Review Summary
Expert Rating3.5/5
Design★★★★★★★★★★ Display★★★★★★★★★★ Software★★★★★★★★★★ Camera★★★★★★★★★★ Performance★★★★★★★★★★ Battery★★★★★★★★★★
Pros
- Great display
- Capable stereo speakers
- Feature-rich UI
- Long battery life
Cons
- Routine design
- Missing Android 12
- No 5G support
- Not the most powerful chip around
There was a time when Redmi used to launch just a single Note per year. The number then grew to two and as years passed, Redmi decided to release not just a single Redmi Note but a series every year. Even though the brand has started launching multiple Notes, the plain, suffix-less Note still gets a lot of attention. This is because while most of the other Notes in the series might focus on one specific thing or the other (the camera, gaming, 5G), the original Note still aims to follow the Note-ethos that started this series – good old performance at a crazy good price. This year also Redmi has launched a few Note 11 devices already and one of them is the Redmi Note 11– the OG. But does this year’s suffix-less Note have the same Note-able likeness about it?
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Table of Contents
Looks a little routine, notwithstanding the glitter
When the Redmi Note series was launched initially, the phone was not about flashy, eye-catching design but about delivering a great smartphone experience at an affordable price. The last couple of years saw that change as we saw Redmi launch some really good looking Notes in the Indian market. But unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Redmi Note 11 as the phone looks routine at best. Do not get us wrong, it is not bad looking but does not look like it will inspire many head turns. The front follows the trend and brings a tall display, thin bezels, a slightly thicker chin and a punch hole notch. But it is the back that looks a bit basic. The phone has a plastic back which looks exactly like it. The back of our Starburst White variant has a colour gradient and a lot of glitter, making it both colourful and shimmery. The plastic look and feel of the back, combined with all that shimmer, makes it not-so-premium looking.
