New Budget 5G Contender: Is the Redmi 11 Prime 5G Worth the Hype?

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G stands as the most budget-friendly 5G smartphone from Xiaomi in India, touted by the brand as a versatile 5G device. Inside a competitive market, it contends with brands like iQoo, Vivo, Realme, and Motorola. Equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, a popular choice for budget 5G models, this smartphone supports seven 5G bands, making it suitable for various telecom networks across the country.

In addition, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G features a robust battery, a full-HD+ display, and a dual-camera system on its rear. Given its offerings, is it the top 5G smartphone priced under Rs. 15,000 in India? Let’s explore.

Pricing of Redmi 11 Prime 5G in India

Xiaomi has introduced both 4G and 5G versions of the Redmi 11 Prime in India, with the 5G model carrying a higher price tag. It comes in two configurations: the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model is priced at Rs 13,999, while the 6GB RAM + 128GB variant is set at Rs 15,999. The 5G version is available in Meadow Green, Chrome Silver, and Thunder Black color options.

Design of Redmi 11 Prime 5G

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G adopts a flat frame design, reflecting the trend of 2022 smartphones. Its rear is curved at the edges to provide a comfortable grip. As is typical for this price bracket, the back and frame are made of plastic materials. Nevertheless, the textured design enhances grip, and we received the 6GB RAM variant in Meadow Green, which appears to be the standout color.

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G has a polycarbonate back

On the left, you’ll find the SIM tray offering slots for two nano-SIM cards and an additional slot for a microSD card. The right side houses the power and volume buttons, which are responsive but somewhat recessed. The top edge includes a 3.5mm headphone jack adjacent to the IR blaster, while the bottom edge features the USB Type-C port and a single speaker grille.

Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the 6.58-inch display is tall and boasts a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen offers a full-HD+ resolution and is certified Widevine L1, allowing for HD streaming on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. A downside compared to some competitors is the use of an IPS LCD instead of AMOLED technology.

Colors may not be as vivid, and the peak brightness of the display reaches only 400 nits. While the display is suitable for indoor lighting, I found it necessary to crank the brightness to the maximum for outdoor usage. Some may find this acceptable, but the phone features a waterdrop notch for the front camera, which feels somewhat outdated.

At 200g, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G is slightly heavier, and with a thickness of 8.9mm, it feels solid in hand. Included in the box is a silicone protective case, alongside a 22.5W fast charger and a USB Type-A to Type-C cable. Notably, the device only supports 18W fast charging.

Specifications and Software of Redmi 11 Prime 5G

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is powered by a 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC and supports seven 5G bands suitable for India. Connectivity features include dual-5G, Bluetooth 5.1, and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac. While it lacks an official IP rating, the SIM tray has some protection against splashes and dust.

The device packs a 5000mAh battery capable of 18W fast charging. Running on Android 12 with MIUI 13, the interface is rich in features but may feel cluttered at times. Alongside Xiaomi’s proprietary apps, several third-party applications, such as Moj, Snapchat, Zilli, and Spotify, come pre-installed, though users can uninstall them if desired.

Xiaomi hasn’t announced any long-term software update commitments for the Redmi 11 Prime 5G, but we hope for at least the Android 13 rollout.

Performance and Battery Life of Redmi 11 Prime 5G

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, provides adequate performance for daily tasks such as social media browsing and web navigation. However, if gaming performance is your priority at this price, you may find it lacking. While titles like Asphalt 9 Legends and Call of Duty: Mobile ran acceptably on basic settings, we noted occasional stuttering during gameplay. The device achieved scores of 521 and 1757 in Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core tests, respectively, and an AnTuTu score of 3,37,683.

Battery life is commendable overall. The 5000mAh battery comfortably lasts a day and a half with moderate to light use. During our battery loop test, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G operated for 16 hours and 53 minutes, which is impressive. Using the included charger, the phone took approximately two hours to reach a full charge from empty.

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is powered by a 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC

The device features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that quickly unlocks the phone. Although a 3.5mm headphone jack is present, no wired earphones are included. The single-speaker setup delivers clear audio, yet a dual-speaker system would have enhanced the experience.

Cameras of Redmi 11 Prime 5G

On the rear, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G sports a dual-camera setup, consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, lacking an ultra-wide lens. For selfies, an 8-megapixel front camera is available.

The dual-camera system on the Redmi 11 Prime 5G

The main camera performs adequately in well-lit environments, with images displaying neutral colors and fine details. However, in challenging lighting—like backlit scenes or low-light conditions—the camera struggles, exhibiting subpar performance and limited dynamic range.

Captured with the main camera on the Redmi 11 Prime 5G

Although it includes a Night mode, I found it to be underwhelming. For video, both the front and rear cameras can record up to 1080p at 30fps. Daytime video captured with the primary camera shows neutral colors, but stabilization is lacking. Low-light footage reveals noticeable noise.

Sample shot in Night mode taken with the Redmi 11 Prime 5G

Selfies maintain an acceptable level of detail in daylight, though software processing can alter skin tones, resulting in a fairer complexion with pink undertones. The front camera’s portrait mode effectively blurs backgrounds as intended.

Selfie in Portrait Mode taken with the Redmi 11 Prime 5G

Front camera capture from the Redmi 11 Prime 5G

Conclusion 

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G offers a reasonable performance package for under Rs. 15,000. Its main attraction is the support for 5G networks with seven bands, along with a sufficient processor for daily usage. With a tall display and impressive battery endurance, it appeals to those who enjoy watching videos on their devices. However, we wish it had a brighter AMOLED screen with a standard refresh rate instead of the current display. If you can increase your budget by Rs. 500, the Redmi Note 11S (Review) featuring a 90Hz AMOLED display provides a superior multimedia experience.

The camera capabilities of the Redmi 11 Prime are also not particularly impressive. You may want to explore alternatives like the Moto G32 or even Redmi’s own Note 11, both of which are limited to 4G networks. To obtain 5G support in this price range, some compromises are necessary. The iQoo Z6 Lite 5G (First look) stands out as a new budget-focused 5G smartphone featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC, making it a worthy contender.