Xiaomi 11T or Honor 50: Which Smartphone Is Better to Buy in 2026?

Choosing between the Xiaomi 11T and Honor 50 is a dilemma faced by thousands of users looking for a balanced mid-range flagship. Both smartphones released in 2021 are still relevant thanks to powerful hardware, high-quality screens and advanced cameras. But which one is best for you? The answer depends on priorities: some people care about autonomy and performance, and others — design and software chips.

In this article, we've made a deep comparison of 10 key criteria, from technical specifications to user experience: Which smartphone is faster in games, who has a better camera for video, and why one of them can discharge 30% faster when used actively, and we've also tested both devices in real-world conditions, from low-light shooting to multitasking with a dozen open applications.

Spoiler: If you want a smartphone for long-term battery life and powerful gaming performance, the choice is obvious. But there are nuances that can tip the scales in favor of a competitor. Let's get it straight!

1. Design and ergonomics: plastic vs glass

At first glance, the Xiaomi 11T and Honor 50 are pleasing with premium design, but the materials and build differ dramatically. the 11T is made in a matte plastic case with a metal frame, which makes it less slippery, but also less “premium” to the touch, but the weight is distributed evenly – 203 grams versus 192 for the Honor 50.

The Honor 50, in turn, uses tempered glass on both sides and an aluminum frame, which gives it the shine and weight of the flagship. However, the slipperiness here is higher — without a case, the smartphone literally runs away. Both devices have IP53 spray protection, but you should not test them for water resistance.

• 📏 Xiaomi 11T: 164.1 × 76.9 × 8.8 mm, 203 d (plastic) + metal)
• 💎 Honor 50: 160 × 73.8 × 7.8 mm, 175 d + aluminum)
• 🎨 Colors: y 11T — 3 variants (black, white, blue), Honor 50 – 4 (including the gradient “Emerald Green»)

⚠️ Warning: Honor 50 is prone to microcracks on the back when falling from even a low altitude.If you drop your phone often, consider a protective case with reinforced corners.

2.Screens: 120Hz vs 120Hz, but not everything is that simple

Both smartphones are equipped AMOLED-frequency-screen 120 Hz, but the differences lie in the details. - Xiaomi 11T diagonalize 6.67" permittingly FHD+ (2400×1080) And it's Dolby Vision. It's bright. 800 thread in peak, and color reproduction is customized via Vivid and Cinema modes.

The Honor 50 has a slightly smaller screen, 6.57′′, but with the same pixel density and HDR10+ support. The main difference is the curvature of the display (the 11T screen is flat). This affects the perception of multimedia: on the Honor 50 movies look more “immersive”, but color distortions are possible around the edges.

The Honor 50 does not have an adaptive refresh rate – the screen always runs at 120 Hz, which increases battery consumption by 15-20% when simply scrolling through the social media feed.

3.Performance: Snapdragon 888 vs Snapdragon 778G

Here, Xiaomi 11T takes the lead with Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 (5nm), while the Honor 50 comes with the Snapdragon 778G (6nm), the top-end processor for the mid-range, and the difference is obvious in synthetic tests:

• 📊 AnTuTu v9: 11T — ~700,000 points, Honor 50 — ~500 000
• 🎮 3DMark Wild Life: 11T — 45 fps, Honor 50 — 30 fps
• 🔥 trottling: 11T warms up more, but throttling begins later

In real terms:

Xiaomi 11T confidently pulls Genshin Impact at maximum settings (60 fps) without lags.

Honor 50 copes with games in medium settings, but in long sessions, slowdowns are possible.

In multitasking, the 11T holds up to 15 apps in the background without rebooting, while the Honor 50 has a score closer to 10.

Test in AnTuTu (compared to benchmarks)

Genshin Impact (Call of Duty)

Heat check after 30 minutes of play

Opening speed 10+ chrome-->

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi 11T Snapdragon 888 is prone to overheating when charging during play.We recommend turning off Fast Charging in the battery settings during gaming.

4. Cameras: 108 MP vs 100 MP - who shoots better?

On paper, Xiaomi 11T will benefit from the Samsung HM2 main sensor at 108 MP with an aperture of f/1.75, while the Honor 50 offers Sony IMX700 at 100 MP (f/1.9). However, the real quality depends on the processing:

• 📸 Daytime Photos: Honor 50 gives more natural colors, 11T — gluttonous.
• 🌙 Night photography: 11T Details are better, but the Honor 50 is less noise».
• 🎥 Video: Both filmed in 4K@30fps, honor 50 has better stabilization.
• 👤 Selfie: Honor 50 frontal 32 MP with autofocus, 11T — 16 MP without AF.

Examples:

Xiaomi 11T performs better in macro shooting (5 MP sensor with a focus on 2 cm).

Honor 50 wins in portrait mode thanks to accurate background blur.

5. Battery and charging: 5000mAh vs 4300mAh

Here, Xiaomi 11T is clearly in the lead: the battery is 5000 mAh against 4300 mAh in the Honor 50.

11T lasts 1.5 days with active use (social networks, instant messengers, 2 hours of video).

The Honor 50 requires charging by the end of the day (at the same loads).

Charging speed:

Xiaomi 11T: 67W (0-100% in 36 minutes)

Honor 50: 66 W (0-100% in 38 minutes)

Both support wireless charging, but only 11T – 10 watts (Honor 50 – 5 watts).

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To extend the battery life on the Honor 50, turn off the constant 120Hz screen in the Display settings → Upgrade Frequency and set Smart Adaptation Mode (if available after updates).

6.Software: MIUI vs Magic UI

Xiaomi 11T runs MIUI 14 (based on Android 12), and Honor 50 runs Magic UI 6.0 (Android 11).

MIUI offers more customization (themes, animations, gestures), but contains advertising in system applications.

Magic UI is minimalist, without advertising, but with limited settings.

Updates:

Xiaomi promises 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security.

Honor – 2 years of Android updates and 3 years of security

The Honor 50 won’t get Android 14, while Xiaomi 11T has already upgraded to Android 13 and will get another version

7.Price and availability in 2026

In the secondary market and in official stores, prices vary:

- Xiaomi 11T (8/128 GB): ~25 000–30 000 ₽.

- Honor 50 (8/128 GB): ~22 000–27 000 ₽.

Should I overpay?

If you need a powerful processor and long-term autonomy - 11T.

If the camera is the priority, the design and compactness are the Honor 50.

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In 2026, Xiaomi 11T is more profitable to buy for gaming and long work without an outlet, and Honor 50 for shooting photos and videos.

FAQ: Frequent questions