1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.1 mm | 161.8 x 74.2 x 8.6 mm | Xiaomi Mi 11 is slightly taller, Blackview A96 is slightly thicker; the size difference is not substantial and both are considered standard smartphone sizes. |
| Weight | 196g | 193.9g | Negligible difference; both phones feel similar in hand. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.5" | Xiaomi Mi 11 offers a larger screen for a more immersive viewing experience, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 1080 x 2400 | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a significantly sharper display with much more detail; better for reading text, viewing high-resolution photos and videos. |
| PPI | 515 | 405 | Xiaomi Mi 11 provides noticeably crisper images; individual pixels are harder to see, contributing to a smoother visual experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Xiaomi Mi 11 has superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors and better power efficiency, especially for dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones provide a smooth scrolling and gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi Mi 11's screen is much brighter, making it significantly more visible in direct sunlight, while information on the Blackview A96 is missing, which may indicate a low brightness panel. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a much more powerful chipset; significantly faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 423,393 | Xiaomi Mi 11 provides a substantially better user experience overall, especially for demanding tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G57 MC2 | Xiaomi Mi 11's GPU is significantly more powerful, resulting in better graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 108MP | 48MP | Xiaomi Mi 11 captures much more detailed images, particularly in well-lit conditions, enabling greater flexibility for cropping. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.85 | f/1.6 | Blackview A96's wider aperture may slightly improve low-light performance, but this may not offset the smaller sensor. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.33" | 1/2" | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a larger sensor that captures more light, resulting in better image quality with less noise. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | Xiaomi Mi 11 captures more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Sensor Size | 1/3.4" | 1/3" | Blackview A96 has a larger sensor which may capture more light. |
| Wide-Angle Camera Resolution | 13MP | 8MP | Xiaomi Mi 11 captures higher-resolution wide-angle photos. |
| Wide-Angle Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/2.4 | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a slightly wider aperture which may slightly improve the image capture. |
| Macro Camera Resolution | 5MP | 2MP | Xiaomi Mi 11 captures higher-resolution macro photos. |
| Macro Camera Aperture | f/2 | f/2.4 | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a significantly wider aperture which may greatly improve image capture. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K | Up to 1440p | Xiaomi Mi 11 captures higher quality videos, especially if you want to create professional-grade videos. |
| Stabilization | Yes (EIS and OIS) | No | Xiaomi Mi 11 offers significantly better video stabilization, resulting in smoother videos, while the Blackview A96 seems to lack it. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4600 mAh | 4380 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 11 provides a slightly longer battery life; the difference is not significant. |
| Charging Speed | 55W Fast Charging | 18W Fast Charging | Xiaomi Mi 11 charges much faster; drastically reducing charging time. |
| Additional Features | 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless charging | None | Xiaomi Mi 11 offers more charging flexibility; enabling wireless charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Superior Display: Larger, higher resolution AMOLED screen with much better brightness and image quality, offering a far more enjoyable viewing experience, particularly outdoors.
- Significantly Higher Performance: More powerful processor and GPU, enabling smoother multitasking, gaming and app usage.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution cameras with better sensor technology, resulting in higher quality photos and videos with more details, especially in good lighting conditions.
- Faster Charging: Much faster 55W wired charging and additional wireless charging capabilities resulting in shorter charging times and more flexibility.
- Advanced Features: Supports newer Wi-Fi standards, advanced Bluetooth codecs, and more GPS systems for better connectivity and location accuracy.
Blackview A96 Advantages:
- Newer Software: Runs a newer version of Android (13 vs 11), potentially offering more recent features and security patches.
- Slightly Smaller and Lighter: May feel slightly more compact in hand, although the differences are not substantial.
- Wider aperture on the main camera: Slightly improved low light performance on the main camera.
- Larger sensor size on the selfie camera: Slightly improved low light performance on the selfie camera.
- More advanced Fingerprint sensor: Side mounted, which might be more ergonomic and comfortable to use.
Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi Mi 11: Older operating system, potentially less security updates, and a higher price point when compared with Blackview A96.
- Blackview A96: Significantly weaker performance, lower quality display, slower charging, and poorer camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11:
- Ideal Users: Users who prioritize performance, display quality, and camera capabilities. Tech enthusiasts, gamers, and frequent media consumers will appreciate the higher specifications.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming with smooth graphics and responsiveness.
- Watching high-resolution movies and videos.
- Professional-quality photography and videography.
- Demanding tasks like video editing and heavy multitasking.
- Users who value better connectivity and location accuracy.
- Users who prioritize speed for wired and wireless charging.
- Price-to-Value: While it might be more expensive than the Blackview A96, it offers significantly better specifications and performance, providing better value for users with a higher budget.
Blackview A96:
- Ideal Users: Users who prefer a budget-friendly option, with decent basic performance for daily tasks, and value having a more recent version of Android.
- Use Cases:
- General smartphone use like web browsing, social media, and messaging.
- Casual gaming.
- Users who don't require high-end camera or display quality.
- Users who want a newer Android version.
- Users who value a side mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Users who prefer to save money when purchasing a new device.
- Price-to-Value: Provides good value for its price point, offering reasonable performance and functionality at a lower cost, making it suitable for budget-conscious users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (e.g., gaming, social media, photography, productivity)
- How important is display quality to you? (e.g., resolution, brightness, color accuracy)
- What is your budget? (e.g., are you willing to pay more for premium features or prefer a more budget-friendly device)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance User - You are a heavy gamer, media consumer, and multitasker, always on the go and require a phone with excellent performance and a great display. Recommendation: Xiaomi Mi 11 is the superior choice.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious User - You prioritize affordability and require a basic smartphone for daily tasks, while valuing a newer version of Android. Recommendation: Blackview A96 is a more suitable and budget-friendly choice.
- Scenario 3: Camera Enthusiast - You take a lot of photos and videos, prioritize high image quality. Recommendation: Xiaomi Mi 11 offers significantly better camera capabilities, especially in good lighting conditions.
What I Would Choose
I would choose the Xiaomi Mi 11.
Here's why:
While the Blackview A96 is a newer device with a more recent version of Android, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is superior in almost every other aspect that matters to me. The drastically better display with high resolution, brightness and AMOLED technology is something I heavily value. As someone who watches a lot of video content and does photo editing, this is a deal breaker. Moreover, the vastly superior performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 888, and the far better camera capabilities, is something I would not want to compromise on. While it is true that the Blackview A96 provides a slightly better aperture for low-light shots, its small sensor size means that the Xiaomi Mi 11 will capture more information and produce better quality pictures and videos. The inclusion of features like 8K recording and OIS, make it a clear winner. In addition, the much faster wired and wireless charging on the Xiaomi Mi 11 makes a big difference in my daily life, which justifies the increased price, as I wouldn't want to be held back by long charging times.
In conclusion, while the Blackview A96 might be a good option for a more budget conscious user, the Xiaomi Mi 11 provides a significantly better user experience overall, which would make it my device of choice.
