Redmi Note 11S Review: Is It Good Value?

Xiaomi is again to doing what it does greatest, flooding the mainstream smartphone market with a tonne of choices so it doesn’t matter what your funds is, there is a Redmi telephone for you. We have seen many different corporations undertake this technique too, and whereas it does create a complicated mess, it additionally means there’s plenty of selection.

Take for instance, the brand new Redmi Be aware 11S. It is a 4G-only smartphone, which to start with, is somewhat odd because the Redmi Be aware 11T 5G (Overview) which got here earlier than it helps 5G. The principle attraction right here is the 108-megapixel rear digicam. This is similar sensor beforehand used on the Redmi Be aware 10 Professional Max final 12 months, however now Xiaomi is providing it at a decrease beginning worth. Nevertheless, with the Redmi Be aware 11 Professional sequence proper across the nook, the place does the Redmi Be aware 11S actually slot in, and do you have to even be contemplating it?

Redmi Be aware 11S worth and variants

Let’s begin with the completely different configurations on supply. The Redmi Be aware 11S is out there in three variants, beginning at Rs. 16,499 for 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage; Rs. 17,499 for a similar quantity of RAM however 128GB of storage; and at last Rs. 18,499 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Redmi Be aware 11S design

The design of the Redmi Be aware 11S is a bit too bland for my liking. The blue and polar white trims look a bit higher in pictures, however the black unit that I’ve is simply plain boring. The plastic body and again panel are effectively constructed and the telephone is kind of snug to carry. It is not too heavy at 179g or thick both. The principle digicam stands out additional than the remainder of the digicam module, which makes the Redmi Be aware 11S unsteady when you’re attempting to apply it to a flat floor.


Xiaomi has gone for a 6.43-inch AMOLED show with a reasonably excessive peak brightness of as much as a claimed 1000nits. Nevertheless, the remainder of the specs are nothing to shout about. It has a 90Hz peak refresh price, a primary 180Hz contact sampling price, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for scratch safety. The total-HD+ decision ensures sharp visuals, and hues are usually punchy. You will must manually allow the 90Hz refresh price on the Be aware 11S, because it’s set to 60Hz by default.

The Redmi Be aware 11S has a plastic physique which has helped hold the load low
Photograph Credit score: Roydon Cerejo

The Redmi Be aware 11S helps two Nano-SIM playing cards and a microSD card, all in the identical tray. The devoted storage growth slot is useful because the Redmi Be aware 11S has a most of 128GB of built-in storage. The telephone additionally has twin audio system, a Sort-C port, an IR emitter, and a headphone jack. It even has an IP53 score for water and mud resistance, which isn’t frequent on this worth phase. The field features a 33W quick charging adapter, USB Sort-C cable, SIM eject device and a case.

Redmi Be aware 11S specs and software program

This telephone is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 SoC, which is decently highly effective however not probably the most environment friendly because it’s constructed on an older 12nm fabrication course of. The Redmi Be aware 11S helps dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5, and all the essential satellite tv for pc navigation methods. It additionally has a 5,000mAh battery, which ought to be sufficient to final a full day on one cost, on the very least.

The Redmi Be aware 11S runs MIUI 13, however this model continues to be primarily based on Android 11 and never 12. It is a acquainted expertise when you’ve used any latest Xiaomi smartphone. All the standard theming choices, shortcuts and gestures are current, together with a tonne of preinstalled apps. All of the third-party apps may be uninstalled however some first-party ones such Mi Pay can’t be.

Redmi Be aware 11S efficiency and battery life

The Redmi Be aware 11S affords sufficient grunt to deal with primary apps and video games effectively. Sure apps in MIUI 13, equivalent to GetApps, may be spammy. There is a capacitive fingerprint sensor within the energy button, which labored effectively in my expertise. Due to the AMOLED panel, you may make the most of a form of always-on show characteristic. This might have been extra helpful, nevertheless it solely stays energetic for 10 seconds at a time — so it is not truly ‘at all times on’.

The Redmi Be aware 11S has a handsome show that delivers sharp visuals at a excessive refresh price
Photograph Credit score: Roydon Cerejo

Movies appeared good on the telephone’s show however the stereo sound wasn’t effectively balanced as the underside speaker sounded lots clearer than the earpiece. Video games ran effectively sufficient, however some heavy ones ran with restricted graphics choices on this telephone. As an illustration, Name of Obligation: Cell did not even present the ‘Excessive’ graphics choice and I wasn’t ready to make use of many of the superior high quality toggles both. Gameplay was easy although, it is simply that it did not look nearly as good because it usually does.

