The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Honor Play 40 Plus and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster charging, brighter display, and generally more refined features. While the Honor Play 40 Plus offers decent performance, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G provides a more premium and feature-rich experience for a similar price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 20 | 2022, January 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 28 | Available. Released 2022, February 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 167.5 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.59 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) | 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Silver, Black, Purple | Graphite Gray, Polar White, Atlantic Blue |
| Models | RKY-AN00 | 21091116I, 2201116SG |
| Price | About 170 EUR | € 120.33 / $ 230.00 / £ 319.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 115h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 288914 (v8), 382902 (v9)
GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play 40 Plus
- Smooth Android experience
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Competitive price
- Slower charging
- Less bright display
- Potentially less versatile camera
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
- Faster charging (67W)
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Likely better camera system
- More premium design
- Can be slightly more expensive
- Software experience can be polarizing (MIUI)
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a significant advantage with its measured 746 nits max brightness, offering far better visibility in sunlight compared to the Honor Play 40 Plus. While both likely use AMOLED panels, the Redmi's brightness and contrast ratio (infinite nominal) provide a superior viewing experience. The Honor's display is adequate but lacks the punch and vibrancy of the Redmi.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G likely has a more versatile camera system, potentially including an ultrawide lens and improved image processing capabilities. While specific camera specs are missing, Xiaomi's reputation for camera quality in this price range suggests a better overall experience. The Honor Play 40 Plus's camera is likely adequate for basic photography but won't match the Redmi's capabilities.
Performance
The Snapdragon 695 5G in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G generally outperforms the Dimensity 700 in the Honor Play 40 Plus in real-world usage. While both have octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon's architecture and optimizations often lead to smoother multitasking and gaming. The 6nm process on the Redmi also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings of 115 hours. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G's 67W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a 50% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 42 minutes. The Honor's 22.5W charging is considerably slower.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play 40 Plus is a good choice for users prioritizing a smooth, basic Android experience and are on a very tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is ideal for those who want a brighter display, faster charging, a more versatile camera system, and a generally more premium feel without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G's Snapdragon 695 5G generally offers better gaming performance due to its more efficient architecture and optimizations.
❓ Is the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G worth the extra money?
Yes, if you value faster charging, a brighter display, and a potentially better camera, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is well worth the slight price premium.
