When I first reviewed the Narwal Freo two years ago, it felt like stepping into the future of home cleaning. It was polished, well-executed, and reliable in ways that made me wonder if we had already reached peak robot vacuum. At the time, it set a benchmark for what a premium robot cleaner could deliver, handling vacuuming and mopping with surprising finesse.

I didn’t encounter many of the frustrations that early robot vacuum owners used to complain about, getting stuck on socks, smearing dirt instead of cleaning it, or running out of power halfway through a job. It felt almost flawless.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve spent time with back-to-back two latest flagships from Eureka. Testing them right after the Narwal Freo gave me a unique perspective: robot vacuums haven’t just improved, they’ve transformed. The pace of progress in this niche has been surprisingly fast, and the gap between then and now feels much larger than two years should reasonably allow.

From novelty to super-powered assistants

The biggest shift has been in capability. These machines no longer just roll around sucking up dust. They’ve become true cleaning systems. Modern flagships can vacuum with stronger suction, with 20,000Pa now practically standard, mop with precision that actually scrubs floors, and intelligently navigate obstacles instead of bumping their way through rooms.

AI-driven features are no longer gimmicks either; they’re practical. Robots can now recognize furniture and carpets, steer clear of tangled wires, lift their bodies to pass over small objects, cut through trapped hair, and adapt their cleaning strategies to the type of mess they encounter.

Not only that, some of the latest models even go a step further by physically picking up small objects with integrated arms before cleaning the area properly, eliminating blind spots that older robots would have missed.

It isn’t just the tech inside the robots that has improved. The ecosystem has expanded. We’ve gone from a handful of ambitious startups leading the way to legacy brands stepping in.

Samsung now has a flagship robot vacuum. DJI, best known for drones and gimbals, has entered the space too. When companies like these decide to compete, it signals that robot vacuums aren’t just niche gadgets anymore; they’re part of mainstream consumer tech.

Price no longer holds you back

The most striking change though, is how the pricing landscape has shifted. Robot vacuums used to be status symbols, expensive luxuries that most people weren’t ready to gamble on. Now, the market is flooded with options across every budget.

Flagships still command premium prices, but you don’t have to spend top dollar to get solid cleaning performance. The sheer number of brands in the game has driven costs down and features up. It’s one of those rare categories where the competition has genuinely benefited the consumer.

Should you buy one?

The short answer: yes. If you’re someone who works long hours, struggles to keep up with daily chores, or just wants a neat environment without constant effort, a robot vacuum is worth it. For smaller spaces like a bedroom or a home office, it’s almost perfect. Set it up once, and it will reliably keep things clean.

For entire households, the picture is more complicated. These robots are capable of covering larger spaces, but they’re still limited by clutter, unexpected obstacles, and the quirks of your floor plan.

In those cases, I’d argue handheld vacuums are emerging as a better complement, especially since many of them are now just as smart and portable. Using a robot vacuum in specific, well-managed zones is still the best way to extend its long-term health and efficiency.

The takeaway

Reviewing these vacuums back-to-back has made one thing clear: this category isn’t slowing down. Two years ago, I thought the Narwal Freo had already solved most of the problems. Today, I realize that was just the beginning.

The latest machines from Eureka, like the J15 Pro Ultra and J15 Max Ultra, along with innovative models such as the Roborock Saros Z70 and new releases from Dreame and Xiaomi, show that robot vacuums are evolving into multi-functional, AI-powered assistants built to take over most everyday cleaning tasks.

For now, the decision comes down to your lifestyle. If you want help managing a single room, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re looking for a whole-home solution, be ready to put in a little work yourself to make the robot’s job easier. Either way, it’s hard not to recommend one. After all, these machines are finally living up to the promise of giving us back time, and that’s what real tech progress is supposed to do.

And this is just the start. I expect to see even more refined, efficient, and AI-driven models in the near future, and I’ll be sharing updates as I continue testing where this fast-moving category heads next.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

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The post What I Learned After Reviewing Two Robot Vacuums Back-to-Back appeared first on Gizmochina.

