Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 11i: Which Snapdragon Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G and Xiaomi Mi 11i represent a fascinating crossroads in the smartphone market. The Reno5 Pro+ arrived with a focus on fast charging and a refined experience, while the Mi 11i brought the newer Snapdragon 888 to a more accessible price point. Now, with both devices available at discounted rates, the question of which offers the best value is more relevant than ever.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 11i emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset, built on a 5nm process, delivers a noticeable performance uplift over the Reno5 Pro+'s Snapdragon 865, despite the Reno5 Pro+'s faster charging. The Mi 11i’s brighter display and comparable battery life further solidify its position.

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, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 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
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2020, December 242021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 05Available. Released 2021, May 31
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame-
Dimensions159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.85 x 0.31 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
Weight184 g (6.49 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 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, ColorOS 11.1Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)-
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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS, HDR8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanoramaHDR
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 Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (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)
RadioNoNo
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, 100% in 35 min Reverse wired33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4520 mAh
Misc
ColorsGalactic Silver, Starlight BlackCelestial Silver, Frosty White, Cosmic Black
ModelsPDRM00, PDRT00M2012K11G
PriceAbout 500 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 (35 minutes to 100%)
  • Potentially refined software experience (Oppo's ColorOS)
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Older Snapdragon 865 chipset
  • Less powerful CPU and GPU compared to the Mi 11i
  • Display brightness likely lower than the Mi 11i

Xiaomi Mi 11i

  • More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset (5nm)
  • Brighter display (939 nits)
  • Improved CPU and GPU performance for gaming and multitasking

  • Slower 33W charging (52 minutes to 100%)
  • Software experience may be less polished than Oppo's ColorOS
  • No reverse wireless charging

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11i boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 939 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Reno5 Pro+. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. While neither specification details refresh rate, both devices were marketed with high refresh rate displays, likely 120Hz. The Mi 11i’s higher peak brightness provides a more comfortable viewing experience in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer capable photo and video recording, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The Reno5 Pro+’s camera system was marketed around its image quality, but without specific sensor sizes or apertures, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The Mi 11i likely benefits from the improved ISP within the Snapdragon 888, offering better image processing capabilities. The absence of details on OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for either device makes it hard to assess low-light performance. We can assume both phones include a standard suite of camera modes, but the Mi 11i’s processor provides more headroom for computational photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 11i’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) represents a substantial leap over the Oppo Reno5 Pro+’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The 888 features the newer Cortex-X1 prime core, offering improved single-core performance, and a more efficient 5nm manufacturing process. This translates to better sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. While both phones share the same Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, the Mi 11i’s A78 performance cores are a step up from the Reno5 Pro+'s A77 cores. The Mi 11i will handle demanding applications and multitasking with greater ease.

Battery Life

Both the Oppo Reno5 Pro+ and Xiaomi Mi 11i achieve an endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, the charging speeds are dramatically different. The Reno5 Pro+ supports 65W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 35 minutes, while the Mi 11i’s 33W charging takes 52 minutes. This faster charging is a significant advantage for the Reno5 Pro+, allowing for quick top-ups throughout the day. The Mi 11i also supports PD3.0 and QC3 standards, offering wider compatibility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G if you prioritize incredibly fast 65W charging and a potentially more refined software experience, and are willing to accept slightly older processing power. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11i if you prefer a more powerful processor for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a generally more future-proofed device at a competitive price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 865 in the Reno5 Pro+ struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 865 is still a capable chip, it will likely exhibit more thermal throttling and lower frame rates in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11i. You may need to lower graphics settings for a smoother experience.
❓ Does the Mi 11i's Snapdragon 888 get excessively hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to run warmer than previous generations. However, the Mi 11i incorporates thermal management solutions to mitigate overheating. While some throttling is possible during extended gaming, it's generally well-controlled and doesn't significantly impact performance.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between the two phones really that noticeable?
Yes, the 30-minute difference between 35 minutes (Reno5 Pro+) and 52 minutes (Mi 11i) is substantial. The Reno5 Pro+'s 65W charging is a game-changer for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Which phone is better for video recording?
Without detailed camera specs, it's difficult to say definitively. However, the Mi 11i's Snapdragon 888 benefits from a more advanced ISP, potentially leading to better video stabilization and dynamic range.