What does the letter “S” in the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note: technical differences and whether to buy

If you’ve ever compared Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphones, you’ve probably noticed that some models have a mysterious “S” in their name – for example, the Redmi Note 10S or Redmi Note 12S. At first glance, this may seem like a marketing ploy, but in fact the letter “S” hides specific technical improvements that affect the performance, cameras and even the price of the device.

In this article, we will go into detail about what the “S” in the Redmi Note lineup means, how such models differ from the “regular” versions (for example, the Redmi Note 10 vs. Redmi Note 10S), and whether to overpay for these improvements, analyze real-world performance tests, compare performance characteristics and show which “pitfalls” can hide behind the letter “S”.

Spoiler: The S version doesn't always pay the price, but in some cases -- for gamers or photography enthusiasts, for example -- the difference can be critical. Let's get this straight.

What does the “S” in the Xiaomi Redmi Note name mean?

The “S” in the Redmi Note line is a “special” or “enhanced”** version of the base model, traditionally used by Xiaomi to refer to upgrades that do not require a complete generation change (for example, switching from the Redmi Note 10 to the Redmi Note 11).

• 🔧 More powerful processor (often a different chipset with better energy efficiency).
• 📸 Improved cameras (e.g., a main sensor with higher resolution or better aperture).
• 🔋 Fast charging (sometimes with increased power adapter included).
• 🎮 Optimizations for gaming (e.g., improved cooling or support for high screen refresh rates).

It’s important to understand that the “S” versions aren’t always better than the base ones. Sometimes improvements only affect one aspect (e.g., only the processor or only the camera), and the rest of the specs remain identical. For example, the Redmi Note 11S received a more powerful MediaTek Helio G96 chipset compared to the Snapdragon 680 in the base Redmi Note 11, but the screen, battery and design remained the same.

Why Xiaomi does this? First, it allows the company to segment the market: the base model for budget buyers, the “S” version for those who are willing to pay a little more for specific improvements, and second, it is a marketing ploy to stimulate sales in the middle of the life cycle of the lineup (usually “S” versions come out 6-12 months after the main model).

Differences between the “S” versions of the regular Redmi Note: a comparative table

To illustrate the difference, we’ve collected key differences between the Redmi Note base models and their “S” versions from recent generations, and note that not all improvements are equally beneficial, and sometimes overpaying can be unjustified.

As you can see from the table, the main improvements in the “S” versions are usually about the processor and camera. For example, the Redmi Note 11S received a 108-megapixel sensor instead of the 50 MP in the base model, and the Redmi Note 10S is a more powerful Helio G95 chipset, which is better for games. However, in some cases, the “S” versions lose to the base one: for example, the Redmi Note 12S has a screen with a frequency of 90 Hz instead of 120 Hz in the Redmi Note 12.

⚠️ Note: Not always the "S" version is objectively better. 12S I lost 120 Hz to a 108 MP camera, and if you're more interested in screen smoothness than photo resolution, the base model might be better.

Should I Buy the Redmi Note's "S" Version? Pros and Cons

The decision to buy the S version depends on your priorities, so let's look at where the overpayment is justified and when it's best to save.

✅ When the “S” version is worth the money:

• 🎮 For gamers: If you play heavy games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile), then the more powerful processor in the "S" version (for example, Helio) G96 Snapdragon 680 will give a noticeable increase FPS less heat.
• 📸 For photographers: 108-MP camera in Redmi Note 11S/12S allows you to take more detailed pictures (in good lighting) and better manifests itself in post-processing.
• 🔋 For those who shoot a lot of videos: Some “S” versions support higher-resolution video recording (e.g., video recording, 4K instead 1080p).

❌ When the "S" version is not justified:

• 💰 If budget is tight: The price difference between the base model and the "S" version can be as high as 20 to 30 percent. e.g. Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11S differ ~2 000 ₽, But for normal use (social networks, calls, YouTube) this upgrade is not noticeable.
• 🔄 If you don’t need improvements: For example, in Redmi Note 10S The only thing that changed from the Redmi Note 10 was the processor and camera, and the screen, battery and design were the same?
• ⚡ If charging speed is important: In recent generations, both the base models and the S versions have the same charging power (33 W.

Also, consider that the “S” versions often come out later than the base models, so their software support (MIUI and Android updates) may end earlier, for example, if the base model was released in early 2022 and the “S” version at the end, then after 2-3 years, the updates for the “S” model may stop faster.

