The ZTE Blade V40 Pro and Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive sub-$300 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a modern experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches to achieving this goal, primarily diverging in their chipset choices and resulting performance characteristics. This comparison will dissect these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a slightly brighter display, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 695, built on a more efficient 6nm process, offers a noticeable advantage in sustained performance and potentially better thermal management, despite the ZTE's faster 65W charging.
| 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, March 01 | 2022, January 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 08 | Available. Released 2022, February 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 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 | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T618 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali G52 MP2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 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@30ps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP | 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 | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | 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, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 50% in 15 min | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5100 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Green, Iridescent White | Graphite Gray, Polar White, Atlantic Blue |
| Models | - | 21091116I, 2201116SG |
| Price | About 350 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 Pro
- Very fast 65W charging
- Potentially lower price point
- Acceptable performance for basic tasks
- Less efficient Unisoc T618 chipset
- Likely lower peak display brightness
- Potentially weaker sustained performance
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
- More efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset
- Brighter 746 nit display
- PD3.0 and QC3 fast charging support
- Slightly higher price
- Charging speed is comparable, not superior
- May not be significantly faster in everyday tasks
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 746 nits. This is a crucial advantage for outdoor visibility, where the ZTE Blade V40 Pro’s brightness remains unspecified. While both likely utilize IPS LCD panels (given the price point), the Redmi’s higher peak brightness translates to a more usable experience in direct sunlight. The Redmi also claims an infinite contrast ratio, typical of IPS displays, but the lack of specific details on the ZTE’s panel makes a direct comparison difficult. Bezels are likely comparable, focusing on maximizing screen real estate within the budget constraints.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specifics are lacking. Without sensor size or aperture information, a detailed comparison is impossible. However, given the market segment, it’s reasonable to assume both rely on primary sensors in the 48-64MP range. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G’s image processing pipeline, benefiting from Qualcomm’s ISP, is likely to deliver more consistent results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The ZTE’s camera performance will likely be adequate for social media sharing, but may lack the dynamic range and detail of the Redmi.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, fabricated on a 6nm process. This process node is more efficient than the 12nm process used for the ZTE Blade V40 Pro’s Unisoc Tiger T618. The Snapdragon 695’s CPU, with 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold cores and 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver cores, offers a slight clock speed advantage over the ZTE’s 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 configuration. More importantly, the 6nm process and Qualcomm’s optimizations should result in better sustained performance and thermal management, crucial for gaming and demanding applications. The Unisoc T618 will handle everyday tasks adequately, but will likely struggle with graphically intensive games or prolonged multitasking.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve a 50% charge in 15 minutes, showcasing the effectiveness of 65W and 67W fast charging technologies. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G further supports PD3.0 and QC3 standards, offering broader compatibility with chargers. Both devices have an endurance rating of 115 hours, suggesting similar battery life despite potentially different capacities. The Redmi’s more efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset may offset any capacity difference, leading to comparable real-world usage. The Redmi also takes 42 minutes to reach 100% charge, while the ZTE’s full charge time is not specified.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE Blade V40 Pro if you prioritize extremely fast charging – its 65W system gets you to 50% in the same 15 minutes as the Redmi, but the overall user experience will be less smooth. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G if you value a more responsive user interface, better sustained performance for gaming and multitasking, and a display that’s easier to see in bright sunlight thanks to its 746 nits peak brightness.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Unisoc Tiger T618 in the ZTE Blade V40 Pro struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
Yes, the Unisoc Tiger T618, while capable of running PUBG Mobile, will likely require significantly reduced graphics settings and may experience frame drops during intense gameplay. The 12nm process and less powerful GPU compared to the Snapdragon 695 limit its sustained performance.
❓ Is the 67W charging on the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G significantly faster than the 65W charging on the ZTE Blade V40 Pro in real-world use?
While both achieve 50% charge in 15 minutes, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G completes a full charge in 42 minutes, while the ZTE’s full charge time is unspecified. This suggests the Redmi maintains a more consistent charging rate throughout the entire process, and the added support for PD3.0 and QC3 offers greater charger compatibility.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 695's 6nm process impact battery life compared to the Unisoc T618's 12nm process?
The 6nm process is significantly more power-efficient than 12nm. This means the Snapdragon 695 consumes less power for the same level of performance, potentially leading to longer battery life, especially during demanding tasks like gaming or video streaming. While both phones have a 115-hour endurance rating, the Redmi likely achieves this with a smaller battery capacity.
