Google Pixel 6a vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 6a is the superior choice. Its Google Tensor chip provides significantly faster performance and a smoother user experience, coupled with exceptional camera capabilities. While the Redmi Note 11 boasts impressive battery endurance, the Pixel 6a’s overall refinement and software support justify the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 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) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, January 26 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 09 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.30 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, 700 nits, 1000 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, HyperOS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 | UFS 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 |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 60 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Graphite Gray, Twilight Blue, Star Blue | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | 2201117TG, 2201117TI, 2201117TY, 2201117TL | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | £ 95.00 / € 97.99 / ₹ 11,950 | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.93 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 126h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.8 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 228044 (v8), 244526 (v9) GeekBench: 1662 (v5.1) GFXBench: 6.8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
- Significantly faster performance with Google Tensor chip
- Superior camera quality and image processing
- Guaranteed software updates and support from Google
- Shorter battery life compared to Redmi Note 11
- Slower charging speed (18W)
Google Pixel 6a
- Exceptional battery endurance (126h rating)
- Bright display (736 nits)
- Faster charging (33W)
- Less powerful Snapdragon 680 chipset
- Inferior camera performance compared to Pixel 6a
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a’s display significantly outshines the Redmi Note 11 in terms of brightness, reaching 876 nits compared to the Redmi Note 11’s 736 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical for OLED panels. However, the Redmi Note 11’s panel technology isn’t specified, while the Pixel 6a benefits from Google’s color calibration expertise, likely resulting in more accurate color reproduction. The Pixel 6a’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for media consumption and general usability.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the Pixel 6a is expected to deliver a far superior camera experience. Google’s computational photography prowess, powered by the Tensor chip, excels in dynamic range, low-light performance, and image processing. The Redmi Note 11’s camera specifications are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but given its price point, it likely relies more on software enhancements than advanced hardware. The Pixel 6a’s image processing algorithms are a key differentiator, consistently producing high-quality images with minimal effort. The absence of OIS details for the Redmi Note 11 suggests it may struggle with handheld video recording in low light.
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 custom SoC designed for AI and machine learning tasks, offering a significant leap in processing power compared to the Redmi Note 11’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm). The Tensor’s octa-core configuration, featuring 2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 cores, provides a noticeable advantage in demanding applications and multitasking. While the Snapdragon 680 is adequate for everyday tasks, the Pixel 6a will handle graphically intensive games and complex apps with greater ease. The 5nm fabrication process of the Tensor also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 126 hours, significantly exceeding the Pixel 6a’s 94 hours. This difference is primarily due to the more efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset and potentially a larger battery capacity (not specified). However, the Pixel 6a compensates with faster charging – 33W wired for the Redmi Note 11 versus 18W for the Pixel 6a. While the Redmi Note 11 takes 60 minutes to reach 100%, the Pixel 6a’s slower charging may require more time. The Redmi Note 11 is the clear winner for users who prioritize minimizing charging frequency, but the Pixel 6a’s charging speed is still respectable.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 if you prioritize all-day (and potentially multi-day) battery life above all else, and your usage primarily revolves around basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you value performance, a superior camera experience, and timely software updates, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance and accepting slower charging speeds.