Smartphones have become an extension of people’s arms. We use phones all the time. They are with us 24×7.

So it’s no surprise that consumers research a lot before buying a new handset these days. Consumers want their phones to not only offer a good set of features but also look good and feel nicer to hold in their hands.

Devices that prioritize the latter part while still offering a decent range of features belong to the affordable premium category. These products typically do not carry the same high price tag as flagship devices but are not as budget-friendly as mid-range devices either.

Some of the popular handsets in this category are the Oppo Reno series and the Vivo S series (aka Vivo V series). These devices make up a significant chunk of the brand’s sales figures.

On the other hand, Xiaomi, a company that’s been in the industry for over a decade, still cannot boast of a successful affordable premium smartphone lineup.

I have some thoughts on why it couldn’t keep up with the competition.

Xiaomi started as an Online-only Value-focused brand

It’s a known fact that Xiaomi started as an online-only brand. It was the one who popularized the infamous flash sale strategy. As with most new companies, it had a leaner portfolio and its products were value-focused.

However, as the company grew, it had to enter offline markets. Slowly, it even rolled out its own retail stores across the world.

When a brand like Xiaomi which mostly caters to nerds evolves into a mainstream brand, there are bound to be changes in its product portfolio. Xiaomi went through this process, but things weren’t so smooth. Xiaomi made a lot of mistakes trying to enter into the new market.

Xiaomi’s Fumbled Entry into the Affordable Premium Smartphone Segment

The company initially tried to break into the affordable premium smartphone category with two lineups – the Mi Mix and Mi X. 

The Mi Mix was targeted at a premium audience with industry-first features like bezel-less displays. On the other hand, the Mi X series was a budget option with good cameras and a design to boast for. The latter was released as Android One handsets in the global markets.

But what happened next was unexpected. The company discontinued the two series after a couple of generations. The Mi was replaced by Mi CC in partnership with Meitu but it did not last long either. Though the Mix series made a comeback in 2021, there hasn’t been a successor in 2 years but a new one is expected soon.

Amidst this, Xiaomi even introduced lite variants of its flagship Mi series. Though this lineup still exists, at least in some markets, there’s no progress.

Then, in 2021, Xiaomi surprised everyone with another attempt at affordable premium smartphones with the debut of the Civi lineup. Unlike previous models, these phones are mostly targeted at the female audience.

The Civi series is expected to enter the third generation later this month with the launch of the Civi 3. Will it be the last one? Only Xiaomi knows the answer.

Limited Availability and an Inconsistent Product lineup

As you can grasp from above, Xiaomi lacks consistency. I discussed this in my last month’s opinion piece on the company’s smartphone portfolio in India.

To make consumers trust your brand, you need to be consistent with branding. At the same time, the products should be built around their standalone features.

Both Oppo and Vivo have nailed this formula with their Reno and S series, respectively. These two lineups focus more on design and some interesting camera features that are mostly software-based. Above all, they have been consistent for years.

Then, there’s the availability factor. Xiaomi’s affordable premium phones have always been subjected to limited availability. They are only released in some markets and at times, successive models don’t make it to the regions where the prior model debuted.

Finally, the least discussed factor is accessibility. In India, Oppo and Vivo have a robust offline presence. They have even partnered with multiple financial companies to aid their buyers. The same is the case in China and other Asian markets.

On the other hand, Xiaomi still lacks expertise in this regard. Most of its target customers reside in developing countries and these customers are not only price-sensitive but also brand conscious.

Sub-par offline experience

The worldwide smartphone market has been declining for the last few quarters due to low demand in the budget segment, however, the premium category is actually rising. Consumers are willing to spend more money on better phones.

Offline experience matters a lot to sell expensive products. Personally, I don’t get the premium vibes at Xiaomi stores. As a nerd, Xiaomi stores are really a good place to hang out. But as a regular customer, I am yet to experience an emotional attachment even after visiting a store in my city multiple times.

