize price-to-performance with a newer processor.
- Daily Users: Those who want a lightweight, comfortable phone for day-to-day use.
Use Cases: Mobile gaming, smooth app navigation, daily photography, and those who prefer a lighter phone.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider
- Display Quality: How important is a high-resolution, super sharp display for your daily use?
- Performance & Efficiency: Do you prioritize raw power and a better benchmark or additional camera features?
- Charging Needs: Is wireless charging a must-have feature for your usage patterns?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: "The Visual Enthusiast" - If you prioritize display quality and professional-grade camera features for high-resolution content and video creation, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is the better choice.
- Scenario 2: "The Mobile Gamer and Daily User" - If you are seeking a smoother experience, better benchmark performance, and a lightweight design with a more recent OS, the Xiaomi Poco F5 is the preferred option.
- Scenario 3: "The Balance Seeker" - If you want a balance of performance and battery efficiency while still getting a decent camera experience with a macro lens, and you aren't concerned about wireless charging or the sharpest display the Xiaomi Poco F5 is the better option.
My Choice and Why
I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F5. While the Mi 11 Pro offers an undeniably superior display and advanced camera capabilities, the Poco F5's newer, more efficient chipset, lighter design, and macro lens are more appealing to me for day-to-day usage and mobile gaming. The performance difference is significant and the advantages of a newer OS and Bluetooth version are worth more than the Mi 11 Pro's sharper screen which I would not notice often. Also, the lack of brightness information on Poco F5 is a drawback, but not so significant as to outweigh all the other advantages.
