Redmi 11 Prime 5G: Ready for 5G connectivity, but is it enough?
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G — the company’s latest 5G-compatible smartphone — was launched in India on September 6 alongside the Redmi 11 Prime 4G. The device features a 6.58-inch IPS display with a 90Hz refresh rate and is powered by an octa-core 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset. The device features a 50-megapixel camera on the rear, along with an 8-megapixel selfie camera. The handset is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W wired charging. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is one of the latest entrants in a growing line of affordable 5G smartphones, although the next-gen connectivity is yet to roll out in India.
With 5G connectivity expected in certain parts of the country in time for the upcoming festival season, is the Redmi Prime 5G a smartphone worth considering? Orbital host Akhil Arora speaks to Reviewer Pranav Hegde and Consultant Sub Editor Siddhant Chandra about Redmi’s latest smartphone in this week’s episode of the Gadgets 360 podcast.
Pranav says the Redmi 11 Prime 5G will support 7 5G bands, which means it will support 22 circles of Jio and Airtel and 17 circles of Vodafone Idea in India, which is expected to be fully rolled out by the end of next year. It comes with an entry-level MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor, which means you shouldn’t look at this phone if you’re a gamer. Phones with the Dimensity 810 should be a better choice if you’re looking for a gaming phone with 5G connectivity, he says.
With most affordable phones, you have to “pay the 5G tax,” Pranav says, adding that because it’s a relatively new technology, everything is expensive and the cost is passed on to the consumer. While you may not be getting the best value, you will be ahead of the curve with 5G connectivity — especially if you live in a metro area where 5G is expected to be available by the end of the year.
Akhil wonders if the 4G RAM model of the Redmi 11 Prime 5G will be enough for users, and Pranav says that the 6GB RAM option would be a better choice. But what about the 4G variant of the Redmi 11 Prime?
Compared to the Redmi 11 Prime 5G, the company’s 4G model only comes with an additional third camera and a powerful 4G chipset in the same price range. If you’re not a gamer and want reliable everyday performance with 4G, then this might be a good option, says Pranav.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G First Impressions: Unlocking 5G at an affordable price
Akhil also wonders whether budget 5G devices will offer reliable 5G connectivity. It depends on several factors, including the modem, number of bands and how dense the population is where you live, says Pranav. Since this is a budget phone with a reasonably efficient processor, 5G shouldn’t stop you from using the phone for two days on a single charge.
What about the camera and streaming capabilities, Sid asks Pranav. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G has a selfie camera that delivers decent performance, he says, while the rear camera setup consists of a 50-megapixel and a 2-megapixel sensor. You might want to temper your expectations as the quality may vary based on certain conditions. The phone does come with Widevine L1 support for HD streaming, but you have an LCD display, which is fine for streaming online content indoors but may feel like a downgrade compared to other phones with AMOLED displays.
You can listen to all of this in detail in our episode by clicking the play button on the Spotify player above.
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