They name it the superphone — as a result of they’ve actually packed within the kitchen sink after which some extra. By they, I imply Xiaomi. And by superphone, I’m speaking in regards to the Mi 11 Ultra. This is Xiaomi’s most costly cellphone in India, costing greater than even an entry-level iPhone 12. It is Xiaomi’s second most costly machine in India after the hulking Mi OLED TV 75-inch which for apparent causes is dearer. It additionally represents the coming-out celebration of the Mi model which was teased in spades by way of 2020. If in 2020, Xiaomi was being cautious about what works in India’s premium section and what doesn’t, in 2021, actually they’ve taken a extra fearless strategy. It is admirable and so is that this new cellphone which effectively and actually is a marvel of contemporary expertise. It is functionally as near an ideal cellphone as something out there. But as is at all times the case with telephones that obtain perfection with capabilities, they typically compromise on design. Like the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, the identical holds true for the Mi 11 Ultra. But if you may get over its dimension and quite odd appears to be like, it’s nearly flawless.
The Mi 10 was a harbinger of issues to return. Xiaomi had the basics in place the second it nailed the 108-megapixel digital camera on it. There had been points, however there was potential for much more. For me, the Mi 10 was probably the most purposeful Android cellphone of 2020 in India. An encore was anticipated by its successor, however on the identical time, there was an expectation for the competitors to catch up. It didn’t, and with this new Mi 11 Ultra version, the hole has widened. So even earlier than I get into the overview, I can say a few issues. I’ve by no means used a extra full Android cellphone, in 10 years of utilizing Android, and sure, it goes with out saying, that is now the most effective Android cellphone out there, besting what Samsung and OnePlus have provide you with.
So first let’s chew on the specs of this monstrosity:
– 6.81” E4 AMOLED display with quad-HD decision, 120Hz refresh price and 480Hz contact sampling price, Dolby Vision and HDR10 assist
– Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with 5G with assist for 13 bands.
– 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, 12GB DDR5 RAM, dual-SIM
– Ceramic physique, Gorilla Glass Victus coverglass, and IP68 water and dirt resistance.
– 50-megapixel f/2.Zero 1/1.12” 1.4um pixels main sensor, with OIS.
– 48-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, with OIS, 5x optical zoom, o.8um pixels.
– 48-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens, with 128-degrees of view, 0.8um pixels.
– 20-megapixel selfie digital camera with a 27mm lens and 0.8um pixels.
– Under show optical fingerprint scanner, Face ID
– 5000mAh battery with 55-watt quick charging, 67-watt wi-fi charging and 10-watt reverse wi-fi charging.
– 8.4mm skinny and 234 grams in weight.
– Harman Kardon twin stereo audio system with Dolby Atmos, 24-bit/192Hz audio, with sort C to three.5 adaptor within the field.
– Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/c/ac/6e dual-band, Bluetooth 5.2, linear haptics
– Android 11 with Mi UI 12.
The Mi 11 Ultra is true out of a fictional universe the place a smartphone nerd has changed a product supervisor whereas deciding what is going to go into the cellphone. It packs in probably the most awe-inspiring set of specs that Android telephones haven’t seen for the reason that heydays of Samsung in 2015 and 2016. At the identical time, there may be nothing actually progressive about this cellphone. It is simply the mix of specs that make it particular. Often when a gadget packs a lot collectively, it typically can’t get every little thing to work collectively correctly. Samsung is aware of a factor or two about its Ultra telephones getting much less love than its different fashions. This is the place the Mi 11 Ultra stands aside from the remaining because it really will get its act collectively.
Everything in regards to the Mi 11 Ultra is world-class. Even its ungainly appears to be like are a results of some very intelligent engineering and a really acutely aware purposeful selection. It is very large and heavy, but in addition made plush by means of ceramic which is sturdier than glass and extra proof against scratches whereas being clear for wi-fi charging and 5G. But with ceramic, the cellphone was certain to be heavier, however on the identical time, Xiaomi wished the cellphone to have nice battery life and a strong digital camera system.
Xiaomi selected to make an enormous cellphone. It added a triple digital camera array whose primary sensor is 80 per cent of an inch, nearly as large because the sensor on the Sony RX100 mark 4. It made the digital camera bump large however lopsided so it augmented it with a useful display from the Mi band which might be used as a viewfinder for epic selfies and a few fundamental info. It additionally added a pretty big battery and twin audio system in addition. So the digital camera bump space is now as large as a visiting card, and as thick as a cardholder, nearly. This makes it additionally come out in an ungainly style. But for those who can reside with this oddity, man, this cellphone is so good.
Internally, it really packs extra. Apart from the speedy Snapdragon chipset, it additionally options liquid cooling expertise. Xiaomi has additionally labored on the software program as Mi UI 12 is generally bereft of all of the ads that irritated Mi 10 customers and a launcher that’s nearer to inventory Android. Coupled with the 120Hz refresh price and the class-leading 480Hz contact sampling price of the superior display, the Mi 11 Ultra appears like one of many smoothest Android telephones I’ve ever examined. For the primary time, I felt the efficiency of a Xiaomi cellphone in real-world use was on par with a OnePlus. Gaming efficiency as at all times was spectacular — with attractive graphics with minimal body price drops, this gorgeous a lot represents the most effective gaming expertise you’ll be able to have on Android.
