Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G review

introduction

The ever-expanding Redmi Note 11 list on our test bench continues with the Redmi Note 11S 5G, a reasonably priced 5G phone that shares a lot with the Poco M4 Pro 5G and Redmi 11T 5G of some time ago.

The 5G bit comes courtesy of the Dimensity 810, a popular 6nm mid-range chipset from Mediatek. The usual trade-off is here too: this 11S 5G is equipped with an LCD compared to the 11S’s (4G) OLED, although the two models differ in many other ways as well. LCD may be, but it still has a 90Hz refresh rate, so all is not lost.

A well-equipped camera system is part of the package, featuring a 50MP main unit. There’s also an 8MP ultrawide, plus a 2MP telephoto macro camera, something the Poco or 11T 5G didn’t have. Also different from the M4 Pro 5G, but also from the 11S (4G) or 11T 5G is the selfie camera: here it is 13 MP, as opposed to the 16 MP units on the others.

No concessions have been made in the battery department and Redmi Note 11S 5G is equipped with a 5,000 mAh cell that you can charge up to 33 W. Less exciting is the Android version, which still stands at 11, although at least the MIUI layer in high is the last 13.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G specifications at a glance:

• Body: 163.6×75.8×8.8mm, 195g; Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame.
• Screen: 6.60 inch IPS LCD, 90Hz, 450nits (typical), 1080x2400px resolution, 20: 9 aspect ratio, 399ppi.
• Chipset: MediaTek MT6833P Dimensity 810 (6 nm): Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G57 MC2.
• Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM; UFS 2.2; microSDXC.
• Operating system / software: Android 11, MIUI 13.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f / 1.8, 26mm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f / 2.2, 119˚; Macro: 2 MP, f / 2.4.
• Front Camera: 13 MP, f / 2.4, (wide angle).
• Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p @ 30 / 60fps; Front camera: 1080p @ 30fps.
• Battery: 5000 mAh; Fast charging 33W, 100% in 59 min (advertised).
• Various: Fingerprint reader (side mounted); FM Radio; Infrared port; 3.5mm jack.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S 5G unboxing

The Note 11S 5G arrives in the usual two-piece white cardboard box with a likeness of the phone printed on top, only it doesn’t match the contents inside as our unit is Midnight Black and the cover features the Hero Star Blue coloring.

Inside, you find the 33W charger we mentioned, as well as a USB-AC cable with a “3A” stamped on one end to let you know its current rating. The included clear soft case won’t earn you any style points, but it’s always nice to have ready-to-use protection.