Xiaomi's flagship Mi 11 Ultra, launched in 2021, was once considered the pinnacle of the company's engineering thinking: a giant Leica watering camera, a ceramic case, a top-end Snapdragon 888 processor -- it looked perfect on paper. But three years later, this smartphone has become one of the most problematic offerings in the used-tech market. Why?
It's not just about obsolescence. The Mi 11 Ultra suffers from system design defects that make it uncomfortable to operate, and sometimes dangerous. This article looks at the key challenges that 90 percent of owners will face, plus a comparison with current alternatives. If you're considering buying this machine, read this before you give it away.
1.Battery: degradation in 1.5 years and risk of bloating
The most painful problem with the Mi 11 Ultra is the 5,000mAh battery, which initially had questionable quality of charge control. After 12 to 18 months of active use, the capacity drops to 60 to 70 percent of its value, and in some cases, the battery starts to swell, deforming the screen. These are not isolated cases - complaints are massive, confirmed by service centers.
Reasons:
- 🔋 Fast charging. 67W without proper thermal protection - overheating accelerates degradation.
- 📉 Lack of software optimization for energy consumption (unlike iPhone or Samsung with adaptive control).
- 🚨 Cheap charge controllers in early batches (the problem is partially solved in the revisions of 2022, but they are few in the market).
Battery replacement costs 8,000-12,000 ₽ (The original battery, but even after that, problems with autonomy remain. For example, with active use (social networks, navigation, camera) smartphone discharges in 4-5 hours — like a public employee with a battery of 3000 mAh.
⚠️ Warning: If you press the back cover and hear a characteristic "screak" or the screen starts to "go away" at the edges, this is a sign of battery bloating!
2.Overheating: Snapdragon 888 as a time bomb
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip is known as one of the hottest smartphone chips. The Mi 11 Ultra is compounded by a poor cooling system: a copper plate instead of a steam chamber (like its competitors) and a lack of thermal conductivity in the ceramic case.
Results of the tests (GSMArena and NotebookCheck data):
| Script | CPU temperature (°C) | Trottling (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Games (Genshin Impact) | 52–58 | 45–55 |
| 8K video footage | 48–53 | 30–40 |
| Charging + loading | 55–62 | 60+ |
| Simple (background tasks) | 40–45 | 10–15 |
In practice, this means:
- 🎮 Games become unplayable in 20-30 minutes — FPS fall down 2-3 times.
- 📸 When filming video in 4K/60fps The camera automatically lowers the resolution to 1080p.
- 🔥 The body heats up to 45-50.°C in the hand - discomfort with prolonged use.
Solutions? There are no solutions. No firmware optimizations are going to save you -- it's a hardware problem. The only way out is to use your smartphone in a "sparing" mode, and then you lose the point of buying a flagship.
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If you still decide to buy the Mi 11 Ultra, install the app immediately. CPU Throttling Test from Play Market – It Will Show Real Performance Drops When Heated.
3.Camera: Leyka - marketing ploy, not an advantage
The main chip of the smartphone is the Leica camera, which was actually a disappointment. Yes, it was innovative in 2021, but today processing algorithms look outdated, and the hardware is losing even to mid-budget innovations.
Main problems:
- 📷 The lights in HDR: In complex scenes (contrast light), the camera burns the sky or shadows, while the Google Pixel 7 or iPhone 13 do better.
- 🌃 Night shooting: noise cancellation works aggressively, "eating" details. By comparison, Xiaomi 13 Ultra (2023) gives 30% more detail in the dark.
- 🎥 Video 8K: Overheating Forces Decrease resolution after 5-7 minutes of recording.
- 🔍 Telephoto: 5x Optical zoom loses to Samsung S22 Ultra (10x) And even the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ (3x better).
Examples of comparison (sources can be found on DxOMark):
Comparison of Mi 11 Ultra vs iPhone 13 Pro (2021)
If you want a camera, you can go for the Xiaomi 13T Pro (2023) or Google Pixel 7a, which are cheaper but more predictable.
