We’re nearing the end of yet another month, and that means it’s time for Microsoft to highlight what’s new in its Teams communication service for the month of November. This month, the biggest improvements have to do with real-time captions in meetings and a new to share content from the camera. As per usual, though, there are a lot of little things to go over.
For real-time captions during meetings, Microsoft is now rolling out the ability for captions to be displayed in the same window as the meeting is on. This way, instead of having to adjust two windows to see the meeting and locations at the same time, it’s much easier to keep with what’s being said while still seeing the people on the meeting.
The “content from camera” feature is far more interesting, though. This allows you to use any camera connected to your PC and select a specific portion of the image to share with others. For example, you can capture a whiteboard or document that’s in the camera’s view. Teams also applies image enhancements to this content so it’s more readable to other participants.
Rounding out the features for meetings, there’s a new word cloud feature for Teams polls. When you ask a question in Teams, you can easily see what the most popular words were in the replies.
Moving on to chat and collaboration features, Microsoft is now rolling out the first examples of Loop components in Teams chats. With Loop (formerly Fluid) components, you can share things like tables, lists, and so on, and everyone in the chat can collaborate on that item in real-time directly within Teams. Loop components will also be available in more places, so you can access and edit this information more easily from anywhere.
Microsoft has also improved the search feature in Teams in November. There’s a new section in the search suggestions dropdown box called “Top Hits”, which surfaces the most relevant results for your search terms – whether that’s people, groups, files, and so on. There’s also an update search results page that offers more context for each result. For example, you can search for “design” and see messages from people or documents including that word.
There are some new features for calling, specifically related to PSTN calls. IT admins can now set custom music to play for PSTN callers that are on hold. It’s also possible for IT admins to set custom rules for call parking, such as how long a call needs to be on hold before ringing again. It’s also now possible to route PSTN calls to unassigned numbers to other users or channels so callers can get some kind of response.
There’s also some news for Teams devices. There’s a new AudioCodes IP phone from AudioCodes featuring a 5-inch touchscreen and HD call quality. Meanwhile, Yealink has launched the UVC86, a 4K dual-eye camera with tracking support for medium and large meeting rooms, and it’s also launched a bundle including this new camera, a mini-PC, a touch panel, and a speakerphone, providing a complete setup for medium-sized meeting rooms.
For education users, Microsoft is making it possible to include content from third-party apps in assignments. There’s also integration with Microsoft Whiteboard so educators can include content from a whiteboard in the description or as reference material in an assignment. Microsoft has a separate blog post detailing new features for Teams education in November, including support for video recordings in assigments.
For frontline workers, tag management settings will be set to “Team owners and members” instead of just “Team owners”, though this can be changed. It’s also now possible to edit published tasks instead of having to recall an entire list of tasks to make edits to it.
On the management side of things, Microsoft has added the Surface Hub as a new type of device that can be managed from the Teams Admin Center, and there are also new filtering options to make it easier for admins to find the devices they want to take action on. Microsoft has also made it possible to remotely sign out of a Teams Android device from the Admin Center, so admins can provision a device and then log out from it more easily. For meetings, it’s now possible to set rules for certain users to be able to join meetings anonymously using a new policy.
There are new features for Power Platform apps and custom development, such as being able to share specific parts of an app to the meeting stage (where the video feeds appear). Microsoft Teams Connect is improving support for apps to be designed for channels shared with other organizations. Finally, tab actions for these apps are moving to a separate menu to help declutter the interface.
Finally, for government organizations, Teams is adding new features including the aforementioned caption improvements and anonymous user join policy for meetings. There are also features that were already available to other users before, including Presenter mode for sharing a presentation alongside your own video feed, a new assignment experience for users in breakout rooms, the ability to download attendance reports, and isolated audio feed capabilities. Additionally, teams of up to 25,000 members are now supported in GCC-High.
