TCL 30 5G vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders

The TCL 30 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive sub-$300 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price, they diverge significantly in their approaches to chipset choice, charging technology, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly faster 67W charging, capable of a full charge in just 42 minutes, addresses a key pain point for smartphone users. While the TCL 30 5G offers a respectable experience, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s charging speed and slightly brighter display give it a decisive edge.

PHONES
Phone Names TCL 30 5G Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat13 390/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, February 272022, January 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 11Available. Released 2022, February 18
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions164.5 x 75.2 x 7.7 mm (6.48 x 2.96 x 0.30 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-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 650 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 619
OSAndroid 12, TCL UI 4.0Android 11, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.3, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single13 MP, f/2.3, 19mm (ultrawide), 1/3", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioUnspecifiedUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 42 min
TypeLi-Po 5010 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsTech Black, Dreamy BlueGraphite Gray, Polar White, Atlantic Blue
ModelsT776H21091116I, 2201116SG
PriceAbout 250 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 30 5G

  • Potentially more power-efficient chipset (Dimensity 700, 7nm)
  • Competitive price point
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slow 18W charging
  • Likely lower display brightness
  • Potentially less advanced camera system

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

  • Ultra-fast 67W charging (PD3.0, QC3)
  • Brighter display (746 nits)
  • More advanced chipset (Snapdragon 695, 6nm)

  • Potentially slightly lower battery endurance due to chipset
  • May be slightly more expensive
  • Camera details are unknown

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 746 nits. This is a significant advantage for outdoor use, where the TCL 30 5G’s display brightness is not specified, suggesting it will likely struggle in direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for AMOLED/OLED panels), the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s higher peak brightness translates to a more vibrant and readable image in various lighting conditions. The absence of refresh rate information for the TCL 30 5G suggests it likely operates at a standard 60Hz, while the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is expected to have a 120Hz panel, offering smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are missing. However, given the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s positioning, it’s reasonable to expect a more sophisticated camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and optical image stabilization (OIS). The TCL 30 5G, being a more budget-focused device, likely features a simpler camera setup. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s brand reputation suggests a stronger emphasis on camera performance. We can assume both phones will include standard features like HDR and portrait modes.

Performance

The chipset choice is a key differentiator. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm), while the TCL 30 5G features the MediaTek Dimensity 700 (7nm). While both are 5G capable, the Snapdragon 695, built on a 6nm process, generally offers better power efficiency and sustained performance compared to the 7nm Dimensity 700. Both CPUs feature an octa-core configuration with similar high-performance core clock speeds (2.2 GHz), but the Snapdragon 695’s Kryo 660 Gold cores are architecturally more advanced than the Cortex-A76 cores in the Dimensity 700. This translates to a slight edge in single-core performance for the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. The lack of LPDDR RAM specification for both phones makes it difficult to assess memory bandwidth, but the Snapdragon 695’s overall architecture suggests a more robust platform for demanding tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 115 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging capabilities are drastically different. The TCL 30 5G is limited to 18W wired charging, while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G supports a blazing-fast 67W wired charging, complete with PD3.0 and QC3 compatibility. This allows the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G to reach 50% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 42 minutes – a massive advantage over the TCL 30 5G’s slower charging speed. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G effectively mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the TCL 30 5G if you prioritize a potentially more efficient chipset in the Mediatek Dimensity 700 and are less concerned with rapid charging. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G if you value blazing-fast 67W charging, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, 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 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 695 is generally efficient, but sustained gaming will inevitably generate heat. However, the 6nm process node and Qualcomm’s thermal management features help mitigate throttling. While not a flagship-level gaming experience, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G should handle moderate gaming sessions without significant performance drops.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the TCL 30 5G slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
Yes, 18W charging is considerably slower than the 67W charging on the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. Expect a full charge to take well over two hours, which can be frustrating for users accustomed to faster charging speeds. This is a significant drawback for the TCL 30 5G.
❓ What 5G bands do these phones support?
Specific 5G band support varies by region. It's crucial to check the specifications for your carrier to ensure compatibility. Both phones support sub-6GHz 5G, which is the most common type of 5G currently deployed.
❓ Are there any significant software differences between TCL's UI and Xiaomi's MIUI?
Yes. Xiaomi's MIUI is a heavily customized Android skin known for its features and occasional bloatware. TCL's UI is closer to stock Android, offering a cleaner and more streamlined experience. Preference here is subjective; some users prefer MIUI's customization options, while others prefer TCL's simplicity.