1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.1 mm | 162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm | Mi 11 is slightly taller and thinner; Poco F5 Pro is a bit shorter, wider and thicker; Overall similar size, slight difference in feel in hand. |
| Weight | 196g | 204g | Mi 11 is lighter by 8g, may be slightly more comfortable for extended use. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.67" | Mi 11 offers a slightly larger screen, better for media consumption. Poco F5 Pro is a bit more compact. |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 | 1440 x 3200 | Identical resolution, both offer sharp and detailed visuals. |
| Pixel Density | 515 PPI | 526 PPI | Very similar pixel density, virtually no difference in sharpness. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1400 nits | Mi 11 has a slight advantage in outdoor visibility under bright sunlight, but only by a small margin. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) | Poco F5 Pro has a newer, more powerful and more efficient chipset resulting in faster performance and better battery life. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 1,317,798 | Poco F5 Pro offers significantly better performance, faster app loading, and smoother gaming experience. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | Poco F5 Pro has a more powerful GPU, leading to better graphics in games and demanding apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.85, 1/1.33" sensor | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | Mi 11 has higher resolution and a larger sensor, potentially better in low light; Poco F5 Pro has a slightly wider aperture |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4" sensor | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06" sensor | Mi 11 has a higher resolution; Poco F5 Pro has a slightly larger pixel size |
| Wide Angle | 13MP, f/2.3, 1/3.06" sensor | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" sensor | Mi 11 offers higher resolution and a larger sensor; Poco F5 Pro offers wider aperture |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.0, 1/5" sensor | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | Mi 11 offers higher resolution and wider aperture |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps, various HDR modes | Up to 8K@24fps, EIS | Both support 8K video; Poco F5 Pro offers higher frame rate for slow-motion |
| Additional Features | Laser AF, AF assist Beam | Flicker sensor, Noise reduction, PDAF, Exposure compensation, Night Mode | Poco F5 Pro offers more advanced features for better photo and video quality |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 5160mAh | Poco F5 Pro offers a significantly larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 55W wired, 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless | 67W wired, 30W wireless | Poco F5 Pro has faster wired charging; Mi 11 has reverse wireless charging |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Both are non-removable batteries |
Other
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | Android 13 | Poco F5 Pro comes with a newer OS out of the box, which also indicates better support |
| Storage | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | Poco F5 Pro offers more storage options |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 | Poco F5 Pro offers a newer Bluetooth standard |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 | Both phones offer the same standard |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, Hi-Res audio, 2 microphones | Stereo speakers, Hi-Res audio, Dolby Atmos | Poco F5 Pro has slightly better audio experience with Dolby Atmos |
| Build Quality | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass 5 | Mi 11 offers superior screen protection |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Slightly Larger Display: 6.81" screen is better for media consumption and multitasking.
- Higher Brightness: 1500 nits peak brightness offers slightly better visibility under bright sunlight.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: 108MP sensor may offer slightly more detailed shots in good lighting conditions.
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Useful for charging other devices.
- Superior Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers better protection against scratches and damage.
- Heart Rate Sensor: Provides additional health tracking metrics.
- Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor: Provides better proximity sensing accuracy
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro Advantages:
- Newer, More Powerful Chipset: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers significantly better performance and efficiency.
- Significantly Higher AnTuTu Score: Shows superior processing power.
- Larger Battery: 5160mAh battery should offer considerably better battery life.
- Faster Wired Charging: 67W charging is faster than Mi 11's 55W.
- Newer Operating System: Ships with Android 13.
- Larger Storage Options: Available with up to 512GB of internal storage.
- Newer Bluetooth Standard: Bluetooth 5.3 may offer slightly better connectivity.
- Dolby Atmos: Enhanced audio for better sound quality, separation and immersion.
- Slow motion recording The Poco F5 Pro can record slow-motion at 1920fps, while the Mi 11 is limited to 480 fps.
- Additional Camera Features: Including Flicker sensor, Noise Reduction, PDAF, Exposure compensation and Night mode.
Trade-offs
- The Mi 11 is a bit older, but has more mature software and better known reliability. The Poco F5 Pro is newer, and there might be some teething issues early in its product cycle.
- The Mi 11 has a slightly larger display, but the Poco F5 Pro has a much more powerful processor and a better battery.
- The Mi 11 offers more advanced wireless charging capabilities, but the Poco F5 Pro has faster wired charging.
- The Mi 11 has higher resolution main camera, but the Poco F5 Pro offers better overall image processing features.
- The Poco F5 Pro is slightly heavier than the Mi 11.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal User:
- Users valuing a large, high-quality display for media consumption and productivity.
- Users who prefer slightly lighter phones
- Users who frequently use wireless charging and reverse wireless charging features.
- Users who value display protection above all else.
- Users that value health tracking metrics such as heart rate.
- Users who don't require the absolute highest performance
- Users who prioritize known stability
Use Cases:
- Watching movies and videos due to the larger, high-quality screen.
- Extensive wireless charging users needing reverse wireless charging functionality.
- General productivity and browsing.
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro Ideal User:
- Users demanding top-tier performance for gaming and intensive apps.
- Users needing excellent battery life for extended usage.
- Users that prefer newer software
- Users looking for future-proof performance and storage.
- Users who prioritize fast charging.
- Users who appreciate better image processing features
- Users who use headphones a lot and will appreciate Dolby Atmos
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming and graphics-intensive applications.
- Power users who need all-day battery life.
- Users who prefer fast charging speeds.
- Users who care about better video recording capabilities, and additional features.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- The Poco F5 Pro generally offers a much better price-to-performance ratio due to its newer and more powerful chipset. The Mi 11, while still a good phone, may not be as competitive in terms of performance at the current prices on the market.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize raw performance and battery life, or is a slightly larger display and higher screen protection more important?
- How important are the latest software and features, compared to tried and tested stability?
- What is your primary usage pattern – do you game heavily, require long battery life, or are you more focused on media consumption?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Heavy Gaming/Power User: Choose the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, larger battery, and fast charging make it the clear winner for demanding tasks.
- Media Consumption/Everyday Use: If performance isn't a top priority, the Xiaomi Mi 11 could be suitable for users who value the slightly larger display, superior screen protection and better wireless charging capabilities.
- Budget Conscious: Consider the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro. It offers a much better price-to-performance ratio in the current market, with more relevant features for the current time.
What I would choose and why:
Based on the analysis, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro.
Here's why:
- Performance: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a significant leap in performance over the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming experiences, all of which are important to me.
- Battery Life: The larger 5160mAh battery is a major plus. It's more convenient to have a phone that lasts longer on a single charge than having to carry a charger around.
- Newer Software: The Poco F5 Pro comes with a newer Android version out of the box which also comes with better features and future support.
- Future-Proofing: The Poco F5 Pro's more modern chipset and faster RAM will keep it performing smoothly for longer.
- Camera Features: The additional camera features, such as PDAF, noise reduction, flicker sensor and night mode, on the Poco F5 Pro, provide better flexibility for taking photos and video.
- Price-to-Performance: Considering the performance boost and larger battery, the Poco F5 Pro offers a better price-to-performance ratio.
While the Mi 11's larger screen and superior screen protection are nice to have, the Poco F5 Pro's advantages in performance, battery life, and software ultimately outweigh those benefits for my use case. I value performance and battery life more, and the Poco F5 Pro is clearly superior in those categories. The additional camera features and storage options are also highly relevant for my needs.
Essentially, the Poco F5 Pro is a more modern and capable device that aligns better with my preference for performance and power.