In comparison, the OnePlus store, which is nearby, screams premium to me. It is well-lit and the products inside the store are fairly organized. Even the promotional posters and displays feel much better than Xiaomi’s.

If the experience zone itself doesn’t feel premium, would customers prefer buying expensive handsets from that brand? And in some markets, Xiaomi is yet to clear off its name as a cheap smartphone brand, courtesy of its tremendous success associated with the Redmi products.

With not-so-good performance in non-budget segments, the brand is losing market shares globally. Once the market leader in India, it has now dropped to third place in the last couple of quarters.

Despite setbacks, Xiaomi has the potential for a comeback

Xiaomi cannot mitigate the above-discussed issues in a short time period. Changing a brand identity takes time, however, the company does not seem to be making any effective decisions so far.

Xiaomi kicked off 2023 with the promise of a leaner and more streamlined product portfolio in key markets like India. We will have to wait a couple of more quarters to know whether the company achieved its goal.

Xiaomi has enough resources to get it on track with the competition. But will it be able to? 

We would love to know your thoughts on Xiaomi’s future. Feel free to drop your opinions in the comment section below.

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The post Why Xiaomi is Struggling to break into Affordable Premium Segment unlike Oppo and Vivo appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi is no longer the smartphone market leader in India. It was recently beaten by Samsung. Research notes that the Chinese company’s misunderstanding of consumer taste in the country led to its downfall.

Xiaomi is primarily known as a maker of affordable smartphones in India. Even the company acts as one by focussing more on handsets priced below ₹10,000 (~$120).

Thus, with the change in customer needs and the market economy, the company failed to keep up with the competition, especially Samsung.

Xiaomi has been selling expensive phones in the country since 2019 but there has never been consistency in its portfolio. Thus, customers don’t remain loyal as they are to other premium smartphones like Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S series.

For example, the Redmi K20 series kickstarted Xiaomi’s premium journey in India in 2019. The product was a success but the company abandoned the branding, only to re-introduce it in 2022 by launching a device, which has nothing to do with ‘Redmi K’.

Further, Xiaomi brought its Xiaomi Lite lineup to India in 2021. But the company did not release its successors in 2022 and 2023. Similarly, the brand did not launch newer Xiaomi T series phones last year.

The company may have decided not to release the above handsets based on its research. But there’s no denying that inconsistency affects the loyalty of its user base.

To get a strong foothold in the premium smartphone segment, the company must change its perception among customers first. Xiaomi is still failing to do so years later.

It does not offer solid software support for its premium phones like the competition either. Although the optimizations are better than before, it is still not up to the market as there are no ecosystem benefits that you can find on handsets from Apple and Samsung.

Xiaomi has become just another smartphone brand in India right now. The Redmi Note series used to be highly recommendable but it is no longer the case.

In order to sell more premium phones, Xiaomi bumped the price of the Redmi Note 12 series by offering features that match the asking price. The highest variant now costs ₹32,999 (~$400).

Redmi Notes are known for their aggressive sub-15K starting price. The higher models reached upwards of about ₹20,000 (~$250) till last year. A sudden hike of around ₹10,000 (~$120) does not make sense.

The price category the Redmi Note 12 lineup currently selling in belongs to Xiaomi Lite and Xiaomi i series devices. Both of them did not get successors this year.

Then, there’s not a new handset in the ₹30,000-₹50,000 (~$350-$600) price category for over a year now.  This range is currently the hottest segment in India with devices like Galaxy S21 FE, Vivo V27 series, Oppo Reno 9 series, OnePlus 11R, and more.

But Xiaomi has nothing to offer. The brand’s still selling the underwhelming Xiaomi 11T lineup for some reason as the Xiaomi 12T family did not make its way to the country last year.

And above ₹50,000, there are only two devices, such as Xiaomi 12 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Pro. The company did not bring the vanilla Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 13 to the region.

Though Xiaomi is aiming to make a name for itself in India’s premium smartphone market, it is not going to launch the upcoming Xiaomi 13 Ultra in the country either, let alone its foldables. 

