Xiaomi 390,000 Won 5G Phone... 'Monster Battery' Is Great but Camera Is Disappointing
by Cha Minyoung
Published 19 Apr.2022 12:03(KST)
Tried Xiaomi's 'Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G'
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Samsung Electronics' mid-range smartphone, the 'Galaxy A53,' has met a competitor to be wary of.
I borrowed Xiaomi's ambitious product, the 'Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G,' and used it for about a week. Xiaomi provides all basic accessories, including a 67-watt ultra-fast charger, a silicone case, and a screen protector. Considering that Samsung and Apple exclude chargers for environmental reasons and require separate purchases, this is highly satisfactory.
The exterior is divisive. As the product name 'Note' suggests, it features a large 6.67-inch screen, and the back changes color depending on the angle, giving it a premium feel. The 'camera bump' remains a downside. It protrudes more than competing smartphones.
In terms of functionality, it is hard to believe it costs only 390,000 KRW. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, usually found in premium smartphones, making screen movements smooth. Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, it is not suitable for high-end gaming, but considering the price, it offers good specifications.
The biggest advantage is the 'monster battery.' When charging the battery for 15 minutes using the included fast charger from a fully drained state, it showed 48% battery charged. Xiaomi has stated that it supports a large 5000mAh battery and can charge 50% in 15 minutes. Although there is some heat generation during charging, Xiaomi responded that there have been no safety issues.
The rear 108-megapixel camera has a high pixel count but produces unsatisfactory results. Without optical image stabilization (OIS), the screen shakes significantly, reducing the effectiveness of the zoom function. As with its predecessor, night shots are noticeably less clear.
The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G seems to be a useful second phone for work for those who often work outside. It supports dual SIM functionality, allowing two USIM cards to be used simultaneously. Compared to competing products like the Galaxy A53 and Apple's iPhone SE3, which cost around 590,000 KRW, it is about 200,000 KRW cheaper, which is also an advantage.
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