Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Review: Daily Performance and Key Features

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro arrived in China in April 2021 as the middle child of Xiaomi’s flagship family, sitting between the standard Mi 11 and the headline-grabbing Mi 11 Ultra. It shared the Ultra’s large 50MP Samsung GN2 main sensor and its 67W wired and wireless charging, yet it skipped the Ultra’s rear display and second 48MP sensors. That positioning is exactly what makes it interesting years later. On paper it reads like a flagship that kept the parts that matter for daily use and dropped the parts that mostly served as talking points.

Daily use is where a phone earns its keep. A flagship can post big benchmark numbers and still frustrate its owner with a battery that fades by dinner, a camera that hesitates in low light, or software that gets in the way. This review looks at the Mi 11 Pro the way an owner would live with it: opening apps, playing games, taking photos, watching video, and charging it again the next morning. Every claim here is tied to the published hardware and to long-term owner reports, not to a lab bench. The phone was announced on 29 March 2021 and released on 2 April 2021, so it is a 2021 flagship being judged in 2026, and that context matters for every verdict below.

Readers searching for a Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro review usually want one of three answers. Is it still fast enough? Is the camera still good? And is it worth buying second hand now that newer Xiaomi phones exist? The short answer is that the hardware has aged better than most 2021 flagships, because the GN2 sensor, the 2K 120Hz screen and the 67W charging were ahead of their time. The longer answer depends on price, on the condition of the battery, and on whether you are comfortable with a phone that was sold officially in China only. This article works through each of those points, then lists the full specifications so you can check every detail in one place.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Daily Performance: Snapdragon 888 in Real Life

The heart of the phone is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, built on a 5 nm process, paired with the Adreno 660 graphics chip and either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. In 2021 that was the fastest Android silicon money could buy, and in everyday use it still feels quick. Apps open without delay, switching between a browser, a chat app, a map and a camera is smooth, and the 120Hz screen makes scrolling feel immediate. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Snapdragon 888 performance test from the launch era put it at the top of the Android charts of its day, and while newer chips have passed it, the gap in ordinary tasks is small. Opening a messaging app does not take a 2026 flagship chip. It takes enough speed, and the 888 still has it.

That said, the Snapdragon 888 has a reputation, and it is worth stating plainly. It runs warm under sustained load. Xiaomi fitted the Mi 11 Pro with a vapour chamber cooling system, and the phone handles short bursts of heavy work well, but a long gaming session or a long 4K video recording will warm the frame. This is a trait of the chip itself, shared by every Snapdragon 888 phone of that generation, not a fault unique to this model. For daily performance the warmth rarely intrudes, because messages, browsing, photos and streaming do not push the chip hard enough to matter.

Snapdragon 888 Performance in Everyday Apps

Day-to-day speed is where the Mi 11 Pro still shines. The combination of UFS 3.1 storage, fast RAM and a high refresh rate display makes the phone feel responsive in the tasks that fill most days: email, social feeds, navigation, banking apps and photo browsing. Storage reads are quick, so large photo libraries load without stutter, and the 8GB base model keeps a healthy number of apps in memory. The 12GB version holds more, which helps if you jump between a dozen apps, but most owners will not feel the difference in normal use. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro performance in these ordinary jobs is close enough to a modern mid-range phone that the age of the chip is hard to notice.

One thing that does show the phone’s age is background app behaviour in MIUI. Xiaomi’s software has long been aggressive about closing apps in the background to save battery, and on the Mi 11 Pro that can mean a navigation app or a music app restarting when you return to it. The fix is to lock important apps in the recent-apps view and to turn off battery optimisation for the apps you rely on. It is a small job, and it is worth doing on day one if you buy this phone second hand.