In a nutshell, there’s no consistency in the company’s product portfolio. You never know when a series gets axed in the region or replaced with something else.

It’s high time Xiaomi fixes its strategy in India before it’s too late. Though the company is reportedly making changes, we do not know what are its plans right now.

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The post Xiaomi needs to fix its smartphone portfolio in India appeared first on Gizmochina.

Late last month, Realme launched a new tablet in China called Realme Pad X. It is the brand’s first tablet in its home country. The product is expected to debut in India this month. Ahead of its release, I would like to share my opinion on why it could be a game-changer in the region if it is well-priced.

According to Counterpoint Research, ₹10,000-₹20,000 is the most popular price segment in India for tablets. It covers more than half of the total tablet market in the region.

The key players in this segment are Lenovo and Samsung. The former’s Tab M8 and Tab M10 are some of the hottest products.

However, none of these Lenovo tablets or the Galaxy A series tablets from Samsung can be considered value for money. They offer an inferior set of specs for the asking price.

Realme tried to shake the market with the introduction of Realme Pad late last year. The company’s first-ever tablet provides better hardware than the competitors. Despite debuting around the last quarter of 2021, the brand managed to grab a 4% market share.

Now, the company is gearing up to launch the Realme Pad X in the country after releasing the Realme Pad Mini last month. The brand’s third tablet for the region will reportedly go official in the first half of June.

The Realme Pad X starts at ¥1,299 in China for 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The price roughly translates to ₹15,000. If the brand manages to price it below ₹20,000 in India, then it could be a stellar option for consumers.

Because unlike other tablets under ₹20,000 in India, the Realme Pad X houses a faster chipset. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, the same chip that’s found inside smartphones like Realme 9 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G.

On other hand, most of the tablets from other brands are powered by entry-level Mediatek chips. As a result, these tablets are slower and age quickly.

Further, the Pad X from Realme supports 33W fast charging, DC dimming, and stylus input (optional accessory). It also houses Dolby Atmos-supported quad speakers and a front-facing camera with Apple’s Center Stage-like feature.

The aforementioned features cannot be found on any other tablet under ₹20,000 in India. Hence, they make the Realme Pad X stand out in the crowd.

Hopefully, Realme ships the tablet with the Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0 for Pad (a fork of ColorOS 12 for Pad found on Oppo tablets) like in China. Because the two international tablets from the company run a near-stock version of Android with no special features like PC Connect.

Having said that, if the starting price of Realme Pad X crosses ₹20,000 in India, then it would be a tough sell. Because the Xiaomi Pad 5 offers even better value for ₹26,999 or less depending on discounts.

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The post Realme Pad X could be a game-changer in India if priced under ₹20,000 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Earlier today, Samsung launched its first Galaxy F series device of 2022 – Galaxy F23 5G. The new handset for the Indian market packs some interesting features. Above all, it is priced competitively. This combination makes it an unusual budget smartphone from the South Korean tech giant.

Compelling Features

The Galaxy F23 5G is unlike other budget smartphones from Samsung. The device arrives with an attractive set of specifications.

First and foremost, it flaunts a 6.6-inch FHD+ display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. However, the screen is LCD and has a dewdrop notch.

There are multiple handsets in this segment with high refresh rate OLED panels. But they don’t house a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC with a 5G modem like the Galaxy F23 5G. The cherry on top is that the phone features 12 5G bands, which markets it future-proof.

That’s not all, the device boots Android 12-based One UI 4.1. It not only comes with Knox security but Samsung also promises two years of OS updates and up to four years of security updates.

If that’s not enough, the smartphone even has support for full-fledged Samsung Pay via NFC. At the moment, it is the most affordable Samsung handset in India with this feature. Though UPI is the most-preferred payment platform in the country, one can find contactless gateways in most places.

Further, the phone arrives with a dedicated MicroSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also packs a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a large 5,000mAh battery with support for up to 25W fast charging. Unfortunately, it does not ship with a charger.

