Okay, let's dive deep into a comparison between the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S and the Honor 90. I'll break down the specs, provide real-world implications, and give you my take on which phone might be the right fit for you.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a detailed look at how these two phones stack up, focusing on what matters to you, the user:
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S | Honor 90 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| DESIGN | |||
| Physical Size | 159.9 × 73.9 × 8.1 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is a tad taller and thinner, might feel slightly more sleek in hand. |
| Weight | 179g | 183g | Both are similarly weighted, comfortable for everyday carry. |
| DISPLAY | |||
| Size | 6.43" | 6.7" | Honor 90's slightly larger display is great for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 provides a sharper, more detailed display, making text and images look clearer. |
| PPI | 409 | 435 | The difference is noticeable in clarity and how crisp visuals appear, especially text. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both deliver vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good viewing angles; great for media. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 will feel smoother and more fluid, especially when scrolling and gaming. |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is significantly more usable outdoors in bright sunlight. |
| PERFORMANCE | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G96 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor 90's chipset is far more modern and efficient, leading to faster app loading, better multitasking, and improved gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 302,877 | 701,227 | Honor 90 boasts significantly higher performance, making it noticeably snappier for all tasks. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90's GPU will deliver better gaming and graphics rendering capabilities. |
| CAMERA | |||
| Main Camera | 108MP f/1.9, 1/1.52" | 200MP f/1.9, 1/1.4" | Honor 90’s higher megapixel count and larger sensor results in better details, improved low-light performance and overall image quality. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP f/2.4, 1/3.13" | 50MP f/2.4 | Honor 90 will capture much more detailed and sharper selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP f/2.2, 1/2.8" | Not Included | Xiaomi offers a dedicated wide angle camera, which is missing on the Honor 90 |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" | 2MP f/2.4 | Both will provide decent depth effects for portrait photos. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" | Not Included | Xiaomi offers a dedicated macro lens for closeup shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not Included | 12MP f/2.2 | Honor 90 combines both features into one lens, offering better versatility for close and wide range photography. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps/1080p@60fps | Honor 90 provides higher resolution video recording and smoother framerates |
| Slow Motion | 120fps | 960fps | Honor 90’s is better for capturing fast-moving subjects in slow motion. |
| DXOMark | Not Available | Mobile: 122 (Photo: 128, Video: 126) | Honor 90 camera is tested by DXOMark with good results. |
| BATTERY | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both will likely offer similar day-long battery life for most users. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Honor 90 will charge much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | Not Included | Xiaomi is able to charge other devices |
| SOFTWARE | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 | Honor 90 comes with a more modern version of Android with additional features, improvements and updated security patches. |
| CONNECTIVITY | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Honor 90 will connect to Wi-Fi networks with higher speed and reliability. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Honor 90 will have better connectivity, range, and efficiency. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou (B1) | Both offer reliable GPS functionality, Honor 90 is more precise thanks to the addition of Beidou(B1) |
| STORAGE | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 256GB/512GB | Honor 90 offers significantly more internal storage space for storing photos, videos, apps, and documents. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB | Honor 90 supports heavy multitasking and demanding apps thanks to the increased RAM capacity. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both phones have non-expandable storage, so you will need to choose one with enough space |
| AUDIO | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation microphone | Xiaomi Note 11S offers a better audio experience while Honor 90 has noise cancellation during phone calls. |
| SECURITY | |||
| Features | Side-Mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | Xiaomi Note 11S provides a more advanced fingerprint sensor |
| BUILD QUALITY | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | Xiaomi uses a screen protection while the Honor 90 specifications are unknown |
| SENSORS | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass | Xiaomi offers additional sensors like Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual for more features. Honor 90 comes with Proximity, RGB. |
2. Key Insights
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S:
Strengths:
- Wide Angle and Macro Lens: Offers versatility with a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens.
- Hi-Res Audio with Stereo Speakers: Superior audio playback and immersion for music and media.
