Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Mi 11 vs. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | The ROG Phone 8 Pro is slightly wider and thicker, which can affect one-handed use. The Mi 11 is a bit taller but overall more compact. The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a larger overall volume and may feel bulkier in hand. |
| Weight | 196g | 225g | The Mi 11 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and easier to carry in a pocket. The ROG Phone 8 Pro feels noticeably heavier. |
| Build | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Both are durable, but the ROG Phone 8 Pro has slightly better scratch resistance in theory. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.78" | Virtually identical screen size; negligible difference in daily use. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | The Mi 11's display is significantly sharper and more detailed. The ROG 8 Pro is still crisp but doesn't match the Mi 11. |
| PPI | 515 | 388 | The Mi 11 offers a much higher pixel density. Text and images appear noticeably clearer than on the ROG Phone 8 Pro. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | The ROG Phone 8 Pro provides much smoother scrolling and animation, especially noticeable in fast-paced games and UI navigation. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 2500 nits | The ROG Phone 8 Pro is drastically brighter and much more readable in direct sunlight, a crucial advantage for outdoor use. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The ROG Phone 8 Pro's chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, better multitasking and much smoother gameplay. |
| Antutu Score | 806,139 | 2,020,000 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro demonstrates much faster performance overall. It handles demanding tasks and games with greater ease. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro's GPU provides substantially improved graphics performance, leading to superior gaming experiences. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.85, 1/1.33" | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56" | The Mi 11 has a higher megapixel count and a slightly wider aperture and larger sensor size, suggesting better detail capture. However, the ROG Phone 8 Pro has larger individual pixel size. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4" | 32MP, 1/3.2" | The ROG Phone 8 Pro captures more detailed selfies with a higher megapixel count and larger sensor size. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2" | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom capabilities, while the Mi 11 lacks this feature, relying only on digital zoom. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.3, 1/3.06" | None | The Mi 11 features a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing more in a scene, a feature missing on the ROG Phone 8 Pro. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.0, 1/5" | None | The Mi 11 includes a dedicated macro lens, which the ROG Phone 8 Pro lacks. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3" | The ROG Phone 8 Pro offers a combined wide-angle and macro lens, a versatile option. The Mi 11 does not offer this combined lens. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24/30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Both phones offer high-resolution video recording and stabilization features. |
| Camera Features | Ultra stable video, Laser AF, AF assist Beam, RAW | Optical zoom, Gimbal, Laser autofocus (LAF), Exposure compensation, Night Mode | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has some additional and useful features, such as night mode. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 5500mAh | The ROG Phone 8 Pro's larger battery provides noticeably longer battery life, especially during heavy usage. |
| Charging | 55W | 65W | The ROG Phone 8 Pro charges faster than the Mi 11. |
| Battery Features | Reverse charging, 2*2250mAh, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse-wireless charging | None | The Mi 11 offers useful features like wireless charging and reverse charging for other devices. |
Other
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | Android 14 (upgradable to 16) | The ROG Phone 8 Pro ships with a more recent version of Android, which will have longer support for updates. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has Wi-Fi 7, a faster standard with lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a more current Bluetooth standard. |
| Internal Storage | 128GB or 256GB | 512GB or 1024GB | The ROG Phone 8 Pro offers much more storage for media and apps. |
| RAM | 8GB or 12GB | 16GB or 24GB | The ROG Phone 8 Pro offers more RAM, greatly improving its ability to multitask and handle demanding applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows you to expand its storage with SD cards. |
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The ROG Phone 8 Pro has enhanced audio separation and better voice capture with extra microphone and DTS support. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Heart Rate, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | The Mi 11 includes a heart rate sensor, while the ROG 8 Pro has a proximity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density result in a noticeably sharper and more detailed screen.
- Lighter and more compact The Mi 11 is significantly lighter and more comfortable to carry for extended periods and use with one hand.
