Realme 9 Pro+ vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 9 Pro+ and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. The Realme 9 Pro+ aims for a performance edge with its Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset, while the Redmi Note 11S prioritizes all-day battery life and a more accessible price point. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Realme 9 Pro+ is the clear winner. Its Dimensity 920 chipset offers a significant upgrade over the Redmi Note 11S's Helio G96. However, the Redmi Note 11S remains a strong contender for those seeking extended battery life and a more affordable option.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S Realme 9 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2022, January 262022, February 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, February 09Available. Released 2022, February 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back
Dimensions159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.30 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight179 g (6.31 oz)182 g (6.42 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistant-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)
Size6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, 700 nits, 1000 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Mali-G68 MC4
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 13Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, 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-
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYes-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 58 min60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min (advertised)
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsGraphite Gray, Pearl White, Twilight BlueMidnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition
Models2201117SG, 2201117SI, 2201117SY, 2201117SLRMX3392, RMX3393
Price€ 136.99€ 289.90 / $ 390.00 / ₹ 25,999
SAR1.09 W/kg (head)     1.05 W/kg (body)1.19 W/kg (head)     0.73 W/kg (body)    
SAR EU0.59 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 133h Endurance rating 117h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.4 LUFS (Very good) -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 251201 (v8), 308741 (v9) GeekBench: 1873 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 495096 (v8), 416031 (v9) GeekBench: 2335 (v5.1) GFXBench: 27fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S

  • Faster charging with 33W support and PD3.0/QC3 compatibility.
  • Longer battery life with a 133-hour endurance rating.
  • Potentially better outdoor visibility with 744 nits peak brightness.

  • Less powerful chipset (Helio G96) compared to the Dimensity 920.
  • May struggle with demanding games and applications.

Realme 9 Pro+

  • Significantly faster performance with the Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset.
  • Faster 60W charging, reaching 100% in 44 minutes.
  • More efficient 6nm process for potentially better thermal management.

  • Shorter battery life with a 117-hour endurance rating.
  • Potentially higher price point compared to the Redmi Note 11S.

Display Comparison

Both the Realme 9 Pro+ and Redmi Note 11S feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical for modern LCD/OLED panels. However, the Redmi Note 11S boasts a measured peak brightness of 744 nits, suggesting a potentially more visible screen outdoors in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize similar panel technologies, the Redmi Note 11S’s higher brightness gives it an edge in usability under bright conditions. Details regarding refresh rates and panel type (IPS vs AMOLED) are missing, but given the price points, IPS LCDs are likely on both devices.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, and features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) are absent. Without this information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning suggests the Realme 9 Pro+ may feature a more advanced camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Redmi Note 11S likely focuses on providing a versatile camera experience at a lower price point, potentially sacrificing some image quality in low-light conditions.

Performance

The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The Realme 9 Pro+ utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 920, fabricated on a more efficient 6nm process, featuring a more powerful CPU configuration with 2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 cores alongside 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This contrasts with the Redmi Note 11S’s Mediatek Helio G96 (12nm), which has 2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The 6nm process and faster A78 cores in the Dimensity 920 translate to noticeably improved CPU and GPU performance, making the Realme 9 Pro+ better suited for gaming and demanding applications. The Redmi Note 11S will handle everyday tasks adequately, but will struggle with graphically intensive games at higher settings.

Battery Life

The Realme 9 Pro+ offers 60W wired charging, promising a full charge in 44 minutes (advertised), while the Redmi Note 11S supports 33W charging, taking 58 minutes to reach 100%. This is a significant difference in charging speed. However, the Redmi Note 11S boasts an endurance rating of 133 hours, compared to the Realme 9 Pro+'s 117 hours. This suggests the Redmi Note 11S has a larger battery capacity, offsetting the slower charging speed with longer overall usage time. The more efficient Dimensity 920 in the Realme 9 Pro+ attempts to mitigate the battery life difference, but the Redmi Note 11S still holds an advantage in pure endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S if you need a phone that can reliably last a full day on a single charge and value affordability above all else. It’s ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you prefer a smoother, more responsive experience for demanding apps, gaming, and appreciate significantly faster 60W charging, even if it means slightly reduced battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Helio G96 in the Redmi Note 11S struggle with sustained gaming performance?
Yes, the Mediatek Helio G96, while capable, is a mid-range chipset built on a 12nm process. While it can handle most games, expect to lower graphics settings and potentially experience some frame drops during extended gaming sessions. The 6nm Dimensity 920 in the Realme 9 Pro+ offers significantly better sustained performance and thermal management for gaming.
❓ How much faster is the 60W charging on the Realme 9 Pro+ compared to the 33W charging on the Redmi Note 11S in real-world use?
The Realme 9 Pro+’s 60W charging can top up the battery from 0% to 100% in approximately 44 minutes (advertised), while the Redmi Note 11S takes around 58 minutes with its 33W charging. This translates to roughly 14 minutes saved per full charge cycle, a noticeable convenience for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.
❓ Is the difference in battery endurance (133h vs 117h) noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, a 16-hour difference in endurance rating is significant. The Redmi Note 11S, with its larger battery capacity (implied by the endurance rating), will likely last a full day of moderate to heavy use without needing a recharge, whereas the Realme 9 Pro+ might require a top-up if you're a power user.