Gaming Performance and Heat

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro gaming is still enjoyable, with a clear limit. Popular titles such as PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile run at high settings, and the large 6.81-inch screen with its 120Hz refresh rate makes fast games look fluid. The stereo speakers help here too, giving footsteps and engine notes a sense of direction that a single bottom speaker cannot match. Touch response is quick, and the curved edges of the screen rarely cause accidental touches once you get used to the grip. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro gaming performance test results from launch reviews showed frame rates that matched the best Android phones of 2021, and those numbers still translate into playable games in 2026.

The limit is heat over time. After twenty to thirty minutes of a demanding game, the frame warms up and the chip trims its speed to protect itself. Frame rates dip, and the phone can feel hot around the camera module. Owners who play for long stretches tend to lower the graphics preset one notch or to play in a cooler room, and both help. Casual games, which are what most people actually play on a phone, never trigger this at all.

Heat Management During Gaming

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro heat management during gaming relies on a vapour chamber and on software throttling. The vapour chamber spreads heat across the frame so no single spot becomes unbearable, and the software lowers clock speeds before temperatures become dangerous. In practice that means the phone stays safe but loses some speed in long sessions. A case can trap a little extra heat, so taking a thick case off for a long gaming session is a sensible habit. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro overheating question comes up often in owner forums, and the honest answer is that the phone gets warm, like every Snapdragon 888 phone, but it does not shut down or throttle so hard that games become unplayable.

Frame Rates in Popular Games

At high settings, competitive shooters hold a steady high frame rate for the first stretch of a match, and role-playing games with heavy effects run smoothly at medium to high presets. Dropping to a balanced preset keeps the phone cooler and the frame rate steadier over an hour, which is the better trade for most players. The 120Hz display only shows its full benefit in games that support high frame rates, and many popular titles cap at 60 frames per second, so the advantage is real but not universal. If gaming is your main hobby, a newer chip would run cooler, but the Mi 11 Pro remains a capable gaming phone for its price on the second hand market.

RAM and Storage Speed

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro RAM comes in 8GB and 12GB options, and Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro storage comes in 128GB and 256GB options, all using fast UFS 3.1 flash. There is no microSD slot, so the storage you buy is the storage you keep. The 256GB version is the one to look for second hand, because photos and video fill 128GB faster than most buyers expect. A single minute of 8K video can use hundreds of megabytes, and a year of photos adds up quickly. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro 256GB storage variant price was higher at launch, and on the used market the premium over 128GB is usually small, which makes the larger model the better buy. File transfers over USB-C are quick, and installing a large game takes far less time than on phones with slower storage.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Display Review: 120Hz AMOLED at 2K

The screen is one of the strongest reasons to consider this phone. It is a 6.81-inch AMOLED panel with a 1440 x 3200 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, and a peak brightness of 1500 nits. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro display review 120Hz AMOLED write-up from launch called it one of the best screens on any phone of 2021, and that judgement still holds up. Text is sharp, colours are rich without looking artificial, and video with HDR looks genuinely good rather than merely acceptable. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro screen is quad-curved, which means the glass falls away at all four edges, giving the phone a slim feel despite its size.

Resolution matters here. Many 2021 flagships shipped with 1080p screens to save battery, but Xiaomi kept the full 2K resolution on the Pro. The difference is visible in small text and in fine photo detail. The phone lets you drop to 1080p to save power, and many owners do exactly that on long days out, switching back to 2K at home. The refresh rate can also be set to 60Hz, 90Hz or 120Hz, or left on automatic, where the phone lowers the rate for still images and raises it for scrolling and games.

Brightness, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro screen brightness 1500 nits figure is a peak number for small HDR highlights, not the brightness of the whole screen in sunlight, but the panel is still easy to read outdoors. In bright sun the screen holds up well, and automatic brightness responds quickly when you step from shade into direct light. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content on streaming apps shows deeper shadows and brighter highlights than standard video, and the 1 billion colour support means gradients in skies and sunsets look smooth instead of banded. For watching video in bed or on a train, this screen is a genuine pleasure, and it is one of the areas where the Mi 11 Pro still matches phones that cost far more.

