Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G review
The Xiaomi Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G ranks as the #317 smartphone globally, achieving a LibraScore of 63. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #379-ranked battery among 865 phones. Consider the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ or Xiaomi Redmi K50, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Build Quality and Design
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G boasts a sleek and no-nonsense glass design that sets it apart from the crowd. Unlike most phones these days, the back is flat rather than curvy, giving the phone a slate-like appearance that is both stylish and functional. The matte finish on the 5G version is silky smooth to the touch, while the glossy plastic frame is rounded and provides a secure grip. Weighing just around 160 grams, the Mi 11 Lite 5G is surprisingly light for its size. While the build quality looks great, it's worth noting that there's no waterproofing on this device, unlike some of Xiaomi's other mid-range phones. The design is essentially identical to the regular Mi 11 Light, except for the added support for 5G connectivity. This means that those looking for a more premium feel will be pleased with the overall aesthetic of the phone. The flat back and rounded frame make it easy to hold and use one-handedly, while the lack of curves makes it less prone to fingerprint smudges. In terms of design features, the Mi 11 Lite 5G has an always-on display that shows time and notifications without needing to unlock the phone. This is a nice touch, but it's only visible for a few seconds after tapping the screen. The side-mounted fingerprint reader is fast and responsive, making it easy to quickly access your phone. Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G has a solid build quality and design that should appeal to those looking for a practical and feature-rich mid-range device. While it may not be the most exciting or premium-feeling phone on the market, it's certainly a competent package that gets the job done. You might prefer Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, designed with an upgraded design for a better experience.
Battery Life
In our testing, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G showed great battery life despite its relatively small 4,250mAh battery. We measured an endurance rating of 106 hours in our proprietary tests, which is impressive for a mid-range device. Charging speed was also decent, with the phone reaching 58% capacity in just half an hour using the included 33W charger. While it's not the fastest charging experience, it's still a good compromise considering the battery life performance. In real-world usage, we found that the Mi 11 Lite 5G easily lasts a full day with moderate to heavy use, including gaming and streaming video content. Even with intense usage, such as gaming or watching videos on high brightness settings, the phone managed to last around 10-12 hours before needing a recharge. Overall, the battery life of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is one of its standout features, making it a great option for those who need a reliable and long-lasting mid-range smartphone. For a superior battery, Xiaomi Mix 4 could be the right choice.
Display
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G boasts an impressive 6.55-inch AMOLED display, which is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. This vibrant screen offers a 1080p resolution and a fast 90Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for gaming and multimedia consumption. Additionally, the display features a 240Hz touch sampling rate, which helps to smooth out swiping and scrolling. What's more impressive is that the Mi 11 Lite 5G supports HDR10+ content, something that its non-5G counterpart doesn't offer. The screen is also protected by Gorilla Glass 6, providing an extra layer of durability against scratches and drops. The display itself is stunning, with vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The AMOLED panel offers a wide color gamut, making it perfect for enjoying movies and TV shows. We measured a maximum brightness of around 510 nits, which is more than sufficient for indoor use. However, in bright sunlight, the screen can boost up to an impressive 840 nits, making it easily visible. The only drawback we found was that the display doesn't get as loud or vibrant when compared to some other mid-range devices on the market. Nevertheless, this remains a minor complaint, given the overall excellent performance of the display. In conclusion, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G's display is a significant improvement over its predecessor and offers a great viewing experience for users. With its fast refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and Gorilla Glass protection, it's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality mid-range device. A better alternative might be Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, featuring a next-level display.
Camera
The camera department is one of the most impressive aspects of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G. The phone features a quad-camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel telephoto macro camera. Photos taken with the main camera are stunning for this class of device. They offer great detail, punchy colors, balanced sharpness, low noise, and a wide yet natural-looking dynamic range. Portraits look good with plenty of detail and nice colors, although edge detection can be hit-or-miss around hair. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera takes decent photos for the class, with good contrast and a wide dynamic range. Close-up shots taken with the telephoto macro camera are also impressive, with nice contrast and great-looking colors. However, autofocus can sometimes struggle to capture sharp images, requiring multiple attempts. Low-light photography is another area where the Mi 11 Lite 5G excels. The auto night mode feature seems to improve exposure in subtle ways, but it's not always activated. Still, nighttime photos look very good for the class, with balanced exposure, true-to-life colors, and low noise. Detail is decent, although not flagship-level. Forcing the dedicated night mode can take up to 2-3 seconds, resulting in brighter images with lower noise and better-defined details. The ultra-wide camera's performance at night is disappointing, but manual night mode helps. Selfies are taken with a 20-megapixel front-facing camera, which produces great shots with balanced colors and a wide dynamic range. Video recording capabilities are also impressive, particularly when using the main camera to shoot up to 4K resolution at 30fps. The footage is detailed, sharp, and has low noise, making it suitable for casual videographers. Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G's camera system offers excellent performance in various lighting conditions, making it a great option for those who value good camera capabilities without breaking the bank. You may find Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 a better fit, thanks to its superior camera.
Price and Value
In today's competitive mid-range market, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G stands out as a solid contender. With its sleek glass design, excellent high-refresh-rate OLED display, loud stereo speakers, great battery life, and decently fast charging, this phone offers an impressive package. One of the most significant advantages of the Mi 11 Lite 5G is its price point. Priced at a competitive level with other mid-range smartphones, it delivers exceptional value for money. The phone's powerful Snapdragon 780G chipset, which is built on a five-nanometer process, provides top-notch performance that surpasses many flagships from the previous year. The camera system, although not groundbreaking, takes excellent photos and videos, especially in well-lit conditions. While it may not match the quality of more expensive flagships, it's still one of the best in its class. Considering its price, the Mi 11 Lite 5G offers exceptional value for money. With a competitive price tag, it's hard to find a better package elsewhere in this segment. Xiaomi's decision to include a fast chipset and great camera system at this price point makes the Mi 11 Lite 5G an attractive option. While there are plenty of alternatives from Xiaomi itself that compete directly with the Mi 11 Lite 5G, its overall package makes it worth recommending. The combination of a powerful chipset, excellent camera performance, and sleek design, all at a competitive price, make it a solid choice for anyone in the market for a mid-range smartphone.
Performance
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is a mid-range smartphone that boasts an impressive array of performance features, setting it apart from its competitors in the same price bracket. At its core lies the powerful Snapdragon 780G chipset, built on a five-nanometer process and the most potent Snapdragon 700 series chip available. In our testing, the Mi 11 Lite 5G consistently topped the mid-range charts in CPU performance, even surpassing the likes of the Poco X3 Pro with its Snapdragon 860. The device's GPU capabilities were similarly impressive, placing it second only to the Poco X3 Pro's top-dog status. One notable aspect of the Mi 11 Lite 5G's performance is its ability to handle demanding tasks without thermal throttling, a common issue in mid-range devices. This ensures seamless multitasking and gaming experiences, making it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable phone that can keep up with their demands. The device also features a 4,250mAh battery, which provides great endurance despite its relatively small size compared to other mid-rangers on the market. Our proprietary tests yielded an impressive endurance rating of 106 hours, further solidifying the Mi 11 Lite 5G's reputation as a performance powerhouse in its class. The phone's charging speed is decent, with the included 33W charger capable of quickly replenishing the battery from zero to 58% in just half an hour. While not blazing fast, this feature is still a welcome addition for users who need to top up their device on-the-go. Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G's performance credentials make it a compelling choice for those seeking a reliable and capable mid-range smartphone that can handle demanding tasks with ease. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded performance.