Xiaomi Mi 11 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi Mi 11 and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship smartphone space. The Mi 11, released in early 2021, offered top-tier specs at a competitive price. The Pixel 6 Pro, arriving later that year, prioritized Google’s AI-driven software and camera experience. Now, with price drops on the Mi 11, the competition is renewed – but which phone offers the best experience in 2024?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Google Pixel 6 Pro emerges as the better choice. While the Mi 11 boasts faster charging and a comparable chipset, the Pixel 6 Pro’s superior display brightness, Google’s computational photography, and ongoing software support provide a more refined and future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi 11 Google Pixel 6 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2020, December 28. Released 2021, January 012021, October 19
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.3 x 74.6 x 8.1 mm (Glass) / 8.6 mm (Leather)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight196 g (Glass) / 194 g (Leather) (6.84 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single-11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensingUltra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging55W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 45 min 50W wireless, 100% in 53 min 10W reverse wireless23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsHorizon Blue, Cloud White, Midnight Gray, Special Edition Blue, Gold, VioletCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsM2011K2C, M2011K2GGLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 330 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
SAR0.95 W/kg (head)     0.65 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.56 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 89h Endurance rating 84h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.2 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 668722 (v8) GeekBench: 3489 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi 11

  • Significantly faster wired and wireless charging
  • Competitive price point (especially now)
  • Customizable MIUI software

  • Less impressive display brightness
  • Camera performance trails the Pixel 6 Pro
  • MIUI can be bloated with pre-installed apps

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Brighter, more vibrant display
  • Exceptional camera performance with Google’s computational photography
  • Clean Android software with guaranteed updates

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Can be more expensive than the Mi 11
  • Tensor chip may not match Snapdragon in raw GPU power

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Pixel 6 Pro significantly outshines the Mi 11 with a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, making it far more usable in direct sunlight. While both likely employ AMOLED technology, the Pixel 6 Pro’s higher brightness and Google’s display calibration offer a more visually impactful experience. The Mi 11’s display, while excellent, lacks the outdoor visibility of its competitor.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is a clear differentiator. While both phones offer capable photo and video recording, Google’s computational photography prowess, powered by the Tensor chip, delivers superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided, the Pixel 6 Pro’s software algorithms consistently outperform the Mi 11’s in side-by-side comparisons. The Mi 11’s camera is still very good, but it lacks the Pixel’s consistent, ‘set it and forget it’ quality.

Performance

Both the Mi 11 and Pixel 6 Pro utilize 5nm fabrication processes, but the chipsets differ significantly. The Mi 11’s Snapdragon 888 features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, while the Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor uses a similar Cortex-X1 core at 2.80 GHz. The Pixel 6 Pro’s CPU configuration differs slightly with 2x Cortex-X1, 2x Cortex-A76, and 4x Cortex-A55, compared to the Mi 11’s 1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, and 4x Cortex-A55. In real-world usage, the Tensor chip prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. While the Snapdragon 888 is a potent performer, the Tensor’s specialized cores give the Pixel 6 Pro an edge in Google’s ecosystem. Thermal management is a potential concern for both, but the Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle more aggressively under sustained load.

Battery Life

The Mi 11 boasts an endurance rating of 89 hours, slightly exceeding the Pixel 6 Pro’s 84 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Mi 11’s charging speeds are dramatically faster – 55W wired (45 minutes to 100%) and 50W wireless (53 minutes to 100%) – compared to the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired (50% in 30 minutes) and 23W wireless. This means the Mi 11 can quickly recover from battery drain, even if its overall endurance is marginally better. The Pixel 6 Pro’s slower charging is a significant drawback for users who prioritize convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 if you prioritize blazing-fast charging speeds (55W wired, 50W wireless) and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software. It’s ideal for power users who frequently top up their phones and appreciate a more customizable interface. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you value a brighter, more vibrant display, exceptional camera performance powered by Google’s Tensor chip, and a clean, guaranteed software experience with timely updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11 suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate considerable heat under sustained load, leading to noticeable throttling. While the Mi 11 has cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings will likely result in reduced performance over time. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip, while not immune to heat, generally manages thermals more efficiently in comparable scenarios.
❓ How does Google’s software support compare between the Pixel 6 Pro and the Xiaomi Mi 11?
Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security patches for the Pixel 6 Pro. Xiaomi’s software support for the Mi 11 is less consistent and typically shorter, with fewer guaranteed updates. This means the Pixel 6 Pro will remain secure and feature-rich for a longer period.
❓ Is the 23W charging on the Pixel 6 Pro slow compared to other flagship phones?
Yes, 23W is relatively slow compared to the 65W+ charging offered by many competitors, including the Mi 11’s 55W wired charging. While it’s sufficient for overnight charging, users accustomed to faster charging solutions will find the Pixel 6 Pro’s charging speed a significant inconvenience.