The question of when exactly Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will appear on the shelves of Russian stores, worries many fans of mobile technology. After the grand announcement in China, interest in this device has reached a peak, because the smartphone has received a revolutionary camera and a powerful processor Qualcomm. However, logistics and certification make their own adjustments to the delivery schedules, creating a situation of uncertainty for potential buyers.
The official release date in Russia was never announced by the company, which gave rise to many rumors: the global version of the device, which could theoretically enter our country, was presented along with the base model Mi 11, but the Pro version in the international release was absent, which means that you can not count on official import and warranty service from the Russian representative office, and the market is filled with parallel imports.
However, you can buy the device through large retailers and electronics stores operating under the scheme of “gray” imports. In this article, we will examine all the nuances that you will encounter when deciding to buy this flagship right now, and also analyze why Xiaomi decided not to release this model globally.
Official supply and parallel imports
Since the presentation, it has become clear that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will remain exclusive to the Chinese market.The company has bet on the base version of the Mi 11 for the global segment, believing that the characteristics of the standard flagship will be sufficient for European and Russian consumers. As a result, the official release date for Russia simply does not exist in nature, since the product was not planned for certification at the EAC.
Despite the lack of official supplies, the device is being imported massively by merchants and large retailers through parallel imports, which means you buy a device that was originally intended for domestic use in China. Global firmware on such devices is often absent, which requires the user to have certain technical skills to translate the interface and customize services.
⚠️ Note: Buying Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro through parallel import, you risk losing the official warranty in authorized service centers in Russia. Repair in case of failure will fall on your shoulders or will be carried out by the seller, not the manufacturer.
Pricing for such devices is also determined not by the manufacturer, but by the current exchange rate and the appetite of the sellers, and the cost can fluctuate significantly depending on the yuan and dollar, and the availability of goods in warehouses in Shenzhen, so it makes no sense to talk about a fixed recommended price.
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Official release of Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro in Russia is not planned, the device is available only through the parallel--WIDGET
Technical characteristics and uniqueness of the model
Why did this smartphone cause such a stir when the basic Mi 11 is officially available? It's all about the camera. It was in the Pro version that Xiaomi first introduced the Samsung GN2 sensor, measuring 1/1.12 inches, one of the largest sensors in the history of mobile photography, which allows you to capture an incredible amount of light and create a natural background blur without software algorithms.
In addition, the device has an improved stabilization system and a periscopic telephoto lens, providing a 5-fold optical zoom. The basic version, alas, lacks a periscope and has a less perfect core module. The Snapdragon 888 processor here is paired with a more efficient cooling system, which is critical for such a powerful chip.
- 📷 Samsung's main sensor GN2 pixel-sized.
- 🔭 Periscopic telephoto lens with 5x zoom.
- 🔋 Support for ultra-fast wired charging with 67W.
- 💧 Full water protection according to the standard IP68.
It’s also worth noting that there’s IP68 moisture protection, which is rare even for today’s flagships, let alone 2021 models.The device’s body is made of ceramics, which gives it a premium look, but makes it quite heavy and slippery.The screen here uses the same as the base version – a gorgeous AMOLED with WQHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
The difference between the Chinese version and the global version
Since the device comes to Russia exclusively in the Chinese version (CN), it is important for the buyer to understand the difference between it and the hypothetical global (Global), the main difference lies in the software: on board is MIUI for China, which has its own peculiarities in the operation of notifications, the absence of some Google services out of the box (although they are easy to install), and a specific set of preinstalled applications.
In hardware, the Chinese version supports all the necessary LTE frequencies, including Band 7 and Band 20, which are important for 4G operation in Russia and Europe. However, there may be nuances with the work of NFC and banking applications if you do not make the correct initial configuration. The global version, if it was released, would have an unlocked bootloader in some regions and preinstalled Google Play.
How to install Google Play on the Chinese version?
Language support is also an important aspect: Chinese firmware initially only has Chinese and English available. Russian often requires switching the region in settings or flashing the device to a global version of the software, which requires unlocking the bootloader.
Software and localization
Using the Chinese version of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro in Russia requires the user to be ready to dance with a diamond. The first thing you will encounter is the lack of Russian in the menu. The standard interface translation procedure may not work on new versions of MIUI without an unlocked bootloader.
The second problem is the aggressive power-saving system, which the Chinese version of MIUI is known for being able to kill the background processes of messengers, which can cause notifications to arrive with a delay, which is solved by manually configuring each application, but takes time and attention.
☑️ Preparing China’s Xiaomi for the job
For those who are not afraid of technical difficulties, there is the possibility of installing global firmware. However, unlocking the bootloader on new Xiaomi devices has become more difficult: now you need a high-trust account in the Chinese MIUI community or waiting in line for 7-30 days.
⚠️ Warning: Flashing the Chinese version to the global version could cause banking applications to break (Google) Pay/Mir Pay will stop working due to breach of security integrity!
Camera Analysis: Is the Overpayment Worth?
The main question to ask yourself before buying is: are you willing to overpay for the camera? Samsung GN2 touch does work wonders. The dynamic range of photos outperforms many competitive flagships, and night shooting looks detailed and clean.
However, the Chinese version is tailored to the local market, with colors that are more saturated and skintones that are warm, and a global version that would probably have a more neutral color reproduction, typical of the European market.
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 (Global) | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro (CN) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Main sensor | Samsung HMX (108 MP) | Samsung GN2 (50 MP) |
| Telephoto lens | 3x Zum | 5x Periscope |
| Video | 8K @ 30fps | 8K @ 30fps + improved stabilization |
| Front camera | 20 MP | 20 MP |
| Waterproof | No (IP53) | IP68 |
As you can see from the table, the differences are huge. If you care about zoom video or night photography, the Pro version wins unconditionally, but if you shoot mostly in good light, the difference may not be as noticeable in everyday use.
Energy efficiency and processor heating
The Snapdragon 888 processor, which is installed in the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, is known for its high heat output. In the compact body of the basic Mi 11, this led to noticeable heating and trottling (decreased performance) in heavy tasks. In the Pro version, Xiaomi engineers tried to solve this problem.
A new cooling system was introduced using graphene materials and increased heat sink area, and tests show that the Mi 11 Pro does hold the temperature better, but it failed to completely get rid of the heat. 8K The body is still getting hot.
- 🔥 Using Graphene Thermopaste to Dissipate Heat.
- ❄️ Increased area of copper cooling plate.
- ⚡ Optimization of the processor cores in game mode.
For the user, this means that the smartphone will cope with any tasks perfectly, but in a pocket of tight jeans in the summer it is better not to wear it during active navigation or games. The autonomy of the device, thanks to the battery of 5000 mAh, is quite decent and surpasses the base model by 600 mAh.
The bottom line: Is it worth buying now?
To sum up, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is a great device that is ahead of its time in terms of photo capabilities. However, the lack of official deliveries to Russia makes it a lot of enthusiasts. You will have to put up with the lack of warranty, possible software problems and high cost due to the complexity of logistics.
If you are not a professional mobile photographer and you are not critical of 5-fold periscopic zoom, the usual Xiaomi Mi 11 or newer models of the Mi 12/13 series, which are officially supplied in Russia, will be a more rational choice.
But if you want a unique experience with one of the best sensors in history and are willing to take the time to set up, this smartphone won’t disappoint. Its screen, body materials and overall ergonomics are at the highest level.
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When buying, pay attention to the memory version. For comfortable work with a heavy camera and MIUI, it is better to choose a version with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory.