TCL 20 R 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders

The TCL 20 R 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at accessible price points, they diverge significantly in their approaches to chipset choice, charging technology, and overall feature set. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a brighter display, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the clear winner. Its 67W charging capability and 746 nit peak brightness offer a significantly improved user experience, outweighing the TCL 20 R 5G’s slightly different processor.

PHONES
Phone Names	TCL 20 R 5G	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat13 400/100 Mbps, 5G 2.7 Gbps DL	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2021, September 07	2022, January 26
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 23	Available. Released 2022, February 18

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions	164.3 x 75 x 9 mm (6.47 x 2.95 x 0.35 in)	164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	186 g (6.56 oz)	202 g (7.13 oz)
	-	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (peak)	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Adreno 619
OS	Android 11, TCL UI	Android 11, MIUI 13

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM	64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	-	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Triple	13 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) 1/4.0", 1.12µm	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	-	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	Unspecified	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing

Battery
Charging	10W wired	67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 42 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Gray, Blue	Graphite Gray, Polar White, Atlantic Blue
Models	T767H	21091116I, 2201116SG
Price	About 180 EUR	€ 120.33 / $ 230.00 / £ 319.00
SAR	-	1.05 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.60 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 115h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 288914 (v8), 382902 (v9) GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

TCL 20 R 5G

Potentially more efficient Dimensity 700 chipset
May be more affordable (depending on market)
Decent battery endurance (115h)

Extremely slow 10W charging
Display brightness likely lower than competitor
Limited feature set compared to Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

Ultra-fast 67W charging with PD3.0/QC3
Bright 746 nit display for excellent visibility
More power-efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset

May be slightly more expensive
Snapdragon 695 may throttle under sustained load
Camera details are lacking

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 746 nits. This is a crucial advantage for outdoor visibility, a common pain point for smartphone users. While the TCL 20 R 5G’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it falls short of this peak brightness. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G also advertises an infinite contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED or OLED panels, suggesting deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, though the TCL’s panel type is unknown. The lack of detailed display specs for the TCL makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Redmi’s brightness alone is a substantial benefit.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but lack specific details. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is impossible. However, given Xiaomi’s history of prioritizing camera features in the Redmi Note series, it’s likely the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G offers a more refined camera experience. The TCL 20 R 5G, while capable, likely focuses on providing a functional camera system rather than pushing boundaries in image quality. The absence of information on OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for either device further complicates the comparison.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the TCL 20 R 5G utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm), while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The Snapdragon 695, built on a smaller 6nm process, generally offers improved power efficiency compared to the 7nm Dimensity 700. Both CPUs feature a similar core configuration – octa-core with 2x high-performance cores (Cortex-A76 vs Kryo 660 Gold) and 6x efficiency cores (Cortex-A55 vs Kryo 660 Silver) clocked at similar speeds. However, Qualcomm’s Kryo cores often exhibit better sustained performance and optimized power management. This translates to potentially smoother multitasking and gaming on the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, despite the similar clock speeds.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 115 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the TCL’s unspecified battery capacity. However, the charging experience is drastically different. The TCL 20 R 5G is limited to a slow 10W wired charging, meaning a full charge will take several hours. In contrast, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G supports a blazing-fast 67W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 42 minutes. This is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G also supports PD3.0 and QC3 standards, offering wider compatibility with fast chargers.

Buying Guide

Buy the TCL 20 R 5G if you prioritize a potentially more efficient processor for sustained tasks and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G if you value rapid charging, a brighter and more visible display in sunlight, and a generally more feature-rich experience, even if it means a slightly less power-efficient chipset.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?

While the Snapdragon 695 is generally efficient, it's not a flagship-level chip. Expect some throttling during extended gaming, but the 6nm process and Xiaomi's thermal management solutions should mitigate excessive heat buildup. Performance will likely be consistent for moderate gaming sessions.

❓ How does the 10W charging on the TCL 20 R 5G impact daily usability?

The 10W charging is a significant drawback. Expect a full charge to take upwards of 3-4 hours. This necessitates overnight charging and makes quick top-ups impractical. It's best suited for users who don't heavily rely on their phone throughout the day or have access to charging overnight.

❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs on both phones a cause for concern?

Yes, it is. Without knowing sensor size, aperture, or image processing capabilities, it's difficult to assess camera performance. However, Xiaomi typically invests more in camera technology for the Redmi Note series, suggesting a potentially better experience.

❓ Will the TCL 20 R 5G receive software updates and security patches for an extended period?

TCL's software update track record is less consistent than Xiaomi's. While TCL has improved, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is more likely to receive timely security patches and potentially even a major Android version update, offering longer-term software support.