1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 163.6 × 74.7 × 9.1 mm | Honor is slightly shorter and thicker; overall size is similar. Thickness may impact pocket comfort. |
| Weight | 196g | 209g | Xiaomi is slightly lighter, possibly more comfortable for long use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.81" | Identical screen size, both good for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1312x2848 | Xiaomi has sharper text/images due to higher resolution; may be noticeable for pixel-peeping users. |
| PPI | 515 | 460 | Xiaomi's higher pixel density results in a sharper display, noticeable for reading small text and viewing detailed images. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; negligible real-world difference. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Smooth scrolling and animations on both devices, ideal for gaming and general use. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1000 nits | Xiaomi display is much brighter, significantly better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight; easier to see the display outside. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor's newer chip offers better performance and power efficiency. Expect smoother operation and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 945,832 | Honor is noticeably faster in benchmarks, implying a tangible performance advantage for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | Honor's newer GPU offers better graphics performance, potentially smoother gameplay and faster rendering in graphically intensive apps. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 4600mAh | Similar battery size suggests comparable all-day battery life with moderate use. |
| Charging | 55W fast charging | 100W fast charging | Honor charges much faster; full charge time significantly shorter. |
| Features | Reverse charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse-wireless charging, Non-removable, 2*2250mAh | Reverse charging, 100W wireless charging, Non-removable | Honor offers significantly faster wireless charging (100W vs 50W) |
| Camera | |||
| Standard | 108MP, f/1.85, 1/1.33", 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", 1.00µm | Xiaomi has higher resolution and a slightly larger sensor for better low-light performance, whereas the Honor has a larger pixel size, which also aids low light performance |
| Telephoto | None | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/2", 0.70µm | Honor has dedicated telephoto for optical zoom and portrait shots, which Xiaomi lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.3, 1/3.06", 1.12µm | None | Xiaomi has a dedicated wide-angle lens, enabling a wider field of view. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.2 | Honor offers a combined wide-angle and macro lens. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.0, 1/5", 1.12µm | None | Xiaomi has a dedicated macro lens, for close-up shots, but is lower resolution. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | 0.3MP | Honor has a ToF sensor for depth sensing, which may improve portrait mode effects. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4", 0.80µm | 12MP, f/2.4 | Xiaomi has a higher resolution and slightly wider aperture front camera; likely better selfie quality and low-light selfies. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K@60fps | Xiaomi can record higher resolution video up to 8K for more detailed video capture |
| DXOMark | Selfie: 112 | Mobile: 126 | Honor performs better in overall camera quality, while the Xiaomi performs better in selfies. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | Android 12 | Honor ships with a newer OS. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | Honor has higher storage options available. |
| RAM | 8/12GB | 8/12GB | Both options are great for multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Both do not offer expandable storage |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density for crisper visuals.
- Brighter Display: Significantly better outdoor visibility in sunlight.
- 8K Video Recording: Higher video quality and recording capabilities, beneficial for professional video creation.
- Higher Resolution Selfie: Potentially better quality selfies, especially in low-light conditions.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Enables users to capture detailed close-up shots.
- Wider-Angle Lens: Provides a broader perspective for landscape or group photography.
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Faster Performance: Newer chipset offers improved speed and efficiency.
- Faster Charging: Significantly quicker charging times, both wired and wireless.
- Telephoto Lens: Dedicated lens for optical zoom and portrait mode.
- Combined Wide-Angle and Macro Lens: Adds versatility to the camera system.
- ToF 3D Sensor: Enhances depth perception and portrait mode.
- Higher internal Storage Options: 512GB max internal storage is double the 256GB offered by the Xiaomi
- Newer OS Ships with newer Android version 12 over Xiaomi's Android 11 (upgradable to 14)
- Better overall camera score: As per DXOmark testing
Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi: sacrifices some raw processing power and charging speeds for a sharper, brighter display and greater versatility in camera lens options.
- Honor: trades some display sharpness, brightness and wide angle camera for a more powerful processor, faster charging, telephoto lens and better depth sensing technology.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal Users:
- Media Consumption Lovers: Those who prioritize a sharp and vibrant display for watching videos and browsing.
- Outdoor Users: People who frequently use their phone in bright sunlight and need excellent screen visibility.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who value versatility in their camera lens choices and seek macro and wide-angle capabilities.
- Video Creators: Users that require 8K resolution capture.
Use Cases:
- Watching movies and shows on the go.
- Capturing wide-angle landscapes and detailed close-up macro photography.
- Video blogging with high-resolution capture.
- Casual gamers who are okay with slightly less performance
Honor Magic4 Pro Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Those who demand top-tier performance for gaming and demanding apps.
- Busy Professionals: Individuals who need to quickly charge their phone and require a reliable, fast-charging device.
- Portrait Photographers: Users who appreciate optical zoom and improved depth sensing for portraits.
- Users who value camera performance: Based on the DXOmark score, the overall camera performance is better than the Xiaomi.
Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive games with smooth, high-frame rate performance.
- Taking professional-grade portrait photos.
- Quickly charging their phone during busy days or before going out.
- Using the phone extensively for work or demanding tasks.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Honor Magic4 Pro is the better value for price as it comes with more modern tech, better performance, faster charging, a more versatile camera system (with better image quality). The Xiaomi Mi 11 has the sharper and brighter display with a wide angle lens and macro lens, but it is an older phone at this point, making it slightly less desirable.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- Do you prioritize a sharper and brighter display over processing speed and faster charging? If yes, consider the Xiaomi.
- Do you need a telephoto lens for optical zoom and portrait mode, or a wide angle lens and macro lens? If telephoto is essential, consider the Honor.
- How important is faster charging and/or camera image quality to you? If they are very important, the Honor is the better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: "I'm an avid gamer and content creator": Choose the Honor Magic4 Pro. Its more powerful processor, quicker charging, and telephoto lens, are more beneficial.
- Scenario 2: "I love watching movies outdoors and taking diverse photos": Choose the Xiaomi Mi 11. Its brighter screen and higher-resolution display is great for multimedia, and the inclusion of both wide-angle and macro lenses provides added versatility.
- Scenario 3: "I need the best camera I can get, and fast charging is important to me": Choose the Honor Magic4 Pro, as it scores better in the DXOMark score, and has significantly faster charging speeds.
- Scenario 4: "I need a sharp and bright screen on a budget": While both phones offer great screens, the Xiaomi Mi 11 might be more cost-effective due to its age and it still offers a higher resolution, sharper and brighter screen.
My Choice
Based on these points, I would choose the Honor Magic4 Pro. The newer chipset provides better performance, it has faster charging (which is very useful), and a more versatile camera system that includes a telephoto lens and offers higher quality pictures (as per the DXOmark). While the Xiaomi has a sharper and brighter display, for me the faster overall performance and charging, combined with the newer camera technology on the Honor makes it the better overall device. The more powerful processor, charging speeds, and telephoto lens make a big difference in my typical daily use.
