Xiaomi 11T Pro review
The Xiaomi 11T Pro is a refreshed premium phone that drops the "me" branding from their devices. Despite the change in naming, the phone still offers top-notch features that make it a great all-rounder. In terms of design, the 11T Pro shares a similar aesthetic to its predecessors, with a slightly more angular camera bump on the back. The meteorite gray colorway we tested looks elegant but gets smudgy quickly. The phone has IP53 dust and splash resistance, which is a bit disappointing given the lack of IP68 protection. One of the standout features of the 11T Pro is its 6.6-inch AMOLED display, which boasts full HD resolution, 10-bit color, and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The screen is vibrant, with great dynamic range and contrast, making it perfect for viewing videos or browsing through photos. The camera setup on the 11T Pro is also impressive, with a 108-megapixel main cam that shoots good photos in broad daylight. The ultrawide camera produces surprisingly detailed shots with low noise, while the telemacrocam takes very detailed and colorful macro shots. However, the camera app's default processing can be hit or miss, resulting in some areas being excessively sharpened. In terms of performance, the 11T Pro has a flagship-grade chipset that provides seamless performance. The phone also features class-leading charging speeds and a fantastic speaker setup. While it may not be perfect – with some minor issues like battery life and zoom camera – the Xiaomi 11T Pro is an excellent all-rounder that's definitely worth checking out, especially when its price drops slightly in the future.
Build Quality and Design
The Xiaomi 11T Pro's design language is a familiar one, borrowing from the previous Mi 11 phones. The back panel features a large, angular camera bump that gives the phone a distinctive look. While it may wobble slightly without a case, the overall build quality feels solid in the hand. One of the most striking features of the 11T Pro is its massive rectangular camera bump on the back, which is a departure from the more rounded design found on previous Xiaomi flagships. The meteorite gray colorway we have here looks elegant, but it does get smudgy very quickly. The phone's IP53 dust and splash resistance are respectable, but not quite as robust as some other flagship devices. It's worth noting that there's no IP68 protection, which might be a consideration for those who plan to use the phone in harsh environments. The 11T Pro's build quality is generally good, with a solid feel and minimal flex in the body. The materials used are of high quality, and the attention to detail is evident throughout. However, the camera bump does give the phone a slightly utilitarian look that might not appeal to everyone. Overall, the Xiaomi 11T Pro's design is a mixed bag. While it looks great from some angles, the large camera bump can be off-putting for some users. The build quality is generally good, but the lack of IP68 protection and more robust water resistance might be a consideration for those who plan to use the phone in demanding conditions. Despite these minor quibbles, the Xiaomi 11T Pro's design is still an attractive one. It feels premium in the hand, and the materials used are of high quality. With a bit of refinement, this design could be truly exceptional. As it stands, it's a solid effort from Xiaomi that will likely appeal to fans of the brand.
Battery Life
One of the aspects that didn't quite live up to our expectations was the battery life of the Xiaomi 11T Pro. While it's not terrible by any means, we've seen better performance from other devices in its class. Our endurance test saw the phone last for around 92 hours, which is okay but nothing spectacular. In a world where many flagships can easily surpass the 100-hour mark, this feels like a step back. What's more concerning, however, is that the phone doesn't quite deliver on its charging prowess. Xiaomi advertises an incredibly fast 120W charging speed, which sounds impressive on paper. And it is, to some extent. But in practice, our tests revealed that the phone takes around 21 minutes to reach 100% from a flat battery. This feels like a compromise, especially considering the phone's already somewhat decent battery life. We would have expected Xiaomi to prioritize delivering truly exceptional charging speeds alongside a more substantial battery capacity. In light of this, we can't help but feel that the Xiaomi 11T Pro falls short in the battery department. While it's not a deal-breaker by any means, it does raise questions about the phone's overall value proposition. As with any device, your mileage may vary, and some users might find themselves getting away with average battery life without issue. Ultimately, we'd like to see Xiaomi revisit its approach to battery life in future devices. The company has shown that it can deliver impressive results in this area – now it just needs to push the boundaries a bit further.
Display
The display on the Xiaomi 11T Pro is one of its standout features. It's a 6.6-inch AMOLED panel that boasts a full HD resolution with 10-bit color for more than a billion colors. The adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, combined with up to a hertz touch sampling rate, makes for a seamless visual experience. In our testing, the display performed admirably. It kept the refresh rate at 60Hz when the picture was static or when playing videos, and jumped to 120Hz throughout the UI most of the system apps and some supported games. The screen also went as bright as 837 nits when set to auto brightness, providing great sunlight legibility. Colors on the display were fairky accurate in both vivid mode and standard mode. We appreciated the ability to switch between modes depending on our preference. However, we did notice that colors could sometimes appear punchier and cooler than they should be. One of the nicest features of the display is its fast response time. This makes it ideal for gaming or watching high-speed content, as motion appears smooth and fluid. The display's overall performance was impressive, making it one of the standout features of the Xiaomi 11T Pro.
