Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite review

Alternatives

As of the time of writing, the 6GB+64GB trim of the Mi 11 Lite goes for €300, while the 6GB+128GB costs €350. There is no info on the 8GB+128GB model just yet, but our guess would be about €380 or so.

Getting the base version makes sense if your targeted budget is about €300. But not before you take a look at a bunch of other Xiaomi-made phones.

The Poco X3 Pro in its 6GB+128GB trim costs €269, and it offers a faster refresh rate (though on an LCD), flagship-grade performance, similar camera experience and everything is wrapped in an IP53-rated body. Even though it's bulkier, the Poco X3 Pro is an offer that's hard to pass.

We know LCDs are not everyone's favorite, so the Poco F3 may be the one you need. It has a 120Hz OLED screen, one of the fastest chips around - the SD870 5G, and a larger battery on top of what the Mi 11 Lite offers. Currently, Xiaomi is selling the Poco F3 for €329, and we would probably go for this one instead of the Lite.

Then there is the Redmi Note 10 Pro, which costs €300 in its 6/128 version - exactly as much as the Mi 11 Lite. It is based on the same Snapdragon 732G chip but it is the better phone if you ask us. The Note 10 Pro packs a better 120Hz OLED, while its 108MP primary ca take even better photos. Oh, and the phone is splash-resistant.

Finally, if your budget allows some leeway, let's not forget the much more powerful Mi 11 Lite 5G model. It costs €400, but gaming is excellent, it supports Full HD HDR streaming, there is also 5G connectivity and a much faster processor. We think the extra money is well worth the upgrade.

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro • Xiaomi Poco F3 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro • Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G

The recently launched Realme 8 Pro is one very capable device, which may rely on a standard 60Hz Super AMOLED screen, but it did impress us with its 108MP camera and 3x lossless zoom. It offers similar gaming skills, but there are no stereo speakers. The Realme 8 Pro costs as much as the Mi 11 Lite - €300.

Finally, the €300 Galaxy A42 5G is one exciting alternative. It has an HD Super AMOLED screen, which is pretty basic alright, but this helps bolster the gaming performance quite a bit. The phone runs on the Snapdragon 750 5G chip (quite capable in its own right), it offers good camera skills, the base version has double the storage, and its battery life is outstanding. It's not the best phone, sure, but it's a quirky little phone which we liked very much.

Realme 8 Pro • Samsung Galaxy A42 5G

The verdict

The Mi 11 Lite turned out to be a good alternative to the Mi 11 flagship if you are on a limited budget. The Lite model keeps many of the Mi 11's key features, of course, with a different interpretation. There is an HRR OLED screen, capable hardware with dependable battery life, loud stereo speakers, the camera is good for the class. Overall, the Mi 11 Lite is what a proper Lite version should be all about.

The in-house competition, however, is too strong, and we can't recommend the Mi 11 Lite over any of the recent Xiaomi models. It's not a bad phone, but there are simply better ones at the same or lower price.

It's a great compact phone, but at this price level - it's too expensive for its own good.

Pros

• Captivating glass design, incredibly lightweight.
• Great OLED screen, 10-bit color support, 90Hz refresh, HDR10.
• Dependable battery, fast to charge.
• Loud stereo speakers.
• Superb daylight photo and video quality across all cameras.
• Excellent Night Mode.

Cons

• A faster chipset would have been more appealing.
• There are better Xiaomi phones for the same price.