Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) and Samsung Galaxy A53 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a balanced experience, they take different approaches to achieving it. The Redmi Note 11 Pro prioritizes charging speed and raw processing power, while the Galaxy A53 5G focuses on a refined software experience and consistent performance.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and slightly better gaming performance, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) is the stronger choice. Its 67W charging significantly outperforms the Galaxy A53 5G’s 25W, and the Dimensity 920 offers a slight edge in CPU performance. However, Samsung’s software and potentially more consistent long-term support are valuable considerations.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - SM-A536U
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA2, 5, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536U
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 5, 48, 66, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-A536V
Launch
Announced2021, October 282022, March 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, November 01Available. Released 2022, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions163.7 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight207 g (7.30 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Mali-G68
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 12.5Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by JBL-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (market/region dependent)
 Virtual proximity sensingVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 43 min25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5160 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMysterious Black, Forest Green, Timeless Purple, Milky Way BlueBlack, White, Blue, Peach
Models21091116CSM-A536B, SM-A536B/DS, SM-A536U, SM-A536U1, SM-A5360, SM-A536E, SM-A536E/DS, SM-A536V, SM-A536W, SM-A536N, SM-S536DL
PriceAbout 220 EUR$ 151.42 / £ 185.00 / € 169.14
SAR-0.75 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.89 W/kg (head)     1.60 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 113h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 329802 (v8), 379313 (v9) GeekBench: 1891 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China)

  • Significantly faster 67W charging
  • Potentially better CPU performance with Dimensity 920
  • More efficient 6nm chipset

  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • Camera specs are unknown, potentially less refined than Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility
  • Polished and user-friendly One UI software
  • Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for improved camera performance

  • Slower 25W charging
  • Exynos 1280 may throttle under sustained load
  • Potentially less raw CPU power

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 830 nits, making it more legible under direct sunlight. While the Redmi Note 11 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, Samsung’s Super AMOLED panel offers vibrant colors and an 'Infinite' contrast ratio. The lack of LTPO technology on either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on flagship phones, but both likely offer a 120Hz panel. The A53’s brightness advantage is a key differentiator for outdoor users.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are equipped for photo and video, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Redmi Note 11 Pro. The Galaxy A53 5G likely features a more refined image processing pipeline, typical of Samsung’s flagship cameras. Without knowing the Redmi Note 11 Pro’s main sensor size and aperture, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The A53’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is a significant advantage for capturing sharp photos and stable videos, especially in low light. It’s safe to assume both phones include standard features like portrait mode and night mode, but Samsung’s software optimizations will likely provide a more consistent experience.

Performance

Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs with a similar core configuration – 2x Cortex-A78 and 6x Cortex-A55. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro’s Dimensity 920, built on a 6nm process, has a slight clock speed advantage (2.5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz) and a more efficient node compared to the Galaxy A53 5G’s 5nm Exynos 1280. This translates to potentially better sustained performance under load, though real-world differences may be minimal. The Dimensity 920’s Mali-G68 MC4 GPU is also a strong performer, potentially offering a smoother gaming experience. The A53’s Exynos 1280 is a capable chip, but the 6nm process of the Dimensity 920 suggests better thermal efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Redmi Note 11 Pro’s 67W wired charging can fully charge the device in just 43 minutes, while the Galaxy A53 5G’s 25W charging is considerably slower. This difference is substantial for users who prioritize quick top-ups. While battery capacity isn’t specified for the Redmi Note 11 Pro, the faster charging mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) if you need blazing-fast charging, prioritize raw CPU performance for demanding apps, and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G if you prefer a polished software experience with guaranteed updates, value a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and prioritize a brand with a strong reputation for long-term support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A53 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 1280 is a capable chip, but it's known to exhibit some throttling under sustained heavy loads like extended gaming. While it won't shut down, you may experience frame rate drops after 30-45 minutes of intense gameplay. The Redmi Note 11 Pro’s Dimensity 920, with its 6nm process, is likely to manage heat more effectively.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range are more of a marketing feature than a genuinely useful tool. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. You're better off using the main camera and cropping in for close-up shots.
❓ Can the Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) run PUBG Mobile at 90fps?
The Dimensity 920 is powerful enough to handle PUBG Mobile at high settings, but achieving a consistent 90fps will depend on the phone’s thermal management and the specific game settings. It’s likely capable of 60fps with ease, and may reach 90fps with optimized settings and good cooling.
❓ How does Xiaomi's MIUI software compare to Samsung's One UI in terms of updates and bloatware?
Samsung’s One UI generally offers a cleaner software experience with fewer pre-installed apps (bloatware) and a more consistent update schedule. Xiaomi’s MIUI is feature-rich but often criticized for its aggressive ad recommendations and occasional software bugs. Samsung typically provides longer software support for its A-series devices.