1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | 162.8 × 75.4 × 8.6 mm | Mi 11 Pro is slightly taller, while F5 Pro is a bit wider and thicker. In hand, the difference is minimal, but may affect pocket fit for some. |
| Weight | 208g | 204g | Both phones are relatively heavy, but this weight suggests robust build quality. The 4g difference is unlikely to be noticeable. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.67" | Mi 11 Pro has a slightly larger screen, beneficial for media consumption and multitasking, the difference is noticeable but not vast. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1440x3200 | Both offer very sharp images, making text and visuals crisp. |
| PPI | 515 | 526 | Both have a very high pixel density, ensuring clarity. The difference is negligible to the human eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast, suitable for HDR content. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, improving the overall feel. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 1400 nits | Mi 11 Pro is better for outdoor use in bright sunlight, with superior visibility. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | F5 Pro has a newer, more efficient chip, leading to better performance in games and resource-intensive tasks. Expect a noticeable difference in speed and battery efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 1,317,798 | F5 Pro performs significantly better in benchmarks, translating to snappier app launching and better multitasking performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | F5 Pro has a more powerful GPU, resulting in smoother gaming experiences and better graphics rendering. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.95, 1/1.12", 1.4µm | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.7µm | Mi 11 Pro has a larger sensor, which generally leads to better low-light performance, despite F5 Pro's higher resolution and wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06", 1.0µm | F5 Pro's selfie camera may perform better in low light due to larger pixels, despite lower resolution. |
| Wide Angle | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.06", 1.12µm | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12µm | Mi 11 Pro's wide-angle camera is likely to capture more detail due to higher resolution and bigger sensor. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm | F5 Pro has a dedicated macro lens, allowing close-up shots, while Mi 11 Pro lacks this feature. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, 1/4.4", 1.0µm | N/A | Mi 11 Pro has a telephoto camera for zoomed-in photos, which the F5 Pro lacks. |
| Video | Up to 8K @ 60fps HDR | Up to 8K @ 24fps | Both can record in high resolutions, although Mi 11 Pro has a higher frame rate at 8k with HDR compared to F5 Pro. Both have EIS for video stabilization. |
| DxOMark | 124 (Mobile) | N/A | Mi 11 Pro has a scored higher on DxOMark, indicating superior image quality compared to the F5 Pro based on this. |
| Camera Features | Extensive | Extensive | Both offer a variety of camera features for flexible shooting. Mi 11 Pro has additional Laser AF. F5 Pro has Flicker sensor and Noise reduction. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5160 mAh | Both have similar battery sizes, indicating similar battery life under normal usage. |
| Charging | 67W fast, 67W wireless, 10W reverse | 67W fast, 30W wireless | Mi 11 Pro has faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, providing greater flexibility. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 | F5 Pro ships with a newer version of Android, offering better performance, security, and the latest features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 | Both support the latest WiFi standards, enabling fast wireless internet. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | F5 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version, which potentially allows for better connectivity and power efficiency. |
| GPS | More Satellites | Slightly less satellite support | Mi 11 Pro has a more comprehensive suite of GPS systems, potentially offering slightly better location accuracy. |
| Storage & RAM | |||
| Internal Storage | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB | F5 Pro offers more base storage, and has a larger maximum option, suitable for users needing a lot of space for photos/videos. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 8GB/12GB | Sufficient for heavy multitasking and resource intensive applications. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res, Stereo, 3 Mics | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Stereo | Both offer high-quality audio experience, though Mi 11 Pro has an additional microphone for better audio recording, the F5 Pro has Dolby Atmos support. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint | Both have standard fingerprint sensors for quick unlocking. |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass 5 | Mi 11 Pro offers superior screen scratch and damage protection. |
| Sensors | Heart Rate, Proximity, Motion | Proximity, Motion | Mi 11 Pro includes a Heart Rate sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages:
- Brighter Display: Significantly better outdoor visibility due to higher peak brightness (1700 nits vs 1400 nits).
- Superior Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers better scratch and impact resistance.
- Advanced Camera Features: Offers a telephoto lens for better zoom and Laser AF for faster focus.
- Fast Wireless Charging and Reverse Wireless Charging: More convenient for charging accessories and topping off the phone wirelessly.
- Comprehensive GPS Suite: Slightly better location accuracy in challenging environments.
- Heart Rate Sensor: Added health tracking functionality.
- Better Audio recording: Offers 3 microphones, for a better audio experience when recording.
- Higher 8k Video recording FPS: Offers 8k recording at 60fps, compared to 24fps in the Poco F5 Pro
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: Newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and higher benchmark scores (AnTuTu 1,317,798 vs 854,267) provides much better performance overall, especially for gaming.
- Newer Android OS: Ships with Android 13 for better features and security.
- Larger Base Storage: Comes with 256GB base storage compared to the 128GB available in the Mi 11 Pro
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens for close-up photography.
- Newer Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.3 over 5.2 offers better power efficiency and connectivity stability.
- Dolby Atmos: Better audio playback experience.
- Larger pixel size for the selfie: Provides better low light performance, even though it has lower resolution.
Trade-offs:
- Mi 11 Pro sacrifices overall performance for superior display brightness, screen protection, additional camera features and slightly better audio recording.
- Poco F5 Pro sacrifices some camera versatility and screen protection for more powerful performance and a more recent operating system.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Ideal User:
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Those who spend significant time outdoors in bright sunlight and need good screen visibility.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want more versatile camera capabilities, with a telephoto lens for zoom and laser autofocus for quick, precise shots.
- Wireless Charging Lovers: Users who want fast wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities.
- Users with a High need for robustness: The Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers better scratch and drop protection.
Audio Recorders: The 3 microphones will provide a better audio recording experience.
- Use Cases: Taking outdoor photos, navigating in bright conditions, wireless charging on the go.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro Ideal User:
- Gamers: Those who want maximum gaming performance with the best possible fluidity and graphics.
- Power Users: Those who need high-end performance for demanding tasks, video editing, or multitasking.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest Android OS version with the latest features and security updates.
- Macro Photographers: Users who regularly need close up photos of small objects.
- Users with high storage needs: Those who want more storage for photos/videos.
Audio Enthusiasts: Users who want an enhanced audio experience, including Dolby Atmos.
- Use Cases: Playing intensive mobile games, video editing on the go, capturing close up shots.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Is peak display brightness a priority? If the phone will be used often in direct sunlight, the Mi 11 Pro is significantly better.
- Is raw performance more important than camera versatility? Gamers and heavy multitaskers will likely prefer the Poco F5 Pro's faster processor.
- Do you prefer more recent software and want macro photography? The Poco F5 Pro ships with a newer Android OS and has a dedicated macro camera.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Outdoor use and camera: If you often need to use your phone outdoors in bright sunlight for taking photos, or if the telephoto lens is a must, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is recommended.
- Scenario 2: Gaming and performance: If gaming or demanding tasks are primary use cases, then the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is the better choice.
- Scenario 3: Latest software, storage, and macro photography: If a more recent operating system is essential along with more storage and macro photography capabilities, then the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is recommended.
My Choice
If I had to choose between the two, I would personally pick the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro. While the Mi 11 Pro has a slightly brighter screen, and some slightly better camera options and additional features, the significant performance increase of the F5 Pro, along with the newer software and base storage make it more appealing for my needs. I am not a very heavy user of the camera zoom and mostly take normal photos, therefore, the telephoto lens and Laser AF are not key factors for me. The better software and overall performance of the F5 Pro would lead to a better experience on a daily basis, which is what I am looking for.
