Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Mi 11 vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed breakdown of the specifications with a focus on their practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.9 mm | The Red Magic 9 Pro is slightly wider and thicker, making it feel bulkier in hand. |
| Weight | 196g | 229g | The Mi 11 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. The Red Magic 9 Pro’s extra weight may lead to fatigue, especially during gaming. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.81" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in screen real estate; both are large. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1116x2480 | The Mi 11 offers noticeably sharper images and text due to higher resolution. The Red Magic 9 Pro's resolution might appear slightly less sharp, especially for detailed content. |
| PPI | 515 | 400 | The Mi 11's higher pixel density results in a more detailed and crisp visual experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both provide vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1600 nits | The Red Magic 9 Pro has better outdoor visibility with slightly brighter display. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Red Magic 9 Pro's newer chip offers significantly improved performance, faster app loading, better multitasking and gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 2,020,000 | The Red Magic 9 Pro is much faster in raw performance benchmarks, indicating much smoother and quicker operation. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | The Red Magic 9 Pro has a more powerful GPU, providing better gaming and graphics-intensive application performance. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.85, 1/1.33" | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.57" | Mi 11 has higher resolution and slightly larger sensor for more detail and better low light performance; Red Magic has wider aperture. The Mi 11 will likely capture more detail in bright conditions, but the Red Magic will perform slightly better in very low light due to larger pixel size |
| Front Camera | 20MP, f/2.3, 1/3.4" | 16MP, f/2.0, 1/3.06" | The Mi 11 offers slightly higher detail with higher resolution but the Red Magic 9 Pro will have better low-light performance and capture more light due to larger aperture. |
| Rear Wide Angle | 13MP, f/2.3, 1/3.06" | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76" | The Red Magic 9 Pro has higher resolution, larger sensor, and wider aperture for better wide angle shots. |
| Rear Macro | 5MP, f/2.0, 1/5" | 2MP, f/2.4 | Mi 11’s Macro lens is better in both resolution and aperture. |
| Video | 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS, 1080p@240fps with HDR, EIS; Yes; Slow-motion: 480 fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps; No; Slow-motion: 240 fps | Both have similar capabilities, but the Mi 11 provides more recording options with its HDR and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS). The Mi 11 also has higher slow-motion capture capabilities. |
| DxoMark Selfie Score | Main: 112, Photo: 100, Video: 133 | Not Available | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a much more powerful front camera according to DxoMark, it’s more reliable for selfie capture. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 6500mAh | The Red Magic 9 Pro has a much larger battery, offering significantly longer usage times between charges. |
| Charging | 55W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless Charging | 80W Fast Charging | Red Magic 9 Pro charges faster; Mi 11 supports wireless charging, which the Red Magic lacks. |
| Battery Features | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 2*2250mAh, 10W reverse wireless charging | Bypass Charging, Non-removable | Mi 11 supports reverse charging and wireless charging. Red Magic has bypass charging, which can prevent battery degradation by powering the phone directly from the adapter. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner Design: More comfortable for daily use and prolonged handheld usage.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and PPI offers a more detailed visual experience, ideal for reading and viewing high-resolution images.
- Wireless Charging: A convenient feature not available in the Red Magic 9 Pro.
- Reverse Charging: Can be used to charge other devices wirelessly, which can be useful in a pinch.
- Better Front Camera The Mi 11 features a much better selfie camera.
- More Video Recording Features: Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) support will allow for smoother videos.
- Better Build Quality: Features a more robust Gorilla Glass Victus screen protection.
- Extra Sensors: Heart Rate and Ultrasonic proximity sensors.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers a massive performance leap, making it much faster for demanding tasks, multitasking and gaming.
- Significantly Longer Battery Life: Larger battery provides much longer usage times between charges.
- Faster Charging: 80W charging is faster than the Mi 11's 55W.
- Better Rear Camera: Offers better wide angle camera with higher resolution and aperture.
- Better Low Light Selfie: Due to a wider aperture the selfie camera will perform better in low light situations.
- Gimbal Stabilization: Provides additional video stabilization options
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 14 out of the box, compared to Mi 11's Android 11 (upgradable to 14).
- Bypass Charging: Extends battery health by directly powering the phone from the charger when gaming.
- Newer WiFi Standard: WiFi 7 offers faster and more stable connections.
- More RAM: The ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro can have up to 16GB of RAM.
Trade-offs:
- The Mi 11 sacrifices raw performance and battery life for a lighter design and a sharper display. It's better for multimedia consumption and daily tasks.
- The Red Magic 9 Pro prioritizes performance, battery, and gaming features at the cost of a bulkier design and higher weight. It’s designed more for mobile gaming enthusiasts and power users.
- Camera Trade-offs: The Mi 11 has a better primary camera, but the Red Magic 9 Pro has a better wide angle and slightly better low-light selfie camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal User:
- General Users: Who need a well-rounded device for daily tasks, media consumption, and occasional photography.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Who appreciate the high-resolution screen and stereo speakers for watching videos, listening to music, and social media.
- Users who value comfort and aesthetics: Lighter weight, thinner profile, and wireless charging makes it ideal for daily use.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Ideal User:
- Hardcore Gamers: Who need top-tier performance, long battery life, and advanced cooling to play mobile games at maximum settings.
- Power Users: Who need a device that can handle demanding tasks and workflows without stuttering.
- Users who prioritize performance and battery above all else: The Red Magic 9 Pro is the better choice for gaming and very demanding applications.
- Users looking for a future proof device: It ships with the newest Android OS and newer connectivity technologies
4. Decision Framework
Here are three key questions buyers should consider:
- What is your primary use case?
- Gaming and High Performance: Choose the Red Magic 9 Pro for top-tier performance, long battery life and bypass charging.
- General Use and Media Consumption: Choose the Mi 11 for its lighter build, sharper display, and wireless charging.
- How important is battery life?
- If a very long battery life is critical, the Red Magic 9 Pro is the clear choice.
- If battery life is not the primary focus, the Mi 11 may suffice.
- What do you value more: overall comfort, sharpness, and wireless charging features, or raw performance?
- If you prefer a lighter, more comfortable device with a sharper screen, choose the Mi 11.
- If you prefer maximum performance and gaming features at the cost of weight, choose the Red Magic 9 Pro.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gaming Enthusiast: The Red Magic 9 Pro is the superior choice due to its faster performance, better battery life and bypass charging features.
- Scenario 2: Casual User: The Xiaomi Mi 11 is better for everyday use, comfortable handheld usage and multimedia consumption.
- Scenario 3: Professional Photographer: The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a better primary camera and DxoMark Selfie camera rating.
- Scenario 4: User Who Values Battery Life: The Red Magic 9 Pro will offer a much better battery experience due to its larger capacity.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would personally go with the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro. While I appreciate the lighter build and sharper display of the Xiaomi Mi 11, the raw performance of the Red Magic 9 Pro is too significant to ignore, especially for future-proofing my purchase. The massive battery advantage is also a key consideration for me as I often find myself away from power sources for extended periods of time. Furthermore, as a gamer, the additional gaming features and better thermals are very appealing. While the Mi 11 offers some appealing features like wireless charging, the performance gap is simply too wide for me to pass up. The Red Magic 9 Pro will handle any demanding task and will remain relevant for much longer.