120Hz Refresh Rate and Touch Response

High refresh rate is one of those features that is hard to give up once you have used it. Scrolling through a feed at 120Hz feels fluid, animations look natural, and the phone feels faster even when the chip is doing the same work. The panel also samples touch at 480Hz, which makes taps and swipes register quickly. That responsiveness helps in games and makes typing feel precise. The automatic mode is the sensible default, since it saves battery by dropping the rate when nothing is moving, and most owners leave it there.

One practical note is the curved glass. It looks premium, and it makes the phone feel narrower than its 74.6 mm width suggests, but it also means a screen protector is harder to fit and a drop onto a corner is more likely to crack the glass. A good case with a raised edge is cheap insurance. The front glass is Gorilla Glass Victus, which is tougher than the glass on many older phones, and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Gorilla Glass Victus protection helps against scratches from keys and coins, though it is not a promise that the screen will survive every drop.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Camera Review: 50MP GN2, Periscope Zoom and Ultrawide

The camera is the headline feature of this phone, and it is the main reason it still deserves attention. The triple rear setup is built around a 50MP Samsung GN2 sensor with a 1/1.12-inch size, an f/2.0 lens, Dual Pixel autofocus and optical image stabilisation. That sensor was one of the largest ever fitted to a phone at launch, and size matters in photography: a bigger sensor gathers more light, which means cleaner photos indoors and at dusk. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro camera review 50MP GN2 assessment from the launch period praised the main camera for natural colours, strong detail and reliable focus, and those strengths have not faded. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro camera still takes photos that hold up next to newer mid-range phones, especially in good light.

Next to the main sensor sit two supporting cameras. An 8MP periscope telephoto offers 5x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultrawide covers a 123-degree field of view. The combination gives a useful zoom range from wide to far, which is something the standard Mi 11 cannot match, since it has no periscope lens at all. The 50MP Samsung GN2 sensor is the heart of the camera system, and it is also the feature that separates this phone from most other 2021 flagships, which used smaller main sensors. Photos from the main camera show fine detail in leaves, brickwork and fabric, and the large sensor gives portraits a gentle natural background blur without needing a dedicated portrait mode.

50MP GN2 Main Camera in Daily Use

In daylight the main camera is quick and consistent. Tap the shutter and the photo is taken at once, focus locks onto the subject, and colours look close to what your eyes see, with a slight lift in saturation that suits sharing online. The default output is a 12.5MP pixel-binned image, which combines four sensor pixels into one for cleaner results, and there is a full 50MP mode for scenes where you want the finest detail, such as a landscape you plan to crop. Dynamic range is strong, so bright skies and shaded foregrounds both keep detail, and the phone handles backlit scenes better than many rivals of its year.

Indoors, the big sensor earns its keep. Photos in a dim restaurant or a living room at night come out cleaner than they would from a smaller sensor, with less of the grainy noise that plagues low-light shots. The camera app is quick to open, and the shutter lag is short, which matters when photographing children or pets that do not sit still. One small annoyance is that the minimum focus distance is not very close, so tiny subjects like flowers or food need a little distance and a crop afterwards. That is a fair trade for a sensor this large.

5x Periscope Zoom Camera

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro 5x periscope zoom camera is the feature that most clearly separates this phone from the standard Mi 11. The 8MP telephoto uses a folded periscope lens to reach a 120mm equivalent focal length, giving true 5x optical zoom with optical stabilisation. At 5x, distant subjects such as a building across a square or a bird on a branch become clear, and the stabilisation keeps the view steady enough to frame a shot without a tripod. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro zoom quality at 5x is good in daylight, with usable detail and natural colours, though the smaller 8MP sensor cannot match the main camera for fine texture.

