Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra long-term review

26 November 2021


Sort by:

Professional, 30 Nov 2021gCam is only effective on budget Xiaomi phones. The flagshi... moreI would not agree.
I had Mi Note 10 Pro in past - it worket exceptionally with gcam, but so slow.
Mi 10 series with gcam its more difficult to tune it, even it has same sensor (HMX), it process much faster than SD730G, but somehow to achieve same result you have to tune gcam heavily.
With Mi 11 Ultra don't expect anything until gcam is tunned starting with correct libs and manual in post for personal preferences. If done rightly - there is huge difference - more details even than Pixel 6 Pro, especially in low light. And thanks to 12.5mp sensor it works fast!
I even do not mention 50MP mode with gcam, some guys managed to get it working - this is crazy output, but it requires root.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 0cJ
    • 30 Nov 2021

    Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021Way better phone's than pixel 6 at 600$. Pixel is a g... moreLOL. There are fewer budget phones in the US but of course everything is available either through Amazon or Ebay or a China-based site. I have a friend with an 11 Ultra and I took pics and videos with it to compare. IMO it's inferior to both the Pixel and the iPhone.

    It also doesn't cover enough 5g bands and I also wanted to change because my previous Xiaomi 10 was never bug free.

    The US is a big market and it's harder for the budget makers to compete because the flagships are often quite discounted. Xiomi also doesn't officially sell in the US because it will get sued for patent infringement. Search for 'Why Xiaomi won’t sell smartphones in the US just yet' and you can see its problems.

      Propov, 30 Nov 2021I bought this phone for summer vacation. The phone is super... moreit is normal then you crop from 23mm sensor, you would not expect such a quality with 2-3x equivalent lens.
      I don't like this telerange of gap between 23 and 120mm either, but it is what it is. Suggestion to use 50MP mode and crop - it helps a little.
      On Mi 10 Ultra or Mi 10 Pro that 50mm f2 lens were really useful, but sadly, it was without OIS

        I bought this phone for summer vacation. The phone is super and total NO issues with official EU ROM. No lagg, all work like hot butter. Is far better than all the Galaxys. But It had one specific problem with the pics. Zooming between 2 and 5 x was terrible. And I use my phone camera right in that way. For my kids and Cars and in City pics. So terrible almost unusable. It Looks like digital zoomed pictures from a phone from 5 years ago. I waited for 2 updates and it was not fixed. I sold it with a loss of 500 euros. My 300€ Pixel 4 make better photos in range at
        3 to 5 x zoom.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • 0cJ
          • 30 Nov 2021

          Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021MI 11 ultra to pixel 6 Pro to iPhone 13 Pro Max... Wow chan... moreNo, just doing my research before buying. I also considered the S21 Ultra and played with it. I was most excited about the Pixel because I wanted to come back to a pure Google phone. I've had a 3 xl a couple of years ago and was happier with it than with most Androids, except for the battery life. I was also happier with the Pixel 6 Pro than with any other Android but this year the iPhone is just a little better and worth the premium over the Pixel for me.

            • P
            • Professional
            • S3u
            • 30 Nov 2021

            YUKI93, 30 Nov 2021There's one thing that I've been wondering for qu... moregCam is only effective on budget Xiaomi phones. The flagships that charge wirelessly since the Mi 10 don't need it anymore because of the better processing.

              There's one thing that I've been wondering for quite a while now: How would the Mi 11 Ultra camera perform using Google Camera (GCam) port? As far as I can remember, GCam port is super popular with Xiaomi smartphones, even within the custom ROM community.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • 8pA
                • 30 Nov 2021

                Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021Yeah, if it's on Telegram, it must be true. LOL. I t... moreMI 11 ultra to pixel 6 Pro to iPhone 13 Pro Max... Wow changing three flagship.
                Sure buddy you aren't a troll or MI 11 ultra hater.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • 8pA
                  • 30 Nov 2021

                  HaterzSuckkkkk, 30 Nov 2021What do you mean? Those software issues can fixed over t... moreWay better phone's than pixel 6 at 600$.
                  Pixel is a good option only for American users, who are without many options

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • asU
                    • 30 Nov 2021

                    Nick Tegrataker, 30 Nov 2021iPhone and Pixel admittedly give more "predictable&quo... moreI would include Honor Magic 3 Pro plus instead of P50 Pro in your list.
                    The honor flagship fixes all the flaws of the P50 Pro (the ones that always traditionally affected Huawei flagships and held them back)

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • asU
                      • 30 Nov 2021

                      Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021DXOMARK: Mi 11 Ultra takes better photos than iPhone 13 Pro... moreExactly man... They still talking about non existent bugs on Mi 11 Ultra, when in reality it's poco f3 and Redmi Note 10 Pro and poco x3 pro affected by miui 12.5 update.

                        I use Mi 11 Ultra last three months. Bought it new in Swiss, official shop. Global ROM, 256/12. So far positives overweight negatives by far. Battery is OK as long I do not use camera or play games. With Xiaomi wirelles charger (67W) topping up couple of minutes works great.
                        It is top heavy and very slippery. Little bit annoying is picture carousel system app that can not be turned off.
                        Otherwise I can wholeheartedly recommend this phone. Amazing pictures at day or night, beautiful screen (on my phone Full HD and 120Hz). Works very fast, never seen any stutter or similar. It is very expensive, but good things come seldomly cheap. I would stil buy it again.

