iPhone 11 or Xiaomi Mi 11: an objective comparison of flagships 2019 and 2021

Introduction: Two Approaches to Flagship Smartphones

The choice between Apple’s iPhone 11 and Xiaomi’s Mi 11 is not just a technical comparison, but a clash of two philosophies: Apple’s time-tested ecosystem approach with optimized hardware and long-term software support; Xiaomi’s aggressive innovation, offering top-end specs at 30-40% below the competition; both remain relevant even in 2026, but are suitable for completely different categories of users.

The main paradox is that the Mi 11 is two years younger (released January 2021 vs September 2019 for the iPhone 11), but it can be bought cheaper — sometimes half the price of an iPhone in the secondary market. This makes the comparison especially interesting: should we overpay for the brand and ecosystem, or should we save money and get more modern hardware? In this guide, we will discuss 10 key aspects that will help make an informed decision.

It is important to understand that both devices are no longer current flagships of their brands, but remain in demand in the market of used and refurbished technology. iPhone 11 still receives iOS updates (up to iOS 17), and Mi 11 is the last major update MIUI 14 based on Android 13. This means that both devices will last at least 2-3 years without critical software problems.

1.Performance: A13 Bionic vs Snapdragon 888

On paper, the Xiaomi Mi 11 should win this round unconditionally: its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) chipset is 20% more powerful than the Apple A13 Bionic (7nm) in synthetic tests. In Geekbench 5, the gap reaches 30% in favor of Snapdragon: 1140 vs 850 points in single-threaded mode. But the real state of affairs is more complicated - this is where software optimization comes into play.

In everyday tasks, like launching social networks, messengers, cameras, you won't notice the difference, but in resource-intensive scenarios, you get nuanced.

• 🎮 Games: Mi 11 confidently pulls Genshin Impact at maximum settings (60) FPS), While the iPhone 11 starts to slow down during long sessions, in Call of Duty Mobile, the iPhone shows a more stable device. FPS Best Metal Optimizations API.
• 📱 Multitasking: iOS better manages background processes – apps on iPhone 11 They're less likely to reboot when they come back. 11 s 8/128 The GB version becomes a noticeable problem after 10-15 open tabs in Chrome.
• 🔥 Overheating: Snapdragon 888 warms up more - during hourly gaming sessions, the temperature of the body Mi 11 reach 45°C (against) 40°C in iPhones. This leads to trottling and a drop in performance on the iPhone. 15-20%.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use your smartphone for video editing (like in LumaFusion or CapCut), the iPhone 11 will do better thanks to the hardware acceleration of ProRes codecs. 4K-Video takes 40% more time.

💡

For most users, the performance difference will be subtle, and the choice should be made based on the ecosystem (iOS vs Android) and priorities: games/multi-tasking – Mi 11, stability/durability – iPhone 11.

2.Screen: 60Hz vs 120Hz - should you overpay?

Here's Xiaomi Mi. 11 It definitely gets ahead of you thanks AMOLED-supportive 120 Hz and resolution 3200×1440. For comparison: the iPhone 11 — IPS-matrix 1792×828 fixed 60 The difference is visible to the naked eye:

• 🎨 Color rendering: AMOLED The Mi 11 offers a deeper black (infinite contrast) and a wider palette. DCI-P3 (100% vs 95% on an iPhone. HDR-content on Netflix or YouTube.
• 🔄 Smoothness: 120Hz make the interface MIUI It's incredibly responsive, especially when scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, and on the iPhone 11, after the Mi 11, the interface seems sticky".
• ☀️ Brightness: The maximum brightness of the Mi 11 is 1500 nits (versus 625 for the iPhone), which means better readability in the sun, but also faster battery discharge when auto-brightness is observed.

But IPS-iPhone 11 screen has two key advantages:

1. Natural color reproduction without excessive saturation (important for photographers).
2. No flickering at low brightness (AMOLED in the Mi 11 uses PWM at 480Hz, which can cause eye fatigue in sensitive users).

⚠️ Note: The Mi 11 screen is prone to pixel burnout when static elements (such as navigation bars) are displayed for a long time. After 2 years of active use, barely noticeable "shadow" traces may appear. iPhone 11 does not have this problem.

3.Camera: Apple's algorithms vs Xiaomi's megapixels

On paper, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is back in the lead: the core module 108 MP (f/1.85) vs. the iPhone's 12 MP (f/1.8). But in real life, it's not so clear. Apple traditionally relies on software processing, while Xiaomi relies on hardware specifications.

