Google Pixel 6a vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro: A Detailed Comparison

The Google Pixel 6a and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Pixel 6a brings Google’s renowned computational photography and the Tensor chip to a more accessible price point, while the Redmi Note 11 Pro focuses on delivering a vibrant display, rapid charging, and solid all-around performance. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Google Pixel 6a emerges as the stronger choice. While the Redmi Note 11 Pro boasts faster charging and a slightly longer endurance rating, the Pixel 6a’s superior processor and image processing capabilities provide a smoother, more refined user experience and significantly better camera performance.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Google Pixel 6a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada)
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada)
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International)
Launch
Announced2022, January 262022, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, February 18Available. Released 2022, July 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in)152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight202 g (7.13 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)OLED, HDR
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 13Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 51% in 15 min18W wired, PD3.0
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4410 mAh
Misc
ColorsGraphite Gray (Stealth Black), Polar White (Phantom White), Star BlueChalk, Charcoal, Sage
Models2201116TG, 2201116TIGX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L
Price€ 121.46 / £ 169.57$ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999
SAR1.08 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.58 W/kg (head)     0.86 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 100h Endurance rating 94h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.4 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 261309 (v8), 319093 (v9) GeekBench: 1729 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro

  • Superior processor performance with Google Tensor
  • Exceptional camera quality and image processing
  • Clean and optimized software experience

  • Slower charging speed (18W)
  • Slightly lower battery endurance rating

Google Pixel 6a

  • Rapid 67W wired charging
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Longer battery endurance rating

  • Less powerful processor
  • Inferior camera performance compared to Pixel 6a

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6a’s display significantly outshines the Redmi Note 11 Pro in terms of brightness, reaching 876 nits compared to the Redmi’s 746 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, but the Pixel 6a’s higher peak brightness provides a more dynamic and vibrant viewing experience. While both are likely OLED panels, the Pixel 6a benefits from Google’s color calibration expertise, likely resulting in more accurate colors. The Redmi Note 11 Pro’s larger size may appeal to some, but the Pixel 6a’s superior brightness and color accuracy give it the edge.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6a’s camera system is a standout feature, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip enables advanced image processing capabilities, including HDR+, Night Sight, and Magic Eraser. These features significantly enhance image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Redmi Note 11 Pro’s camera is likely competent, but it lacks the software optimization and processing power of the Pixel 6a. The Pixel 6a’s image processing will likely result in more natural-looking photos with better dynamic range and detail. Ignoring the likely present 2MP macro sensors on both devices, the Pixel 6a’s overall camera experience is expected to be superior.

Performance

The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Google Pixel 6a’s Google Tensor chip, built on a 5nm process, is a clear upgrade over the Redmi Note 11 Pro’s MediaTek Helio G96 (12nm). The Tensor’s octa-core configuration, featuring Cortex-X1 cores clocked at 2.80 GHz, delivers significantly faster processing speeds than the Helio G96’s Cortex-A76 cores at 2.05 GHz. This difference is noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, and app loading times. The Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip also includes dedicated machine learning cores, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. While the Redmi Note 11 Pro is capable for everyday tasks, the Pixel 6a offers a smoother and more responsive experience.

Battery Life

Both phones offer respectable battery life, with the Redmi Note 11 Pro achieving an endurance rating of 100 hours and the Pixel 6a at 94 hours. However, the charging speeds differ dramatically. The Redmi Note 11 Pro supports 67W wired charging, capable of reaching 51% charge in just 15 minutes, while the Pixel 6a is limited to 18W charging. This means the Redmi Note 11 Pro can be topped up much faster. Despite the slightly lower endurance rating, the Redmi Note 11 Pro’s significantly faster charging mitigates battery anxiety. However, the Pixel 6a’s more efficient Tensor chip may offset some of the battery capacity difference in real-world usage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro if you prioritize rapid 67W charging and extended battery life, and frequently consume media where a bright display is crucial. You’ll also appreciate the lower price point. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you value a clean software experience, exceptional camera quality powered by Google’s Tensor chip, and long-term software support, even if it means sacrificing charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G96 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Helio G96 is a mid-range chipset and will likely require significant graphics settings reductions to achieve playable frame rates in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact. Expect noticeable frame drops and potential thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip offers a much smoother gaming experience.
❓ How does Google’s software update commitment compare between the Pixel 6a and the Redmi Note 11 Pro?
Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 6a, ensuring long-term software support and security. Xiaomi’s update policy for the Redmi Note 11 Pro is typically shorter, usually around 2 years of major Android updates and 3-4 years of security patches. This makes the Pixel 6a a better choice for users who prioritize long-term software support.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 6a slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
While 18W charging is considerably slower than the Redmi Note 11 Pro’s 67W, it’s still adequate for overnight charging. A full charge will take around 2-3 hours. However, users accustomed to fast charging may find the slower charging speed inconvenient, especially if they frequently need to top up their battery quickly.