Choosing between the iPhone 11 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro in 2026 is not just a technical comparison, but a confrontation between two philosophies: Apple’s premium ecosystem and Xiaomi’s democratic power. Both smartphones released in 2019 are still relevant in the secondary market, but are suitable for completely different categories of users.
iPhone 11
A13 Bionic
iOS
Redmi Note 8 Pro
Mediatek Helio G90T
MIUI
Spoiler: If you want a smartphone for photography and long-term support, take the iPhone 11. If the priority is gameplay, autonomy and a budget of up to 15,000 rubles, the Redmi Note 8 Pro will be the best choice. But that's just the tip of the iceberg: you'll be waiting for performance tests, comparing cameras in real conditions and calculating the cost of ownership for 3 years.
1. Display: AMOLED vs IPS - which is more comfortable for the eyes?
The iPhone 11 and Redmi Note 8 Pro screens are dramatically different not only in technology but also in perception. Apple uses IPS LCD with a resolution of 1792×828 (326 ppi), while Xiaomi has equipped its flagship IPS LCD with a resolution of 2340×1080 (395 ppi). On paper, Redmi beats, but in reality it is more complicated.
The iPhone 11 display has a more natural color reproduction (wide color gamut of DCI-P3) and better brightness (up to 625 nits versus 500 nits of a competitor).This means that the iPhone screen will read better in the sun. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro offers higher pixel density and HDR10 support, which is important for watching videos. In addition, Xiaomi has a Sunlight Display 2.0 read mode that automatically adjusts contrast to lighting.
- 📱 iPhone 11: better color reproduction, higher brightness, but lower pixel density.
- 🌈 Redmi Note 8 Pro: a sharper image, HDR, But you can see worse in the sun.
- 🔄 Both screens — IPS, Black is not a perfect color (unlike the color of the black). AMOLED).
The critical point: if you watch videos on YouTube or Netflix often, the Redmi Note 8 Pro will give a richer picture thanks to HDR. But for photographers and designers, the color accuracy of the iPhone 11 will be preferable.
2.Performance: A13 Bionic vs Helio G90T - who's faster in 2026?
At the time of its 2019 release, Apple’s A13 Bionic was out of competition, outperforming even Qualcomm’s flagship chips. But 5 years have passed — how is it now? — In synthetic tests (Geekbench 6, AnTuTu), the iPhone 11 still beats the Redmi Note 8 Pro by 30-40% in single-threaded tasks and 15-20% in multithreaded ones.
The main advantage of the iPhone 11 is the optimization of iOS. Even today, the iPhone runs smoothly with iOS 17, while the Redmi Note 8 Pro on MIUI 14 (Android 12) begins to slow down with active multitasking. Xiaomi is better at games: the Helio G90T has a specialized game processor Mali-G76 MC4, which in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact gives 10-15 FPS more than the A13 Bionic.
| Parameter | iPhone 11 (A13 Bionic) | Redmi Note 8 Pro (Helio G90T) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | ~1500 | ~500 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | ~3800 | ~1700 |
| AnTuTu 10 | ~500 000 | ~280 000 |
| Support for iOS/Android | Until 2026 | It's over in 2023. |
⚠️ Note: If you plan to use your smartphone for longer than 2 years, the iPhone 11 will be more relevant due to the long support for updates. Redmi Note 8 Pro will not receive new versions of Android, which poses security risks.
3. Camera: Dual module vs quadrocamera - who shoots better?
Here, the iPhone 11 demonstrates its main advantage: despite only two modules (12 MP main + 12 MP ultra-wide), it bypasses the Redmi Note 8 Pro with its quadrocamera (64 MP main + 8 MP ultra-wide + 2 MP macro + 2 MP depth) for most parameters. It's all about image processing: Apple uses an advanced Smart HDR and neural engine to improve details.
In real-life tests:
Daylight: The iPhone 11 gives more natural colors and better detail, especially in shadows. The Redmi Note 8 Pro twitches colors (especially green and red).
Low light: The iPhone handles noise better with Night Mode, while Redmi requires manual exposure settings.
