Which Xiaomi smartphone surpasses the iPhone 11 in 2026: an honest comparison on 7 key parameters

Why Xiaomi and iPhone 11 are compared in 2026?

The choice between Xiaomi and iPhone 11 smartphones remains relevant even 5 years after the release of the “Apple” flagship. The reason is simple: the iPhone 11 is still in the top of the budget iPhone thanks to iOS updates, and Xiaomi offers modern models with the same or better stuffing for the same money.

In this article, we’ll analyze 7 key parameters where Xiaomi could overtake the iPhone 11: from performance and camera to ecosystem and price.The comparison is built on 2026 tests, current firmware and real user reviews – without marketing promises.

Spoiler: The answer depends on your priorities. If you want a long-lasting battery and a modern design, Xiaomi has a lot to offer. If stability and update support are critical, the iPhone 11 is still in play. Let's get into the details.

1.Performance: A13 Bionic vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

The Apple A13 Bionic chipset in the iPhone 11 still shows impressive results in benchmarks, but modern flagships Xiaomi is equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9200+. The difference is noticeable not only in synthetic tests, but also in real-world scenarios:

• 🎮 Games: iPhone 11 pulls Genshin Impact on mid-settings (30) FPS), Xiaomi 13 Ultra or POCO F5 Pro's giving out 60. FPS maximum.
• 📱 Multitasking: iOS is better optimized for background processes, but Xiaomi with 12-16 GB of RAM keeps more apps in memory.
• 🔋 Heating: A13 Bionic is less hot, but Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (at Redmi) K60 Pro) have already solved the problem of overheating.

An important nuance: the iPhone 11 gets updates to iOS 17 (and possibly beyond), whereas Xiaomi usually supports models 3-4 years. But in 2026 even the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ runs on Android 14 with MIUI 15 - the gap is narrowing.

⚠️ Note: If you use resource-intensive apps like Lightroom or Premiere Rush, the iPhone 11 may slow down when exporting. 4K-Video by Xiaomi. 13T Pro will cope faster thanks to Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and active cooling.

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For most tasks (social media, photos, videos), the iPhone 11 is still powerful enough, but if you want to play high-end games or work with heavy apps, choose Xiaomi on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or later.

2.Camera: can you overtake the iPhone 11 in quality photos?

The iPhone 11 is famous for its camera for processing photos at the chipset level. But Xiaomi is not far behind: in the models of 2023-2026, Sony IMX890 (in Xiaomi 13T) or Samsung HP3 (in Redmi Note 12 Pro+) sensors are used with a resolution of up to 200 MP.

• 🌃 Night shooting: iPhone 11 better copes with noise, but Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers Leica optics and manual settings for professionals.
• 🎥 iPhone wins in stabilization (especially in the video) 4K 60 FPS), but POCO F5 Pro is recording video in 8K — what's not Apple.
• 🔍 Zoom: iPhone 11 has only 2× Optical zoom, while Xiaomi 13 Ultra is 5× Perscopic zoom with Lossless to 10×.

An example from real-life tests: when shooting a portrait in complex lighting (contrast light/shadow), the iPhone 11 automatically smooths the skin and adjusts colors, and the Xiaomi 13T retains more detail, but can overdo it with saturation.

⚠️ Note: If you frequently shoot videos for YouTube or TikTok, pay attention to the video. POCO F5 Pro - Supports Dolby Vision HDR and LOG-post-processing profile, which the iPhone 11 does not have.

Battery and autonomy: where does the charge last?

One of Xiaomi's biggest assets is capacious batteries and fast charging.

• 🔋 iPhone 11: 3110 mAh, charging 18 W (0-100% per ~2 hours).
• 🔋 Redmi Note 12 Pro+: 5000 mAh, 120 W charging (0-100% in 19 minutes).
• 🔋 Xiaomi 13T: 5000 mAh, 67 watts charge + wireless 10W.