Camera
The camera on the Xiaomi 11T Pro is decent, but it doesn't quite live up to expectations. The phone boasts a 108-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 5-megapixel telemacrocam. While images taken in broad daylight are good for the class, they're not the best we've seen. Shots have great dynamic range, good contrast, and enough detail, with no noticeable noise. However, sharpening can be inconsistent, with some areas excessively sharpened while others are okay. Colors are generally accurate, but sometimes seem punchier or cooler than they should be. One of the most disappointing aspects of the camera is its inability to capture lossless zooms. When using the two-time zoom toggle, photos are merely cropped and upscaled without any actual zooming. This is a feature that many phone cameras now offer, and it's surprising to see Xiaomi skimp on this aspect. Portrait mode shots are nicely detailed and sharp, with proficient background separation and convincing blur. However, we didn't expect too much from the ultrawide camera, but surprisingly, it delivers some decent shots with low noise, good dynamic range, and balanced sharpening. Low-light performance is where the 11T Pro shines. Auto night mode shots are nicely exposed, have excellent sharpness, and rich detail, although color saturation might be a bit more pronounced than in reality. Manual night mode captures even brighter images with more detail in the shadows, but they're not as accurate to the real scene. The quad Bayer 16-megapixel front camera saves selfies at full resolution, which makes them slightly softer than ideal. However, noise and colors are still decent, and the phone can record up to 8k video at 30fps. Footage looks good in bright conditions but has average detail and a softer picture in low light. In conclusion, while the Xiaomi 11T Pro's camera is serviceable, it doesn't quite live up to expectations. With some tweaks to its software processing and additional features like lossless zooms and a proper zoom camera, this camera could be truly exceptional. As it stands, it's an average performer in an increasingly competitive market.
Price and Value
As we dive into the world of premium smartphones, it's refreshing to see manufacturers focusing on what truly matters – performance, features, and value for money. The Xiaomi 11T Pro is a prime example of this approach. With its sleek design, the 11T Pro exudes a sense of sophistication, but it's not just about looks. Under the hood, you'll find a capable Snapdragon 888 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This combination delivers seamless performance, making it an excellent choice for gaming and multitasking enthusiasts. One area where the 11T Pro truly shines is in its charging capabilities. With support for fast charging at up to 120W, you can quickly top up your device's battery when needed. The 5000mAh battery itself provides a respectable backup, though not exceptional by today's standards. Now, let's talk about value. Here's where the 11T Pro really excels. Priced competitively, it offers an impressive feature set without breaking the bank. You'll get a high-quality AMOLED display, an excellent quad-camera setup, and top-notch performance, all for a fraction of the cost of some other flagship devices. While not perfect, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is an outstanding option for those seeking a great all-rounder. Its price and value proposition make it an attractive choice for anyone looking to upgrade their smartphone experience without emptying their wallet. As the price drops in the coming weeks or months, this phone will only become more appealing. In conclusion, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is a solid contender in the flagship market, offering a great balance of features and value. If you're in the market for a new smartphone, be sure to give it serious consideration – your wallet (and your phone cravings) will thank you!
Performance
The Xiaomi 11T Pro is a flagship device that boasts impressive performance, making it a great all-rounder. Powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset, this phone delivers top-notch performance, especially when gaming. The addition of either 8 or 12GB of LP DDR5 RAM and 128 or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage ensures seamless multitasking. One aspect that impressed us was the phone's charging capabilities, thanks to the 120W Xiaomi Hyper Charger. In just five minutes, the battery reached 40%, and a full charge took only 21 minutes. While not quite as speedy as advertised (17 minutes), this is still an impressive result. However, our testing revealed that the battery life could be longer. Despite this, the phone's performance was consistently smooth, with no lag or stuttering observed during our usage. The Quad Bayer 16MP front camera and quad-camera setup deliver good image quality, but we'll focus on the performance aspect of this review. In summary, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is a well-rounded device that excels in performance. While it may not be perfect, with some minor tweaks (such as adding IP68 water resistance), it's definitely worth considering. As prices drop in the coming months, this phone will become an even more attractive option for those seeking a reliable and powerful smartphone experience.