New Delhi: The Redmi Note series has been the most popular lineup for the Xiaomi sub-brand and the new Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G brings the best of features to the Redmi Note line, with the biggest feature being the fast charging capability. Like its predecessors, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G also brings decent upgrades, but it pushes the price up a notch. However, this should not come as a surprise as Redmi devices have become expensive over time. The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ is arguably the best in the Redmi Note 11 series and rightly so, thanks to a 108MP main camera, 5,000mAh battery paired with 67W fast charging, and yes, the good old standard 3.5-mm headphones Jack!
The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G was recently launched in the country at a starting price of Rs 20,999 for the base model, making it the most expensive Redmi Note smartphone ever. I reviewed the Mirage Blue color variant, but the device is also available in Phantom White and Stealth Black color options via Xiaomi’s online store, Amazon India, and the company’s physical stores across the country. Here’s how the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G fared in my review.
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Design, Display, Looks and Build
Coming to the Miraj Blue color scheme of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, as the name suggests, the back of the phone reflects light in such a way that it mimics the surface of a pool of water. When held at certain angles, the back mimics the waves in the water that go off when the phone is tilted to light. This is something new as most of the smartphones bring a color changing back. Moreover, the back is glossy yet gives a premium feel to the hands and does not attract a lot of fingerprints and dust mites. According to Xiaomi, there is a layer of frosted glass that does the magic. Redmi is offering a design with flat edges which is a trend for 2022 and when compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, this device has a much flatter body. The camera module is completely different from what we have seen so far and it is a new module that consists of sensors in “two stages”.
Even though this makes the camera design stand out, it also makes the device wobble when placed on flat surfaces. Using the transparent back cover that came with the review unit helped a bit to narrow it down.
Redmi has added the good old standard 3.5mm headphone jack to the top of the phone and this got me excited as only a handful of smartphones these days offer an OEM headphone jack. The flat edges made the phone a bit difficult to hold since my hands are small, but the device was comfortable enough to hold against the ear. At 202 grams and 8.12 mm thick, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is not the thinnest phone. In terms of water resistance, there is no IP53 rating, but the phone is IP53 tested which will provide some relief from splashes of water.
The smartphone flaunts a crisp and stunning 6.67-inch full-HD+ (1080×2400) AMOLED display with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, which made the transition smooth and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. I missed out on the smart refresh rate, but I must say I really liked the rich color reproduction and good sunlight legibility of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G. There is a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection and the device also comes with a layer of screen protector.
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Camera
The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ packs a triple rear camera setup led by a 108MP camera with Samsung HM2 sensor, which clicks detailed pictures with well-balanced colors in most lighting conditions. Unlike last year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro lineup, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ doesn’t have a 5MP telemacro camera; There is an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro sensor, which did not impress. The macro camera was a bit of a miss when it comes to color accuracy. The ultra wide sensor failed to take sharp images and something was visible.
For video calling and selfies, there is a 16MP sensor on the front, which clicks good pictures, but the images look a bit artificial due to the smooth skin tone. There was a lot of depth separation in portrait shots, but overall, the selfie camera was poor in low light.
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Battery and Performance
The fast charging capability has been bumped up to 67W and when paired with a 5,000mAh battery, Redmi has done an excellent job in this department. I used it as my primary driver for a few days and the battery easily lasted a day on a single charge. The claimed fast charging capability is huge and I can get to 0-35 percent charge in about 15 minutes which bugged me quite a bit. It’s safe to say that the 67W fast charging capability and big battery were good enough for me. The 8GB/128GB variant I reviewed was easy enough to handle with day-to-day tasks. One good thing is that the RAM can be expanded up to an additional 3GB.
The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G runs on Xiaomi’s proprietary MIUI 13 based on Android 11 which is disappointing. Several other brands are offering devices with Android 12 in this price bracket. Also, no official information has been given about when Android 12 will be rolling out for this model. The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC which is not the most powerful in this price segment, but handles everyday performance smoothly. During charging and gaming, there were many occasions when the top rear of the smartphone got a little hot.
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Final Verdict
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is a decent smartphone that offers capable gaming and overall performance and great battery life with fast charging. Its bright and large AMOLED display, apart from 3.5mm headphone jack and speaker give it an edge in the price segment. It should also be noted that the Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G is not necessarily a budget option and those who do not need a 5G device right now can consider buying options from Redmi’s portfolio itself including the Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 11 Pro. can consider.