Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs. Xiaomi Redmi A2+
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi A2+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm | 164.9 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm | Mi 11 Pro is slightly narrower and thinner, potentially feeling more comfortable in hand. A2+ is slightly larger overall. |
| Weight | 208g | 192g | Redmi A2+ is noticeably lighter (16g difference), making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus (Screen), Unspecified (Body) | Unknown (Screen and Body) | Mi 11 Pro has superior screen protection with Gorilla Glass Victus, offering better scratch and drop resistance. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi A2+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.52" | Mi 11 Pro offers a slightly larger screen, potentially better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 720 x 1600 | Mi 11 Pro has a much sharper display, resulting in clearer text, images, and videos. |
| PPI | 515 | 269 | Mi 11 Pro’s higher pixel density makes images and text look significantly crisper. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Mi 11 Pro's AMOLED offers deeper blacks, higher contrast, more vibrant colors, and better power efficiency, especially with dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | Mi 11 Pro's 120Hz display offers smoother scrolling and animations, providing a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 0 nits | Mi 11 Pro has significantly higher brightness, making it much better for outdoor viewing in direct sunlight. Redmi A2+ brightness is not specified. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi A2+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | MediaTek Helio G36 (12 nm) | Mi 11 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful, offering much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 127,000 | Mi 11 Pro is substantially faster, providing a more responsive and fluid user experience and better performance in demanding tasks and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | PowerVR GE8320 | Mi 11 Pro's GPU provides significantly better graphics performance, resulting in smoother gameplay and higher graphical fidelity. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi A2+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 50MP f/1.95, 1/1.12" Samsung GN2 sensor, 1.4µm pixels | 8MP f/2.0 | Mi 11 Pro has a much higher resolution sensor and a wider aperture allowing more light resulting in significantly better image quality, detail and low light performance. A2+ camera specifications are limited. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP f/2.3, 1/3.4" Samsung S5K3T2 sensor, 0.8µm pixels | 5MP f/2.2 | Mi 11 Pro's selfie camera provides much better detail and low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP f/2.2, 1/3.06" Omnivision OV13B10 sensor, 1.12µm pixels | None | Mi 11 Pro has a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing expansive scenes. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, 1/4.4" Omnivision OV08A10, 1.00µm pixels | None | Mi 11 Pro offers an additional telephoto lens for optical zoom, allowing you to get closer to the subject without losing quality. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS; 4K@60fps HDR, EIS, 1080p@60fps with HDR, EIS; Slow-motion: 1920fps | 1080p@30fps; Slow-motion: 30 fps | Mi 11 Pro supports much higher video resolution with HDR and EIS, suitable for professional-grade video content creation. |
| DxOMark | Main Score: 124, Photo Score: 118, Video Score: 132 | Not Tested | Mi 11 Pro has a high-rated camera system for both photo and video. |
| Features | 4K Video, 8K Video, Optical Zoom, OIS, Triple Camera, RAW, Laser AF, PDAF, and more | Dual Camera, Exposure Compensation and other basic camera features | Mi 11 Pro has a significantly more advanced camera system with many features enhancing photo and video capabilities compared to Xiaomi Redmi A2+. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi A2+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. |
| Charging | 67W fast charging, Li-Ion Polymer | 10W fast charging, Li-Ion | Mi 11 Pro offers significantly faster charging, reducing downtime. |
| Features | 67W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging, Reverse charging | None | Mi 11 Pro provides added convenience with wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities, absent in the Redmi A2+. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED panel, higher resolution, higher refresh rate, and brightness result in a significantly better visual experience for all use cases.
- Flagship Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset delivers exceptional speed and responsiveness, ideal for gaming, demanding applications, and multitasking.
- Advanced Camera System: The Mi 11 Pro excels in photo and video quality, offering higher resolution, wider aperture, optical zoom, and more features for creative flexibility.
- Faster Charging: 67W wired and wireless charging is substantially faster.
- Premium Features: Wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and more robust build are not present in the Redmi A2+.
Xiaomi Redmi A2+ Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: The Redmi A2+ is significantly lighter making it more comfortable for long periods of use.
- Newer OS The Redmi A2+ comes with a newer version of Android (12).
- Lower Cost: The Redmi A2+ is likely to be much more affordable.
- Slightly Newer: The device launched almost a year after the Mi 11 Pro.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Performance: Redmi A2+ has a very significant performance disadvantage, which results in slower app loading, lag in multitasking, and poorer gaming experience.
- Display Quality: Redmi A2+ display is significantly inferior, lacking sharpness, vividness, and brightness, making outdoor visibility challenging.
- Camera Capabilities: Redmi A2+ has significantly inferior camera performance compared to Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro due to the lack of features like OIS and a telephoto lens.
- Build Quality and Features: Redmi A2+ lacks many premium features like wireless charging, better screen protection and improved audio offered by the Mi 11 Pro.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is ideal for:
- Power Users & Gamers: Users who need top-tier performance for demanding tasks, gaming, or professional applications will benefit greatly.
- Photography & Videography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera quality, detail, and creative flexibility will find the Mi 11 Pro’s camera system superior.
- Media Consumers: The AMOLED display with high resolution, refresh rate, and brightness offers an immersive media viewing experience.
- Users Who Value Convenience: Wireless charging, fast charging and premium features will improve the experience of those who value convenience.
Xiaomi Redmi A2+ is ideal for:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users who primarily need basic smartphone functionality like calling, texting, browsing, and social media.
- Casual Users: Users who do not require high performance for gaming or content creation.
- Users who value lightweight: Users who value a lightweight phone over top tier features.
- Users who prefer newer software: The Redmi A2+ comes with a newer OS, which may be a better fit for some users.
Specific Use Cases:
- Mi 11 Pro:
- Playing graphically intensive games at high settings
- Editing high-resolution photos and videos on the go
- Watching HDR content with high brightness
- Power users requiring intensive multitasking
- Capturing professional photos with high detail and zoom capabilities.
- Redmi A2+:
- Making calls and sending text messages
- Browsing social media and the web
- Light media consumption
- Daily use by those on a limited budget.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Mi 11 Pro is significantly more expensive.
- What are your primary uses for the phone? Do you need high performance, or are basic functions sufficient?
- How important is camera quality? Do you need a camera that excels in photo and video?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance & Media Consumption. If you prioritize a top-tier display, flagship performance for gaming, and a high-quality camera system, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is the clear choice.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious Basic Use. If your needs are basic (calls, texts, browsing), and you’re looking for the most affordable option, the Xiaomi Redmi A2+ will suffice.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Approach: If you value a balance between price and performance and need more than basic usage, neither of these phones is ideal. Exploring other mid-range phones might be more appropriate.
Personal Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would unequivocally select the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro. The significant advantages it offers in display quality, performance, and camera capabilities, are features that I value a lot in a smartphone. While the Redmi A2+ is lighter and more budget-friendly, the huge trade-off in performance and display quality makes it unsuitable for my needs and preferences. The Mi 11 Pro's premium features like wireless charging, significantly faster charging speeds and the quality of the camera also justify its higher price for the user experience I would prefer.