I play mobile games.|I love taking pictures on my smartphone.|Ready to pay 2000-3000 ₽ improve|I want to know the most powerful processor in the budget.|I need a better camera than 50MP.-->

Performance Tests: How Much Faster is the S Version?

To understand how the S-versions really differ from the base versions, we analyzed benchmarks (AnTuTu, Geekbench) and real-world tests in games.

• 📊 AnTuTu: Redmi Note 11S (Helio G96) pick up ~350,000 points, while Redmi Note 11 (Snapdragon 680) — ~280,000.The difference ~25%, which is noticeable in games.
• 🎮 Genshin Impact (medium settings): On Redmi Note 11S FPS stable at the level of 35-40, while the base model can sink to 25-30.
• 🔥 Heating: Helio G96 It is warmer than the Snapdragon 680, but has better cooling in the "S" versions (for example, graphite pads).

But in everyday tasks like scrolling, messaging, video, the difference is almost invisible, and Benchmarks show performance gains, but in real life, it only shows up in resource-intensive scenarios.

Interesting fact: in some cases, the base model can be more energy efficient. For example, the Snapdragon 680 in the Redmi Note 11 consumes less power in the idle than the Helio G96 in the Redmi Note 11S, which affects battery life.

Cameras in S-versions: Marketing or real improvement?

One of the key improvements in the “S” versions is the cameras. Xiaomi often increases the resolution of the main sensor (for example, from 48 MP to 64 MP or from 50 MP to 108 MP).

On paper, 108 MP sounds impressive, but in practice there are nuances:

• 📏 Pixel size: The higher the megapixels, the smaller the physical size of each pixel (if the sensor is not increased) This can lead to poor quality in poor lighting (more noise).
• 🔍 Software processing: Xiaomi actively uses pixel binning (combining 4 pixels into 1), so the actual resolution of photos is often lower than stated (for example, 108 MP). → 27 MP in the final file).
• 🎥 Video: 'S' versions sometimes get support 4K@30fps, However, the basic models are limited. 1080p. But stabilizing it could be worse.

Examples of comparison:

• Redmi Note 10 (48 MP) vs Redmi Note 10S (64 MP): The difference is minimal in daylight, but at dusk, the Redmi Note 10 can give less noisy shots.
• Redmi Note 11 (50 MP) vs Redmi Note 11S (108 MP): With good lighting, 108 MP gives more detail, but indoors or at night, the advantage disappears.

⚠️ Note: If you shoot mostly for social media (where photos are compressed to 1-2 MP), the difference between 50 MP and 108 MP will not be noticeable.

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To test the real quality of the camera, look at sample photos on sites like GSMArena or DxOMark. Pay attention to low-light shots, which are where the weak points of high-megapixel sensors show up.

Autonomy and Charging: Is There a Difference?

In most cases, the batteries in the "S" versions and the base models of the Redmi Note are identical in capacity (for example, 5000 mAh).

• 🔋 Processor: More powerful chipsets (e.g. Helio) G96) They consume more energy under load, but can be more efficient in simple.
• 📱 Screen: If the “S” version gets a higher refresh rate (e.g., 120Hz instead of 90Hz), it reduces the running time.
• 🔄 Optimization MIUI: Sometimes the S-versions get more aggressive power saving settings.

Examples:

• Redmi Note 10 (Snapdragon 678) vs Redmi Note 10S (Helio G95): In the tests of autonomy, the difference is ~10% in favor of the base model.
• Redmi Note 11 (Snapdragon 680) vs Redmi Note 11S (Helio G96): When used actively (games, videos), the S version discharges 15-20% faster.

In terms of charging, there is almost no difference: both the base models and the “S” versions of recent generations support 33-watt fast charging. Previously, the “S” versions could offer 67 watts (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro vs Redmi Note 10S), but this is not true now.

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If autonomy is critical to you (for example, you are often on the road), then the “S” version may be a less profitable choice because of the more voracious processor.

Design and Construction: Are There Differences?

In most cases, the design of the "S" versions is completely identical to the base models.

• 📏 Size and weight (except if the "S" version has received other body material).
• 🎨 Color options (the palette remains the same).
• 🔊 Location of buttons, connectors and speakers.

But there are rare exceptions, like:

• The Redmi Note 9S received a side fingerprint button, while the base Redmi Note 9 sensor was on the back.
• The Redmi Note 10S was sold in some regions with a safety glass in the kit, while the base model was sold without it.

If you care about design, the S version is nothing new. All the changes are purely functional.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the “S” versions of Xiaomi Redmi Note