Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge / Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G review

Design, build quality, handling

Seeing the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is like a déjà vu. It's like we've seen this phone already - twice, in fact. It has an identical design to the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, and it is also reminiscent of all recent Redmi and Poco phones.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

So, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is identical to the Pro and Pro 5G in terms of design. It has a dual-glass body with a flat Gorilla Glass 5 front and a flat glass back. The frame is also flat, made of plastic with a matte finish, making for a solid grip.

This Redmi is IP53-rated for dust and light splash resistance, just like many other Redmi and Poco models. It is not fully waterproofed like the Galaxy A phones, but it has rubber insulations where it matters and is not naked to the elements either.

We have the Forest Green model, and it's fabulously looking - simple yet captivating. The back has multiple layers of dark green paint, which can be described as chill green just before nightfall. And thanks to the matte finish, the rear panel looks frosted. Obviously, we like this Forest Green version.

But the matte back won't provide any grip over glossy panels. It is less prone to fingerprints and smudges, and we do like it for that as well.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is available also in Graphite Gray and Star Blue. The first one is a classic interpretation, while the Star Blue goes from glittery pink to light blue, and its flashiness won't be everyone's cup of tea.

We also have the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G in Pearl Blue, which is, in fact, the Star Blue version of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G. And it is looking fabulous and glittery, and, oh well, we like it.

Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G

And now, let's look closer at this Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G.

The 6.67-inch Super AMOLED occupies most of the front, as expected. It has a small perforation for the selfie camera. It supports 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, wide color gamut, and up to 1200nits of peak brightness.

There is one thin grille above the display and another more prominent dotted grille on top of the phone. These two outlets cater to one of the stereo speakers, which also doubles as an earpiece with somewhat directional sound.

And speaking of the top, it also houses the audio jack, a secondary microphone, and the IR blaster.

The other speaker is symmetrically placed at the bottom of the phone. Here you will also find the hybrid SIM tray, the USB-C port, and the primary mic.

There is nothing on the left of this Redmi Note 11 Pro+, while the volume and the power/lock keys are on the right. The Lock key is not flush with the frame, jutting out a little bit for a more comfortable experience. This button's surface also packs the fingerprint scanner, which is always-on and incredibly fast.

The Forest Green back of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is quite the looker, and it is our favorite option for this phone.

The back is all flat, with the camera island being the only feature of interest here.

The triple camera arrangement and the LED flash sit on a rather bulky piece of glass that's prominently jutting out of the back panel. Here you will find the 108MP primary, the 8MP ultrawide, and the 2MP macro cameras. A single LED flash is around, too.

Because of this huge camera piece, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G wobbles a lot when left on a flat table or a desk. If this is too annoying, the bundled case might help a bit.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is a reasonably sized smartphone that weighs 204 grams. Its grip is not the most secure as the front, and the sides are slippery, but it's not the worst either because of the solid plastic frame.

We liked the time we spent with this Redmi, and we had no issues while working with it - be it for browsing, UI scrolling or shooting photos. It's a great-looking device with a solid build, and the basic splash resistance does give some peace of mind, which we do appreciate. Overall, we are happy with our experience.