Between 2x and 5x the phone blends the main sensor crop with the telephoto, and results are decent in good light but softer indoors. Beyond 5x, digital zoom stretches to 50x, and while a 50x photo can identify a distant sign or number, it is not a shot you would print. The honest way to think about the zoom is that 5x is the real tool, and anything beyond that is a bonus for occasions when getting closer is impossible. For holidays, school events and sports from the stands, that 5x reach is genuinely useful, and it is one of the best reasons to pick the Pro over the standard model.

Zoom Range in Practice

At 1x the main camera gives the cleanest image. At 2x the phone crops the main sensor, which is fine for social sharing. At 5x the periscope takes over and delivers the sharpest distant shots the phone can produce. At 10x the image is still recognisable and usable for a message or a note, and at 50x it is a spotting scope rather than a camera. The zoom control in the app makes it easy to jump between these levels with one tap, and the stabilisation at 5x is good enough that most owners can shoot handheld without blur.

13MP Ultrawide Camera

A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro ultrawide camera 13MP review has to be honest about the limits. The 13MP sensor with its 123-degree view is useful for landscapes, large buildings and group photos where stepping back is not possible, but it is the weakest of the three rear cameras. Detail at the edges of the frame is softer than in the centre, and low-light ultrawide shots show more noise than the main camera. In daylight, though, the ultrawide earns its place. A wide shot of a beach, a market street or a mountain view captures the scene in a way the main camera cannot, and the colours stay consistent with the other lenses, so switching between them does not produce a jarring change in tone.

Night Mode and 8K Video

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro night mode photo samples show what the GN2 sensor can do after dark. Night mode takes several frames and combines them, pulling detail out of shadows and keeping bright signs from blowing out. A city street at night, a lit building or a dinner table in a dim room all come out brighter and cleaner than a single exposure would manage. The mode takes a couple of seconds, so a steady hand helps, and the optical stabilisation covers small movements well. Compared with the standard Mi 11, the Pro’s night shots are cleaner, because the bigger sensor starts with more light before the software does its work.

Video is another strength. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro 8K video recording test figures are 8K at 24 frames per second, and the phone also records 4K at 30 or 60 frames per second with gyro-based stabilisation. In practice, 4K at 30 frames per second is the setting most owners should use, because it looks excellent, the files are manageable, and the stabilisation keeps walking footage smooth. 8K is there for those who want maximum detail and have the storage for it, but the files are large and most screens cannot show the difference. Slow motion goes up to 960 frames per second at 1080p, which is fun for water, pets and sports, and the audio from the stereo microphones is clear.

20MP Selfie Camera

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro selfie camera 20MP review is short and positive. The front camera sits in a small hole in the top of the screen, takes sharp selfies in good light, and handles video calls well. Portrait mode on the front camera blurs the background cleanly, and the beauty settings can be turned down or off, which most owners prefer. In low light the front camera is noisier than the rear cameras, which is normal for a small sensor, but for calls and social posts it is more than good enough. There is no autofocus on the front camera, so selfies are sharpest at arm’s length, which is where most people hold the phone anyway.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Battery Life and 67W Charging

A 5,000mAh battery powers the phone, and that capacity was generous for a 2021 flagship. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro battery life test results from launch reviews showed a full day of mixed use with charge to spare, and that remains true for a healthy battery in 2026. A day of messaging, browsing, maps, photos and an hour or two of video typically ends with 20 to 30 percent left. Heavy days with lots of gaming or 5G use will drain it faster, and the 2K 120Hz screen is the biggest single drain, so dropping the resolution or refresh rate on a long day is the easiest way to stretch the battery. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro battery is a lithium-polymer cell, and like every phone battery it loses capacity with age and with heat, so a second hand buyer should ask about battery health before paying.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro charging is where this phone still feels modern. It supports 67W wired charging and 67W wireless charging, a combination that was rare in 2021 and is still uncommon. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro 67W charging speed test showed a full charge in around 36 to 40 minutes with the wired charger, and wireless charging is nearly as fast with a compatible 67W wireless stand. That speed changes daily habits: a half-hour top-up while getting ready in the morning can add most of a day’s charge, and the worry about running out before dinner largely disappears.

