Motorola Moto G100 vs Xiaomi Mi 11i: Which Snapdragon Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Motorola Moto G100 (2021) and the Xiaomi Mi 11i represent a fascinating crossroads in the smartphone market. Both devices, now available at increasingly competitive prices, pack flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon. However, they approach the 'flagship' experience from different angles: the G100 prioritizes a larger form factor and potentially broader feature set, while the Mi 11i focuses on a more compact design and optimized performance. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which phone delivers the best value.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Xiaomi Mi 11i is the stronger recommendation. While the Moto G100 offers a larger display, the Mi 11i’s more efficient Snapdragon 888, coupled with its significantly faster 33W charging, provides a smoother, more convenient daily experience. The Mi 11i’s superior thermal management also translates to sustained performance during demanding tasks.

PHONES
Phone Names	Motorola Moto G100 (2021)	Xiaomi Mi 11i

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2021, March 25	2021, March 29
Status	Available. Released 2021, April 15	Available. Released 2021, May 31

Body
Dimensions	168.4 x 74 x 9.7 mm (6.63 x 2.91 x 0.38 in)	163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	207 g (7.30 oz)	196 g (6.91 oz)
	-	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10, 560 nits (HBM)	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 660
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 12	Android 11, MIUI 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, ring flash (macro mode), panorama, HDR	Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	-	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D Auxiliary lens	108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF
Video	6K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+

Selfie camera
Dual	16 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.0µm 8 MP, f/2.4, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm	-
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	-	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	-	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	20W wired	33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 4520 mAh

Misc
Colors	Iridescent Sky, Iridescent Ocean, Slate Grey	Celestial Silver, Frosty White, Cosmic Black
Models	XT2125, XT2125-4	M2012K11G
Price	About 210 EUR	About 230 EUR
SAR	-	0.95 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.57 W/kg (head) 0.77 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 96h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 690021 (v8) GeekBench: 3641 (v5.1)

Motorola Moto G100 (2021)

Larger display for immersive media consumption
Potentially expandable storage (microSD slot likely)
Slightly longer rated battery endurance

Slower 20W charging
Less efficient Snapdragon 870 processor
Lower peak display brightness

Xiaomi Mi 11i

Faster 33W charging with PD3.0/QC3
More efficient Snapdragon 888 processor
Higher peak display brightness and contrast
More compact and pocketable design

Slightly shorter rated battery endurance
No expandable storage (likely)
Smaller display size

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11i boasts a peak brightness of 939 nits, exceeding the Motorola Moto G100’s 613 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Moto G100 offers a 1427:1 contrast ratio, the Mi 11i claims an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, suggesting deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Both devices likely utilize AMOLED technology, but the Mi 11i’s higher brightness and contrast give it a clear advantage for visual clarity and enjoyment. The G100's larger size may appeal to some, but the Mi 11i's panel quality is superior.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Assuming similar image processing pipelines, the Mi 11i likely benefits from the Snapdragon 888’s improved ISP (Image Signal Processor). The 888’s ISP allows for faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Mi 11i’s chipset advantage suggests a slight edge in image quality and video recording capabilities. We'd expect both to offer competent cameras, but the Mi 11i has the potential for superior results.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Moto G100 features the Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), while the Mi 11i utilizes the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 5nm process node of the 888 offers superior transistor density and, crucially, better power efficiency compared to the 870’s 7nm node. While the 870 is a very capable chip, the 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz) provides a performance edge, particularly in single-core tasks. The Mi 11i is likely to exhibit less thermal throttling under sustained load, maintaining higher clock speeds for longer periods. Both phones utilize Octa-core CPUs, but the architectural differences favor the Mi 11i.

Battery Life

The Moto G100 boasts an endurance rating of 100 hours, while the Mi 11i achieves 96 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Mi 11i’s 33W wired charging, complete with PD3.0 and QC3 support, allows for a full charge in just 52 minutes. The Moto G100 is limited to 20W charging, resulting in a significantly slower charging time. The Mi 11i’s faster charging is a major convenience factor, offsetting the slightly lower endurance rating. The more efficient Snapdragon 888 also contributes to better real-world battery life despite the similar endurance scores.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Moto G100 (2021) if you prioritize a larger screen for media consumption and potentially need the expandability of a microSD card slot (assumed based on Motorola’s typical offerings). Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11i if you prefer a more pocketable device with faster charging, a more efficient processor, and a generally more refined user experience focused on performance and convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11i suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?

While the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than the 870, the Mi 11i’s thermal management system is generally effective at mitigating throttling. Reviews indicate that the Mi 11i can sustain high performance for extended periods, though some throttling may occur during the most demanding games. The 5nm process node also helps to manage heat more efficiently than the 7nm node used in the Moto G100.

❓ Is the 20W charging on the Moto G100 noticeably slower than the 33W charging on the Mi 11i in real-world use?

Yes, the difference is substantial. The Mi 11i can reach 100% charge in approximately 52 minutes, while the Moto G100 will take considerably longer – likely exceeding 90 minutes. This difference is particularly noticeable for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

❓ Does the Moto G100 support microSD card expansion for additional storage?

While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Motorola phones traditionally offer microSD card support. It's highly probable the Moto G100 includes a microSD card slot, providing flexibility for users who require more storage space. The Mi 11i does not offer expandable storage.

❓ Which phone is better suited for running multiple apps simultaneously (multitasking)?

The Xiaomi Mi 11i, with its Snapdragon 888 and likely faster RAM (LPDDR5 vs potentially LPDDR4X in the G100 - assumption based on chipset generation), is better equipped for heavy multitasking. The 888’s more powerful CPU and GPU, combined with faster memory, will result in smoother app switching and reduced lag.