Last year, Google brought a new augmented reality (AR) experience to Search that allowed users to view an interactive 3D avatar of Baby Yoda on their smartphones. At the time, this was the only 3D object that Google Search had to offer. However, over time, Google has vastly expanded its 3D and AR model library with interactive models of animals, iconic anime characters, birds, and more. And now 3D monuments are joining the list.
When you search for a famous monument — the Eiffel tower, for example — Google Search on mobile now shows an interactive 3D model of the monument in search results (via 9to5Google). You’ll see a 3D model card with a View in 3D button. Tapping on the button loads up the 3D model which you can rotate and zoom into. Google Search has added 3D models for 98 monuments including the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Tower of London, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty National Monument, Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple, Leaning Tower of Pisa, and more.
The new 3D monuments are available on all devices running Android 7.0 Nougat and above and iOS 11 or later. When you search for an animal, place, or object, lookout for a “3D Model” card in search results.
You can find the full list of available 3D monuments below (courtesy 9to5Google).
The Google Pixel has always been designed to be the “iPhone of Android,” and the Pixel 6 Pro comes the closest to living up to that goal yet. In addition to sporting its own silicon for the first time, the Pixel 6 Pro also sees further software tweaks on top of Android 12 that make it feel different from typical Android devices — and dare we say it, more like an iOS. The iPhone 13 Pro, meanwhile, is a somewhat iterative update over last year’s iPhone 12 Pro, with most of the big upgrades coming in hardware components that Android phones have offered for years, like larger camera sensors and a high refresh display.
The iPhone vs Pixel debate is a fun one to have for tech geeks every year, but this is probably the first year where this debate matters (just slightly, but still) to the average consumer.
Click to expand: Google Pixel 6 Pro and Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Specifications
Google Pixel 6 Pro and Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Specifications
Specifications
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Build
Aluminum mid-frame
Gorilla Glass Victus back
Gorilla Glass Victus front
Stainless steel mid-frame
Glass front and back
“Ceramic Shield” for front glass
Dimensions & Weight
163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm
210 grams
iPhone 13 Pro:
146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.65mm
204g
Display
6.71″ AMOLED
3120 x 1440 pixels
variable 120Hz variable refresh rate
Super Retina XDR OLED:
iPhone 13 Pro: 6.1″
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6.7″
ProMotion 120Hz variable refresh rate
SoC
Google Tensor
Apple A15 Bionic
RAM & Storage
12GB RAM
128/256GB
RAM not disclosed
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery & Charging
5,000mAh
Wired fast charging up to 30W
Wireless charging up to 23W
Battery size not disclosed; Approximate size from regulatory filings:
iPhone 13 Pro: 3,125 mAh
Wired charging up to 20W
Wireless charging up to 7.5W
MagSafe charging up to 15W
Security
Optical in-display fingerprint reader
Face ID
Rear Camera(s)
Primary: 50MP wide, Samsung GN1, f/1.57, 1/1.31″
Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2
Tertiary: 48MP Periscope, f/3.5
Primary: 12MP wide, f/1.5 aperture, 1.9μm
Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/1.8 aperture
Tertiary: 12MP telephoto, 3x optical zoom, f/2.8
LiDAR camera
Front Camera(s)
11MP
12MP TrueDepth camera system
Port(s)
USB-C
Lightning
Audio
Stereo speakers
Stereo speakers
Connectivity
5G (mmWave)
Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave)
Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0
NFC
Software
Android 12
iOS 15
Other Features
Dual physical SIM
Dual physical SIM or Dual eSIM support
About this review: This comparison was written after testing a Google Pixel 6 Pro that XDA purchased and an iPhone 13 Pro provided by Apple, for several weeks. Google Ireland did provide my colleague Adam Conway with a Pixel 6 Pro review unit, but it was not used in this piece. Neither company had any input in this article.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Hardware
Design, looks, in-hand feel
While the Pixel is beginning to increasingly feel like an iPhone software-wise, on the hardware front, it is as opposite as it gets. While the iPhone 13 Pro is mostly hard corners and flat sides, with a professional, yet cold and mechanical vibe — it would resemble the rectangular monolith in 2001: Space Odyssey if it came in an all-black colorway — the Pixel 6 Pro is curvy, colorful, playful (unless you got the very dull deep grey color which I got).
