1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, focusing on practical implications for the user:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | The Zenfone is slightly wider and thicker, potentially making the Mi 11 feel more comfortable in hand for some. |
| Weight | 196g | 224g | The Mi 11 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. The Zenfone feels more substantial. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus Front | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 Front | Both have robust screen protection, with Victus 2 being slightly newer, offering increased drop and scratch resistance. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.78" | Negligible difference in screen size; both offer a large display for immersive media and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | The Mi 11's higher resolution makes text and images appear significantly sharper. The Zenfone is still clear, but less so. |
| Pixel Density | 515 ppi | 388 ppi | The Mi 11 has a sharper screen, making individual pixels less visible and providing a clearer picture. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both provide vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The Zenfone offers slightly smoother animations and scrolling, which is beneficial for gaming and fluid UI navigation. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 2500 nits | The Zenfone's significantly higher peak brightness results in much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Zenfone's newer chip offers considerably faster performance, better efficiency, and more advanced features. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 1,532,000 | The Zenfone is significantly more powerful, leading to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | The Zenfone's newer GPU allows for superior graphics rendering, providing a better visual experience in gaming and graphic-intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 108MP | 50MP | The Mi 11 has a higher resolution sensor, potentially capturing more detail in good light, though the Zenfone has larger pixel size. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.33" | 1/1.56" | The Mi 11’s larger sensor may lead to better light gathering, but the Zenfone has larger pixels. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.85 | f/1.9 | Mi 11's slightly wider aperture may perform marginally better in low light |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 1.00 µm | Zenfone's larger pixels gather more light per pixel resulting in better low light performance |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 32MP | The Zenfone has a higher resolution front camera for more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Sensor Size | 1/3.4" | 1/3.2" | Zenfone's larger sensor can gather slightly more light, potentially leading to better low-light selfies |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/2.5 | Mi 11’s slightly wider aperture may perform marginally better in low light |
| Selfie Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 0.70 µm | Mi 11’s larger pixels can gather slightly more light than Zenfone |
| Telephoto Lens | No | 32MP | The Zenfone has a telephoto lens offering better optical zoom, while the Mi 11 lacks this. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.3 | 13MP, f/2.2 | The Zenfone’s slightly wider aperture may perform marginally better in low light |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.0 | No | The Mi 11 includes a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots, which the Zenfone lacks. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K | Up to 8K | Both offer high-quality video recording capabilities, including 8K resolution and various HDR and stabilization features. |
| DXOMark | Selfie: 112 | Mobile: 125 | The Zenfone has a better overall mobile camera score than Mi 11’s selfie camera score, but Mi 11 is missing mobile and Zenfone is missing selfie. |
| Camera Features | Laser AF, Ultra stable video, Manual Focus | Gimbal, PDAF, Exposure compensation | Both offer various features for capturing high-quality photos and videos. The Zenfone’s gimbal gives more stable videos compared to Mi 11’s “ultra stable video”. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 5500mAh | The Zenfone's larger battery provides significantly longer usage time before needing to recharge. |
| Charging | 55W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | The Zenfone charges slightly faster, which is convenient for topping up the battery quickly. |
| Wireless Charging | 50W Wireless Charging | 15W Wireless Charging | Mi 11 has significantly faster wireless charging |
| Reverse Charging | 10W Reverse Wireless Charging | 10W Reverse Wired Charging | Mi 11 can wirelessly charge other devices, while Zenfone must be physically connected. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: More comfortable for extended use.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density for improved visual clarity.
- Macro Camera: Dedicated lens for close-up photography.
- Faster Wireless Charging: 50W wireless charging allows for much faster wireless charging than the 15W of the Zenfone 11 Ultra.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Allows for the wireless charging of devices such as ear buds.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Performance: Newer chipset and GPU for superior speed and responsiveness.
- Brighter Display: Much better outdoor visibility in sunlight.
- Larger Battery: Longer usage time between charges.
- Telephoto Lens: Provides better optical zoom capabilities.
- Newer Software: Comes with a newer version of Android with extended software update support.
- Gimbal Stabilization: Provides better video stability.
- Newer Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth versions, providing faster connections.
Trade-offs:
- The Mi 11 offers a slightly sharper display, macro camera and reverse wireless charging but is significantly less powerful.
- The Zenfone 11 Ultra is heavier but has a much longer battery life, a brighter screen, a better telephoto lens, faster charging and better performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 - Ideal User:
- Casual User: Someone who prioritizes a lighter phone and a sharper screen for everyday tasks like browsing and media consumption.
- Photography Enthusiast: Users who enjoy macro photography and value a higher-resolution main camera.
- Budget-Conscious: Those who want a premium display and camera without the highest processing power, might value the price to performance ratio.
- Wireless Charging Aficionado: Users who prioritize fast wireless charging and the ability to charge other devices wirelessly
Use Cases:
- Daily browsing and social media.
- Casual photography with macro shooting.
- Watching videos and movies.
- Reading and document viewing, where text clarity is important.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra - Ideal User:
- Power User: Someone who requires top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
- Outdoor Enthusiast: Those who need excellent visibility under bright sunlight.
- Traveler: Users who value long battery life and superior zoom capabilities.
- Videography: Users who value video quality and video stability via a gimbal.
- Future-Proof Buyer: Someone who wants the latest connectivity and software updates.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming.
- High-quality video recording and playback.
- Professional use cases requiring demanding processing.
- Extended use while traveling.
- Photography requiring optical zoom.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: How important is cutting-edge performance for your typical use cases?
- Display Priorities: Do you value sharpness or brightness more?
- Battery and Charging: How important is long battery life and fast charging?
- Camera Requirements: Do you need macro or zoom capabilities?
- Connectivity: Do you value the newest wifi and bluetooth versions?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gaming and Power Usage - Choose the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra. Its superior processing power, better battery and higher refresh rate will provide a much better experience.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious Media Consumption and Photography: - The Xiaomi Mi 11 is a viable choice. It has a sharp screen, capable main camera and offers decent value for its price if the higher processing power isn't a priority.
- Scenario 3: Heavy outdoor use with long battery requirements: The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra has the brighter display and much bigger battery, which would be ideal for such situations.
- Scenario 4: Photography and Video Capture - The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is better due to its telephoto lens and gimbal stabilization. However, if you prioritize macro photography, the Xiaomi Mi 11 may be more suitable.
- Scenario 5: Future Proofing: The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is the better choice due to its newer chipset, software, and connectivity options.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would go with the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra. While I appreciate the lighter weight and sharper screen of the Xiaomi Mi 11, the performance gap is too significant to ignore. The Zenfone's superior processing power, brighter display, longer battery life, telephoto lens, and newer connectivity options offer a much more compelling and future-proof package. The gimbal stabilization for video is also a great addition, which puts the Zenfone ahead for me.
Although I'm not a heavy gamer, I do value smooth performance and long battery life for everyday use, and the Zenfone 11 Ultra delivers on both. The improvements in screen brightness are also a big plus for outdoor use. While the Mi 11's macro lens is nice to have, I find the overall improvements of the Zenfone more beneficial.
