Xiaomi Redmi 11 vs Samsung Galaxy A23 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G Contenders
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and faster charging, the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 695 chipset, while not a powerhouse, offers a more refined experience than the Dimensity 700, and the 25W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, the Redmi 11 remains a viable option for those on a tighter budget.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi 11 | Samsung Galaxy A23 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | - | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, MIUI 13 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | - | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray; other colors | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | - | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 170 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 138h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.9 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi 11
- Potentially lower price point
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- 5G connectivity
- Slower 18W charging
- Dimensity 700 may throttle under heavy load
- Display brightness not specified
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- Faster 25W charging
- More efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset
- Higher peak display brightness
- Generally slightly higher price
- Image processing may be overly saturated for some users
- Still utilizes an IPS LCD panel
Display Comparison
Both the Redmi 11 and Galaxy A23 5G feature displays with a 1328:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar visual pop. However, the Galaxy A23 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 508 nits, which will translate to better visibility outdoors compared to the Redmi 11, whose brightness is not specified. While both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, the A23’s higher brightness gives it an edge in real-world usability. The lack of high refresh rate panels on either device is typical for this price bracket, but noticeable for users accustomed to smoother scrolling.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. Given the market positioning, it’s likely both rely on a primary sensor around 50MP. The Galaxy A23 5G’s image processing algorithms, historically, tend to favor more saturated colors, while Xiaomi often aims for a more natural look. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s generally more robust camera software could provide a slight edge. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing gimmick and unlikely to deliver significant image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Redmi 11 utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm), while the Galaxy A23 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The 6nm process node of the Snapdragon 695 generally leads to better power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling under sustained load. Both CPUs feature a similar core configuration – 2x high-performance cores and 6x efficiency cores – but the Snapdragon’s Kryo 660 Gold cores operate at 2.2 GHz, matching the Cortex-A76 in the Redmi 11, while its Silver cores run at 1.7 GHz. This suggests comparable multi-core performance, but the Snapdragon’s architecture may offer a slight advantage in single-core tasks and sustained performance.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 138 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the Galaxy A23 5G’s 25W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Redmi 11’s 18W charging. This translates to a faster 0-100% charge time, reducing downtime and improving convenience. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed on the A23 5G effectively mitigates any potential capacity differences.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 11 if you need a functional 5G phone with a decent display and are primarily focused on basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and are willing to accept slower charging speeds. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A23 5G if you prefer a smoother user experience, slightly better gaming performance, and the convenience of faster 25W charging, even if it means spending a bit more.