Despite the Pixel 6 Pro bringing a bigger 6.7-inches screen to the iPhone 13 Pro’s 6.1-inches, the Pixel 6 Pro is easier to hold for me, because of the aforementioned curves, and also because the Pixel 6 Pro, like almost all Android phones, use a more elongated aspect ratio than the iPhone. So while the Pixel 6 Pro is taller, it’s less wide horizontally at 75.9mm to the iPhone 13 Pro’s 78.1mm.
Both phones offer OLED screens with a refresh rate up to 120Hz, but the Pixel’s display is more pixel-dense, the iPhone 13 Pro’s screen gets noticeably brighter — and it’s the latter that will matter in real world use. However, the iPhone’s screen is also interrupted by a giant notch, while the Pixel has a small hole-punch, so you’re getting a lot more screen on the Pixel 6 Pro than iPhone 13 Pro.
Cameras
The Pixel 6 Pro is better at capturing still wide and zoom images, while the iPhone is better at ultra-wide photos and overall video performance
After years of using pedestrian camera hardware (at least relative to what Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi offer), both Apple and Google finally stepped up this year with newer, better hardware. The Pixel 6 Pro sees the bigger jump, upgrading its sensors to a 50MP GN1 sensor with a large 1/1.31-inch sensor, along with a 48MP Periscope zoom lens and 12MP ultra-wide. The iPhone 13 Pro, meanwhile, brings back a familiar feeling triple 12MP main system, but every lens gets a larger sensor, including a relatively big bump up for the main camera (still smaller than the Pixel’s 1/1.31-inch though), and an improved 3x telephoto zoom (which, also, is inferior to the Pixel’s 4x Periscope zoom). Selfie camera hardware remains mostly unchanged for both phones: 11MP for the Pixel 6 Pro, 12MP for the iPhone 13 Pro.
I’ve covered the camera systems of both phones in an in-depth camera shootout, so please check that out if you want to know more. But the long story short is that I find the Pixel is a bit better at capturing still images with the main and zoom cameras, while the iPhone is better at ultra-wide photos and video performance.
As for which phone looks better? Judging the back of the phone is a subjective exercise, and I like both backs equally. I love the unique visor and two-tone finish in the “Sorta Sunny” colorway of the Pixel 6 Pro, but the iPhone 13 Pro, with its stainless steel flat railings and hard corners, looks like a professional, polished machine.
You can argue either way — for the backside. If we’re talking about the front, I think the Pixel objectively wins because the hole-punch takes up so much less space than the notch.
Generally speaking, iPhones have historically been more powerful and with better battery efficiency than Android counterparts even if the latter phones pack more RAM or a larger battery. The main reason for that is because Apple designs its own SoC and software, giving it total control over hardware and software, creating better synergy between the two. No Android phone has achieved this total level of control until the Pixel 6 series, because this is the first device to run on Google’s own SoC, the Tensor.
The iPhone 13 Pro’s 4498 multi-core score trumps the Pixel 6 Pro’s 2749.
While Tensor isn’t as powerful as the iPhone 13 Pro’s A15 Bionic, it does allow the Pixel 6 Pro to do a lot of on-device computing in terms of image and language processing the way other Android phones cannot.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Software
Both the iPhone 13 Pro and Google Pixel 6 Pro were released with the newest version of their respective software: iOS 15 and Android 12. We’ll start with the latter since Android 12 is the biggest visual overhaul to Android in years.
Android 12
Google coined this big overhaul “Material You,” an evolution of the “Material Design” first introduced way back in Android 5. Material You, as the name implies, is a more customizable aesthetic that aims to provide a different aesthetic that suits each individual user. To do so, the Pixel 6 Pro utilizes a theme engine codenamed “monet” that identifies the colors being used in the wallpaper, and then builds a pastel-colored theme around which your Pixel 6 Pro’s UI revolves.