Battery Life in a Normal Day

Screen-on time is the number owners care about, and the Mi 11 Pro typically delivers six to seven hours of screen-on time on a healthy battery with mixed use. That covers a working day for most people. Video streaming over Wi-Fi is efficient, and the phone sips power when idle, so it does not lose much overnight. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro battery drain overnight test figures from owner reports are usually 2 to 4 percent with the screen off, which is a good result and a sign that the software is not waking the phone needlessly. If a second hand unit loses 10 percent or more overnight, something is wrong, usually a misbehaving app or a tired battery, and it is worth checking before buying.

Power saving is simple to manage. The phone has a battery saver mode and an ultra battery saver mode, and the display settings let you choose resolution and refresh rate. Most owners find that 1080p at 120Hz is the sweet spot, keeping the smooth scrolling while saving a noticeable amount of power. 5G uses more power than Wi-Fi, so the phone’s option to prefer Wi-Fi when available is worth leaving on, and turning off 5G in an area with weak signal saves both battery and frustration.

67W Wired and Wireless Charging

67W wired and wireless charging is the most practical flagship feature on this phone, because it removes the daily anxiety about battery. The 67W charger was included in the box, which is worth noting at a time when many brands had stopped including chargers. The phone also supports 10W reverse wireless charging, so it can top up earbuds or a smartwatch placed on its back. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro reverse wireless charging 10W feature is slow, and it is best thought of as an emergency option for small accessories rather than a way to charge another phone.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro wireless charging 67W review numbers are impressive, but they need the right accessory. Standard wireless chargers will charge the phone more slowly, and only Xiaomi’s 67W wireless stand, or a compatible high-power stand with a fan, reaches the top speed. The phone warms up during fast wireless charging, which is normal, and the stand’s fan keeps temperatures in check. For most owners, the wired charger is the daily tool and wireless charging is the bedside convenience, and both are fast enough that charging stops being something you plan around.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11

The Mi 11 family has three members, and the Pro is the middle one. Understanding the differences is the quickest way to decide whether the Pro is the right choice, because the three phones share a chip and a screen size but differ in the camera and the battery. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra comparison is the most common one, since the two phones look almost identical from the front and share the GN2 main sensor, the 5,000mAh battery and the 67W charging. The Ultra adds a 48MP ultrawide, a 48MP periscope with 5x zoom and 120x digital zoom, a small 1.1-inch rear display, and faster 67W wired charging is shared while the Ultra’s wired charging is also 67W, so the real Ultra advantages are the extra cameras and the rear screen. The Pro is lighter, cheaper and simpler, and for most owners the Pro’s camera is already more than enough.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro design is shared with the Ultra in its essentials: a quad-curved 6.81-inch screen, an aluminium frame, glass on both sides, and a large rectangular camera module on the back. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro colours at launch were black, green and purple, all with a glossy finish that looks good and picks up fingerprints quickly. A case solves the fingerprint problem and protects the curved glass, and Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro cases are widely available and cheap, which is a practical advantage of a popular model. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro accessories are easy to find too, from screen protectors made for curved glass to 67W chargers and wireless stands. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro durability story is solid for a glass phone: Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, an aluminium frame, and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro IP68 water resistance rating, which covers submersion up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. That rating is a genuine step up from the standard Mi 11, which has no official IP rating at all.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro fingerprint sensor under display is an optical sensor that works quickly with a registered finger, and face unlock is available as a faster but less secure option. The sensor sits low on the screen, which takes a day to get used to, and it works through most thin screen protectors. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro stereo speakers Harman Kardon tuning gives the phone loud, clear sound with a surprising amount of bass for a phone, and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro speakers are among the best on any phone of 2021. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro audio through the speakers is good enough for video and casual music, and there is no 3.5mm headphone jack, so wired headphones need a USB-C adapter or a Bluetooth connection. Bluetooth 5.2 keeps a stable link to earbuds and speakers, and the sound quality over Bluetooth is clean.

