1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Physical Size | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 162.3 × 79 × 8.6 mm | Mi 11 is taller but narrower, S24 Ultra is wider and thicker making the S24 Ultra feel larger in the hand, Mi 11 is more pocketable. |
| Weight | 196g | 232g | Mi 11 is significantly lighter making it more comfortable for extended use and single-handed operation. S24 Ultra can feel bulky. |
| Build | Not specified | Not specified | Missing data - Cannot comment on build materials/durability |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in size. Both offer a large viewing area. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1440x3120 | Extremely similar resolutions; Both offer very sharp images. |
| PPI | 515 | 505 | Negligible difference in pixel density. Both offer very sharp displays. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Not specified | Xiaomi Mi 11 has an AMOLED display, known for vibrant colors, deep blacks and better power efficiency for dark themes, if the S24 Ultra is not AMOLED (data missing) that would give it a significant display disadvantage. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 2600 nits | S24 Ultra offers much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. Mi 11 might struggle in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | S24 Ultra's newer chipset provides significantly faster processing, better power efficiency, and improved AI capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 1,814,869 | S24 Ultra is dramatically more powerful, leading to snappier performance, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | S24 Ultra's GPU offers better graphics performance for demanding tasks and gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.85, 1/1.33" | 200MP, f/1.7, 1/1.3" | S24 Ultra's main sensor captures more detail and performs better in low-light conditions. |
| Telephoto + portrait | None | 50MP, f/2.4, 1/1.56" | S24 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed photos and portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4" | 12MP, f/2.2 | Mi 11's selfie camera has higher resolution, however, other factors affect the final quality (not specified for the S24 Ultra sensor size) |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/3.4, 1/3.52" | S24 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens for longer range zooming. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.3, 1/3.06" | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" | S24 Ultra's wide angle lens provides higher sensor size and wider aperture offering better low light performance. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.0, 1/5" | None | Mi 11 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24/30fps HDR, EIS | Up to 8K@24/30fps HDR, EIS, Stereo Sound | Both offer excellent video recording capabilities, S24 Ultra has stereo sound. |
| DxoMark | Selfie: 112 (Overall), 100 (Photo), 133 (Video) | Mobile: 144 (Overall), 144 (Photo), 137 (Video) | S24 Ultra has a significantly better overall camera score, especially for standard photography, while the Mi 11 excels in selfie video. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 5000mAh | S24 Ultra's larger battery may offer slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 55W fast charging | 45W fast charging | Mi 11 charges faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless | 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless, Bypass Charging | Mi 11 offers faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, S24 Ultra can charge while playing games reducing battery wear and heat. |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 14 (Upgradable to 21) | S24 Ultra has the latest OS and will get more software updates, meaning it will be supported longer. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | S24 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 6E, providing faster speeds and lower latency on compatible networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 | S24 Ultra's newer Bluetooth offers improved power efficiency and better connection stability. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1 + L5) | Mi 11 supports additional satellite systems for improved location accuracy in certain regions. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano/eSIM) | S24 Ultra supports eSIM, offering more flexibility in managing multiple phone numbers. |
Storage & Security
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | S24 Ultra offers significantly higher storage options. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 12 GB | Both provide enough RAM for smooth multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows storage expansion. |
| Fingerprint Sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both provide basic biometric security. |
Audio & Other
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Mi 11 offers slightly better audio quality overall, but S24 Ultra has noise cancellation for clearer calls. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Armor | Both offer top tier screen protection but the S24 Ultra's is slightly better. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Heart Rate; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Proximity: Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Environmental: Barometer, Hall, Geomagnetic | S24 Ultra includes more Environmental sensors useful for various applications; Mi 11 includes heart rate monitoring. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Lighter and more compact: More comfortable for one-handed use and carrying.
- Faster wired charging: Gets you back up and running quicker.
- Hi-Res Audio & more microphones: Slightly better audio experience for music and recordings.
- Heart rate sensor: For health tracking.
- Dedicated Macro lens: Allows closer photos.
- Better Selfie video score: DxoMark results show a better selfie video experience.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Advantages:
- Much faster performance: Newer chipset offers a significant performance boost in all areas.
- Significantly brighter display: Better visibility in sunlight.
- Superior main camera: Larger sensor, better resolution, and low-light performance.
- More versatile camera system: Dedicated telephoto lenses for zoom, and a better ultrawide, along with improved camera performance according to DxoMark.
- Bypass Charging: Reduces battery wear and heat while gaming.
- Latest Android version: Will get more software updates.
- More storage options: Up to 1TB of storage.
- eSIM support: Allows for more flexibility with carriers.
- Better screen protection: Newer Corning Gorilla Glass provides superior scratch and drop resistance.
- Better Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth.
- More sensors: Including barometer, hall and geomagnetic sensors.
Trade-offs:
- Mi 11: Trades raw power and camera versatility for a lighter design and faster charging.
- S24 Ultra: Trades a lighter design and faster charging speed for significantly better performance, display, camera system, and software support.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Looking for a good deal on a high-performance older phone.
- Users who value portability: Prefer a lightweight and more compact device.
- Multimedia enthusiasts: Users who enjoy consuming content and making recordings.
- Users who prioritize fast charging: Want to get their phone charged as quickly as possible.
Specific Use Cases:
- Casual gaming and everyday app use.
- Content consumption and browsing.
- Users who do not need high-end camera capabilities.
- Users who value lighter phones.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Ideal Users:
- Power users: Need the best performance for gaming, multitasking, and productivity.
- Photography enthusiasts: Want top-tier camera capabilities and versatility.
- Users who value screen quality: Need excellent visibility in all lighting conditions.
- Users who prioritize long-term software support: Want to have a phone that's up to date for a long time.
- Business Professionals: Value higher storage capacity and long battery life.
Specific Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming and intensive tasks.
- Professional photography and videography.
- Users who value top-tier camera performance.
- Users who need to have long software update support.
- Users who need higher storage capacity.
- Outdoor use and content creation in bright conditions.
Price-to-Value: The Mi 11 offers a decent value for the price if you are looking for a high-end older phone. The S24 Ultra is a premium flagship phone, and its price reflects that.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance? If you need the best performance available go for the S24 Ultra.
- How important is camera quality and versatility? S24 Ultra has the best overall camera system.
- How much do you value portability vs a bigger display? The Mi 11 is smaller and lighter but the S24 Ultra offers a better display.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If you are on a tighter budget, the Mi 11 offers a high-end experience at a lower price.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Camera Focused User: The S24 Ultra is the best choice due to its superior performance, display and camera capabilities.
- Scenario 3: User who values Portability: The Mi 11 is lighter, more compact and therefore more portable.
My Choice
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. While the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a good device, the S24 Ultra provides an objectively superior experience in almost every aspect that matters in today's smartphones. The significantly faster processor, better display, more versatile camera system and longer software support outweigh the Mi 11's slightly lighter design and slightly faster wired charging. The S24 Ultra offers a true flagship experience that's worth the extra investment. The better performance is crucial for multitasking and mobile gaming. The vastly improved camera is significant for content creation, the screen is far better for outdoor use and the device offers a longer term of support.
