Redmi Note 11S: A Mid-Range Mirage or Worth the Hype?

Xiaomi has returned to its core competency, inundating the mainstream smartphone arena with a plethora of choices, ensuring that there’s a Redmi model to fit every financial plan. This approach has been embraced by numerous competitors as well, resulting in a market sometimes overwhelmed with options, but also brimming with possibilities.

Consider the new Redmi Note 11S as a case in point. This device supports only 4G, which seems unusual since the Redmi Note 11T 5G (Review) launched earlier offers 5G connectivity. The standout feature here is the 108-megapixel rear camera, which was also featured in last year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, but Xiaomi has now introduced it at a lower initial cost. Nonetheless, with the Redmi Note 11 Pro series imminent, one might wonder where the Redmi Note 11S fits within the lineup and if it warrants your attention.

Pricing and Variants of the Redmi Note 11S

Let’s delve into the various configurations available. The Redmi Note 11S can be purchased in three versions, beginning at Rs. 16,499 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage model; Rs. 17,499 for the same RAM capacity but with 128GB storage; and finally Rs. 18,499 for 8GB of RAM accompanied by 128GB of storage.

Design of the Redmi Note 11S

The aesthetic of the Redmi Note 11S feels somewhat uninspired to me. While the blue and polar white colors appear better in pictures, the black device I have is quite nondescript. Despite this, the plastic frame and back cover are well constructed, and the phone is comfortable to grip. Weighing in at 179g, it has a slender profile. However, the main camera protrudes noticeably beyond the camera module, making the Redmi Note 11S unstable when placed on a flat surface.

Xiaomi has equipped the device with a 6.43-inch AMOLED display that boasts an impressive peak brightness of up to 1000 nits. Nevertheless, the remaining specifications are rather unremarkable. It features a 90Hz peak refresh rate, a basic 180Hz touch sampling rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for scratch resistance. The full-HD+ resolution guarantees sharp images, and colors are typically vibrant. You’ll need to manually set the Note 11S to 90Hz refresh rate since it defaults to 60Hz.

The Redmi Note 11S is designed with a plastic body, contributing to its lightweight
Photo Credit: Roydon Cerejo

 

The Redmi Note 11S supports dual Nano-SIM cards and a microSD card in a single tray. This dedicated expansion slot is convenient considering the Redmi Note 11S comes with a maximum of 128GB internal storage. In addition, the phone features dual speakers, a Type-C port, an IR blaster, and a headphone jack. It even comes with an IP53 rating for water and dust resistance, which is relatively uncommon in this price range. Inside the box, you’ll find a 33W fast charger, USB Type-C cable, SIM eject tool, and a protective case.

Specifications and Software of the Redmi Note 11S

Under the hood, this phone is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 SoC, which offers decent performance but lacks efficiency since it is manufactured on an older 12nm process. The Redmi Note 11S supports dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5, and the essential satellite navigation systems. Additionally, it houses a 5,000mAh battery, which should provide a full day of usage comfortably.

The Redmi Note 11S operates on MIUI 13, yet this version remains based on Android 11 as opposed to 12. For those familiar with recent Xiaomi devices, the experience will feel similar. All the typical theming features, shortcuts, and gestures are available, alongside numerous preinstalled applications. While third-party apps can be uninstalled, some first-party applications like Mi Pay cannot be removed.

Performance and Battery Life of the Redmi Note 11S

The Redmi Note 11S possesses sufficient power to run basic applications and games smoothly. Certain components in MIUI 13, such as GetApps, can be somewhat overwhelming. The capacitive fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button worked effectively during my use. Thanks to the AMOLED display, there’s a sort of always-on display feature; however, it only remains active for 10 seconds at a time, making it not truly ‘always on’.

The Redmi Note 11S has a visually appealing display that produces sharp images with a high refresh rate
Photo Credit: Roydon Cerejo

 

Videos looked impressive on the display, but the stereo audio wasn’t well-balanced, as the bottom speaker delivered clearer sound compared to the earpiece. Gaming performance was satisfactory, although some high-end titles restricted graphics settings on this device. For example, Call of Duty: Mobile didn’t offer a ‘High’ graphics option, and most advanced quality settings were unavailable. Nonetheless, gameplay was smooth, albeit not as visually appealing as expected.