Apart from the display, the only other lackluster on-paper specs of the Galaxy F23 5G belong to its cameras. The phone comes with a  50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 primary sensor, an 8MP 123° ultra-wide unit, a 2MP macro snapper, and an 8MP front-facing shooter.

Stellar Price

The aforementioned specifications mean nothing if the Galaxy F23 5G is not priced well. Thankfully, it’s not the case. The device costs ₹17,499 and ₹18,499 for 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB memory configurations respectively.

These price tags definitely don’t sound that intriguing. What’s more temping is the ₹1,500 discount offered by Samsung for a limited time as ‘introductory price’. On top of this, customers can avail additional ₹1,000 cashback on ICICI Bank cards. The two offers lower the price of the handset to ₹14,999 and ₹15,999. 

Since Samsung is known for selling its online-specific hands at discounted price tags for a longer period of time along with bank offers, most people won’t need to pay the full price. Also, the firm usually brings back these offers even if they go away for a while.

Competitors

The better alternatives of Galaxy F23 5G are limited to 4G connectivity. The first model is the year-old Redmi Note 10 Pro, which is slightly costlier. The runner-up is the new Redmi Note 11S, which costs almost the same as the Samsung phone.

Talking about 5G competitors, the vivo T1 5G goes head to head with the Galaxy F23 5G. The other one will be the costlier realme 9 Pro 5G. The upcoming realme 9 5G and realme 9 5G SE also look like worthy contenders.

Conclusion

Though there are multiple other options in this price category, the Galaxy F23 5G is definitely worth a look at, especially if you are looking for a 5G smartphone. Samsung seems to have cracked the formula for affordable 5G phones.

The only major drawback we could think of is the lack of an AMOLED display, which has become common now. The device tries to right this with unique features like Samsung Pay, 12 5G bands, and guaranteed software updates.

What are your thoughts on the Galaxy F23 5G? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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The post Galaxy F23 5G is an unusual smartphone from Samsung appeared first on Gizmochina.

After teasing for days, Xiaomi finally announced the Redmi Note 11 and the Redmi Note 11S in India earlier today. However, unlike the Redmi Note 10 series launch event that happened in March 2021, this year’s conference was not so interesting despite the live stream being AI-generated. Because the products are sort of boring as compared to last gen.

The newer models do bring some upgrades but then again, that’s what the latest generation should offer. Anyhow, the pricing of the new smartphones is unlike Xiaomi.

In a nutshell, we really don’t think that Xiaomi India ‘Set the Bar’ with the Redmi Note 11S.

Xiaomi India had been hyping the launch of the Redmi Note 11S in the country even before the device went official in other markets. Specifically, the company uses the term ‘Set The Bar’ to promote this phone.

But deep down we all, including Xiaomi, know that the company had actually ‘Set the Bar’ last year with the India-exclusive Redmi Note 10 Pro.

For those unaware, the Redmi Note 10 Pro sold in India is not available anywhere else. This phone packs all the features of the Redmi Note 10 Pro sold in other international markets, except for the 108MP primary camera.

The device uses a 64MP main camera. As a result, it debuted at ₹3,000 cheaper than the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, which is actually the Redmi Note 10 Pro that’s available elsewhere.

This handset was introduced at ₹15,999 for the base 6GB + 64GB memory configuration. Almost a year later, Xiaomi launches the same variant of the Redmi Note 11S in India a bit higher at ₹16,499.

For starters, the Redmi Note 11S is not a successor of the Redmi Note 10 Pro. It actually succeeds the Redmi Note 10S, which debuted at ₹14,999 for 6GB RAM and 64GB storage.

The Redmi Note 11S is a better handset than its predecessor. But it’s definitely not on par with the Redmi Note 10 Pro. Because the latter not only offers a matte rear glass finish but a better chipset in the form of Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G and a capable 5MP telemacro camera with autofocus.

The Redmi Note 10 Pro went through multiple price hikes and the base variant was discontinued long ago. Anyway, the mid 6GB + 128GB version and the top 8GB + 128GB are still on sale for ₹17,999 and ₹18,999 respectively. 