For my Pixel 6 Pro, the monet engine came up with a light pink tone that can be seen throughout the phone’s interface, and I really like it. Particularly, in the camera app, such a playful color really makes the interface pop, because I’ve spent a decade-plus seeing smartphone camera apps that almost always come in a black-and-white color scheme. In terms of looks, I love almost everything about the Pixel version of Android 12, except for one nitpick which I’ll come back to later because it ties into a bigger rant.
Moving beyond just looks, Android 12 also brings new privacy features, such as Privacy Dashboard, an all-in-one page that shows you exactly what data each app has accessed in the past 24 hours. The information is presented in a linear timeline, so you get a clear idea of, for example, just how many times Instagram accessed your locations in one afternoon.
There are also new indicators, in the form of a green oval icon or dot, that will let you know anytime an app is using the Pixel 6 Pro’s camera or microphone. This feature is great, but it’s also lifted wholesale from iOS. In fact, Android 12 borrows quite a lot from iOS, including a new one-hand mode that behaves exactly like iOS’s take, which is distinctly different from every other one-hand mode on other Android phones. Basically, brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Vivo have long offered a one-hand mode that shrinks the display both in height and width. The Pixel’s take, only brings down the top of the screen (meaning the screen is just as wide as before), just like how iPhone has been doing it for over five years.
The Pixel 6 Pro’s one-hand mode (left) and iPhone 13 Pro’s “reachability” (right).
I don’t like this move at all, not just because it’s such a blatant copy of what Apple has been doing (even the action to trigger it is exactly the same), but other Android brands’ one-hand mode is just better because it shrinks the screen’s width as well. Many people with smaller hands have trouble one-hand typing on modern smartphones because their thumb can’t reach all the way across horizontally.
Now, before Android fans grab their pitchforks, I am well aware iOS has also lifted features from Android, like widgets on homescreen. I am not against brands copying, and I think every phone brand at this point has lifted ideas. My gripe is that Google is lifting elements of iOS that make Android less customizable than before. For example, the bar at the bottom of the screen (to show users where to swipe) can be hidden in almost every other Android skin for a cleaner look, but the Pixel launcher must show that bar at all times — just like iOS.
Another example: there are two widgets on a Pixel launcher’s homescreen — the Google search bar and Date/Weather widget — that cannot be removed. This drives me crazy because one of the biggest appeals of Android to me is I can (or used to) customize the homescreen entirely as I saw fit. If I want, I could have just one app on the entire homescreen. You can’t do that with the Pixel launcher anymore, because the Google search bar must sit at the bottom, and the Date/Weather widget must sit at the top. This sounds a bit draconian, like iOS.
As my colleague Adam Conway wrote in his in-depth review of Android 12: “the Pixel launcher is very much the iOS launcher of the Android world.”
iOS 15
Aesthetically speaking, iOS 15 doesn’t change much from iOS 14 — the biggest visual overhaul comes in Safari, where the address bar has been moved to the bottom of the screen — but Apple introduces features that improve usability, like the ability to share FaceTime links with Android phone users, and SharePlay, which allows iPhone users to watch videos or listen to music together during FaceTime calls. These are likely big upgrades for many who live in North America, and perhaps the UK, where FaceTime is apparently quite popular among Apple users. But I live in Hong Kong, where like the rest of the world excluding the aforementioned North America and UK, we mostly rely on third-party chat apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, etc.
iOS 15 also brings slightly improved notifications (which still sucks, by the way — it just sucks a bit less), and the ability for Siri to handle some tasks offline (this, to be fair, has been available on Google Assistant for years). For the most part, iOS 15 is a minor upgrade, because last year’s iOS 14 was the one that brought big changes, like the addition of widgets. Still, if you use other Apple products, iOS’s integration with those devices works great. A lot of existing features, like AirDrop, or Private Relay, still work very well.