Xiaomi claims to have implemented a liquid cooling system to maintain optimal temperatures during intensive use, yet after a 30-minute gameplay session in Call of Duty, the phone’s back and frame still became noticeably warm. Overall, the Redmi Note 11S delivered consistent performance in benchmarks and daily use, achieving lower scores compared to the Redmi Note 11T 5G, which is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 SoC. The Note 11S recorded 3,10,732 points in AnTuTu and achieved 51 fps in GFXBench’s T-Rex test.

Lucky for users, battery life was commendable. The 5,000mAh power cell effortlessly provided enough charge for an entire day even with heavy usage. With lighter tasks, you should be able to extend the time between charges. The 33W fast charging feature aids in rapid charging.

Camera Performance of the Redmi Note 11S

The primary 108-megapixel camera on the Redmi Note 11S utilizes the Samsung HM2 sensor. By default, it captures 12-megapixel pixel-binned photographs, but you also have the option to take pictures at the native 108-megapixel resolution. In bright sunlight, it produced detail-rich images; however, colors frequently appeared overly saturated regardless of whether the AI feature was activated. The available Pro Colour mode amplified vibrancy even further, resulting in uncomfortably artificial images. Taking shots at the full 108-megapixel resolution yielded superior detail, crucially, the colors were much better managed, rendering subjects more naturally based on my evaluation.

Is the 108-megapixel sensor in the Redmi Note 11S as impressive as Xiaomi suggests?
Photo Credit: Roydon Cerejo

 


The Redmi Note 11S faced challenges with autofocus when capturing close-up subjects using the main camera, occasionally requiring multiple taps on the viewfinder to achieve proper focus. Close-up shots appeared pleasing in controlled lighting settings; however, bright sunlight often compromised color accuracy. The main sensor struggled significantly in low-light conditions. Shooting at the full 108-megapixel resolution didn’t offer much improvement, leaving Night mode as my only option for better outcomes, which took slightly longer to process but did yield improved detail and exposure. To my surprise, Night mode is unavailable for the ultra-wide or selfie cameras, which is quite disappointing.

Sample shot from the Redmi Note 11S’s main camera (click to see full size)

Sample shot from the Redmi Note 11S’s ultra-wide camera (click to see full size)

Capturing at the full 108-megapixel resolution in good light on the Redmi Note 11S enhances image quality significantly

Sample shot from the Redmi Note 11S’s main camera (click to see full size)

 


The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera adopts a more muted color profile during daylight, which is refreshing for a change. As expected, low-light images were poor and lacking clarity, with disappointing color fidelity. The Redmi Note 11S is equipped with a standard 2-megapixel macro camera, lacking the impressive tele-macro capabilities seen in the Note 10 Pro series, resulting in inferior outputs. Additionally, there’s a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

Sample shot from the Redmi Note 11S’s main camera using Night mode (click to see full size)

Sample shot from the Redmi Note 11S’s ultra-wide camera (click to see full size)

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Selfie taken with the Redmi Note 11S in daylight (left) and at night (right)

 

The 16-megapixel front camera captures commendable images in daylight. Nonetheless, I noticed significant oversharpening when utilizing Portrait mode for the same shot. Self-portraits taken indoors were acceptable with ample ambient light, but outdoor low-light images were noticeably lacking in quality.

The Redmi Note 11S can record video up to 1080p with stabilization, yet the video quality is merely average even in well-lit conditions. Under low-light settings, the results were disappointing and did not meet expectations for a device in this price range.

Final Thoughts

The Redmi Note 11S appears to be an interim choice until the Redmi Note 11 Pro series is made available. If you’ve already made up your mind about a Redmi device, the previous year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro actually provides better value at a similar price point. The 108-megapixel camera is the key feature of this model. It can deliver decent images when capturing at the native resolution during the daytime, but otherwise, performance is fairly average, as are the other sensors. The SoC doesn’t offer substantial power for a device in this price category, and the absence of 5G further complicates its appeal.

I would recommend waiting a while before making any decisions regarding this phone, as superior options are likely to emerge shortly.

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