Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G review

Competition

The Redmi Note 11S 5G starts at a little over €200 for a base 4GB/64GB spec, which goes up to €250 for the 6GB/128GB version we've reviewed. That's in some countries, while in others we're looking at €250 and €300, respectively.

Those are third-party retailer numbers, as opposed to official ones, and we had to do some digging to get to them, but the ballpark appears to be established. Still, as best as we can tell, the Redmi typically has a slight monetary advantage against rivals, though memory configurations and price variations from country to country will affect that balance.

Anyway, a Realme 9 Pro can usually be had for €280 for a 6GB/128GB version. There's hardly anything to split the two in terms of battery life, charging speed, or display quality. Even the camera doesn't help much in settling it unless you focus on the Redmi's undoubtedly superior selfies, which might indeed be a decider for some. The Redmi does have nicer speakers (that is, stereo ones), but the Realme's chipset is at least slightly more powerful.

Even more so is the Galaxy A33 5G's SoC, so if performance is key, have a look at that one. At €300 or so for a 6GB/128GB version, it may be pricier than the Redmi (again, depending on where you're shopping), but it comes with some significant advantages. It can record 4K video, it's got an AMOLED display that is also brighter, and it has an IP67 rating for dust and water protection. Even its camera output has the edge over the Redmi's. The Note 11S 5G comfortably wins for battery life, and if you're looking at its base 4GB/64GB version for €200, the extra cash for the Galaxy might be too big of a stretch.

A myriad of Redmi Note 11s can also offer a minor difference in this area or that, but at this point, we're beyond keeping track of what's being sold where under which name and at what price - that will require you to do the legwork yourself.

But here's a curve ball. Nearly a year old, so heavily discounted, but seemingly still widely available, the Motorola Edge 20 can be had for roughly €280 throughout Europe. Its SD778 is vastly more powerful than the Redmi's chipset (5G capable still), and that includes 4K video recording. The Moto is also sporting a more capable camera setup overall, telephoto included, not to mention its 144Hz OLED display next to the Redmi's 90Hz LCD. The Moto can't match the Note 11S 5G's battery life, though, nor does it have speakers as good.

Similarly, the 2021 Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE appears to be well in stock, and it too is a thoroughly better phone than the Redmi 11S 5G at more or less the same money - again, if you match the 6GB/128GB memory config.

If, on the other hand, the entry-level version of the Redmi Note 11S 5G defines your budget, perhaps the Poco X4 Pro 5G could snatch your purse towards another branch of the Xiaomi corporation. You're looking to gain a slightly better chipset (still no 4K though) and a noticeably superior display, though the Redmi wins for endurance and camera output (even if the numbers suggest otherwise).

Realme 9 Pro • Samsung Galaxy A33 5G • Motorola Edge 20 • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE • Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G

Verdict

You'd find it hard to single out the Redmi Note 11S 5G from the myriad other Redmi Note 11s, and that's before considering their Poco counterparts. Names mean little in this lineup, and regional segmentation is the inherent limiting factor that determines what's available to you, though that might only help to a certain extent. In any case, the Redmi Note 11S 5G is a reasonably priced 5G-capable smartphone offered in Europe.

In its cheapest trim level it's among the most accessible ones. At that price point, it's easier to swallow its somewhat underpowered chipset, the relatively low max brightness of its display and the lack of 4K video recording - that being all too common in the budget segment this year.

Conversely, you'll appreciate this Redmi's excellent endurance and nice stereo speakers, while the selfies are among the better ones in the class. Meanwhile, the rear camera's performance is neither spectacular nor terrible, and the charging speed is similarly where you'd expect it to be.

At the price tier of the top memory configuration, however, superior alternatives exist. Those can be found among the latest Realmes or lower-end Galaxies, but also some of the still widely available last year's models from a time when better hardware could fit in tighter budgets. So we're arriving at a peculiar two-way verdict for the Redmi 11S 5G - the 4GB/64GB makes sense, the 6GB/128GB - less so.

Pros

• Excellent battery life.
• Top-notch selfies.
• Solid stereo speakers.

Cons

• The display doesn't go very bright.
• Chipset is outperformed by rivals.
• No 4K video recording.