My Experience with the Redmi Note 11T Pro as a Backup Phone
Last week, I decided to buy a backup phone. Considering that my home is primarily equipped with Xiaomi devices, I prioritized Redmi. During my search, I also became interested in the OnePlus Ace. Ultimately, I chose the Redmi Note 11T Pro and am sharing my usage experience with everyone.
Before Purchase
I planned to try out the Redmi Note 11T Pro at a nearby Xiaomi Store before buying. However, when I arrived, the staff informed me that the Redmi Note 11T Pro had already been discontinued and hinted that the 12T Pro was about to be released. Since I couldn't try the phone, I left.
Purchase
I then placed an order directly on JD.com for the "Redmi Note 11T Pro" in the "12GB + 256GB Midnight Black" version. The final price was under 2000 RMB, and with JD Plus coupons, it could be purchased for around 1800 RMB during promotions.
The original price for this version was 2399 RMB. It has dropped significantly recently, likely due to inventory clearance. I suspect it will be discontinued soon.
Purchase Link: https://u.jd.com/uzIrzBX
Unboxing
I'm not great at photography, so I just took two random shots.
The included accessories are:
- 67W Charger
- SIM card ejector tool
- A transparent protective case
- The phone comes with a pre-applied screen protector
Redmi Note 11T Pro vs. My Xiaomi 10s
My current daily driver is the Xiaomi 10s I bought two years ago (see: Chatting about Xiaomi 10s). Compared to my Xiaomi 10s, the Redmi Note 11T Pro has the following shortcomings:
- Although both have dual speakers, the sound quality is noticeably inferior to the 10s.
- Using full-screen gestures, the touch feel is not as good as the 10s because the 10s has a curved screen, while the Redmi Note 11T Pro has a flat screen.
- The overall feel is slightly worse; the Note 11T Pro has a plastic back, whereas the 10s has a glass back. However, the Note 11T Pro's overall feel isn't bad, it just feels a bit cheap visually.
- Photography is not as good as the 10s. The Redmi Note 11T Pro's camera is indeed known as a "scanning-level" performer. It does not support OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), but for a backup phone, it doesn't matter.
Now, let's talk about the advantages of the Redmi Note 11T Pro:
- It is cheaper; my 10s cost around 2800 RMB, while the Redmi Note 11T Pro is around 1800 RMB, a difference of nearly 1000 RMB.
- The battery capacity is larger than the 10s, and the 67W fast charging is very satisfying.
- The CPU is stronger; the Redmi Note 11T Pro uses the Dimensity 8100, which outperforms the Snapdragon 870 in the Xiaomi 10s.
- Higher refresh rate; the Redmi Note 11T Pro supports up to 144 Hz, while the Xiaomi 10s maxes out at 90 Hz. I used to think my Xiaomi 10s wasn't laggy, but after using the 144 Hz on the Note 11T Pro, my Xiaomi 10s feels a bit laggy now?
System
Upon arrival, the system still came pre-installed with a bunch of third-party apps that needed to be uninstalled manually. The default system was MIUI 13, which can be upgraded to MIUI 14. I upgraded to MIUI 14 immediately after receiving the phone and haven't found any issues so far.
It is worth mentioning that the Redmi Note 11T Pro supports flashing the European version firmware, but this requires unlocking the bootloader. I will explore this later if needed.
Enabling Google Services Framework
The Redmi Note 11T Pro comes with the Google Services Framework built-in. You just need to enable "Google Basic Services" in the settings.
Then, install the "Google Play Store" from the Xiaomi Store.
Other
According to the AnTuTu 2023 February mobile phone performance ranking, the Redmi Note 11T Pro ranks 62nd, showing that the Dimensity 8100 is quite powerful.
Conclusion
The Redmi Note 11T Pro has seen a significant price drop recently, clearly indicating an inventory clearance phase. If you need a backup phone, considering the Redmi Note 11T Pro is still worthwhile. If you are not in a hurry to buy, you can wait for the release of the Redmi Note 12T Pro. Rumors suggest it will be equipped with the Snapdragon 7+ CPU. The specific price and performance will need to be evaluated after the March 28th release.
Redmi Note 11T Pro Purchase Link: https://u.jd.com/uzIrzBX