Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S review

Design, build quality, handling

If you have a hard time telling one Redmi Note 11 from another, that is completely understandable. Xiaomi hasn't made it exactly easy to do so, but one thing is sure - all Redmi Note 11 smartphones are good-looking devices with recognizable and likable designs.

Left to right: Redmi Note 11 • Note 11S • Note 11 Pro • Note 11 Pro 5G

You can also easily tell the Redmi Note 11 from the Redmi Note 11 Pro models - they are smaller.

Left to right: Redmi Note 11 • Note 11S • Note 11 Pro • Note 11 Pro 5G

The Redmi Note 11S looks a lot like the rest of its Note 11 siblings. It is a dual-glass smartphone with a flat plastic frame. The front glass is a Gorilla Glass 3 and is completely flat.

Finally, the rear panel as per official press materials is made of AG Glass. But unlike on the Pro versions, the 11 and 11S back glass has these subtle curves across all sides - not steep enough to say they are rounded, but enough to make them worthy of mentioning.

We have to be honest and say the back feels more plasticky than the one we've encountered on the Note 11 Pro models, but unless we break this thing, we cannot be certain what it is made of. So, for now, we are relying on Xiaomi's word for it being a glass piece.

What we do appreciate, though, is the matte finish of the entire rear panel, which makes it incredibly pleasant on touch - it feels somewhat frosted - and smudges are not as visible as on glossy pieces.

Finally, the Redmi Note 11S is IP53-rated for dust and splash resistance. This is one of the most basic water-proofing categories, and it means the phone can handle light rains or light splashes, and that's it. We can confirm there is rubber insulation around the SIM/microSD card tray.

Now, let's take a closer look.

The 6.43-inch AMOLED panel occupies most of the front, quite expectedly. The bezels are reasonably thin, all things considered, and the chin is in line with other similar phones.

The panel has a 1080p resolution and supports a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a tiny perforation centered at the top - this is where you'd find the 16MP selfie camera.

Above the screen, you can spot a thin grille that hides one of the speakers - the one that also acts as an earpiece. This speaker has two sound outlets - besides the one at the front, there is another one on the top of the phone. This speaker is not as loud as the bottom one, but thanks to the two outlets, it makes for a pleasant and balanced audio experience.

The two-step camera island is on the back, and it looks a lot like the ones we've already seen. The 108MP primary camera is jutting out the most, while the 8MP ultrawide, the 2MP macro and the 2MP depth sensor, along with the LED flash, sit on the lower level.

The back itself has a matte finish, and we loved the soft touch.

Because of the thick camera, the Redmi Note 11S wobbles a whole lot when lying down on a table or desk. The bundled case reduces this wobbling if it annoys you.

The frame of the Redmi Note 11S is made of thick plastic and has a matching paint and matt finish to the back panel. It provides for a secure enough grip.

The 3.5mm jack, the IR port, a secondary microphone, and one of the speakers are together at the top of the Redmi Note 11S.

The bottom has the other speaker, the USB-C port, and the primary microphone.

The tri-card slot that accepts two nano-SIM cards and a microSD one is on the left.

The right side houses the volume and power/lock keys. The surface of the power button cans your fingerprints - the sensor is incredibly fast and reliable.

The Redmi Note 11S measures 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1mm and weighs 179 grams. This makes it identical to the Redmi Note 10S and Redmi Note 11.

We did like the Redmi Note 11S shape and design - it has a solid build and provides for a secure enough grip. The design is stylish and no-nonsense, and the Graphite Gray color is particularly nice. The splash resistance, however basic, is also appreciated and helps for peace of mind when raining. Overall, the Redmi Note 11S is one well executed device, and we liked our time spent with it.