The Realme X9 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro represent different approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The X9 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 870, aims for a balance of performance and efficiency, often at a more accessible price point. The Mi 11 Pro, with the Snapdragon 888, pushes for outright power and features, including advanced charging capabilities. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro offers a more complete flagship experience. While the Realme X9 Pro provides excellent performance for the price, the Mi 11 Pro’s superior chipset, faster charging (wired and wireless), and potentially better camera system justify the price premium.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 - China |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, March 29 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, April 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.85 x 0.31 in) | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.49 oz) | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1500 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 | Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128/256/512GB, 3/8/12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual LED flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
8 MP, 120mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by Harman Kardon |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 65W wired
5W reverse wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min
67W wireless, 100% in 39 min
10W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue; other colours | Black, Green, Purple |
| Models | - | M2102K1AC |
| Price | - | About 370 EUR |
Realme X9 Pro
- Excellent value for money
- Efficient Snapdragon 870 performance
- Fast 65W wired charging
- Lacks wireless charging
- Potentially less powerful camera system
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
- 67W wired and wireless charging
- Likely superior camera system
- Higher price point
- Snapdragon 888 can be prone to throttling
Display Comparison
Neither device's display specifications are provided, so we must infer. Given the Mi 11 Pro's positioning, it likely features a higher resolution and potentially brighter panel than the X9 Pro. The Mi 11 Pro likely utilizes a higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. Both devices likely employ AMOLED technology for vibrant colors, but the Mi 11 Pro may include LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, improving battery efficiency. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, but the Mi 11 Pro's build quality and display calibration are likely more refined.
Camera Comparison
Without specific camera specs, we can analyze based on brand tendencies. Xiaomi typically prioritizes camera innovation, so the Mi 11 Pro likely features a larger main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and more advanced image processing algorithms. The Mi 11 Pro likely includes a more versatile telephoto lens. While the X9 Pro will likely offer a competent camera experience, the Mi 11 Pro is expected to excel in low-light photography and offer greater zoom capabilities. The absence of details on sensor sizes and apertures makes a definitive comparison difficult, but Xiaomi’s flagship history suggests a more sophisticated camera system.
Performance
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) holds a clear architectural advantage over the Realme X9 Pro’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core delivers significantly higher peak performance, crucial for demanding tasks. However, the 870’s Kryo 585 cores are highly efficient, offering excellent sustained performance. The 5nm process of the 888 *should* translate to better thermal efficiency, but the 888 is known to throttle under sustained load, a potential issue the 870 mitigates. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Mi 11 Pro may benefit from faster RAM speeds. The GPU in the 888 is also more powerful, providing a better gaming experience, though the 870 is still capable of handling most mobile games at high settings.
Battery Life
The Realme X9 Pro’s 65W wired charging is fast, but the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro takes charging to another level with 67W wired charging, achieving a full charge in a claimed 36 minutes. More significantly, the Mi 11 Pro adds 67W wireless charging, a feature absent on the X9 Pro. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Mi 11 Pro’s faster charging speeds and wireless charging capability provide a significant convenience advantage. The 5W reverse wired charging on the X9 Pro is a niche feature, while the 10W reverse wireless charging on the Mi 11 Pro is more practical.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme X9 Pro if you prioritize value and efficient performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. It’s ideal for users who want a smooth experience without breaking the bank. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro if you demand the highest possible performance for demanding games and applications, and if you value the convenience of incredibly fast wired and wireless charging, and a more feature-rich camera system.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11 Pro known to overheat during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 870. While Xiaomi likely implemented thermal management solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings may lead to noticeable throttling, potentially impacting sustained performance. The X9 Pro’s 870 is less prone to this issue.
❓ Does the Realme X9 Pro support high refresh rate gaming, like 90fps or 120fps in popular titles?
While the X9 Pro’s Snapdragon 870 is capable of handling many games at high frame rates, support depends on the game itself. Many popular titles will offer 60fps as a standard option, and some may support 90fps or higher with graphics settings adjusted. The Mi 11 Pro’s more powerful GPU provides a greater margin for consistently achieving higher frame rates.
❓ How does the reverse charging feature differ between the two phones, and is it useful?
The Realme X9 Pro offers 5W reverse *wired* charging, while the Mi 11 Pro provides 10W reverse *wireless* charging. Wireless reverse charging is generally more convenient for topping up accessories like earbuds or smartwatches, making the Mi 11 Pro’s implementation more practical. Both are relatively slow, but useful in a pinch.