In other words, the handset is only ₹500 costlier than the same memory configurations of the Redmi Note 11S. In our opinion, one should better get the older phone than the newer one.

The Redmi Note 11S is a good smartphone standalone. However, its pricing makes the year-old Redmi Note 10 Pro a better deal in India. Having said that, we are not sure how long Xiaomi will continue selling the last-gen model. 

What are your thoughts on the Redmi Note 11S in India? Do you think Xiaomi should have retained its predecessor’s price?  Let us know in the comment section below.

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The post Here’s why Redmi Note 11S does not ‘Set the Bar’ in India appeared first on Gizmochina.

Yesterday, out of nowhere, details about an interesting OnePlus-branded budget smartphone emerged on the internet. The device, which is said to go official as OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is tipped to pack features that were never heard of on affordable OnePlus phones to date. If the leak is to be believed, the handset will likely compete with the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, which is already facing competition from its siblings.

Introduction

Last week, Xiaomi took the wraps off the international Redmi Note 11 series consisting of four devices. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the topmost model with all the bells and whistles, however, it is not as value for money as the Redmi Note 11S or even the last year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro (aka Redmi Note 10 Pro Max).

To make the situation even worse, the phone is about to get two competitors from the Oujia group (OPLUS) – Realme 9 Pro+ and OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite. 

We already know about the former, and given the features it will come with, the handset will likely be more expensive than the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. Hence, the proper competitor could be the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite instead.

OnePlus has been long rumored to release the OnePlus Nord CE 2. But no one expected a lite variant of this device, which sounds more promising for markets like India.

Redmi Note 10 Pro can still take on Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is not as interesting as its predecessor Redmi Note 10 Pro. Because the latter had already set the bar for budget smartphones last year. The newer handset is merely an iterative model.   

Anyway, it still arrives with some upgraded features like 67W fast charging, 5G connectivity via Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, liquid cooling technology, and MIUI 13 out of the box.

The phone also sports a flat frame design and comes in a unique colorway called Atlantic Blue that mimics water waves.  But it lacks one of the best features of its forerunner – a 5MP telemacro camera with autofocus.

If you look at this smartphone discretely, it still sounds like a good deal. However, when you start comparing it with its predecessor, you may find the older handset a better deal as it is not only cheaper but offers the almost same experience.

Anyhoo, Xiaomi is known for discontinuing the older phone with the release of their successor. So it may soon become difficult to get hands on the Redmi Note 10 Pro.

The new kid on the block – OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite

Unlike the Redmi Note 10 Pro, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is yet to release, and therefore, it will be on the market for months to come. We believe that it will act as the true competitor of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.

Because the new Nord is anticipated to arrive with some compelling features for the first time on an affordable OnePlus-branded smartphone. First and foremost, it will have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset as the Redmi device.

Further, it will ship with Android 12-based OxygenOS 12 instead of MIUI 13 based on Android 11 like the Redmi. However, though it will have an identical 5,000mAh battery, it will only support 33W fast charging.

Another con is that there will be no ultra-wide camera on the OnePlus. It will feature a 64MP triple camera setup comprising two useless 2MP sensors and a 16MP selfie camera.

Finally, it will sport a 6.59-inch ‘fluid’ (high refresh rate) display with an FHD resolution. The type of panel is a mystery for now. Hence, we cannot rule out the possibility of LCD though the vanilla OnePlus Nord CE 2 is said to come with an AMOLED screen.

When you compare the raw specs of the Redmi Note 11 Pro and the OnePlus Nord 2 CE, the former is definitely better. But there’s more to a product than its specifications.

Brand power plays a key role

Unlike Redmi, OnePlus is considered a reputed brand by the general public in most markets. Because the former is still associated with affordable smartphones. On the other hand, the latter started its journey as a flagship killer and made a name for itself in the premium segment, especially in India.

And above all, OnePlus’ marketing prowess is much better than Xiaomi. This has helped OnePlus to increase its market share with mid-range Nord handsets even though there are phones with better specs in the same price bracket.

