Review of the Redmi Note 11: a Note-ish Note

 Review Summary

Expert Rating 3.5/5

There was a period when Redmi would only release one Note every year. The number was then increased to two, and as time progressed, Redmi decided to offer not just a single Redmi Note, but a series of Redmi Notes each year. Despite the fact that the brand has begun to issue various Notes, the simple, suffix-free Note continues to garner a lot of attention.

This is because, while the majority of the subsequent Notes in the series may focus on one aspect or another (camera, gaming, 5G), the original Note continues to adhere to the Note-ethos that launched the series — good old performance at a ridiculously cheap price. Redmi has already introduced a few Note 11 devices this year, one of them is the Redmi Note 11– the OG. But does this year's suffix-free Note have the same Note-ability?

Despite the sparkle, it appears to be a little mundane.

When the Redmi Note series first debuted, the phone's focus was not on showy, eye-catching design, but on providing a fantastic smartphone experience at an inexpensive price. That has changed in the previous few years, with Redmi launching some genuinely nice-looking Notes in the Indian market. Unfortunately, the same cannot be true with the Redmi Note 11, which appears to be average at best. Don't get us wrong, it's not horrible looking, but it doesn't seem to generate many head turns.

The front follows suit, with a large display, thin bezels, a somewhat broader chin, and a punch hole notch. The back, on the other hand, appears a little plain. The phone has a plastic rear that is identical to it. Our Starburst White variation includes a colour gradient and a lot of glitter on the back, making it both colourful and shimmering. The plastic look and feel of the back, mixed with all of that glitter, gives it a less-than-premium appearance.

It doesn't feel routine.

The Redmi Note 11 may not be the most visually appealing Note we've seen, but it has a terrific hand feel. Despite having a huge battery behind the hood, it feels surprisingly thin and light. While the dimensions are 159.87 x 73.87 x 8.09mm and the weight is 179g, what makes the Redmi Note 11 seem not-so-basic are its fashionable flat sides. The phone is also pretty strong. Some may be put off by the phone's plastic back, but we believe it strikes a pretty good Note in terms of build quality. The pun was intentional.

• The most eye-pleasing display in its zone

The large AMOLED display on the Note 11 deserves a lot of credit for making the phone's front seem appealing. It has a full HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90Hz on a 6.43-inch screen. The display has a high contrast ratio and generates rich, brilliant colours. Despite having a maximum brightness of 1000 nits, which is somewhat less than the 1100 nits of its predecessor, the Note 10, the display is extremely visible even in strong sunlight. It is without a doubt the most visually appealing display in this price range.

• Processor that easily works

The Redmi Note 11 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 engine, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It features two additional RAM storage configurations – 4GB / 64GB and 6GB / 64GB – and the phone's capacity can be increased up to 1 TB through microSD card.

The phone is more concerned with getting things done than with flexing its gaming capabilities. It will breeze through your daily tasks and dominate the casual gaming arena, but don't expect it to sail through high-end games with the same ease. On the phone, you will be able to play some power-hungry games, but not at maximum settings.

• Main sensor camera show

On the rear of the Redmi Note 11, there is a quad-camera configuration. A 50-megapixel primary sensor leads the trio, which is supported by an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 2-megapixel macro sensor, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Hands down, the 50-megapixel primary sensor is the headliner of this camera show. In excellent lighting circumstances, it provides good details and brilliant colours. However, when the light dims, details suffer. The 8-megapixel ultrawide lens is wonderful for capturing a unique viewpoint, but that's about it. It captures images with compromised details. As long as you don't zoom close, they're OK to look at.

Finally, the two 2-megapixel sensors appear to exist just to add numbers. The macro camera does not produce high-quality close-up photos with a lot of detail. We recommend that you utilise the primary sensor and get as near to the subject as possible. The depth sensor also does not appear to make a significant impact in portrait photographs, which are, as always, hit or miss.

The visual output is adequate, especially in well-lit surroundings, but it falls short in low-light situations. Surprisingly, no 4K video support is provided. The phone has a 13-megapixel selfie camera that creates somewhat smoother, brighter selfies, and as long as you're not against that notion, they're typically decent enough to post on social media.

• Battery that lasts long, and charges briskly 

Long battery life has always been one of the Note series' selling points, and the Redmi Note 11 follows this legacy. The phone includes a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W Pro fast charging and a 33W adaptor. The phone can easily last a day and a half of usual activity, which includes app hopping, social network browsing, dealing with emails and messages, viewing some content, and taking photos. With a little caution, the phone's battery life might be extended to two days.

Charging that large battery does not seem like a bother either, thanks to the fast charging capability. It can charge from 0 to 100% in little over an hour, which is quicker than the 33W charging we saw on Redmi smartphones last year.

• Multimedia boss – that display, those stereo speakers

We've previously said that the Redmi Note 11 offers the most brilliant, richly coloured display in this price range. When combined with stereo speakers, the phone transforms into a multimedia powerhouse. The phone has a lengthy battery life, making it ideal for binge-watching series and movies. The 3.5mm audio jack is also available for when you wish to wire your music. The phone's small weight and superb handfeel also make it comfortable to use for extended periods of time.

The Note 11 also boasts an actual fingerprint sensor on the side that works really smoothly and swiftly unlocks the phone, allowing you to get back to what you were saying in the blink of an eye.

• Runs MIUI 13, misses Android 12 & 5G

The Redmi Note 11 runs MIUI 13, Xiaomi's most recent UI skin. It is clean, hassle-free, and simple to adapt to. The phone does come with pre-installed third-party apps, but they can be uninstalled, and the advertising that many users complained about are no longer present. The UI is feature-rich without being obtrusive. The new Sidebar feature, which puts your favourite apps at your fingertips, is very useful. That is the positive aspect of the UI, but the downside of the software on the Note 11 is that it still comes with an outdated Android version out of the box.

It is powered by Android 11, which is a bit of a letdown given that Android 12 has been out for a while and is also being seen in the mid-segment (the Vivo T1 5G for instance). Those who want their phones to be up to date may be disappointed that the phone does not include 5G, making it less future-ready than some of the other handsets on the market.

• Should you buy it?

The Redmi Note costs Rs 13,499 for the 4GB / 64GB model, Rs 14,499 for the 6GB / 64GB variant, and Rs 15,999 for the 6GB / 128GB edition. The Redmi Note 11 may not appear to be as obvious a pick at these rates as some of its predecessors, but the phone is still superb value for money. It lacks Android 12, 5G, and superpowerful gaming muscle, but the phone nevertheless provides a well-rounded smartphone experience. It excels in the fundamentals, such as display, battery, sound, and day-to-day chores, while ever making you feel like you're missing out on much.

However, it is surrounded by a lot of competition, with the likes of the Redmi Note 10S lurking around for Rs 14,999. That may sound like an ancient smartphone, but it comes with a quicker, more powerful processor (the MediaTek Helio G95), which may be appealing to gamers. The Realme 8i, which boasts a MediaTek Helio G96 CPU with a 120Hz refresh rate display (although an LCD one) and costs roughly Rs 13,500, is another alternative for gamers. Then there's the freshly released Vivo T1, which is a touch more pricey in comparison but comes with Android 12 and 5G.

The Redmi Note 11 is an excellent gadget. One that we would suggest to anyone looking for a smartphone around Rs 14,000, it just does not have the same competitive advantage that its predecessors did. It is a thought-provoking choice, not a no-brainer!

Pros: 

• Outstanding display
• Stereo speakers that are capable
• UI with several features
• Battery life is extended.

Cons:

• Typical design
• Android 12 is missing.
• There is no 5G support.
• Not the most powerful chip available.