Xiaomi recently launched two Redmi-branded mid-range smartphones in India as part of the Note 11 series. The Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S are now available for purchase in India and both are well-equipped devices. However, the Redmi Note 11S, being the more expensive of the two, might have been better equipped according to us. The phone lacks some of the features found in other smartphones in the same price range. The Note 11S starts at Rs 16,499, with the top variant costing Rs 18,999. At these prices, Redmi might have added some of the missing features that we mentioned below. lets take alook.
5 Features Redmi Note 11S Doesn’t Get, But Competitors Do
5G connection
Most smartphones these days offer 5G connectivity, which may not be very useful today, but will make the phone ready for the future. 5G services are expected to be launched in India by 2023. So, most people may want to buy a 5G enabled smartphone just to get ready. The Redmi Note 11S is missing 5G connectivity, while many smartphones in the price segment offer this feature. Redmi’s biggest competitors, Realme and Vivo, offer 5G phones at a similar price, such as the Realme 8 5G and Vivo T1. Some budget phones also offer 5G, so it’s disappointing to see Redmi not including 5G in the Note 11S.
Latest slides
Redmi Note 11S comes with MediaTek Helio G96 processor, which is a decent mid-range chipset. This processor was released last year in July, and while it performs well, there are plenty of newer options available at the moment. For example, MediaTek’s Dimensity series or Snapdragon 600/700 processors are not only better performing but also more efficient. It was good to see the Note 11S from Redmi use the Dimensity SoC from MediaTek, which will help improve the overall performance of the smartphone. Similarly priced phones are offered with newer and more efficient chipsets.
120 Hz display
While the 90Hz AMOLED display on the Redmi Note 11S is great, it’s definitely missing a faster 120Hz panel. There are many similarly priced smartphones that offer 120Hz refresh rates for smoother animations and a more enjoyable viewing experience. This is a feature that we think Xiaomi might have easily integrated into the Redmi Note 11S without adding to the price. Even if the LCD panel has a refresh rate of 120Hz, gaming will be more fun on the phone.
In-screen fingerprint scanner
Redmi is also missing an in-display fingerprint scanner for the Note 11S. The phone uses a side-mounted fingerprint scanner instead, which is nice, but not as snug as the in-screen scanner. Realme 8 Pro offers this feature in the same price range, so Redmi might have added the feature in Note 11S. In-screen fingerprint scanners may not be as fast or accurate as a fingerprint scanner, but it’s a feature that’s available in newer phones and continues to improve.
faster charging
The Redmi Note 11S comes with a 5,000mAh battery, which is quite common in its price range. However, competitors offer faster charging speeds compared to Redmi’s 33W. Phones like Realme 8 Pro and iQOO Z3 offer fast charging speeds of 55W, which helps to charge the phone faster. Although the 33W fast charging is fine, it will take some time to recharge the 5,000mAh battery inside the Note 11S. Hence, supporting faster charging would make charging the battery easier.
The Redmi Note 11S from Xiaomi is a mid-range smartphone that might have been much better in terms of price. It offers unique features like a 108MP primary rear camera, but it misses 5G connectivity, a fingerprint scanner, faster charging, a 120Hz display, and a newer chipset. If Redmi included all these features, the Note 11S would be inconsequential in its price range.