In tests of autonomy (video reproduction at 50% brightness), the results are as follows:

• iPhone 11: ~11 hours.
• Redmi Note 12 Pro+: ~18 hours.
• POCO F5 Pro: ~15 hours (due to a more powerful processor)

But there's a caveat: iOS is optimized for energy saving, and when you use it, you get 20 to 30 percent of the difference in favor of Xiaomi, and if you want fast charging, Apple loses unconditionally.

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To extend the battery life on Xiaomi, turn off Adaptive Charging in the battery settings and don’t keep your phone charging more than 80% for a long time.

4. Screen: 60 Hz vs 120 Hz and AMOLED technology

iPhone 11 fitted IPS-resolution-screen 1792×828 and frequency of renewal 60 Hz. 2019 This was normal, but even Xiaomi is offering a budget. AMOLED s 120 Hz:

The difference is noticeable to the naked eye:

Smooth scrolling: 120Hz on Xiaomi makes the interface noticeably smoother, especially in games and when scrolling social media feeds.

Colors and contrast: AMOLED provides deep black and high saturation, whereas the IPS in the iPhone 11 looks paler.

Brightness in the sun: Xiaomi 13T with a brightness of 1200 nits reads better than the iPhone 11 (625 nits).

⚠️ Note: If you are used to True Tone in iPhone (automatic color temperature adjustment), set up a similar feature on Xiaomi in Settings → Display. → Color mode → Automobile.

Ecosystem and Software: iOS vs MIUI

Here, the iPhone 11 has the undeniable advantage of stability and long-term support. Apple guarantees updates for 5-6 years, whereas Xiaomi is usually limited to 3-4 years. MIUI It offers flexibility that is not available in iOS:

• 🔄 Customization of the interface: Xiaomi can change icons, fonts, animations, while iOS remains a closed system.
• 📱 Multitasking: Xiaomi can run apps in floating windows (MIUI Floating Windows, which is not in iOS.
• 🔌 Device Connection: Xiaomi integrates better with smart devices (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners) via Mi Home.

But there are downsides:

Advertising in MIUI: In budget models (Redmi) there are banners in system applications (disabled in settings).

Updates: Xiaomi often delays the release of new versions of Android for older models.

Bottom line: if you want reliability and long-term support, go for the iPhone 11. If you want flexibility and modern features (like Always-On Display or 120Hz), look towards the Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5 Pro.

6.Price and price/quality ratio in 2026

In 2026, the iPhone 11 in the secondary market costs 25 000-35,000 rubles (depending on the condition).

• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (new) — AMOLED 120 Hz, 200 MP camera, 120W charging.
• 📱 POCO F5 (new - Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, 67W charging, Dolby Vision.
• 📱 Xiaomi 12T (b/u in excellent condition) - 108 MP camera, AMOLED 120 Hz.

If we consider the flagships of Xiaomi (for example, Xiaomi 13T or Xiaomi 14), their price starts from 50 000 rubles, which is already comparable to the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13. In this segment, the iPhone 11 loses - it is better to pay and take a newer Apple model.

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Best price/quality choice in 2026: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5 Pro. They offer a modern design, AMOLED-screen and fast charging for the same price as the used iPhone 11.

7. Additional Chips: What Does Xiaomi Know and the iPhone 11 Doesn't?

Xiaomi is equipping its smartphones with features that are not in the iPhone 11:

• 🔊 Stereodynamics: B POCO F5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T speakers with support for Dolby Atmos, while the iPhone 11 monodynamics.
• 🔌 USB-C: All modern Xiaomi (except some budget models) are equipped with the latest USB-C, The iPhone 11 uses the outdated Lightning.
• 📡 5G: iPhone 11 doesn’t support networks 5G, The Redmi Note 11 Pro is also available.+ (2022) working with them.
• 🎮 Game triggers: In POCO F5 Pro and Black Shark have physical buttons for gamers.

Also worth noting is the infrared port in most Xiaomi models - it allows you to control equipment (air conditioners, TVs) without additional remotes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Xiaomi and iPhone 11