Review Summary
Expert Rating3.5/5
Design★★★★★★★★★★ Display★★★★★★★★★★ Software★★★★★★★★★★ Camera★★★★★★★★★★ Performance★★★★★★★★★★ Battery★★★★★★★★★★
Pros
- Great display
- Nice design
- Decent performance
Cons
- Low light photography could be improved
- No Android 12
Xiaomi recently revealed its latest series of devices in its signature Redmi Note lineup, which has been for some time, the benchmark against which affordable smartphones are compared. There are three new phones from that company that are making the rounds in the market currently ie. the Redmi Note 11, Note 11T (review), and Note 11S. All phones, at least in terms of the specs on offer, highlight Xiaomi’s seriousness towards creating ripples in the affordable space. I have the Redmi Note 11S with me, which is a 4G phone that harbours good enough hardware to warrant a second look. I suspect the 5G version of the device is not too far off with almost all OEMs joining in the 5G race, but for the here and now I’m reviewing the regular Redmi Note 11S, priced starting at Rs 16,499. Let’s see how well it holds up against the competition.
The lowdown
Redmi’s knack for crafting handsets that are easy on the eye is well known in the industry. In fact, I was most infatuated with the previous Redmi Note 10 (review) series in terms of in-hand feel along with the general aesthetic appeal. The Note 11S borrows the choicest of design choices from its predecessor including the all-matte finish on the back. The edges slope gently downwards to meet the rails which are also coated with the same matte look and provide my palm with an easy grip. There’s nothing outwardly flashy about the Note 11S’ appearance which is just how I like it, clean and minimalistic, though this is clearly a matter of personal choice. There are three colour options to choose from which are Polar White, Horizon Blue and Space Black. The back panel is uninterrupted save for the sizeable camera module on the top-right which retains the vestiges of previous Note 10 smartphones.