- More versatile camera setup: The Mi 11 boasts a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens for added shooting flexibility, which is not available on the ROG Phone 8 Pro
- Wireless Charging and Reverse Wireless Charging The Mi 11 offers flexibility of charging wirelessly or reverse charging other devices.
- Heart Rate sensor: The Mi 11 has a heart rate sensor, which may appeal to those interested in tracking their fitness.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers much faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming performance.
- Brighter Display: The display is substantially brighter, making it much better for outdoor visibility and usage in direct sunlight.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 165Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations feel incredibly smooth, improving the user experience, especially while gaming.
- Larger Battery: The 5500mAh battery offers much longer battery life, reducing the need to charge as often.
- Telephoto Lens: Has an additional Telephoto lens for zoom photography
- Massive storage and RAM: Comes with much more storage and RAM, eliminating the risk of running out of space or slowing down performance due to low memory.
- Newer Technology: Newer Wi-Fi 7 standard, Bluetooth 5.3, and updated Android version offer enhanced connectivity and long-term software support.
- Better Audio: DTS/DTS X provides better surround sound and the 3 microphones offer better audio clarity.
- Gimbal Stabilization: Gimbal stabilization improves smoothness of the video footage.
- Better Selfies: Better detail capture with 32MP selfie camera.
Trade-offs:
- Mi 11: Sacrifices raw performance and battery life for a more compact form and sharper display. Camera versatility, including macro and wide-angle lenses are also a consideration.
- ROG Phone 8 Pro: Lacks a sharper display and dedicated macro lens found on the Mi 11. It is also notably heavier.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal Users:
- Casual users: Who appreciate a sharp display and lighter build.
- Multimedia consumption: Those who enjoy watching videos, reading content on a crisp screen and who want a versatile camera setup.
- Users seeking a balanced phone: Those who want a good all-around experience without extreme emphasis on performance, who want wireless charging, and are on a budget.
- Users with a need for Heart Rate monitoring: The Mi 11 includes a heart rate sensor which may appeal to those interested in tracking their fitness.
- Users who value macro and wide-angle lens capabilities: The Mi 11's dedicated macro and wide-angle lenses make it more versatile for creative photography.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Ideal Users:
- Gamers: Those seeking top-tier performance for demanding mobile games.
- Power users: Individuals who need maximum performance for heavy multitasking, content creation, and other intensive tasks.
- Outdoor enthusiasts: People who frequently use their phones in direct sunlight.
- Users who prioritize long battery life: Those needing all-day usage without frequent charging.
- Users who need a telephoto lens: The ROG Phone 8 Pro has a dedicated Telephoto lens
- Users who need massive storage: With the maximum storage option being 1TB, the ROG Phone 8 Pro provides plenty of space for large media files.
- Users that prioritize top of the line features: With cutting edge technology, the ROG Phone 8 Pro offers the best available standards, such as WiFi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, casual use, photography, etc.)
- How important is battery life and performance? (Do you need all-day power and top-tier performance?)
- What is more important: a sharper display or maximum brightness? (Do you need absolute sharpness or high visibility in sunlight?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the casual user wanting good camera features and a good all around experience: The Xiaomi Mi 11 is a good fit due to its sharp display, lighter design, and versatile camera setup including dedicated macro and wide angle lens. Its wireless charging capabilities are also a bonus.
- For the hardcore gamer and power user: The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the clear choice due to its top-tier performance, longer battery life, brighter display, and cutting edge connectivity standards, all of which contribute to a superior gaming and multimedia experience.
My Choice
Given my own needs, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. While the Xiaomi Mi 11 has a sharper display, the practical advantages of the ROG Phone 8 Pro are more compelling. As a regular mobile gamer and someone who often works outdoors, the significantly better performance, extended battery life, and much brighter screen are extremely important. Although the Mi 11 offers wireless charging capabilities and slightly more versatile camera set up with dedicated macro and wide angle lens, its performance and screen brightness is no match to the ROG Phone 8 Pro. Ultimately, the ROG Phone 8 Pro provides a much more well-rounded experience for my usage needs.
