Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra vs Mi 11i: The Ultimate Showdown

Xiaomi's Mi series consistently delivers impressive smartphones, and the Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11i are no exception. Both pack the Snapdragon 888, but cater to different priorities. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mi 11 Ultra is the clear winner for photography enthusiasts and those wanting the absolute best display and charging speeds. However, the Mi 11i offers slightly better battery life and a more accessible price point, making it a compelling choice for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra 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, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2021, March 292021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, April 02Available. Released 2021, May 31
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight234 g (8.25 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie displayColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF108 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
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min 10W reverse wireless33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4520 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic White (Cosmic White), Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black)Celestial Silver, Frosty White, Cosmic Black
ModelsM2102K1G, M2102K1CM2012K11G
PriceAbout 1500 EURAbout 230 EUR
SAR1.08 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)0.95 W/kg (head)     0.74 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.55 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)0.57 W/kg (head)     0.77 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 95h Endurance rating 96h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.3 LUFS (Very good) -26.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 688720 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 690021 (v8) GeekBench: 3641 (v5.1)

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system
  • Brighter display
  • Ultra-fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Unique secondary display
  • Premium build quality

  • Higher price
  • Slightly lower battery endurance compared to Mi 11i
  • Can get warm under heavy load

Xiaomi Mi 11i

  • More affordable
  • Slightly better battery endurance
  • Excellent performance
  • Vibrant AMOLED display

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Less impressive camera compared to Ultra
  • Build quality not as premium

Display Comparison

Both phones boast excellent AMOLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mi 11 Ultra edges out the Mi 11i with a slightly higher peak brightness (943 nits vs 939 nits), though the difference is minimal. Both have an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, indicating exceptional image quality. The Mi 11 Ultra's secondary display is a unique feature, useful for quick notifications and selfies.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Mi 11 Ultra truly shines. Its triple-camera system, headlined by a massive 108MP main sensor, offers unparalleled detail and versatility. The Mi 11i's camera is still very capable, but lacks the Ultra's zoom capabilities and overall image quality. The Ultra's secondary display also aids in taking selfies.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 888, both phones deliver blazing-fast performance. Expect smooth multitasking, lag-free gaming, and effortless app loading. There's virtually no difference in real-world performance due to the identical chipset and CPU configuration.

Battery Life

The Mi 11i takes a slight lead in battery endurance, boasting a marginally higher endurance rating (96h vs 95h). However, the Mi 11 Ultra's significantly faster charging speeds (67W wired and wireless) more than compensate for this difference. The Mi 11i's 33W charging is considerably slower.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is ideal for photography lovers, power users who demand the best performance, and those who appreciate premium features like a secondary display. The Xiaomi Mi 11i is a great option for users seeking a flagship experience without breaking the bank, prioritizing battery life, and needing a reliable all-around performer.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra worth the extra money?
If photography is a priority and you want the best possible camera experience, then yes. The Mi 11 Ultra's camera is a significant upgrade. However, if you're on a budget, the Mi 11i offers excellent value.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Xiaomi Mi 11i has a slightly better endurance rating, but the Mi 11 Ultra charges much faster, minimizing downtime.