Critical: iPhone 11 shoots 4K@60fps video with Dolby Vision HDR support, while Mi 11 is limited to 4K@30fps without HDR. This makes iPhone the only choice for video bloggers.

• 📸 Automatic photo: iPhone 11 better cope with white balance and exposure. Mi 11 often redefines the frame in sunny weather.
• 🌃 Night scenes: Mi 11 pulls more detail out of shadows but adds noise. iPhone 11 gives a cleaner picture, but with less detail.
• 🎥 Video: Stabilization on iPhone 11 works better even without a gimbal. Mi 11 shows micro-shaking when walking.

💡

To improve the quality of photos on Xiaomi Mi 11, turn off the mode "AI-It's going to reduce overwork and make the colors more natural.

4. Battery and charging: who lives longer?

The Xiaomi Mi 11 is back in front of the battery, 4600 mAh versus 3,110 mAh on the iPhone, but real life depends on optimization:

• 🔋 Autonomy: Mi 11: 6-7 screen-clock (120 Hz? 8-9 hours (60 Hz. iPhone. 11: 5-6 screen, but with a more predictable level of.
• ⚡ Fast charging: Mi 11: 55W (0-100% post 45 minute), 50W wireless. 11: 18W (0-50% post 30 minute), 7.5W wireless.
• 🔄 Durability: Battery in the iPhone 11 It degrades more slowly thanks to controlling charging cycles in iOS. 2 yearly capacity 11 fall 20-25%, iPhone has a 15-18%.

⚠️ Note: If you use wireless charging frequently, the Xiaomi Mi 11 battery wears out faster due to high temperatures. 50W. To extend the service life, limit the power to 30W in settings (Battery) → Charging modes).

Practical test (YouTube, 50% brightness, Wi-Fi):

• Mi 11 (120 Hz): 5 hours 12 minutes.
• Mi 11 (60 Hz): 7 hours 45 minutes.
• iPhone 11: 6 hours 30 minutes.

Turn off 120Hz in screen settings |Use dark theme |Use up to 80% charge (enable limit in MIUI Battery)|Disable background activity of unnecessary apps |Avoid extreme temperatures (below 0°C and above 35°C)

-->

5. Design and ergonomics: glass vs aluminum

Both smartphones are made in a premium style, but with different accents:

• 🏆 iPhone 11: Aluminum case with matte texture (no slides, no prints) Oleophobic glass back panel. Weight: 194g, thickness: 8.3mm Colors: black, green, yellow, purple, red, white.

Key differences in use:

1. Containment: iPhone 11 is in hand more confident thanks to matte aluminum. Mi 11 requires a case - without it, the smartphone slips out.
2. Durability: The Mi 11's glass back panel cracks when it falls from a meter to asphalt. The iPhone 11 has a better chance of surviving thanks to an aluminum frame.

6.Software: iOS vs MIUI

Here the comparison comes down to user preferences. iOS 17 on iPhone 11 suggests:

• 🔒 A closed ecosystem with better privacy (e.g. permissions for album photos).
• 📱 Long-term support – updates are coming out 5-6 years.
• 🎯 Optimization – even after 4 years there are no lags.
• ❌ Limitations: no sideloading, complex customization.

MIUI 14 on Xiaomi Mi 11:

• 🛠️ Deep customization – you can change everything from icons to animations.
• 🤖 Open Android – sideloading, alternative launchers, root.
• 🗑️ Advertising and Blaatware – even in global firmware there are unnecessary Xiaomi services.
• ⏳ End of Updates - The Last Version MIUI already established.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Mi 11 with global firmware may block access to banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) due to lack of Google certification.

💡

To remove ads in MIUI, go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup → Settings → Disable MIUI recommendations. This will remove banners from the settings menu.

7. Price and market used: where is more profitable?

As of June 2026, prices in the secondary market are as follows:

What affects the price:

• 📱 iPhone 11: The presence of the original box + +10% Residual battery capacity. <85%: -15% Unlocked (not tied to operator): +20%.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 11: Global firmware (not Chinese): +15% Ceramic version: +30% of the price, check/guarantee: +25%.

⚠️ Note: When buying an iPhone 11 b/y, be sure to check the activation status through the Apple website (checkcoverage.apple.com). If the smartphone is blacklisted (Lost Mode), it will not be activated after reset.

💡

Xiaomi Mi 11 cheaply 30-50%, Consider the additional costs: the cover (1000₽), shield-glass (800₽), Possible battery repairs in a year (3000₽). The difference is, TCO (total cost of ownership) reduced to 20%.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions