Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: The Flagship Killer review Big phone, Big camera

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a big phone with a big camera. On the other hand, Ultra is the new level of smartphones. This year Xiaomi released an Ultra version in their Mi 11 series. However, this phone might be the best smartphone in 2021 or easily be in the top 3. Eye-catching new design, powerful hardware and, the biggest camera sensor in a modern smartphone. Therefore This is the phone that ready to compete with Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. If you are looking for your next flagship, is this the one? Let see.

Xiaomi MI 11 Ultra Trailer

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra – Specifications

Body164.3×74.6×8.4mm, 234g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins).
Display  6.81" AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits, 1700 nits (peak), 1440x3200px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 515ppi.
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm): Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680); Adreno 660
Memory256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 12.5
Rear CamerasMain camera: 50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm, 1/1.12", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
Ultra wide angle: 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128˚, 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Telephoto: 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm, 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
Front Camera 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video CapturingRear camera: 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
 Front camera: 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS
Battery5000mAh; Fast charging 67W
 Fast wireless charging 67W
Reverse wireless charging 10W
OtherFingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; Infrared port

Xiaomi MI 11 Design and Build

Design and Build
Mi 11 Ultra Camera Module

As far as design-wise, we didn't have a device to compare it with. It has a glossy ceramic back and an aluminum frame that extremely thin on the sides. The phone picks up fingerprints but not as many other phones. The phone comes in two colors. which cosmic white and cosmic black. It weighs around 250g like other ultra phones.

However, the part that we can love or hate, is the camera module. It's a massive camera stick out from the phone. You can see three cameras and a 1.1-inch AMOLED camera display. Therefore you can take a selfie it. But couldn't record a selfie video. On the other hand, when you are not using the phone for photography it shows you time, notifications and the battery left. You find slim bezzles, a hole punch in the upper left corner, and the gently curved display in the front. Meanwhile, the display is protected by Gorilla glass Victus. Also, it has IP 68 dust and water resistance.

It has an optical under-display fingerprint reader with a comfortable placement and quick response. In addition Screen of the phone is 6.81 inch AMOLED with a 1440p resolution. The refresh rate goes up to 120Hz. You can select the refresh rate with high or standard mode. Standrad mode is 60Hz and High mode is 120Hz. However, if you are selected high mode, the phone automatically switches between refresh rates depending on what is displaying and how you are interacting with the device. As far as brightness, the Display is fantastic. In bright light, it goes up to 900nits.

Mi Refresh rate Modes
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Refresh rate Modes

Harmon/Kardon Stereo Speakers

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Speakers
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Speakers

Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers have very good loudness. They have a very good bounce between left and right. Sound quality much better than Xiaomi Mi 11. It is the best speaker in the market right now.

NFC Support and IR Blaster.

The device has NFC that makes connecting to headphones make so easy and for wireless payments. Also top of the phone there is an IR sensor with the Mi remote app.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Battery

The device has a 5000mAh battery. In 120Hz mode, it gives you 15 hours of battery life. The device is coming with a 65W charger. It's a downgrade from Mi 10's 120W charger. In a 65W charger, MI 11 Ultra takes 37 minutes to charge 89%. It also supports 67W wireless charging just fast as the wired version. And it supports 10W reverse wireless charging.

Storage Options

The phone comes with 256GB and 512GB storage options with UFS 3.1. So the storage not a problem in Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Hardware

The device is powered by Snapdragon 888 5G with two RAM versions, which are 8GB and 12 GB. With this kind of hardware, it handles every heavy app with ease. Consistent usage heats the device but there isn't any issue with the performance. It has a high number of benchmark testing only behind One Plus 9 Pro, Vivo X60 Pro Plus.

Android 11 and MIUI

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Display
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Display

11 Ultra has Android 11 and MIUI 12 on top. So you can standard MIUI features like a security app that secure your gallery and video app. The UI can heavily customize. There is thems store that allows you to change system icons too, wallpapers to always-on display styles. And also you can customize your rear display but options are limited. There is an app that categorizes your apps into categories. If you don't like it you can disable it. The top notification drawer is split into two as a notification center and a control center just like IOS. If you don't like the Control center you can disable it.

Camera Module

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Camera Module have Three Cameras
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Camera Module have Three Cameras

The camera module is iconic in the device. The device has three cameras. The main camera 50MP, f/2.0, 1/ 1.12" sensor biggest on a smartphone with Auto Focus OIS. Then there is a 48-pixel para scope telephoto camera with OIS and 5 times optical zoom. Finally, there is the 48MP Ultrawide camera with face detection autofocus. It is one of the widest ultrawide cameras in the market. In the daytime, photos capture great details. It's hard to say pictures taken from a smartphone.

Noise does not exist and colors are vivid. Exposure is quite good but it can be brighter. Photos from para scope cam have excellent details. Picture clear as the main camera but their little noise. Dynamic range and exposure better than the main camera. The ultra-wide lens also performs well in daylight. it has an excellent dynamic range and no noise to the scene. Exposure accurate too. In the night light, pictures are a little underexposed. Street light makes a little bit like orange but the white balance is good and captures details very well.

Front Camera and Video Recording

There is a front camera with a 20MP f/22 lens with gyro-EIS available for videos. Generally, selfies have great colors, dynamic range, and decently detailed. But you can take selfies using the rear display. With the main camera, Mi 11 Ultra can capture videos up to 8K at 24fps with all three cameras. Stabilization is available for all resolutions and frame rates. Stabilization in the main camera is impressive.

The only phone that competes with the camera module is Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Other than that it's hard to find a fault. It has a fabulous display, impressive display, good battery life, fast charging, and a high-quality build. If you looking at the best flagship in the market, it's worth checking this device.

Ravindu Abeywardane

Author of Get Basic Idea - The knowledge base.

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