The Sony Xperia 5 Plus, released with the Snapdragon 855, represented a refined compact flagship experience. Now, with the Xiaomi Mi 11i and its newer Snapdragon 888, the landscape has shifted. This comparison dissects the key differences, focusing on performance, battery, and display to determine which phone offers the best value in today's market.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Xiaomi Mi 11i is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 provides a substantial performance boost over the Xperia 5 Plus’s Snapdragon 855, coupled with significantly faster 33W charging. While the Xperia 5 Plus retains a certain appeal for its compact form factor, the Mi 11i offers a more modern and capable experience.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2021, March 29 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2021, May 31 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 168.2 x 71.6 x 8.1 mm (6.62 x 2.82 x 0.32 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 196 g (6.91 oz) |
| | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 101.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR BT.2020 | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 12 MP, (wide), 1/1.5", predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS
8 MP, (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
2 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| 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 |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Dynamic vibration system | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4520 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Black, Grey | Celestial Silver, Frosty White, Cosmic Black |
| Models | - | M2012K11G |
| Price | - | 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) |
Sony Xperia 5 Plus
- Compact and ergonomic design
- Understated aesthetic
- Solid build quality
- Outdated Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Slow 18W charging
- Less vibrant display
Xiaomi Mi 11i
- Powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Fast 33W charging
- Bright and vibrant display
- Larger form factor
- Potentially more aggressive software
- May run warmer under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi 11i boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 939 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Xperia 5 Plus. This translates to better visibility outdoors. While both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, the Mi 11i’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage. The Xperia 5 Plus’s display specifications are less readily available, suggesting it doesn’t compete directly on brightness. The Mi 11i’s display is likely to offer a more vibrant and easily viewable experience in most conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 888 of the Mi 11i will likely provide superior image processing, resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The Xperia 5 Plus’s camera system, while capable, is likely held back by the older chipset’s processing limitations. The Mi 11i’s ISP is also better equipped to handle advanced features like 8K video recording.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 11i’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) represents a generational leap over the Sony Xperia 5 Plus’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 888 features the Cortex-X1 prime core, offering substantial performance gains over the Kryo 485 in the 855. The 5nm process node also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both CPUs have an octa-core configuration with a peak clock speed of 2.84 GHz, the architectural improvements in the 888 deliver a demonstrably faster experience. The Mi 11i will excel in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the Mi 11i’s more powerful processor. This is likely due to optimizations in the Mi 11i’s software and the efficiency gains of the 5nm process. However, the Mi 11i significantly outperforms the Xperia 5 Plus in charging speed, offering 33W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC3, achieving 100% charge in just 52 minutes. The Xperia 5 Plus is limited to 18W charging with PD2.0, resulting in a considerably slower charging experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 Plus if you prioritize a truly compact form factor and a more understated design, and are willing to compromise on raw processing power. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11i if you demand the best possible performance for gaming and demanding applications, faster charging speeds, and a brighter display, even if it means a slightly larger device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11i suffer from overheating issues during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 888 is a powerful chip, it is known to generate more heat than its predecessors. However, the Mi 11i incorporates thermal management solutions to mitigate this. While some throttling may occur during extremely demanding games over extended periods, it's generally well-controlled and doesn't significantly impact the gaming experience. The 5nm process node also helps with thermal efficiency compared to the 7nm Snapdragon 855 in the Xperia 5 Plus.
❓ How does the Mi 11i's charging speed compare to other phones in its price range?
The Mi 11i’s 33W charging is notably faster than many competitors in the sub-$400 price bracket. While not as fast as some flagship devices with 65W or 120W charging, it still achieves a full charge in approximately 52 minutes, which is a significant improvement over the Xperia 5 Plus’s 18W charging. This makes the Mi 11i a convenient option for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Snapdragon 855 and 888 noticeable in everyday tasks?
Yes, the difference is quite noticeable. While both chips handle everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging smoothly, the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11i provides a snappier and more responsive experience, especially when multitasking or switching between apps. The performance gap becomes even more apparent in demanding applications like games and video editing.