- Reverse Charging: Provides the ability to charge other devices.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: A more advanced and secure biometric unlock.
- Known Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 ensures decent screen durability.
Competitive Advantages:
- More advanced sensor suite, offering Gyroscope and Ultrasonic proximity sensor.
- The unique reverse charging function.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- Older processor, will not keep up with the Honor 90 in heavy loads or gaming.
- Lower resolution display, less pixel density and lower brightness.
- Slower charging, higher charging time.
Honor 90:
Strengths:
- Superior Display: Larger, higher resolution, brighter, smoother 120 Hz panel.
- Faster Performance: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) chipset is significantly more powerful.
- Higher Storage and RAM: Comes with options for 256GB/512GB of storage and up to 16GB of RAM.
- High-Resolution Cameras: 200MP main camera and 50MP selfie camera will provide much better picture quality.
- Faster Charging: 66W charging ensures quicker power-ups.
- Newer Android Version: Provides additional features and security enhancements.
- Higher Quality Video Recording: Records videos in up to 4K with EIS.
Competitive Advantages:
- Significantly superior performance, camera, and display.
- Modern connectivity with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Much higher storage and RAM options.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- No macro or wide angle lenses, the functionality is combined in one lens.
- Less advanced sensor suite compared to Xiaomi.
- Unknown Screen Protection
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S:
Best for:
- Users on a tighter budget who need a reliable everyday phone with good audio capabilities.
- Those who frequently take close-up photos and wide-angle shots, thanks to its dedicated macro and wide-angle lenses.
- Individuals who value the ability to charge other devices via reverse charging.
Use Cases:
- Daily tasks, such as web browsing, social media, and media consumption on a budget.
- Taking detailed close-up shots and wide-angle photos.
- Casual gamers who are not looking for a high-performance device.
- Users who need to charge other devices or accessories using reverse charging.
Honor 90:
Best for:
- Users who prioritize performance and gaming.
- Those who take photos and videos frequently and value high quality image and video capabilities.
- Individuals who need fast charging and the most up-to-date Android features.
- Users who consume large amounts of media and value high-quality display.
Use Cases:
- Gaming, where the powerful chipset and high refresh rate are a must.
- Photography, where the 200MP main and 50MP selfie cameras offer unmatched picture quality.
- Video recording, with 4K resolution and electronic image stabilization.
- Multitasking, with lots of RAM and fast CPU.
4. Buying Decision Framework
To help you decide, ask yourself these three key questions:
- How important is high performance and gaming to you?
- If it's essential, the Honor 90 is the clear winner with its superior processor and GPU.
- What do you value most in a camera, and which features are must-haves?
- If high-resolution photos and videos are your priority, go with the Honor 90 with its 200MP main camera and 4K video capabilities. If wide-angle and macro are a must, consider the Redmi Note 11S.
- How important is the display quality and screen brightness?
- If you use your phone outdoors a lot, Honor 90's brighter 1600 nits display will be significantly more usable in sunlight.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
For the Casual User on a Budget: If you need a reliable, budget-friendly phone, the Redmi Note 11S is a good option.
For the Photography Enthusiast: If you want the best camera quality, the Honor 90 with its 200MP main sensor, 50MP selfie camera, 4k video capabilities and higher processing power is your best option.
For the Mobile Gamer and Power User: The Honor 90, with its high performance, display, and storage, is an absolute must.
Personal Choice
Personally, I'd choose the Honor 90. The vastly superior performance, display, and camera capabilities make it a much more compelling device for my needs. The Redmi Note 11S has some nice features such as the dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses, better audio, reverse charging and the security of a Gorilla Glass screen. However, the Honor 90 offers a much better overall user experience, making the additional cost worthwhile. The faster charging alone is a huge quality of life improvement. The combination of a brighter, sharper display and a much snappier processor provides a smoother and more enjoyable experience overall. Also, the Honor 90 offers superior camera experience and a lot more video capabilities, so as a tech journalist that documents his experience, the Honor 90 would be my personal choice for these reasons.