A whole lot of this efficiency isn’t simply pushed by brute horsepower however another facets just like the fluid show and the pleasure that’s derived from the Harmon Kardon audio system. I imply, the video games or films on Netflix wouldn’t be so enjoyable if this display wasn’t so good. It scales to 1700 nits in brightness which suggests it really works effectively even underneath direct daylight. It is just about the nicest display I’ve used on a cellphone. Probably that’s why the oldsters at DisplayMate have given it an A+ Rating. It additionally refreshes the display dynamically between 120Hz, 60Hz and 30Hz so it isn’t a large drain on the battery because of the brand new E4 AMOLED expertise. It does so whereas sustaining a supple contact response at 480Hz, the best ever seen on a cellphone and likewise chic haptics that makes typing a pleasurable expertise. All of that is rounded with chic audio which is just matched by the iPhone 12 Pro Max — it additionally delivers very good output by way of the adaptor. Bluetooth 5.2 additionally permits customers to beam the audio to a number of output sources on the identical time.
While you’re doing all of this, you’re getting a fairly capacious battery that may final you thru a 12-hour workday with greater than 5.5 hours of display on time. It additionally will get charged quickly inside an hour with the provided wired charger. But issues may get higher when Xiaomi will get certification for its 67-watt charger. It can also be planning on bringing the 80-watt wi-fi charging pad which might cost this cellphone at an insane 67-watts. You may even cost your different devices with 10-watt reverse wi-fi charging.
Expectedly, probably the most spectacular facet of the Mi 11 Ultra is its cameras. Massive and purposeful is what I’ll name the triple digital camera array. It can also be the most effective you may get proper now for those who’re on the lookout for an Android cellphone, however it nonetheless falls in need of the iPhone 12 fashions.
But it comes very shut, and in lots of conditions surpasses the iPhone simply due to physics. While the iPhone’s 12-megapixel main digital camera tries to defy physics with its unimaginable ISP, the Mi 11 Ultra embraces physics to the core and produces a prodigious digital camera. When your main sensor is nearly an inch in dimension, has 1.4um sub-pixels at a 50-megapixel decision, you’re speaking about some severe light-gathering chops. And that’s what this digital camera does, it simply sucks within the mild like a black gap. When coupled with spectacular picture processing, this cellphone is ready to take photographs which might be immensely vivid, vivid, detailed and have lots of pure depth. Photos taken from the Mi 11 Ultra main digital camera really feel alive. Xiaomi leverages these benefits even additional when issues go darkish. This giant sensor coupled with the evening mode can flip darkness into daylight. It is likely one of the greatest implementations of the evening mode I’ve witnessed on a cellphone. It works brilliantly effectively in pitch darkish circumstances and on the identical time may even seize the twinkling stars within the evening sky. The solely space it falls in need of is the shoddy macro mode.
Its supplementary two cameras aren’t unhealthy as effectively. They are wonderful in use. The ultra-wide and telephoto lens are amongst the most effective within the enterprise. The ultra-wide takes amongst the widest 128-degree photographs whereas retaining lots of the richness that’s the hallmark of the first digital camera. The telephoto has immense zoom functionality which is nearly as good because the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
The small display on the again permits one to take spectacular selfies utilizing the first and the wide-angle digital camera, so that you’d principally by no means need to use the 20-megapixel digital camera on the entrance, regardless of it being fairly good. Portrait mode can also be rendered redundant because the pure bokeh is immense, however when engaged it does decently, although it’s lacking the evening mode portrait that Apple has mastered.
All of this experience interprets to the video functionality of this cellphone as effectively. Sure, it may possibly shoot at 8k and 4k video, however what issues is the standard of the video. Yes, the outcomes are spectacular — just about the most effective I’ve witnessed with an Android cellphone. Videos are sharp, steady and have some pure depth giving them a DSLR-like vibe. The audio captured can also be very detailed and crisp because of the three array of microphones. You may even interact a number of cameras on the identical time which suggests this cellphone is absolutely highly effective. The professional mode will can help you take even higher footage than the automated mode, supplied what you’re doing to the settings. It’s just about the most effective digital camera cellphone that’s come out in 2021, beating out the Vivo X60 Pro+, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the OnePlus 9 Pro. Again, that’s most likely why the oldsters at DXOMark have rated it because the highest-ranked digital camera cellphone on the earth.
Xiaomi ain’t kidding when it calls the Mi 11 Ultra a superphone. It can do no fallacious. It checks all of the packing containers for a flagship cellphone after which does some extra. While doing so it prices Rs 70,000 which is steep for a Xiaomi, however very a lot on the entry level for an ultra-luxury, premium expertise. Functionally, Xiaomi delivers and the way, however when it comes to flaunting or resale worth maybe not. Its ungainly dimension actually doesn’t assist, nor does Mi UI which admittedly has improved lots and for me is now a pleasure to make use of.
All I can say is that I’ve by no means had extra enjoyable utilizing an Android cellphone than the Mi 11 Ultra. I by no means felt reaching out for my iPhone 12 Pro Max whereas reviewing it. It was nearly at all times on par with it or higher. And even for those who don’t need to examine all of the packing containers, its cameras are so good, you possibly can simply consider it as a transportable digital camera. At Rs 70,000, it’s onerous to not suggest over the OnePlus 9 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S21, although an iPhone consumer will nonetheless most likely be higher off upgrading to a more moderen iPhone.