4.Software: MIUI as a brake on development
The Mi 11 Ultra came with MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11. Today (2026) it officially upgrades to MIUI 14 on Android 13 - and that's the limit. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (the same 2021) has already received Android 14 and will be supported until 2026.
What does that mean in practice?
- 🛑 No new features: none AI-tools, improved multitasking or modern shooting algorithms.
- 🔒 Security issues: Android 13 vulnerabilities are not patched, risk of hacking is higher.
- 📱 Lags and hangs: MIUI Over time, it gets “cluttered” and cleaning the cache helps for a short time.
There's a way out. Only custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) but they're:
- They are not guaranteed (if they are still in effect).
- It can break the camera (leica drivers are closed).
- Requires unlocking the bootloader, which resets all data.
⚠️ Note: After installing custom firmware, Widevine goes to the level L3 — This means that Netflix, Disney+ Other services will only show video in resolution 480p.
5. Ceramic case: beautiful but impractical
The ceramics in the Mi 11 Ultra look premium, but in fact it is the most uncomfortable material for a smartphone:
Problems:
- 💎 Cracks and cracks: Drop the phone from 50 cm on the pavement and you'll see microcracks on the body. It costs 15,000 to 20,000 repairs. ₽ (rear-panel).
- 🧲 Poor compatibility with wireless charging: ceramics conducts the magnetic field worse, so Qi charging works 20–30% slower than glass counterparts.
- 📏 Slipperiness: without a case, the smartphone falls out of hands 3 times more often (data from insurance companies).
For comparison, the aluminum case of the iPhone 13 Pro or the matte glass Samsung S22 Ultra is much more tenacious and less dirty.
Use a cover with soft inserts|Plug the protective film on the back panel|Avoid carrying in one pocket with keys.|Do not place on hard surfaces with a screen down-->
6.Repairability: A nightmare for service centers
The Mi 11 Ultra received a 1 in 10 repairability score from iFixit.
Main problems:
- 🔧 Glued display and body: to replace the screen, you need to heat the device up to 80°C, risking battery damage.
- 🔌 Connector soldering: USB-Type C and speakers soldered to the motherboard - if a failure requires replacement of the entire module (25 000). ₽).
- 📱 No parts: Xiaomi does not officially supply parts for models older than 2 years.
The cost of typical repairs (Moscow, 2026):
| Breakdown | Cost (₽) | Repair time |
|---|---|---|
| Screen replacement (original) | 35 000–45 000 | 3-5 days |
| Battery replacement | 8 000–12 000 | 1 day |
| Repair of the camera (optics) | 20 000–30 000 | 7-10 days |
| Replacement USB-plug | 15 000–20 000 | 2-3 days |
If you’re not willing to spend the equivalent of a new mid-range smartphone on repairs, the Mi 11 Ultra isn’t for you.
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Buying the Mi 11 Ultra in 2026 is an investment in a “museum exhibit” rather than a working gadget. Even the Xiaomi 12 Pro (2022) will be more practical and cheaper to maintain.
7.Price: Overpayment for brand and legacy technology
On the secondary market Mi 11 Ultra today costs 30 000-40,000 ₽ (It's a money you can buy:
- 📱 Xiaomi 13T (2023 - with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the best camera and 4 years of updates.
- 🍎 iPhone 12 (2020) – with support for iOS until 2026 and stable operation.
- 🤖 Samsung Galaxy S21 FE — Android 14, waterproof. IP68 and a replacement battery.
- 💰 Redmi K60 Pro + 10 000 ₽ on hands - with more modern iron and no problems with overheating.
Even if you need a flagship experience, it is better to pay 10,000-15,000. ₽ Take Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Vivo X90 They are not only newer, but also devoid of system problems Mi 11 Ultra.
The only scenario where buying is justified is collectible interest, if you care about the rarity of the model or nostalgia for the golden age of smartphones with huge cameras, then yes. In all other cases, it's a bad investment.