Readers who want the fullest picture of the Ultra should look at the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Review: Design, Software and Camera Quality, which covers the rear display and the extra cameras in detail. The standard model is covered in the Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Photo Quality, Video and Performance, which explains what you give up by choosing the cheaper phone. Xiaomi’s later foldables take a different direction entirely, and the Xiaomi MIX Flip Review: Screens, Hinge and Battery Life shows how the company moved the flagship idea into a folding form. The first large Xiaomi foldable is covered in the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold Review: Portability, Performance and Battery, while the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 Review: Screens, Hinge and Battery Life covers the thinner second generation that followed it.

Mi 11 Pro Against the Mi 11 Ultra

The Ultra is the better camera phone, and that is its whole reason to exist. Its 48MP ultrawide and 48MP periscope produce sharper wide and zoomed shots than the Pro’s 13MP ultrawide and 8MP periscope, and the rear display is a handy viewfinder for selfies with the main camera. The Ultra is also heavier and more expensive, and its camera module is larger. For owners who photograph a lot, especially at wide angles and at long zoom, the Ultra earns its premium. For everyone else, the Pro gives the same main camera, the same screen, the same chip and the same battery for less money, and that is a strong argument. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra choice comes down to how much you value the secondary cameras, because everything else is close enough that daily use feels the same.

Mi 11 Pro Against the Standard Mi 11

The standard Mi 11 is the lighter, cheaper sibling, and the differences are clear. It has a 108MP main camera instead of the 50MP GN2, a smaller 4,600mAh battery, 55W wired charging instead of 67W, no periscope zoom lens, and no IP68 rating. The 108MP sensor sounds better on paper, but the GN2’s larger pixels gather more light, so the Pro takes cleaner photos in dim conditions. The Pro’s bigger battery and faster charging are felt every day, and the IP68 rating is real peace of mind near water. The standard Mi 11 is lighter and easier to hold, and it is cheaper, so it suits buyers who want a slim flagship and do not need the zoom or the water resistance. The Pro suits buyers who want the most complete phone of the three for daily use.

Mi 11 Pro Against the Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra comparison was the flagship fight of early 2021. Samsung’s phone had a 10x periscope zoom, an S Pen option and longer software support, while Xiaomi’s phone charged faster, cost less and had the larger main sensor. In daily use, the Samsung felt more polished in software, and its zoom reached further, but the Xiaomi charged in about half the time and its main camera produced cleaner low-light photos. Both phones have aged well, and on the second hand market the Xiaomi usually costs less, which makes it the better value of the two for buyers who do not need Samsung’s extra zoom reach or stylus.

Full Specifications

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro full specifications and price summary below lists the hardware exactly as Xiaomi shipped it, so you can check any detail without searching elsewhere. The phone launched in China at 4,999 yuan for the 8GB and 128GB model, with higher prices for the 256GB versions, and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro price in 2026 depends on condition and storage, with used examples typically selling for a fraction of the launch price. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro price check should always include the battery condition, because a cheap phone with a tired battery is not a bargain once a replacement is factored in. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro model number M2102K1AC identifies the Chinese version, which is the version most buyers will find, since the phone was not sold officially outside China.

Connectivity and Sensors

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro dual SIM 5G connectivity covers sub-6GHz 5G bands used in China and in many other markets, along with full 4G LTE support, so the phone works on modern networks wherever it is used. Wi-Fi 6e gives fast wireless speeds on a compatible router, Bluetooth 5.2 keeps audio stable, and NFC handles contactless payments where the payment app supports the device. The infrared port is a small extra that owners grow fond of, because it turns the phone into a remote control for a television or an air conditioner. The sensor set is complete for a flagship, including the under-display fingerprint reader, a gyro for stabilisation and gaming, and a colour spectrum sensor that helps the camera judge white balance in mixed lighting.

