Umidigi A11 Pro Max vs. Realme 8 Pro: Which Budget Phone Reigns Supreme?

The Umidigi A11 Pro Max and Realme 8 Pro represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches. The Umidigi focuses on offering a broad feature set at an extremely competitive price, while the Realme 8 Pro prioritizes camera capabilities and faster charging, leveraging Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera quality and fast charging, the Realme 8 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 720G chipset and 50W charging significantly outperform the Umidigi A11 Pro Max's Helio G80 and 10W charging. However, the Umidigi remains a viable option for those on a very tight budget.

PHONES
Phone Names Umidigi A11 Pro Max Realme 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia
Launch
Announced2021. Released 20212021, March 24
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, March 25
Body
BuildAluminum frameGlass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions167.8 x 75.6 x 8.6 mm (6.61 x 2.98 x 0.34 in)160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.32 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight225 g (7.94 oz)176 g (6.21 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Helio G80 (12 nm)Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPUMali-G52 MC2Adreno 618
OSAndroid 11Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", AF 16 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single24 MP, f/1.8, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB 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, compass, thermometer (skin temperature)Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging10W wired50W wired, 50% in 17 min, 100% in 47 min
Type5150 mAh4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsMist Blue, Frost GreyInfinite Blue, Infinite Black, Punk Black, Illuminating Yellow
Models-RMX3081
Price-About 550 EUR
SAR-1.10 W/kg (head)     0.53 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 116h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -28.2 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 286666 (v8) GeekBench: 1678 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Umidigi A11 Pro Max

  • Extremely affordable price point
  • Large display (size unspecified)
  • Functional for basic smartphone tasks

  • Slow 10W charging
  • Inferior chipset performance (Helio G80)
  • Likely lower-quality camera system

Realme 8 Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 720G processor
  • 50W SuperDart Charge (rapid charging)
  • Potentially superior camera performance

  • Higher price compared to Umidigi A11 Pro Max
  • May not offer significant upgrades for very basic users
  • Display details are limited

Display Comparison

Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting typical IPS LCD characteristics. However, detailed display specs like resolution and peak brightness are missing for the Umidigi A11 Pro Max. The Realme 8 Pro, while lacking advanced features like LTPO, benefits from Realme’s color calibration, likely offering more accurate and vibrant visuals. Without specific data on the Umidigi’s panel, the Realme 8 Pro likely provides a superior viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

While both phones feature photo/video capabilities, the Realme 8 Pro is positioned as a camera-centric device. Details on the Umidigi’s camera sensors are absent, but given its price point, it likely utilizes lower-end sensors. The Realme 8 Pro’s camera system, though specifics are missing, benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 720G, offering improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The Realme 8 Pro is the better choice for photography enthusiasts.

Performance

The Realme 8 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm) holds a significant advantage over the Umidigi A11 Pro Max’s MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm). The 8nm process node of the Snapdragon is more efficient, leading to better thermal management and sustained performance. The Snapdragon 720G’s Kryo 465 Gold cores, clocked at 2.3 GHz, also outperform the Helio G80’s Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0 GHz. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive gaming experience on the Realme 8 Pro. The Umidigi will handle everyday tasks, but will struggle with graphically intensive games.

Battery Life

Both devices boast an endurance rating of 116 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Umidigi A11 Pro Max is limited to 10W wired charging, while the Realme 8 Pro supports blazing-fast 50W wired charging, reaching 50% in just 17 minutes and 100% in 47 minutes. This difference in charging speed is a major advantage for the Realme 8 Pro, offering significantly more convenience for users who need to quickly top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Umidigi A11 Pro Max if you need a functional smartphone with a large display and aren't heavily reliant on demanding apps or quick charging. It's ideal for basic communication, social media, and light media consumption. Buy the Realme 8 Pro if you prioritize a better camera experience, smoother performance in games, and the convenience of incredibly fast 50W charging – making it suitable for users who actively capture photos and videos or enjoy mobile gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 720G in the Realme 8 Pro powerful enough for demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
Yes, the Snapdragon 720G is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. While it's not a flagship-level chipset, it provides a significantly smoother gaming experience than the Helio G80 in the Umidigi A11 Pro Max.
❓ How much faster is the 50W charging on the Realme 8 Pro compared to the 10W charging on the Umidigi A11 Pro Max in real-world use?
The difference is substantial. The Realme 8 Pro can go from 0% to 50% in just 17 minutes and fully charge in 47 minutes. The Umidigi A11 Pro Max will take several hours to fully charge, making it less convenient for users who need a quick power boost.
❓ Does the Realme 8 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 720G is relatively efficient, and Realme has implemented thermal management solutions. While some warming is expected during extended gaming, the Realme 8 Pro is unlikely to experience significant overheating or throttling issues, unlike devices with less efficient chipsets.
❓ What type of USB port do both phones use?
Both devices are expected to use USB-C ports, which is the current standard for most smartphones. This allows for faster data transfer and charging speeds, although the actual charging speed is limited by the wattage supported by each device.