What Xiaomi 11 looks like: a complete analysis of the design of the flagship 2021

Xiaomi 11 looks like a flagship with a distinctive style

Xiaomi 11, Released in January 2021, has become one of the brand’s most memorable flagships thanks to its unique design.This device stands out from the competition not only for its powerful “stuffing”, but also for its thoughtful ergonomics, premium materials and visual accents that make it recognizable at first sight. If you are considering buying this device or just interested in the evolution of Xiaomi’s design, our review will help you understand all the nuances of its appearance.

Unlike the previous Mi series, the company’s engineers have been betting on minimalism with a technological twist: the smartphone body is made of Gorilla Glass Victus glass on the front and back, and the aluminum frame gives the design the necessary stiffness, while the dimensions of the device (164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm) make it comfortable for one hand, despite the large 6.81-inch display. The weight of 196 grams is distributed evenly, so even with prolonged use, fatigue in the wrist does not occur.

One of the key features of the Xiaomi 11's look was the camera in a square module, which is visually separated from the main body, which became the brand identity of the line and later migrated to newer models. But let's go through the details, from color options to hidden engineering solutions.

Color solutions: what options offered Xiaomi

At launch, the Xiaomi 11 was available in three official colors, each with a unique texture and shades, and the manufacturer paid special attention not only to the palette, but also to how light is refracted on the surface of the case, creating the effect of a "living" material.

• 🔵 Midnight Gray is a classic matte shade with a light metallic gloss that does not collect fingerprints. Perfect for business style.
• 🌌 Horizon Blue is a gradient color that changes from dark blue to light, mimicking the sky at sunset. The sun exhibits the pearl effect.
• ⚪ Cloud White is a glossy coating with a barely noticeable pinkish shade, which looks especially premium, but requires careful handling.

Interestingly, in some regions (such as China), an exclusive Mint Green variant was also available, a soft mint shade that became a hit with fans of custom solutions, but the global version did not sell the color, making it a collectible rarity.

When choosing a color, consider that glossy options (Cloud White and partly Horizon Blue) are more branded, but look more luxurious.

Display and front panel: frameless screen with a twist

The front of Xiaomi 11 is made in the spirit of modern trends: minimal bezels on the sides (only 1.8 mm) and a barely noticeable lower bezels (3.6 mm). The display occupies 91.4% of the front panel area, making it one of the most "frameless" at the time of release. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, which is resistant to scratches and falls from a height of up to 2 meters.

The front panel feature is a central notch for the front camera in the form of a circle with a diameter of 3.8 mm. This element has become a subject of controversy: some users consider it too noticeable, others - minimalistic and neat. For comparison, competitors (for example, the Samsung Galaxy S21) the cutout was made in the form of a "drop", and the iPhone 12 - in the form of a wide "monobrov".

Another thing that's hidden is that there's a sensor underneath that's a proximity sensor and a light sensor that's not visible to the eye, which has made the top frame even thinner, but some users have noted that in bright sunlight, the sensors can be delayed.

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To check the actual refresh rate of the screen, go to Settings → Display → Update Frequency and turn on Adaptive mode. In this case, the smartphone will automatically switch between 60 Hz and 120 Hz depending on the content, saving battery power.

Rear panel and chamber module: engineering solutions

Xiaomi's back end 11 glassy 3D-It's a bending around the edges, which improves ergonomics and makes the smartphone more comfortable in the hand, but it's the same solution that makes the device more slippery, and without the cover, it's easy to drop it. The camera module is located in the upper left corner, and it's a square block the size of the device. 28 × 28 supplanting 2.5 mm.

Inside the module are placed three lenses:

• 📷 Basic: 108 MPP, f/1.85, optical stabilization
• 🌄 Wide-angle: 13 MPP, f/2.4, angle 123°
• 🔍 Telephoto: 5 MPP, f/2.4, 5x zoom

There is a double lens between the lenses. LED-flash and laser autofocus that speeds up focusing in low light conditions.

The module's design has drawn mixed reviews, with some users praising it for being original, others criticizing it for being too large a ledge that causes the smartphone to "swing" on the table. To solve this problem, a protective case with a cutout comes bundled with a protective cover that aligns the back panel.

Materials and assembly: premium or practicality?

Xiaomi 11 was positioned as a flagship smartphone, and this reflected in the choice of materials.

• 🔶 Front glass: Gorilla Glass Victus (resistant to scratches and impacts)
• 🔷 Rear glass: Gorilla Glass 5 (less durable, but thinner)
• 🟡 Frame: 6000 Series Aluminum Alloy (Lightweight and Strong)
• 🔵 Buttons: metal, with tactile impact

Despite the premium materials, the build has weaknesses, such as the glass back is prone to microcracks when falling from even low heights, which is because the glass is thinner than its competitors (for example, the iPhone 12 Pro has a 0.3 mm thicker back).

Another nuance is that there is no official water and dust rating, and although the smartphone has survived a brief submersion in water in tests, the manufacturer does not guarantee safety when in contact with liquid, which sets it apart from Samsung or Sony flagships, which are IP68 certified.

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If you plan to use the Xiaomi 11 in extreme conditions (rain, dust, beach), be sure to purchase a sealed case. Even a brief hit of sand under the buttons can put them out of action.

Buttons, connectors and additional elements

Xiaomi 11 has a classic layout of controls:

• 🔘 Power button: located on the right side, combined with a fingerprint scanner
• 🔊 Volume buttons: also on the right edge, with clear tactile recoil
• 🔌 Connector. USB-C: down, supports USB 2.0 (not 3.0 like competitors!)
• 🎧 3.5mm audio jack: missing (as with most flagships of 2021)
• 📶 Tray for SIM-map: hybrid (nanoSIM) + nanoSIM or nanoSIM + microSD)

Particularly noteworthy is the infrared port on the top edge, a rare flagship solution that allows you to use your smartphone as a remote for home appliances, and it also houses Harman Kardon-certified stereo speakers that provide surround sound without distortion.

One of the controversial points is the lack of USB 3.0. This limits the data transfer speed when you connect to a computer (maximum 480 Mbps instead of 5 Gbps).For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S21 already in 2021 was equipped with USB 3.2.

Comparison with other Xiaomi models: the evolution of design

Compared to the Xiaomi 11’s predecessor (Mi 10) and successor (Xiaomi 12), there are some key design changes:

The main difference between the Xiaomi 11 and the Mi 10 is the transition from a vertical camera arrangement to a square module, which became the hallmark of the series. In Xiaomi 12, engineers went further, dividing the lenses into three separate rings, which visually reduced the size of the block.

It is also worth noting that Xiaomi 11 became the first smartphone of the company with adaptive refresh rate of the screen (1-120 Hz), which influenced the design of the front panel – there are no physical buttons under the display, like the Mi 10.

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If you are interested in ergonomics, pay attention to the Xiaomi 11 Lite – a simplified version with more compact dimensions (160.5 × 75.7 × 6.8 mm) and weighing 157 grams.

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about the appearance of Xiaomi 11

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If you want to visually refresh your smartphone, try a carbon or wood skin. These stickers are inexpensive (from 300 to five years). ₽), They are easy to stick and do not spoil the original coating.