Xiaomi 11i vs Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Xiaomi 11i and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G generally wins thanks to its superior chipset (Snapdragon 865), better camera capabilities, and wireless charging. However, the Xiaomi 11i offers significantly faster charging and a potentially more attractive price point, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi 11i	Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA	2, 5, 41, 66, 71 Sub6 - USA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 Sub6 - International

Launch
Announced	2022, January 06	2020, September 23
Status	Available. Released 2022, January 12	Available. Released 2020, October 02

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	163.7 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)	159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	207 g (7.30 oz)	190 g (6.70 oz)
	IP53, dust and splash resistant	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~407 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 101.0 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPU	Mali-G68 MC4	Adreno 650
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13	Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm	2 MP
Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Browser	-	HTTP / WAP 2.0
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)

Battery
Charging	67W wired, 50% in 13 min	25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Stand-by	-	Up to 300 h
Talk time	-	Up to 5 h
Type	Li-Po 5160 mAh	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Camo Green, Stealth Black, Purple Mist, Pacific Pearl	Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Navy, Cloud White, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange
Models	‎MZB0A5EIN	SM-G781B, SM-G781B/DS, SM-G781U, SM-G781U1, SM-G781W, SM-G7810, SM-G781N, SM-G781V
Price	About 330 EUR	$ 137.00 / C$ 531.23 / £ 169.00 / € 199.00
SAR	0.82 W/kg (head) 0.61 W/kg (body)	0.70 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.50 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body)

Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM	-	$ 361.99
128GB 8GB RAM	-	$ 589.97
256GB 8GB RAM	-	$ 769.99

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 110h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 543986 (v8) GeekBench: 3296 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 11i

Faster Charging (67W)
Sleek Design
Competitive Price
Good Display

Less Powerful Chipset
Less Versatile Camera
No Wireless Charging

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Powerful Snapdragon 865 Chipset
Versatile Camera System
Wireless Charging
Excellent Battery Life

Slower Charging (25W)
Higher Price
Older Model

Display Comparison

Both phones feature AMOLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 822 nits, giving it a slight edge in outdoor visibility. The Xiaomi 11i's display is also excellent, but lacks specific brightness measurements. Resolution and refresh rates are comparable, providing a smooth viewing experience on both devices.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G generally offers a more versatile camera system. While both phones have capable main sensors, the S20 FE 5G's additional lenses (ultrawide and telephoto) provide greater flexibility in different shooting scenarios. Image processing and low-light performance are also typically better on the S20 FE 5G. The Xiaomi 11i's camera is still good, but lacks the same level of refinement.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G's Snapdragon 865 chipset is noticeably more powerful than the Xiaomi 11i's Dimensity 920. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better performance in demanding games. While the Xiaomi 11i is capable, it may struggle with more intensive tasks. The S20 FE 5G's CPU architecture (1x Cortex-A77 + 3x Cortex-A77 + 4x Cortex-A55) also provides a more balanced performance profile.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G boasts an impressive endurance rating of 110 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Xiaomi 11i, while not explicitly stated, typically offers good battery performance. However, the Xiaomi 11i's standout feature is its 67W wired charging, which can charge the phone to 50% in just 13 minutes – significantly faster than the S20 FE 5G's 25W charging.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi 11i is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a sleek design on a tighter budget. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a better choice for those who value performance, a more versatile camera system, and the convenience of wireless charging, even if it comes at a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi 11i good for gaming?

The Xiaomi 11i can handle most games, but demanding titles may require lower graphics settings. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G offers a smoother gaming experience due to its more powerful chipset.

❓ Which phone has better software support?

Samsung generally provides longer software update support than Xiaomi. Expect more Android version updates and security patches on the Galaxy S20 FE 5G.