- Video: iPhone 11 shoots 4K@60fps with stabilization, and Redmi Note 8 Pro is limited to 4K@30fps without stabilization.
- 📸 iPhone 11: Best processing, natural colors, great video.
- 🎥 Redmi Note 8 Pro: More Megapixels, but Worse Software Processing.
- 🔍 Macro camera at Redmi - marketing ploy: 2 MP give poor quality.
Examples of photos from both smartphones
4. Battery and autonomy: who will live longer without an outlet?
The Redmi Note 8 Pro is a strong battery leader, with 4,500 mAh versus 3110 mAh for the iPhone 11, but the actual autonomy depends not only on capacity, but also on software optimization.
Video playback (Wi-Fi, 50% brightness): Redmi - 18 hours, iPhone - 13 hours.
Games (PUBG Mobile, max settings): Redmi - 6.5 hours, iPhone - 5 hours.
Standby mode (4G): Redmi loses ~2% per night, iPhone loses ~1%.
But there's a nuance: iPhone 11 Supports fast charging (up to) 50% post 30 minute 18The adapter, while the Redmi Note 8 Pro has 18It is charging out of the box, but in practice it charges more slowly because of a less efficient controller. 20-30%.
⚠️ Note: If you are buying an iPhone 11 hand, be sure to check the status of the battery through Settings → Battery. → Battery condition. 85% autonomy falls 30-40%. The Redmi Note. 8 Similar information can be obtained through the engineering menu (##4636##).
☑️ How to check the battery before buying
5. Design and ergonomics: glass vs plastic, Face ID vs fingerprint scanner
The iPhone 11 is made in an aluminum and glass case (Gorilla Glass front and rear), while the Redmi Note 8 Pro has a plastic back panel with a simulated glass.
The iPhone looks more premium, but slides in the hands and requires a case.
Redmi is less stamped, not as cold to the touch, but collects fingerprints.
In terms of ergonomics, the Redmi Note 8 Pro wins by:
- 3.5 mm connector (the iPhone 11 does not have it).
- Side button fingerprint scanner (more convenient than Face ID in a mask).
- Less weight (200 g against 194 g in iPhone).
But the Face ID on the iPhone 11 is faster and more reliable than the fingerprint scanner on Xiaomi, especially when wet hands. The iPhone also has better dust protection (IP68 vs. IP53 on Redmi), which is important for active use.
💡
If you often wear a smartphone without a case, the Redmi Note 8 Pro will be more practical: the plastic will not break when falling, while the glass of the iPhone 11 will crack even from a height of 50 cm.
Price and cost of ownership: which is more profitable for 3 years?
In the secondary market in 2026, the prices for these models vary greatly:
- iPhone 11 (64 GB) – 25,000–35,000 ₽.
- Redmi Note 8 Pro (6/128 GB) — 12 000–18 000 ₽.
However, the real cost of ownership includes:
Updates: iPhone 11 will receive updates until 2026, Redmi Note 8 Pro – no longer.
2 Repair: Replacing the screen on the iPhone costs 15,000–20,000 ₽, Redmi has 5,000 to 8,000. ₽.
3. Accessories: Wireless charging, original cables for the iPhone are 2-3 times more expensive.
Calculate the costs for 3 years (including screen repair and purchase of a cover / glass):
| Item of expenditure | iPhone 11 | Redmi Note 8 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| The cost of a smartphone (2026) | 30 000 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ |
| Screen repairs | 18 000 ₽ | 7 000 ₽ |
| Accessories (case, glass, charging) | 5 000 ₽ | 2 000 ₽ |
| Total in 3 years | 53 000 ₽ | 24 000 ₽ |
💡
Despite the high initial price, the iPhone 11 can be resold in 3 years ~15 000 ₽, The Redmi Note 8 Pro will cost less than $5,000. ₽. This reduces the difference in the cost of ownership to ~10 000 ₽.
7. Which smartphone is for: checklist by target audience
To finally decide, answer the questions:
- 📱 You need a smartphone for you:
- 💰 Your budget:
- 🔄 How often do you change your smartphones?