vivo X51 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 11i: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Contenders

The vivo X51 5G and Xiaomi Mi 11i represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone market, but cater to different priorities. The X51 5G arrived as a well-rounded package, while the Mi 11i aimed to deliver near-flagship performance at a more accessible price point. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi Mi 11i is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a substantial leap over the X51 5G’s Snapdragon 765G. However, the X51 5G remains a viable option for those seeking a balanced experience and potentially better long-term software support.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X51 5G Xiaomi Mi 11i
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 -
Launch
Announced2020, October 21. Released 2020, October 232021, March 29
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, May 31
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions158.5 x 72.8 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in)
KeyboardQWERTY-
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight181.5 g (6.42 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.0Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1 UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
Single3.15 MP20 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserHTML-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging33W wired, 57% in 30 min33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min
Music playUp to 5 h-
Stand-byUp to 312 h-
Talk timeUp to 3 h-
Type4315 mAhLi-Po 4520 mAh
Misc
ColorsGrayCelestial Silver, Frosty White, Cosmic Black
ModelsXE710M2012K11G
PriceAbout 760 EURAbout 230 EUR
SAR0.35 W/kg (head)     0.95 W/kg (body)     0.95 W/kg (head)     0.74 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.20 W/kg (head)     0.57 W/kg (head)     0.77 W/kg (body)
Pricing
256GB 8GB RAM$ 885.00-
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)

vivo X51 5G

  • Potentially smoother software experience (vivo's Funtouch OS)
  • Balanced performance for everyday tasks
  • Competitive price point at launch

  • Significantly slower processor than the Mi 11i
  • Display likely lacks the brightness and smoothness of the Mi 11i
  • Limited gaming performance compared to the Mi 11i

Xiaomi Mi 11i

  • Flagship-level Snapdragon 888 performance
  • Brighter and potentially smoother display
  • Faster full charge time

  • Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
  • MIUI software can be resource-intensive
  • May be slightly more expensive than the X51 5G

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11i boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 939 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the X51 5G. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels for vibrant colors, the Mi 11i’s higher peak brightness and infinite contrast ratio provide a more immersive viewing experience. The absence of refresh rate data for the X51 5G suggests the Mi 11i likely has an advantage in smoothness, potentially offering a 120Hz panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Mi 11i likely benefits from the more powerful ISP within the Snapdragon 888, enabling better image processing and potentially superior low-light performance. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Mi 11i’s chipset advantage suggests it will deliver more refined image quality and faster processing speeds for features like HDR and night mode. The X51 5G may focus on a more natural color profile, typical of vivo’s camera tuning.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 11i’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) is a generational leap ahead of the vivo X51 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 888 features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, offering significantly higher single-core performance. The 765G’s Kryo 475 Prime core at 2.4 GHz is simply outmatched. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive gaming experience on the Mi 11i. The 5nm process node of the 888 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, though it's still prone to throttling under sustained load. The Mi 11i’s LPDDR5 RAM (speculation based on market segment) likely provides faster memory bandwidth than the X51 5G’s 8GB of RAM.

Battery Life

Both devices share a 33W wired charging capability, with the Mi 11i reaching 100% in 52 minutes and the X51 5G achieving 57% in 30 minutes. While the X51 5G’s initial charging speed appears faster, the Mi 11i completes a full charge more quickly. Both boast an endurance rating of 96 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potential differences in battery capacity (not specified for the X51 5G). The Mi 11i’s more efficient chipset could offset any capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X51 5G if you need a reliable, all-around 5G phone with a focus on consistent performance for everyday tasks and a potentially smoother software experience. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11i if you prioritize gaming, demanding applications, and want the fastest possible performance in this price bracket, understanding that thermal throttling may be a factor during sustained heavy use.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11i suffer from significant overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate considerable heat under sustained load. While the Mi 11i incorporates cooling solutions, users may experience thermal throttling, leading to reduced performance after extended gaming. However, for typical gaming sessions, the performance will remain excellent.
❓ Is the camera on the Xiaomi Mi 11i noticeably better than the vivo X51 5G in low-light conditions?
Likely, yes. The Mi 11i benefits from the more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 888, which excels at noise reduction and detail preservation in low-light scenarios. While the X51 5G likely produces good results, the Mi 11i should offer a clearer and more detailed image in challenging lighting conditions.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect from Xiaomi and vivo for these devices?
Xiaomi typically provides a more frequent update cycle for MIUI, but with a history of occasional bugs. Vivo generally offers more stable, albeit less frequent, updates with Funtouch OS. Long-term software support is difficult to predict, but Vivo has been improving in this area.