Which one should you choose? Know all the differences between the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
After the recent Xiaomi event in which the Chinese giant introduced us to the new members of the Mi 11 family, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, Mi 11i, Mi 11 Pro, and Mi 11 Ultra, many doubts may arise about which of these models is the most suitable for us.
This time we are going to compare in depth a mid-range phone that was presented at the end of last year, the Xiaomi Mi 11, against the new mid-range flagship phone of the Chinese brand, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
Design and screen: How do the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite differ?
At the design level, both phones have a very similar aesthetic with a front with an almost frameless screen topped by a hole in the screen where the front camera is housed and a rear dominated by a triple camera module located on the left side and the manufacturer’s logo located vertically at the bottom.
The main difference between the two phones is that the Xiaomi Mi 11 has a curved screen both on the sides and at the top and bottom while the screen of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite does not have this curvature.
The other major differentiation in its design lies in its thickness and weight since the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite is thinner and lighter than its big brother, specifically has a thickness of more than a millimeter less and weighs 39g less, a difference that we will notice in day to day.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 features a 6.81-inch AMOLED display with a 2K resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, a refresh rate of 120Hz, a touch sampling rate of 480Hz, and is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, the highest protection for mobile screens today.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, meanwhile, has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate, a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, and is protected with Gorilla Glass 5.
Cameras: Which one takes better photos?
Both phones are equipped with a module of three rear cameras. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a 108MP wide-angle main sensor with an f/1.85 focal aperture, a 1/1.33 sensor size, and OIS optical stabilization, a 13MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with an f/2.4 focal aperture and a viewing angle of 123º, and finally, a 5MP telemacro sensor with f/2.4 focal aperture.
While the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite has a 64MP main sensor with f/1.79 focal aperture, 1/1.97 sensor size, and contrast autofocus, and 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with f/2.2 focal aperture, and a 5MP rangefinder sensor with f/2.2 focal aperture and contrast autofocus.
We also find differences in the front camera, because while the Xiaomi Mi 11 mounts a 20MP sensor with f/2.2 focal aperture, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite has a 16MP sensor with the same focal aperture.
Battery: more capacity and faster charging on the Xiaomi Mi 11
In this area, the Xiaomi Mi 11 will provide us with greater battery life than its rival, having a battery with a capacity of 4,600mAh compared to the 4,250mAh of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite and this is one of the reasons that explain the difference in thickness between the two phones.
One of the features most valued by users today in a smartphone battery is fast charging and both phones have this functionality, although the Xiaomi Mi 11 has a slightly faster charge, 55W versus 33W of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
Processor and memory: The Snapdragon 888 is king
The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a single 8GB RAM version and two internal storage versions of 128 and 256GB while the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite has a single 6GB RAM version and two internal storage versions of 64 and 128GB.
At this point we should note that the type of technology used by both RAM and internal storage of both devices is different, being faster in the Xiaomi Mi 11.
Focusing on the processor, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is equipped with the most advanced Qualcomm chipset to date, the Snapdragon 888, while the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite has the Snapdragon 780G, both being compatible with the new 5G networks.
Connectivity: Two very evenly matched phones
In the chapter reserved for connectivity, both devices have common features such as 5G connectivity, NFC, GPS, and USB-C connector and some differences that focus on the absence of the 3.5 mm jack connector in the Xiaomi Mi 11, which is present in its smaller brother and the fact of having different versions of dual-band Wifi, Wifi 6 in the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Wifi 5 in the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, and Bluetooth, 5. 2 in the case of the Xiaomi Mi 11 and 5.1 in the case of the Mi 11 Lite.
Xiaomi Mi 11 vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, which one you should buy?
At this point, the first thing to keep in mind is that we are talking about two phones of different ranges, since the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a high-end device, while the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite is a mid-high range smartphone. This is going to have an impact on their prices and at this point, we find a big difference in cost between the two: $800 for the Xiaomi Mi 11 compared to $400 for the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
Analyzing the specifications of these two mobiles from the Chinese manufacturer, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is superior to its rival as it has a better screen, a more powerful processor, better cameras, and a larger capacity battery with faster charging. Therefore, what you should evaluate is whether it is worth paying almost $450 more than costs this high-end phone or if, on the contrary, you think that the features of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite cover your needs and its price is more in line with your budget.