Contemplating all these facts, we think that the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite will be the true competitor of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G whenever it releases.

Having said that, this is just an opinion from our end. What are your thoughts on these two devices? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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The post Opinion: OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite could be Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s true competitor appeared first on Gizmochina.

Recently, Xiaomi took the wraps off the international Redmi Note 11 series. The lineup consists of four models. However, we only found one of them to be the best deal of all. We are talking about the Redmi Note 11S here. This phone bridges the gap between the Redmi Note 11 and the Redmi Note 11 Pro with a balanced set of features, which makes it an irresistible offering from Xiaomi.

Here in this opinion piece, we explain why we feel that most people should opt for the Redmi Note 11S instead of the Redmi Note 11 Pro, especially the 4G variant.

Almost the Same Inside Out

The Redmi Note 11 series brings a new design to Xiaomi’s best-selling smartphone lineup worldwide. The phones now have a flat frame like the newer iPhones. 

However, the one on the Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G/5G is more pronounced than on the Redmi Note 10/10S. Because the latter two handsets have a curved rear panel instead of flat like the former models.

But the Pros are longer, thicker, and heavier. They even have a larger and better display. More on that later.

Like the previous generation, all four devices arrive with dual stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a z-axis linear vibration motor, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, an IR blaster, and NFC (market dependent). 

Interestingly, all of them are backed by an identical 5,000mAh battery. They also feature the same LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.2 storage.

Is the Pro really a PRO?

Pro in the consumer electronics market means better. But it does not say how much better. This is where the problem lies. Neither everyone requires a Pro model, nor every Pro variant offers better value than the vanilla version.

Unfortunately, both the above-mentioned attributes are applicable to the Redmi Note 11 series. This isn’t the case with the previous generation. The Redmi Note 10 Pro (aka Redmi Note 10 Pro Max) offers much more than the lower variants for the asking price.

The Redmi Note 11 Pro duo only offers upgrades in very few categories. As mentioned earlier, the Pros flaunt a larger and better display. They sport a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits peak brightness. On the other hand, the vanilla and S versions come with a smaller 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits peak brightness.

Further, the Pros support 67W fast charging as opposed to 33W fast charging on the other two. Additionally, the Pro 5G has a better and faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset.

Apart from the aforementioned features, the Pros literally don’t offer anything else. The Pro 4G in particular has the exact same MediaTek Helio G96 chip as the S.

What’s more bizarre is that all four phones sport the same 8MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP macro camera. Except for vanilla, the remaining three also come with an identical 108MP primary camera. Finally, for some reason, the Pros don’t include the well-received telemacro camera from their predecessors.

The True Champion

We found the Redmi Note 10S to be an unnecessary offering in the Redmi Note 10 series. Because just by spending a bit more, one could get the Redmi Note 10 Pro with a better set of features.

Interestingly, the tables have turned for the Redmi Note 11 series. For this generation, we think the Redmi Note 11S offers better value than the Redmi Note 11 Pro. When compared to their predecessors, Xiaomi has improved the former, while at the same time, it sort of downgraded the latter.

As a result, we crown the Redmi Note 11S as the true champion of its family. Having said that, unlike the Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is still worth considering if you live somewhere with good 5G coverage.

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• POCO M4 Pro 4G could be a rebranded Redmi Note 11S

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Huawei is a big enterprise with access to powerful technology while Xiaomi is better at marketing with a long and amazing background. Both are successful companies that have received lots of praise unlike ZTE, Coolpad, and Lenovo. The problem with ZTE is that it does not know how to market their products while Coolpad only makes low-end products and Lenovo is full of itself. Huawei’s strength lies in their ability to make great designs and strong processors, while Xiaomi’s lies in their ability to surprise everyone and have people flocking to them. Huawei uses sophisticated technology and produces devices with good craftsmanship, while Xiaomi only knows how to advertise to consumers. Their products are not actually built well. They also control the Antutu benchmark sites and the tech news media which they use to publish reports that are biased towards their products. If there is a Chinese brand that can conquer the international market, it’s Huawei.

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