Redmi 11 Prime 5G review: Good 5G phone on budget

• Redmi’s latest 5G offering is here in the form of an affordable device, Redmi 11 Prime 5G.
• It comes with a Dimensity 700 chip and two memory options, 4/64 GB or 6/128 GB.
• The device will go on sale by 9th September 12 PM.

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is the latest budget entrant from Xiaomi. This new smartphone is the successor to Redmi 10 Prime, launched in 2021. However, it would be unfair to treat the Redmi 11 Prime 5G as a mere upgrade to its predecessor, as it comes packed with a new processor, improved camera module, premium design, and 5G connectivity.
It looks like with Redmi 11 Prime 5G Xiaomi keeps its basics in check by delivering a decent smartphone experience along with 5G connectivity at an affordable price. Rather than just packaging it in a premium shell with a weird-looking camera module.
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G's hardware isn’t top-notch but is good enough to justify its price. But during my time with the phone, I didn’t notice any major issues in slowdowns or lags. Whether it's watching videos, or movies, playing low-graphic demanding games, checking social media, clicking photos or browsing the web. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is capable and isn’t going let you down in any of these areas.
So, with all those capabilities, will the Redmi 11 Prime 5G stand out for budget buyers? I’ll tell you in this review.

Price and availability

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G costs ₹13,999 for 4GB + 64GB variant and ₹15,999 for 6GB + 128GB variant. The device is available in meadow green chrome silver and thunder black. Currently, you can buy it from the official website and on Amazon. Currently, by using ICICI bank credit card buyers can avail an additional discount of ₹1,000. The device will go on sale by 9th September 12PM.

Redmi 11 Prime 5G design, build quality and display performance

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G carries forward the same design elements as Redmi 10 Prime, making it recognisable and familiar. The back panel has tiny little groves which feel premium to touch and it is made of plastic. It does not pick up any fingerprints, and the device is easy to grip without a back cover.
You’ll notice 200g weight when you pick up the device, but it is manageable. The ports and volume button placement are on the right, and are easily accessible. The fingerprint scanner on the right also acts as a power button. Other than that you will get a 3.5mm audio jack on the top of the device, Type-C connectivity and a single speaker setup which is sufficiently loud enough.
On the other side, you’ll find the hybrid dual-SIM tray and IR emitter that can be used as a universal remote for air conditioners, TVs, and more electronic devices.
The back panel has two camera modules, and they are big and chunky, but the company has managed to keep the camera setup clean which is commendable.
The display is a 6.58- inch full HD+ panel with a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz along with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 which protects it from minor scratches. I have been using the Redmi 11 Prime 5G without any case, while it’s pristine so far, I expect minor scratches to show over time. I found the 90Hz screen refresh rate pretty decent and seamless across UI and apps, including social media browsing and playing games.
Don’t expect much contrast ratio and colours up to the AMOLED display level at this price segment. The display offers good picture quality but lacks HDR support from OTT services like Prime and Netflix.

Performance: Processor, camera and battery

The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset. The app load time was quick, and the device could multitask between a handful of apps. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G failed to tackle graphically demanding games like Asphalt 9 as the device struggled and showed jitters and noticeable lags in the game.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is fast and responsive, while the mono speaker setup at the bottom is sufficiently loud too.
Regarding the optics department, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G sports a dual camera setup at the back, comprising a 50MP dual camera setup.
The rear camera setup has impressed me a lot as it captures the details without affecting the colour tone in ideal lighting conditions.
The 2MP depth sensor, which kicks in portrait mode, produces decent results. Also, you can manually change the amount of bokeh with the camera setting.
Don’t expect much In the night mode, the picture will come below average quality.
Also, you may have to struggle to keep your hand steady as autofocus loses speed.
As for the selfies, the smartphone packs an 8MP sensor and can capture facial detailing and accurate colour tones. Further, the device can record full HD 1080p x 720p at 30fps. The video quality of the recording is good for the asking price of Redmi 11 Prime 5G.
What I liked most about the Redmi 11 Prime 5G camera is that Redmi does not offer superficial filters and different editing tools to enhance facial structure and colour tone, as we see in Oppo or Realme.
Coming to battery performance, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery, and it can comfortably last up to a day with average usage.
My screen time was 8-10 hours which included streaming videos that included watching TV shows, and movies, checking social media apps, going through emails, editing word files, using slack and playing arcade games such as Jetpack Joyride, Vector and more. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G comes with a 22.5W fast charger and takes more than 2 hours to charge from 0-100.

Final verdict

As the 5G service is just around the corner, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G is a compelling device to buy for budget buyers. The performance in terms of day-to-day usage and camera is decent for its asking price. Also, the big battery comes in handy while casually using, a clean UI and MediaTek chipset, 90Hz display is a delight for budget buyers.
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