What Is in the Box

At launch the box contained the phone, a 67W charger, a USB-C cable, a protective case, a SIM ejector tool and paperwork. The included charger is a real advantage, since a 67W charger bought separately costs a noticeable amount, and the included case protects the phone on day one. Second hand buyers should check that the charger is included, because a slow third-party charger will not show what this phone can do, and the difference between a 10W charger and the 67W charger is the difference between a three-hour charge and a forty-minute one.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Software, MIUI 12.5 and Updates

The phone launched with Android 11 and MIUI 12.5, and a Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro MIUI 12.5 software review from that period found a fast, colourful interface with plenty of customisation and a few too many pre-installed apps. MIUI 12.5 was a meaningful step up from earlier versions, with smoother animations, better privacy controls and less clutter, though owners still spent time removing or disabling apps they did not want. Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro MIUI has always been a love-it-or-leave-it interface: the themes, the always-on display options and the gesture controls are genuinely useful, while the advertising in some system apps and the aggressive background app management annoy owners who prefer a cleaner Android experience.

Later software brought MIUI 13 and MIUI 14, each improving smoothness and trimming background activity, and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro software update to HyperOS arrived for Chinese units as Xiaomi moved its phones to the new system. HyperOS keeps the familiar MIUI look while improving performance and the connection between Xiaomi devices, and owners who received it report a smoother feel in daily use. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro update story is fair for a 2021 phone: several years of major updates and security patches, though a buyer in 2026 should expect updates to slow down or stop, and should check which version is installed before buying. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro 5G modem and its network features work with current networks, so the phone is not held back by its radio, only by the age of its software support.

MIUI 12.5 Features Worth Using

A few MIUI features are worth learning on day one. The second space feature keeps work and personal apps separate, the app lock protects sensitive apps with a fingerprint, and the floating windows let you answer a message without leaving a video. The control centre gives quick access to brightness, the torch, the calculator and smart home controls, and the always-on display shows the time and notifications without waking the phone. The camera app has a pro mode with manual controls for ISO, shutter speed and white balance, which is useful for owners who want more control than the automatic mode gives.

Updates: MIUI 14 and HyperOS

The move from MIUI 12.5 through MIUI 14 to HyperOS brought small but real improvements: faster app launches, less stutter when switching apps, and better battery management. Owners who updated report that the phone feels a little quicker after each major update, which is the opposite of the slowdown that older phones used to suffer. The practical advice for a second hand buyer is to install all available updates on the first day, then check the battery and the camera again, because updates sometimes change power behaviour. If the phone is still on MIUI 12.5, the update to a newer version is worth doing before judging daily performance.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Pros and Cons: Who Should Buy It in 2026

Every phone is a set of trade-offs, and the Mi 11 Pro is no exception. Its strengths are concentrated in the camera, the screen and the charging, while its weaknesses are the heat of its chip, the weight of its body and the age of its software support. A Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro specs sheet reads like a flagship even now, and in daily use the phone delivers on most of that promise. The question is not whether the phone is good, because it is, but whether it is the right phone for a particular buyer at a particular price. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro second hand value in 2026 depends on storage, condition and battery health, and a well-kept 256GB model is a better buy than a worn 128GB model at nearly the same price.

Pros

The main camera is the biggest pro. The 50MP GN2 sensor takes clean, detailed photos in daylight and holds up well after dark, and the 5x periscope zoom adds a reach that most phones at this price cannot match. The 6.81-inch 2K 120Hz AMOLED screen is still excellent, with bright HDR video and smooth scrolling. Charging is fast in both wired and wireless forms, so the phone is rarely tied to a cable for long. The 5,000mAh battery lasts a full day for most owners, the stereo speakers are loud and clear, and the IP68 rating protects against rain and accidents near water. As a 5G flagship with a Snapdragon 888 phone pedigree, it still handles every app and game a typical owner will run.

