Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 11i: A Head-to-Head Comparison of 5G Powerhouses

The Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G and Xiaomi Mi 11i represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take distinctly different approaches. The Reno5 Pro 5G leverages MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000+ chipset, prioritizing a balance of power and efficiency, while the Mi 11i opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888, a more potent processor often found in higher-end devices. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and sustained gaming, the Xiaomi Mi 11i emerges as the winner. The Snapdragon 888’s superior processing power, despite potential thermal throttling, offers a noticeable edge. However, the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G’s faster 65W charging and potentially more refined software experience make it a strong contender for those valuing convenience and a smoother user interface.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G Xiaomi Mi 11i
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2020, December 102021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 05Available. Released 2021, May 31
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame-
Dimensions159.7 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.29 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight173 g (6.10 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple-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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS, HDR8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging65W wired 5W reverse wired33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min
TypeLi-Po 4350 mAhLi-Po 4520 mAh
Misc
ColorsAstral Blue, Starry Black, Starry Dream, Star Wish RedCelestial Silver, Frosty White, Cosmic Black
ModelsPDSM00, PDST00, CPH2201M2012K11G
PriceAbout 410 EURAbout 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)

Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G

  • Blazing-fast 65W charging
  • Potentially more refined software experience
  • Sleek and stylish design (based on Oppo’s typical aesthetic)

  • Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 888
  • Potential for lower peak performance in demanding games
  • Limited display brightness information

Xiaomi Mi 11i

  • Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888 processor
  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
  • Excellent performance for gaming and demanding apps

  • Slower 33W charging
  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Software experience may be less polished than Oppo’s

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11i boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 939 nits, which translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While the Reno5 Pro 5G’s display specifications aren’t provided, Oppo typically focuses on color accuracy and vibrancy. The Mi 11i’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a strong AMOLED panel, likely offering deep blacks. The lack of information on the Reno5 Pro 5G’s panel type makes a direct comparison difficult, but it’s reasonable to assume it also utilizes AMOLED technology given its market positioning. The Mi 11i’s brightness advantage is a key differentiator for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Mi 11i likely features a more advanced camera system given its flagship-adjacent chipset. The Snapdragon 888’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is more capable than the Dimensity 1000+’s, potentially resulting in better image processing, especially in low-light conditions. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Mi 11i’s processing power gives it an edge in computational photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 11i’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) is a significant step up from the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G’s Dimensity 1000+ (7nm). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a substantial performance boost over the Reno5 Pro 5G’s Cortex-A77 cores. However, the 5nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 888 offers better thermal efficiency, but is still prone to throttling under sustained load. The Dimensity 1000+ offers a more consistent, albeit lower, level of performance. The Mi 11i will excel in graphically intensive tasks and gaming, while the Reno5 Pro 5G will handle everyday tasks and moderate gaming with ease.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an impressive endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G’s 65W wired charging is significantly faster than the Xiaomi Mi 11i’s 33W wired charging, capable of fully charging the device in a much shorter timeframe (Oppo claims full charge in under 35 minutes). The Mi 11i takes 52 minutes to reach 100%. While the Mi 11i supports PD3.0 and QC3, the Reno5 Pro 5G’s sheer charging speed provides a more convenient experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G if you need exceptionally fast charging, value a sleek design, and prefer a user experience focused on software polish. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11i if you prioritize maximum performance for gaming and demanding applications, and are willing to accept potentially shorter battery life and a more aggressive thermal profile. The Mi 11i is the choice for power users, while the Reno5 Pro 5G caters to those seeking a balanced and convenient experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11i suffer from significant overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate considerable heat under sustained load. While the Mi 11i incorporates cooling solutions, users may experience thermal throttling, leading to reduced performance after extended gaming. This is a trade-off for the chip's raw power.
❓ How does the 65W charging on the Reno5 Pro 5G compare to standard fast charging in terms of real-world usage?
The Reno5 Pro 5G’s 65W charging is significantly faster than typical fast charging solutions. It can replenish the battery from 0% to 100% in approximately 35 minutes, whereas 33W charging (Mi 11i) takes around 52 minutes. This means less downtime and more time using your phone.
❓ Is the difference in chipset performance between the Dimensity 1000+ and Snapdragon 888 noticeable in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming, the difference is minimal. However, when launching demanding apps, editing videos, or playing graphically intensive games, the Snapdragon 888’s superior processing power becomes readily apparent.
❓ Does the Mi 11i support expandable storage via microSD card?
No, the Xiaomi Mi 11i does not support microSD card expansion. Users are limited to the internal storage option they choose at the time of purchase. This is a consideration for those who require substantial storage for photos, videos, and other files.