                          Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021"If apple stops giving them review units because they ... moreWhat do you mean?

                          Those software issues can fixed over time with SOFTWARE UPDATES!

                          On the other hand, you can't fix hardware issues until the next update.

                          Pixel 6 is fantastic for the price: For $600, you get an excellent camera, excellent chipset, above average display.

                          It also has the same great software integration as other pixels.

                          Thats why mrwhosetheboss gave so much praise to the pixel 6.

                          Since the pixel 6 pro makes google more profit, if google actually wants to bribe those phone reviewers, they should make them say that the pixel 6 pro is a 9.5/10 and the pixel 6 a 9/10.

                          Wonder why the pixel 6 pro is getting consistently lower scores than the pixel 6 if the pro makes google more profit. Maybe because it's worse for the money and reviewers aren't getting bribed by google?

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • TL%
                            • 30 Nov 2021

                            Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021Yeah, if it's on Telegram, it must be true. LOL. I t... moreDXOMARK: Mi 11 Ultra takes better photos than iPhone 13 Pro Max
                            GSMARENA: Mi 11 Ultra takes better photos than iPhone 13 Pro Max
                            Apple fanboy: iPhone 13 Pro Max takes better photos! (Cries and stamps ground furiously)

                              Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021Yeah, if it's on Telegram, it must be true. LOL. I t... moreiPhone and Pixel admittedly give more "predictable" photos, yes. You can always tell before you capture the scene that iPhone won't handle backlight well and gives clarity-boosted smudgy mess in low light, or Pixel destroys all the textures in darker midtones. But IMO neither of them have particularly great image quality when compared to the best (X70 Pro+, Mi 11 Ultra, Snapdragon S21 Ultra, P50 Pro, etc).

                                Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021Yeah, if it's on Telegram, it must be true. LOL. I t... moredont be funny :D
                                In telegram they do post original samples for everyone to evaluate. There is huge difference with mi 11 ultra via native and via gcam mod. And not 50MP mod included.
                                There are posts from people who has both devices and made tests in many situations using both devices via gcam app.
                                So I hugely disagree about your experience with Mi 11 Ultra, as you used it with native camera and tested.
                                As for polish I would agree if compared to Iphone, as it truly is. Best overall experience. But on Android world, the MIUI is far better than before, and the Pixel struggles with its current release.
                                As for sales, MI 11 Ultra is niche device, after all. That can't be evaluated.
                                For imaging iwth main camera and tele lens, using 3rd party solutions, not built-in ones - Mi 11 Ultra is best and probably will stay for a long, as S22 Ultra camera's specs are identical to S21U (or tele lens even worse), and Sammy becomes more locked for 3rd party than before. I would believe only outperformers could come from Xiaomi in near future, or some upgrades from Vivo. OnePlus 10 Pro seems not to be case here next year too..

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 0cJ
                                  • 30 Nov 2021

                                  freeDom21, 30 Nov 2021You're so wrong of what can Mi 11 U do with the video.... moreYeah, if it's on Telegram, it must be true. LOL.
                                  I tested the 11 Ultra and ended up with the Pixel 6 Pro, which I just returned because I am getting the iPhone 13 Max. The Pixel and the iPhone are better and more polished phones and take better photos than the 11 Ultra, at least in my opinion. The sales numbers of these devices appear to agree with what I think.

                                    Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021BS and FUD. Right now the iPhone 13 Max takes the most bala... moreYou're so wrong of what can Mi 11 U do with the video.
                                    Base native app of camera and video recording is fine, not great, but that one itself can outtake many competitors, like S21U.
                                    For pixel 6 pro I would not bias its video, as its overprocessed and oversharpened, no manual controls. Good for tik tok or instagram only. And Mi 11 Ultra smashes Pixel 6 Pro then using it's gcam mod. There is many proof over telegram channel (MI 11 series gcam). Don't evaluate only youtube content :)
                                    The true quality of Mi 11 Ultra can be achieved via 3rd party apps like mcpro24fps. Stellar quality. Filmic Pro is developing, I keep a contact with them, but not finalised for this device yet. Or use motioncam for pure RAW video. With right settings and clear head, the quality is over the I13PM or any device, period.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 0cJ
                                      • 30 Nov 2021

                                      Anonymous, 30 Nov 2021"If apple stops giving them review units because they ... moreBS and FUD. Right now the iPhone 13 Max takes the most balanced approach to photography in my relatively educated opinion. The Pixel 6 Pro and Samsung's 21 Ultra are close, but not quite. The Mi Ultra has plenty of software issues, like most Xiaomi products. It takes good pics, but not as balanced as the iPhone and the Pixel, probably on par with Samsung. But Xiaomi's video sucks.

                                        AresinUAE, 29 Nov 2021Who says im crying because of an update from one or two mon... moreAre you even reading your own posts??
                                        You talk about your security patch date being outdated, when I didnt even mention anything about security patches before that.

                                        I already told you rear screen video recording is available on China ROM (beta) in previous reply. You must be on China ROM stable.

                                        "Also the part that Im calling bull is the part that you quoted -"

                                        The quote wasn't by me, but Gsmarena review.
                                        You need to lay off that evening drink before you post.