As for which OS I prefer? I have always preferred Android over iOS and this remains true. I like Android’s more conventional file system, notification management, and completely free home-screen grid that lets me place apps almost anywhere on the screen. However, the Pixel launcher slowly “locking things” on the homescreen has taken away from that a bit.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13 Pro: Performance
We’ve already established that Apple’s A15 Bionic has more raw power than the Google Tensor, but this doesn’t show itself in the real world much — both phones will zip around and launch apps fine. The only time I notice the A15 Bionic’s superiority is when I’m exporting videos, whether they’re 360 videos via Insta360’s app, or just rendering short clips I’ve shot for Instagram Stories, the A15 Bionic renders videos at lightning speed, while the Tensor (or any Snapdragon 888 device) take noticeably longer. I’m not talking about twice as long, but like three to four times as long.
With that said, the Tensor can do some amazing things, because Google designed it to prioritize the things Google is very skilled at, such as machine learning. To that end, the Tensor has allowed the Pixel 6 series to achieve the best-in-class real-time text-to-speech transcription and real-time language translation I’ve ever seen on any computing device. The voice-to-text transcription, in particular, works so well that it has changed the way I use WhatsApp: I now prefer to use my voice to dictate responses instead of typing out the words with my hands.
Apple, of course, also made a major push towards machine learning with the A15 Bionic, and it, too, is capable of some groundbreaking computational tasks, like creating somewhat realistic-looking artificial bokeh in videos (better known as “Cinematic Mode”).
Either way, neither phone will leave you disappointed whether you’re using it for work or play — for the latter, however, I prefer the Pixel 6 Pro’s less interrupted screen, but then the iPhone 13 Pro has louder, fuller stereo speakers.
Battery life
The Pixel 6 Pro has a much larger 5,000 mAh battery than the iPhone 13 Pro’s 3,125 mAh, but I find the iPhone 13 Pro’s battery life to be a bit better. I have been using both phones heavily over the past few weeks, and the iPhone 13 Pro has almost always lasted me a full day easily — even a heavy use 15-hour day out and about. The Pixel 6 Pro, however, has ran dangerously close to 0% a few times. If I have to give a rough estimate, I’d say the iPhone 13 Pro can go an extra two to three hours on a single charge for my usage. I attribute this to a couple of reasons: the Pixel 6 Pro is probably using high refresh more often, and since this is the first time Google is using its own bespoke SoC (which isn’t entirely 100% designed by Google anyway, as it has roots in Samsung’s Exynos 2100), Google hasn’t mastered the hardware/software synergy as efficiently as Apple.
Google Pixel 6 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro: Conclusion
Usually, when I do these iPhone vs Android comparisons, I always conclude that the Android phone may have better cameras or more immersive screens, but it can’t match the iPhone’s uniqueness, because Apple is the only one making iOS products, while there are several brand making Android phones. For example, as much as I really like the OnePlus 9 Pro, does it really feel that much different from the OPPO Find X3 Pro?
And so I think what Google has done with the Pixel 6 Pro — giving it several exclusive features and a distinctive UI that’s different from vanilla Android — is the right move. It gives the Pixel personality and individuality. Google has clearly been trying to make the Pixel the iPhone of the Android world, and with the Pixel 6 Pro, Google has come the closest yet.
Google has clearly been trying to make the Pixel the iPhone of the Android world, and with the Pixel 6 Pro, Google has come the closest yet
For me personally, I have chosen to carry the Pixel 6 Pro over the iPhone 13 Pro (and anything else I have) right now as my daily driver, because the Pixel 6 Pro’s voice dictation is a game changer, I love the whimsical aesthetics of Pixel UI (dare I say … MIUI-like?) and I think the Pixel 6 Pro has the second best camera system on the market right now (behind the Vivo X70 Pro Plus).
