1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 163 × 76 × 8 mm | Mi 11 is slightly taller, Note 12 Pro is slightly wider; minimal practical difference for most users |
| Weight | 196g | 187g | Note 12 Pro is lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.67" | Mi 11 offers a slightly larger display for more immersive viewing |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2400 | Mi 11 has a sharper, more detailed display; noticeable difference for reading and high-resolution content |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 515 | 395 | Mi 11 display appears significantly sharper; Note 12 Pro will be less crisp |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animation |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 900 nits | Mi 11 is much better for outdoor visibility in bright sunlight; Note 12 Pro might be harder to see outside |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) | Mi 11's Snapdragon 888 is significantly more powerful; Note 12 Pro is good for day-to-day tasks |
| Antutu Score | 806,139 | 573,200 | Mi 11 delivers faster app loading and smoother gaming experience |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G68 MC4 | Mi 11 has a more powerful GPU; better graphics rendering for games and demanding tasks |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.85, 1/1.33", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | Mi 11 has higher resolution, larger sensor; better detail and low-light performance |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 16MP | Mi 11 has higher resolution front camera for clearer selfies |
| Wide-Angle Camera | 13MP, f/2.3, 1/3.06", 1.12µm | 8MP, f/1.9 | Mi 11 has higher resolution, Note 12 Pro has a wider aperture; Xiaomi Mi 11 provides better details in wide photos |
| Macro Camera | 5MP, f/2.0, 1/5", 1.12µm | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm | Mi 11 has higher resolution and wider aperture for better macro shots |
| Video | Up to 8K @ 30fps | Up to 4K @ 30fps | Mi 11 offers significantly higher video resolution for professional use cases |
| DxOMark | Selfie: 112 (Main), 133 (Video) | Mobile: 102 (Main), 98 (Video) | Mi 11 Selfie camera performs better, Note 12 Pro's main camera performs slightly better in photos |
| Features | 8K Video, Laser AF, AF Assist Beam | PDAF, Exposure compensation, Night Mode | Mi 11 features for advanced focus and videography, Note 12 Pro offers practical modes for standard use |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4600 mAh | 5000 mAh | Note 12 Pro has a slightly larger battery, potentially longer battery life |
| Charging | 55W Fast Charging | 67W Fast Charging | Note 12 Pro charges slightly faster; minimal practical impact on daily charging |
| Features | 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless, Reverse charging | None | Mi 11 has wireless charging options; very convenient for charging other devices |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 12 (no max version specified) | Note 12 Pro has a more recent Android version out of the box, but Mi 11 can upgrade to Android 14 |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support modern Wi-Fi standards |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 with aptX | 5.2 with SBC | Mi 11 supports better audio codecs (aptX) for higher fidelity audio over Bluetooth |
| GPS | Extensive, including L1+L5 bands | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), QZSS (L1 + L5) | Mi 11 supports more satellite systems for potentially better accuracy |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 128/256 GB | Both offer the same storage options |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 6/8/12 GB | Both have 12GB options, but base model on the Note 12 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM rather than 8GB in Mi 11. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Mi 11 offers higher quality audio, and better voice capture; Note 12 Pro has Dolby Atmos for better audio immersion |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Note 12 Pro has more modern fingerprint sensor location |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Mi 11 uses superior screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Heart Rate; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Proximity: Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Mi 11 has more comprehensive sensor suite |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution (1440p vs 1080p) and much higher brightness (1500 nits vs 900 nits) resulting in sharper visuals and better outdoor visibility.
- More Powerful Performance: Flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset significantly outperforms the Dimensity 1080, translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Higher Camera Specs: Main camera has a higher resolution, larger sensor, and more detailed wide-angle and macro cameras.
- Advanced Video Capabilities: Up to 8K video recording capabilities, not available in Note 12 Pro.
- Wireless Charging: Offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, providing convenient charging options.
- Better Audio Features: Offers Hi-Res Audio, and dual microphones for recording and calls.
- Better GPS: More satellite systems.
- Better Screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
- Additional Sensors: Heart rate sensor and Ultrasonic Proximity sensor
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Advantages:
- Newer Phone: Launched almost a year later, benefitting from some software optimizations and newer hardware.
- Marginally Better Battery Life: Slightly larger battery (5000 mAh vs 4600 mAh), for potentially longer usage.
- Faster Charging: Slightly faster 67W wired charging compared to 55W of Mi 11.
- More Modern Fingerprint Sensor: Side-mounted sensor may be more convenient than the Mi 11's basic sensor.
- Dolby Atmos Offers Dolby Atmos for better audio immersion.
- Mobile Camera performance Slightly better photos taken by the main camera
Trade-offs:
- The Mi 11, while offering superior display and performance, sacrifices some battery capacity compared to the Redmi Note 12 Pro.
- The Redmi Note 12 Pro offers faster charging and a more modern fingerprint sensor, but compromises in display quality, performance and camera capabilities.
- The Mi 11 has higher DxOMark scores for the front-facing selfie camera while the Note 12 Pro has higher scores for the main, rear-facing camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Individuals who demand top-tier performance for gaming, heavy multitasking, and resource-intensive applications.
- Media Consumers: Those who prioritize a high-quality display for watching videos, browsing photos, and reading content, especially under sunlight.
- Photography/Videography Enthusiasts: Users who want advanced camera features, high-resolution video recording, and a comprehensive camera system.
- Users that prefer Wireless Charging: Individuals that like the convenience of wireless charging.
Users that prioritize audio quality: Those that require the best quality audio playback and voice recording/calls.
- Specific Use Cases: High-end gaming, professional-level video recording, outdoor usage (e.g., navigation, photography), editing media on the go.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Ideal Users:
- Everyday Users: Individuals who need a reliable phone for daily tasks, social media, and casual gaming.
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for good features and performance at a more accessible price point.
- Users that prioritize Battery Life: Those looking for longer battery life.
- Users that prioritize the latest software: Individuals that prefer to have the latest software out of the box.
Users that prioritize good quality photos: Those who need a good camera for everyday photos.
- Specific Use Cases: Day-to-day usage, social media browsing, casual gaming, extended battery life for long days, night-time photography
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What's your primary use case? (Gaming, Media Consumption, Photography, Daily Use)
- How important is display quality to you? (Sharpness, Brightness, Outdoor visibility)
- Is maximum performance or extended battery life more important?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Performance and Display are Key. If your priority is a top-tier display and the best performance for gaming and demanding apps, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is the clear choice.
- Scenario 2: Budget and Everyday Use. If you need a capable phone for daily tasks at a more affordable price, prioritize battery life and don't need cutting-edge performance, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is a good fit.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Experience. If you want a combination of good battery, a decent camera, and some gaming capabilities while not having the largest budget, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is a better choice.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Xiaomi Mi 11. While the Redmi Note 12 Pro offers some advantages like slightly better battery life, and a more modern fingerprint sensor, the Mi 11 simply excels in areas that are more important to me:
- Superior Display Quality: The higher resolution and brightness make a significant difference for my daily usage, including browsing, reading, and watching videos.
- Better Performance: I appreciate the smoother experience and faster load times, which are noticeable in everyday tasks and more demanding applications.
- Better cameras: I prefer the cameras of the Xiaomi Mi 11 because the photos come out clearer and with more details.
- Wireless Charging: The wireless charging is a big plus for me.
While it's a bit older, the Mi 11's performance still holds up well in 2024, and its display is a noticeable upgrade compared to the Redmi Note 12 Pro. The trade-off in battery life is acceptable for me given the other benefits.