Xiaomi says it has used a liquid cooling system to maintain the telephone working cool even beneath stress however after a 30 minute session of Name of Obligation, the again and the body nonetheless received fairly heat. The Redmi Be aware 11S carried out predictably in assessments and in real-world utilization given its specs – benchmark scores have been a bit decrease than what the Redmi Be aware 11T 5G managed with its MediaTek Dimensity 810 SoC. The Be aware 11S scored 3,10,732 factors in AnTuTu and ran at 51fps in GFXBench’s T-Rex check.

Battery life was fortunately fairly good. The 5,000mAh battery simply provided a whole day’s price of runtime, even with heavy use. With lighter workloads, you may anticipate to go longer between prices. There’s 33W quick charging which helps cost the battery pretty rapidly. 

Redmi Be aware 11S cameras

The principle 108-megapixel digicam on the Redmi Be aware 11S makes use of the Samsung HM2 sensor. It captures 12-megapixel pixel-binned pictures by default, however you may take pictures on the native 108-megapixel decision too. Underneath brilliant daylight, this digicam managed good element however colors in pictures tended to look wildly exaggerated, with the AI characteristic on or off. The optionally available Professional Color mode boosted vibrance even additional, making pictures look very synthetic. Taking pictures on the full 108-megapixel decision provided significantly better element, however extra importantly, colors have been higher managed and objects appeared much more pure in my assessments.

Is the 108-megapixel sensor within the Redmi Be aware 11S nearly as good as Xiaomi is making it out to be?
Photograph Credit score: Roydon Cerejo


The Redmi Be aware 11S had a little bit of hassle with autofocus when capturing close-up topics with the primary digicam, and it took a few faucets on the viewfinder at occasions to lock focus accurately. Shut-ups appeared good beneath managed lighting, however beneath brilliant daylight, colors typically went for a toss. The principle sensor actually struggled in low gentle. Taking pictures on the full 108-megapixel decision wasn’t of a lot assist and my solely choice was to make use of Evening mode. This takes a few seconds longer to seize a shot, however you do get barely higher element and publicity. Surprisingly, you may’t use Evening mode with the ultra-wide or the selfie cameras, which is an actual disgrace.

Redmi Be aware 11S major digicam pattern (faucet to see full measurement)

Redmi Be aware 11S ultra-wide digicam pattern (faucet to see full measurement)

Taking pictures on the full 108-megapixel decision beneath good gentle on the Redmi Be aware 11S leads to significantly better picture high quality

Redmi Be aware 11S major digicam pattern (faucet to see full measurement)


The 8-megapixel ultra-wide digicam has a extra restrained color profile when capturing through the day, which for as soon as, is an efficient factor. Low-light pictures got here out expectedly weak and blurry, with poor color copy. The Redmi Be aware 11S has a primary 2-megapixel macro digicam, not the spectacular tele-macro one we had on the Be aware 10 Professional sequence, so the outcomes aren’t nearly as good. There’s additionally a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

Redmi Be aware 11S major digicam pattern with Evening mode (faucet to see full measurement)

Redmi Be aware 11S ultra-wide digicam pattern (faucet to see full measurement)

Redmi Be aware 11S daylight selfie (left) and evening selfie (proper) pattern

The 16-megapixel selfie digicam captured respectable pictures through the day, nonetheless I observed fairly a little bit of oversharpening when utilizing Portrait mode for a similar body. Selfies taken indoors have been respectable supplied there was good ambient lighting, however outdoor at evening, the standard was fairly weak.

The Redmi Be aware 11S can file video at solely as much as 1080p, with stabilisation, nonetheless the standard was strictly common even when capturing in broad daylight. In low gentle, the standard was actually poor and never up to speed for a telephone on this phase.

Verdict

The Redmi Be aware 11S seems like a little bit of a stopgap answer until the Redmi Be aware 11 Professional sequence arrives, and when you’ve set your coronary heart on a Redmi telephone already, then final 12 months’s Redmi Be aware 10 Professional truly affords higher worth on the identical worth. The 108-megapixel digicam is that this telephone’s major promoting level. It could actually seize good pictures when you’re capturing on the native decision through the day, however in any other case it is strictly common, as are the remainder of the sensors. The SoC is not significantly highly effective for a telephone on this worth phase, and the shortage of 5G does not assist its case both.

I believe it could be greatest to carry off for some time earlier than you make any buy determination concerning this telephone, as higher choices are certain to launch quickly.