But let’s face it, the iPhone 13 Pro is still going to outsell the Pixel 6 Pro several hundred times over because it’s so much more widely available, and it has a wide ecosystem of companion products like earbuds, headphones, tablets, computers. This here, is the endgame for Google. Making the Pixel 6 Pro close to the iPhone in personality and exclusivity is just the first step. Google needs to work on having a wider retail presence and eco-system of products.
As it is right now, the Pixel 6 Pro remains a niche device for techies and Android fans. The majority of average consumers across the world are still choosing Apple or Samsung.
The YouTube app on Android TV is getting a small UI tweak that changes how it handles playlists. Previously, when you clicked on a YouTube playlist, the app would automatically start playing the entire playlist. But that behavior is finally going away with the new playlist UI.
As spotted by 9to5Google, the YouTube app on Android TV/Google TV and other smart TV platforms has gained a new playlist UI. The new interface displays the name of the playlist along with “Play all,” “Loop,” and “Save to Library” buttons on the left side, with the videos appearing on the left side. You can hit the “Play All” button to start playing the playlist in sequence or click on any video from the list that you want to play.
New YouTube playlist UI (Image credit: 9to5Google)
The new playlist UI is rolling out to Android TV and Google TV devices with the latest YouTube app update, version 2.15.498 to be precise. The new behavior is also rolling out on other TV platforms such as Samsung TV. If you own an Android TV or Google TV-powered device and want to check out the revamped playlist interface, update the YouTube app to the latest version. However, as 9to5Google notes, it’s likely a server-side rollout and thus may not be directly tied to the app version.
Last month Google announced a slew of new features for Google TV, the new interface that runs on top of Android TV. The latest update finally brings proper multi-user profile support, new glanceable cards in ambient mode, and more. Google also recently added a new virtual remote to the Google Home app for controlling Android TV and Google TV devices.
Have you received the new YouTube playlist UI on your Android TV or Google TV device? Let us know in the comments below.
Swift Playgrounds was first revealed during WWDC in 2016. The app initially would only work on iPads, but Apple has recently expanded support to include macOS, too. Last June, the company announced during WWDC21 that Swift Playgrounds 4 would allow iPadOS users to publish iOS apps directly from their iPads, without needing Xcode on a Mac. It seems like the stable release of version 4 is right around the corner, for Apple is already beta testing it with a group of developers.
As 9to5Mac reports, Apple is testing the new Swift Playgrounds version with some developers. Ironically, invited participants have to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to access the TestFlight build. If you’re not sure what this app is all about, Swift Playgrounds teaches the basics of coding. It’s aimed at beginners and allows them to grasp new concepts through practical exercises. By writing your own code, you will be able to solve missions and puzzles. The illustrations are colorful and fun, but even a young adult would enjoy solving them. Advanced programmers won’t be able to learn much from it, though.
Until now, the app doesn’t allow users to publish their projects on the App Store. However, it appears this might be changing relatively soon. When Swift Playgrounds 4 becomes public, users will be able to submit their apps for review, run them in full screen mode, preview live edits, collaborate, and more. This change would bring the iPad a step closer to becoming a laptop replacement. It’s also worth mentioning that the source has confirmed that some features require iPadOS 15.2 — which is still in beta testing. So Apple could possibly be releasing version 4 along with iPadOS 15.2 in the upcoming month or two.
Will you be building and publishing your own apps from an iPad? Let us know in the comments section below.
Epic’s long-awaited Rocket League Sideswipe mobile game is now available for everyone on Android and iOS. Psyonix, the team behind Rocket League, revealed in March that it was planning to bring a new, standalone Rocket League experience designed specifically for mobiles later this year. Following the announcement, the company opened up Alpha and Beta tests for the new game in select regions, allowing select users to try out the mobile title ahead of the public release. And now, the game is officially out worldwide.
