Introduction
Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 11T series, the company’s latest top-end 5G smartphone, in India earlier month as the successor to last year’s Xiaomi 10T . It was launched in Europe along with the Xiaomi 11T last year. Compared to the Xiaomi 11T, this brings a 120Hz AMOLED screen, faster processor, and 120W fast charging. Is the phone worth the price of Rs. 39,999? Let us dive into the review to find out.
Price
The Xiaomi 11T is launching with just one model using a larger than standard spec of 48,999 Taka (8GB+128GB) storage, 53,999 Taka (8GB+256GB) storage. You will need to decide if the extra storage is worth the slightly higher price point.
The RRP (8GB+128GB) is 48,999, but it looks like Xiaomi regularly have sales on, and as I write this, it is 45.999
Specifications
Being a younger brother to 11T, Xiaomi 11T model is equipped with a Mediatek’s high-end Dimensity 1200 (6mm) chipset in his heart instead of the Snapdragon 888 given in the pro version. 11T has 67W fast charging capability whereas the version offers 120W. Furthermore, Harman Kardon speakers are also missed out on this device and one needs to upgrade to the flagship version to enjoy powerful speakers. Nonetheless, the sound is still very good and loud.
Design
As mentioned above, the design of the Xiaomi 11T is essentially the same as that of the 11T. Or vice versa. The dimensions of the device are 164.1 × 76.9 × 8.8 mm, and the weight is 203 g. The smartphone comes in three colors: Celestial Blue, Moonlight White and Meteorite Gray, which review today. The design idea is quite curious: under the glass panel there’s a plastic that looks like polished metal. But, despite texture, the surface is almost mirror-like. The effect is interesting, but the glossy glass body, either with or without an oleophobic coating, instantly attracts fingerprints. In this regard, a matte surface, like in Celestial Blue or Moonlight White, is be more practical.
Performance
At its core, the Xiaomi 11T 5G has the flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Xiaomi has opted for the LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage standards, which help spruce up the overall performance of the handset. However, for some reason, the brand has skipped the virtual RAM expansion on the 11T 5G and I found it to be strange since even budget phones are offering the feature these days. That being said, the 12GB RAM variant that I received for this review is a powerhouse performer.
True to the flagship spirit, the Xiaomi 11T 5G handles day-to-day chores and multitasking without breaking a sweat. With around 10-12 apps running in the background, the phone switched seamlessly between apps. Having said that I did experience a one-off incident where the phone froze on the homescreen while switching to YouTube after 40 minutes of gaming but that was an anomaly. I did notice the smartphone heating up after longer gaming sessions, a common issue with Snapdragon 888 phones. That being said, Battlegrounds Mobile India defaults to HD graphics and High frame rate settings when first launched. It can go up to Ultra HD graphics and Ultra frame rates but if you want to enjoy 60fps gaming, you’ll have to tune down to Smooth graphics settings. The gameplay is smooth but as the throttling kicks in, you might experience a jitter or two.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 11T is an outstanding phone. I am a big fan of the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset, it offers heaps of performance but at a lower price point and superior battery than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. The primary camera is also superb, I found it to be superior to the similarly specced Honor 50, being able to produce excellent shots more consistently with more detail and a more aesthetically pleasing vibrant colour palate.
The main issue this has is that Xiaomi has only launched the 8GB+256GB model in the UK. As nice as the 256GB storage is, it raises the price quite a bit. The Xiaomi 11T, Mi 11, and the Pixel 6 are both just £50 to £100 more depending on sales, they only have 128GB storage. Similarly, the OnePlus Nord 2 is 45999 for the base model or 48999 for 12GB/256GB. It is not quite as good as the Xiaomi 11T but I think it offers better value for money.