Cons

The Snapdragon 888 runs warm under sustained load, and long gaming sessions will heat the frame and trim performance. The phone is heavy at 208 g and large, so one-handed use is a stretch for most hands, and the curved glass is harder to protect. There is no microSD slot, so storage cannot be expanded, and the 13MP ultrawide camera is the weakest part of the camera system. Software support is winding down in 2026, and the phone was sold officially in China only, which means warranty service and network bands need checking before buying in another country. A 67W charging phone needs the right charger to reach its top speed, and the wireless charging needs a high-power stand, so the headline numbers depend on accessories that may not be in the box second hand.

Who It Is For

This Xiaomi phone suits a buyer who wants flagship camera and screen quality at a second hand price, and who is comfortable buying a Chinese-market phone. It suits photographers who want a large sensor and a real 5x zoom, video watchers who want a bright 2K HDR screen, and owners who hate waiting for a charge. It is less suited to buyers who want the longest possible software support, the lightest phone, or a warranty from a local shop. As an IP68 phone with fast charging and a strong camera, it remains a sensible buy in 2026, provided the price reflects its age and the battery is healthy.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro FAQ

Is the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro still good in 2026?

Yes, for most daily uses. The Snapdragon 888 still opens apps quickly, the GN2 camera takes good photos, the 2K 120Hz screen is still excellent, and 67W charging is still fast. The limits are heat during long gaming sessions, software support winding down, and battery wear on used units. If you buy a unit with a healthy battery at a fair second hand price, the phone is still good in 2026, and it is a better camera phone than most new phones at the same used price.

What is the difference between the Mi 11 Pro and the Mi 11 Ultra?

Both phones share the GN2 main camera, the Snapdragon 888, the 6.81-inch 2K 120Hz screen, the 5,000mAh battery and 67W charging. The Ultra adds a 48MP ultrawide, a 48MP periscope with 5x zoom, a 1.1-inch rear display, and a heavier body. The Pro has a 13MP ultrawide and an 8MP periscope instead, and it is lighter and cheaper. For most owners the Pro is the better value, and the Ultra is the choice for owners who photograph a lot at wide angles and long zoom.

Does the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro support wireless charging?

Yes, and it is fast. The phone supports 67W wireless charging with a compatible high-power stand, which fills the battery in roughly the same time as the wired charger. Standard wireless chargers work too, but at lower speeds. The phone also supports 10W reverse wireless charging, so it can top up earbuds or a watch placed on its back, though that feature is slow and best used for small accessories.

Is the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro waterproof?

The phone carries an IP68 rating, which means it is protected against dust and against submersion in fresh water up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. That covers rain, splashes and an accidental drop in a sink. It does not cover salt water, soapy water or a hot shower, and water damage is not covered by warranty. The rating also weakens with age as seals wear, so a used phone should be treated as water resistant rather than waterproof, and it is wise to keep it dry whenever possible.

When was the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro released?

The phone was announced on 29 March 2021 and released in China on 2 April 2021. It was sold officially in China only, so units found in other countries are imported Chinese models. The launch price was 4,999 yuan for the 8GB and 128GB version, with higher prices for the 256GB versions. On the second hand market in 2026, prices vary with storage, condition and battery health, and buyers should compare several listings before deciding.

The Mi 11 Pro is a reminder that a flagship ages best when its strengths are in the hardware that owners touch every day. A large camera sensor, a bright high-resolution screen, a big battery and fast charging do not become outdated as quickly as a benchmark score does. The Snapdragon 888 runs warm and the software support is ending, but the camera still takes photos worth keeping, the screen still makes video look good, and the charger still fills the battery before breakfast is finished. Check the battery, check the storage, and check the price against a newer mid-range phone. If the numbers work, the Mi 11 Pro is still a phone worth owning, and it is one of the best second hand flagships a Xiaomi fan can buy in 2026.