The ZTE Blade V40 Design and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the crowded budget 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver connectivity and features at an accessible price point, they diverge significantly in their core hardware choices, particularly in chipset and charging technology. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing fast charging and a brighter display, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is the clear winner. Its 67W charging capability and 746 nit peak brightness offer a tangible advantage over the ZTE Blade V40 Design’s 22.5W charging and unspecified display brightness. However, the Unisoc chip in the ZTE offers a competitive baseline for everyday tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 21 | 2022, January 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, January 10 | Available. Released 2022, February 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163 x 74 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) | 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 183.4 g (6.46 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, MyOS 12 | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sky Blue, Starry Black | Graphite Gray, Polar White, Atlantic Blue |
| Models | 8046 | 21091116I, 2201116SG |
| Price | About 200 EUR | € 120.33 / $ 230.00 / £ 319.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 115h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 288914 (v8), 382902 (v9)
GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Blade V40 Design
- Potentially lower price point
- Functional 5G connectivity
- Unisoc T616 is adequate for basic tasks
- Slow 22.5W charging
- Likely inferior display brightness
- Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 695
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
- 67W fast charging with PD3.0/QC3
- Brighter 746 nit display
- More powerful Snapdragon 695 5G chipset
- Potentially higher price
- May include bloatware
- Camera quality dependent on sensor choice
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 746 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the ZTE Blade V40 Design’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume it falls short of this peak brightness. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical IPS panel, offering good color reproduction, but lacking the true blacks of OLED technology. The absence of refresh rate information for the ZTE Blade V40 Design suggests a standard 60Hz panel, while the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is likely to offer a 90Hz or 120Hz option, resulting in smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s positioning, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system with a larger main sensor and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS). The ZTE Blade V40 Design, targeting a lower price point, likely compromises on camera quality. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on many devices in this segment is often a marketing tactic rather than a genuine benefit, and its performance is unlikely to be significant on either device.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the ZTE Blade V40 Design utilizes the Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm), while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). The Snapdragon 695, built on a smaller 6nm process, offers superior power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 12nm Unisoc T616. This means the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is less likely to throttle under sustained load. The Snapdragon 695’s CPU, with 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold cores, provides a performance edge over the ZTE’s 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 cores. While both are octa-core CPUs, the architectural differences and process node advantage favor Qualcomm. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is likely to handle multitasking and graphically intensive applications more smoothly.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 115 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing charging capabilities. However, the charging experience is where the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G shines. Its 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC3, can charge the phone to 50% in just 15 minutes and fully charge it in 42 minutes. The ZTE Blade V40 Design’s 22.5W charging is significantly slower, requiring considerably more time to reach a full charge. This difference is crucial for users who value convenience and quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Blade V40 Design if you need a functional 5G smartphone with a focus on basic usability and are on a very tight budget, and aren't concerned with rapid charging or demanding applications. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G if you prioritize faster charging speeds, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more powerful chipset capable of handling more intensive tasks and future software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 695 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G powerful enough for demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 695 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to maintain a stable frame rate. The 6nm process and improved CPU architecture offer a better gaming experience than the Unisoc T616, but it's not a flagship-level gaming chip.
❓ How much faster is the 67W charging on the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G compared to the 22.5W charging on the ZTE Blade V40 Design in real-world use?
The 67W charging on the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G can fully charge the device in approximately 42 minutes, while the 22.5W charging on the ZTE Blade V40 Design will likely take well over 1.5 to 2 hours. This means you can get a significant charge boost in a short amount of time with the Redmi, making it ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
❓ Does the Unisoc Tiger T616 in the ZTE Blade V40 Design support 5G carrier aggregation?
While the Unisoc Tiger T616 supports 5G, specific details regarding carrier aggregation support are limited. Carrier aggregation combines multiple 5G channels for faster data speeds, and its absence could result in slower 5G performance in certain areas. The Snapdragon 695 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G generally offers broader carrier aggregation support.
