Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

The Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G are both compelling mid-range flagships offering powerful performance and impressive features. But which one truly delivers the best overall experience? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mi 11X Pro boasts significantly faster charging and a slightly more powerful chipset. However, the S21 FE offers a brighter display, potentially better camera versatility, and the Samsung ecosystem. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities: speed and value versus a polished experience and brand recognition.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro	Samsung Galaxy S21 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, 7, 8, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	77, 78 Sub6	1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2021, April 23	2022, January 04
Status	Available. Released 2021, May 05	Available. Released 2022, January 07

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5)	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in)	155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	196 g (6.91 oz)	177 g (6.24 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 900 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-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) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2
OS	Android 11, MIUI 12	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	-

Main Camera
Features	Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 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	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	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, NavIC	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	Unspecified
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C, 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
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support)

Battery
Charging	33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4520 mAh	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Celestial Silver, Lunar White, Cosmic Black	White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive
Models	M2012K11I	SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3
Price	About 440 EUR	€ 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990
SAR	0.85 W/kg (head) 0.60 W/kg (body)	0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro

Faster Charging (33W)
Potentially better cooling for sustained performance
Generally more affordable
Excellent performance with Snapdragon 888

No wireless charging
Camera versatility may be limited
Software updates may be less frequent

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Brighter Display
Samsung Ecosystem Integration
Wireless Charging
Potentially better camera versatility (multiple lenses)
Longer Battery Life (claimed)

Slower Charging (25W)
Potentially higher price
Exynos version may have slightly lower performance

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE takes the lead here with a measured peak brightness of 792 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. While the Mi 11X Pro's display is excellent, the S21 FE's contrast ratio (infinite nominal) and overall brightness provide a more immersive viewing experience. Both utilize AMOLED technology, ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

The S21 FE likely offers more camera versatility with its multiple lenses (wide, ultrawide, telephoto – assumed based on typical S21 FE configuration). The Mi 11X Pro is expected to have a strong main camera, but may lack the flexibility of the S21 FE's setup. Image processing is a key differentiator; Samsung's tends to be more saturated, while Xiaomi's aims for more natural colors. Both are capable of recording high-quality video.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 888, but the S21 FE has two CPU versions. Version 1 uses the same CPU as the Mi 11X Pro. Version 2 has a slightly faster Cortex-X1 and A78 cores. In real-world usage, both offer flagship-level performance, handling demanding games and multitasking with ease. However, the Mi 11X Pro's slightly more aggressive cooling might prevent throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The S21 FE claims an impressive endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting superior battery optimization. The Mi 11X Pro's 33W charging is significantly faster than the S21 FE's 25W wired charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. Wireless charging is available on the S21 FE, but not on the Mi 11X Pro.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance, fast charging, and a more budget-friendly price. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a better fit for those who value a vibrant display, Samsung's software and ecosystem, and a more refined overall experience, even if it comes at a slightly higher cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

Samsung generally offers longer software update support than Xiaomi, although both brands have improved in recent years. Expect more timely security patches and Android version upgrades from Samsung.

❓ Is the S21 FE worth the extra cost?

That depends on your priorities. If you value a brighter display, Samsung's ecosystem, and potentially better camera versatility, the S21 FE is worth the premium. If you're primarily focused on performance and fast charging, the Mi 11X Pro offers excellent value.