Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro/Pro+ 5G review

Design, build quality, handling

All four Redmi Note 11 phones look alike, and they sure make for a lovely family photo.

Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

There is one major design change since Series 10 - the back panel on all phones is now completely flat. The new Notes have adopted the trendy flat shape many brands have embraced. And we do like what we are seeing here.

Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G and the Note 11 Pro are virtually identical as far as looks are concerned - they are of the same size, weight, and colors.

So, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is a dual-glass smartphone with a flat Gorilla Glass 5 on top of the screen, and a flat tempered glass covering the back. We appreciate the matte finish on the back panel, it's a nice touch and feels cool (both literally and metaphorically) when handled.

The plastic frame is also flat and has a matching matte finish to the rear glass. It is quite grippy, and the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G feels secure enough in hand without a case.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is listed as IP53-rated for dust protection and splash resistance. This doesn't mean the phone is sealed against water, even if its card slot seems to be featuring some good rubber insulation. The IP53 rating means it is okay to use the phone when it's raining, but it's not a complete splash resistance - only for diagonally falling water drops and for up to 5 minutes exposure. It's better than nothing, of course.

The 6.67-inch Super AMOLED occupies most of the front side. It is of the same size and specs as the Redmi Note 10 Pro - a 1080p panel with 120Hz refresh, wide-color support, and a small perforation for the 16MP selfie camera. The hole is one of the smallest we've met so far, and it's not as an eyesore as on other models.

The display seems adequality bright and with lively colors, and we are thrilled to see how it does on our display test.

There is a thin grill above the screen, but so is there one on top of the phone - these are outlets for one of the speakers and sound is indeed coming from both. The second speaker is at the bottom, and its loudness seems to be almost identical to the top's.

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G has a stylish rear panel with a flat surface and matte finish. While it is slippery, it appears to be smudge-resistant, more than the usual at least, and we do appreciate this.

The camera island is the only feature of interest on the back. It is a two-step jutting-out piece surrounded by what looks like an aluminum frame. The first level has the 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro cameras, the LED flash and a bunch of labels. The top-level has the primary 108MP camera surrounded by an aperture-like texture.

Because of this rather tall camera piece, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G wobbles a lot if used on a flat desk. You can eliminate the wobbling by using the supplied case.

We like the plastic matte frame for its shape and grip. But while it looks pleasantly flat, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G cannot stand on its own, meaning it's not as flush as it looks.

There is nothing on the left of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. The right side accommodates the volume and the power/lock keys. The surface of the power key also doubles as a fingerprint scanner - it's always-on and nicely accurate. If you plan on using the Redmi without a case, you may want to change its scan trigger from Touch to Press so you can avoid unnecessary scans and denials of your palm.

The top houses the 3.5mm jack, the top speaker grille, the IR blaster and one of the microphones.

The bottom has the other primary microphone, the USB-C port, the second speaker and the ejectable card tray. The SIM slot is of the hybrid type - it can accommodate either two nano-SIM cards or a nano-SIM and a microSD card.

The new Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is as large as the Note 10 Pro but is 9g heavier at 202 grams. At 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm, the Note 11 Pro 5G is reasonably sized for a phone of such caliber.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G feels solid and grippy enough when handled, the size is perfect for those accustomed to 6.6-inch devices, and as far as design and build is concerned, the Note 11 Pro 5G gets an A- mark. It would have been a perfect one if only the Redmi was fully waterproofed, which is not fair to expect in this budget class, not yet at least.