In a tweet today, Psyonix announced the global rollout of Rocket League Sideswipe on iOS and Android. The app is free to play, with in-app purchases unlocking cosmetics and Rocket Pass.
Rocket League Sideswipe follows along with the usual car soccer formula adapted from the Rocket League PC title. Matches unfold from a side-scroller view, with players competing on the field in 1v1 or 2v2 matches. The game features fast-paced, 2 min matches. You can play privately with your friends or compete with players around the world using the “Competitive Matches” mode. Rocket League Sideswipe is now available for download on the Google Play Store and the App Store on iOS.
“From the makers of Rocket League, car soccer has been reimagined for mobile devices! Get in the game with the intuitive touch controls. It’s as simple as putting the ball in your opponent’s net, but watch out! Your opponent will try to score too. Hit your boost to go faster, or use it to get off the ground and into the air to pull off some siiiick maneuvers in the air leaving your opponent in awe,” reads the game’s Play Store description.
The game is currently in the Pre-season period, allowing players to get familiar with the game and unlock customization items. Psynoix says the details about Season 1 will be shared soon. Rocket League Sideswipe is now available for download on the Google Play Store and the App Store on iOS.
The Redmi Note series of devices are extremely popular in India. Every year, Xiaomi provides a package that has solid specifications at a competitive price — a mantra that has worked wonders in a price-sensitive market like India. Earlier this year, the Redmi Note 10 series made headlines by launching with up to a 120Hz AMOLED display and a 108MP camera on the Pro Max variant. It even featured on our best phones to buy in India list for the overall value offered. Now, Xiaomi is following it up with the Redmi Note 11 series and it’s beginning with the Redmi Note 11T 5G in India.
The Redmi Note 11 series has already been launched in China. We’re expecting all the devices in the series to make their way to India gradually. But for now, Xiaomi is only launching the Redmi Note 11T 5G, which was launched in China as the POCO M4 Pro 5G. As the name clearly suggests, the Redmi Note 11T is a 5G-enabled smartphone making it the first 5G phone in the Redmi Note series in India. This is more like a successor to the POCO M3 Pro than a Redmi Note 11 series device since there are a few compromises to accommodate 5G while keeping the price low.
Unlike the devices in the Redmi Note 10 series, the Redmi Note 11T 5G has an IPS LCD display. While LCD displays aren’t really inferior, they are a minor step-down from the gorgeous AMOLED panels found on the Redmi Note 10 Pro. Then again, this phone is mainly for those looking for a 5G phone on a budget, so Redmi had to cut some corners. It is a 90Hz panel, though, so scrolling and navigating through the UI is going to be smooth.
In terms of internal hardware, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset which is quite powerful. Of course, it’s a 5G-enabled SoC. But since there has been no development regarding 5G networks in India so it probably still doesn’t make a lot of sense to prioritize 5G while buying a phone in the country. Especially at this price range. 4G phones offering better specifications for the same price make more sense right now given that 5G is still a long time away from becoming mainstream in the country.
Xiaomi has surprisingly opted to put just two cameras on the Redmi Note 11T 5G. There’s a 50MP primary sensor accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide. Generally, we see two other cameras being added onto phones in this segment, plainly for a marketing advantage. Thankfully, the two 2MP sensors for depth and monochrome shots have been dropped for good. The front houses a 16MP selfie shooter inside the hole-punch cutout.
A 5,000mAh battery is what runs the show with support for 33W fast-charging via the USB-C port. There’s also a headphone jack and an IR blaster in typical Redmi fashion. MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 is what you get out of the box in terms of software.
Pricing and Availability
The Redmi Note 11T will go on sale from 7 December in India on both Amazon as well as Mi.com. The phone will be sold in three variants — 6+64GB for ₹16,999, 6GB+128GB for ₹17,999 and 8+128GB for ₹19,999. We’re expecting Xiaomi to launch other phones in the Redmi Note 11 series in India sometime soon, so stay tuned for those if you’re in the market to buy a good mid-range smartphone!
