Take a quick look at your smartphone. More likely than not, you have a case of some sort on it. And why wouldn’t you? A smartphone is an expensive purchase and you want to protect that purchase from being ruined. So, shouldn’t you extend the same logic to your Nintendo Switch? I’d argue that a Switch is even more fragile than a smartphone! So, you’ll definitely want to get a Nintendo Switch protective case!
These are different from a Switch travel case, as a protective case actually goes on the Switch itself, much like a smartphone case. We’ve rounded up both the best Nintendo Switch protective cases, as well as Nintendo Switch Lite protective cases, so you can pick the best one for you!
Nintendo Switch Protective Cases
The original Nintendo Switch is bigger than the Lite, and the cases you can get for it need to account for the detachable Joy-Cons as well. Not to mention docking the console! Be careful though, as not all of these cases will be compatible with one of our favorite Nintendo Switch controllers, the Hori Split Pad Pro.
If you want a great all-rounder case, you'll want Mumba's dockable Switch protective case. The case is dockable, allows you to take the Joy-Cons off the Switch, and gives you extra grip when playing portably.
If you're going to get a Nintendo Switch protective case, why not go with one that makes your console look beautiful? OMKUY's hard Switch and Joy-Con cases have a nice gradient design that will make your console stand out.
JETech's Switch case actually goes over the corners of the Joy-Cons, providing extra protection on the notoriously fragile controllers. You can still slide them in and out, too!
The VANJUNN Nintendo Switch protective case affixes to the front and back of the Switch, as well as two Joy-Cons. This one protects both the console and the screen from scratches and nicks!
How about a protective case and travel case in one purchase? The ProCase for the Nintendo Switch has a detachable front cover, so you can remove it when you're gaming, and place it back on for screen protection and slip it into a bag!
Not worry about trying to get your Joy-Cons out of your Switch? FINTIE's silicone protective case fully encases your Switch. It's anti-slip and has a great grip, nor does it compromise protection for functionality.
Since the Nintendo Switch Lite is purely a portable device without detachable Joy-Cons, grabbing the right protective case is a little less intimidating.
The Switch Lite is a pretty thin console, and for those with bigger hands can find them cramping up quick. Mumba's Nintendo Switch Lite protective case gives you an extra bit of grip as well as protection.
You can never go wrong with an official case! HORI's DuraFlexi Nintendo Switch Lite protective case provides see-through, soft protection, and will definitely fit since Nintendo themselves approved it
If you just want something slim and simple, you can't go wrong with MoKo's case! This is a simple silicone case that matches your Switch Lite, and protects your system against scratches and nicks.
Ziidii's Switch Lite protective case is special because the back grips can double as a stand! The Switch Lite doesn't have a kickstand like the original Switch, so this case gives the Switch Lite the same functionality.
How about a protective case and travel case in one purchase? The ProCase for the Nintendo Switch has a detachable front cover, so you can remove it when you're gaming, and place it back on for screen protection and slip it into a bag!
Who doesn't love a unique design with their case? BENTOBEN's Switch Lite case has a special space-themed background that looks great. Like the other cases on this round-up, it'll protect against shocks and falls too!
So which Nintendo Switch protective case should you get? For the normal Switch, I’d recommend the JETech case myself, as it provides all-around protection, yet still lets you remove the Joy-Cons as needed. The clear VANJUNN case is a close runner up, though. It’s really simple, yet really effective! For the Switch Lite, I like the ProCase Flip Cover, as it makes it super easy to take my Switch Lite on the go. You can’t beat something that works as both a protective case and a travel case!
Which case do you use with your Switch? Let us know in the comments!
As the flood of Android 11 custom ROMs continues to flow through, more and more devices are seeing the fruits of Google’s latest and greatest version of Android. We’ve seen everything from an Android 11 GSI being made available for Project Treble-enabled devices to a device booting Android 11, which was never intended to run Android in the first place. The custom ROM ecosystem is rather large and diverse, but if you consider yourself a true flashaholic, then the name “OmniROM” should ring a bell. The team behind this popular custom ROM started rebasing the project on top of Android 11 since a while, and they are now confident enough to publish official weekly builds. The first set of OmniROM 11 builds based on Android 11 are now available for the ASUS ZenFone 6 and the Redmi K20 Pro/Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro.
Of the initial two additions to the OmniROM 11 build roster, the ZenFone 6 (sold as the ASUS 6Z in India) has already received its Android 11 update back in December 2020. And now that an official build of OmniROM is available for the device, other custom ROM developers can use it as a base for their own work. Hopefully, the Android 11 custom development scene starts to pick up for the device from here out. This build is maintained by XDA Senior Member micky387.
The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro, which is also known as the Redmi K20 Pro in some regions, has also picked up an official build of OmniROM 11 thanks to XDA Senior Member scanno. Before you proceed to install the ROM, make sure your phone is bootloader unlocked and you have flashed the latest stable MIUI firmware.
As it’s the case with all initial custom ROM releases, the preliminary device roster for OmniROM based on Android 11 will start out small and will expand with time as maintainers and developers complete the device bring-up process for their respective devices.
gReader, a popular RSS reader app, is receiving a new update on Google Play Store as the app marks an official return after a near 4 year hiatus. The v4.0.3 was the last update to the app and that was rolled out all the way back in March 2017.
This new update (via Reddit), v5.0.1, brings much-needed features and improvements to the RSS reader, including a dark mode for article view, better video and podcast playback, and bug fixes. In case you’re not familiar, the gReader is a free RSS client that lets you organize and read all your favorite news sources in one place. You can configure it with your Feedly account, The Olde Reader, or Inoreader, with the option to organize your feed in a list, grid, or card layout.
gReader 5.0.1 changelog:
Newest gReader release with many improvements and bug fixes
Better video playback
Better podcast playback
Dark mode for article view
Bug fixes and improvements
At its prime, gReader was one of the most popular RSS clients out there. But over time, the lack of app development saw users migrating to alternative options such as Inoreader and Feedly. With this new update, gReader is here to remind us that it’s still alive and kicking, ready to win back users it had once lost while also aiming to make new fans down the road with its simple and intuitive design.
The gReader shot to popularity after the demise of Google Reader. To this day, it continues to remain a top choice for anyone who wants a simple, no-frills RSS client. It’s not as feature-rich or modern looking as something like Inoreader but gets the job done pretty well.
The gReader is free to use in its ad-supported version. It also has a premium version that removes ads and unlocks additional features such as support for podcasts, voice reading, and custom notifications. The new update is live on the Google Play Store and you can grab it from the link below.
WhatsApp is testing a new feature where users will be able to mute videos before sharing them with a contact. The feature is said to have made its way to the latest beta update of WhatsApp with version number 2.21.3.13. Users that are on the latest beta build should have the ability to mute videos by tapping on the volume toggle which is available while editing the video right before sharing.
First spotted by WaBetaInfo, it is noteworthy that the ability to mute videos before sharing is already available on Instagram for a while now under direct messaging. Essentially the same feature is being tested under beta and should eventually make its way for all users. The feature was also spotted in a previous beta build in November last year but it seems that it is being rolled out for users to try in the latest beta.
Image: WaBetaInfo
Feature additions to the social messaging platform are slow to come. To its credit, the messaging giant recently added an extra layer of security to its platform for users logging into WhatsApp Web and the desktop app. Users who now want to log into WhatsApp on their PC can authenticate a login request using their fingerprint or face data present on their smartphone. This new security layer replaces the old process of scanning a QR code using your smartphone camera, which was fairly simple but deemed as safe.
WhatsApp is also facing a hard time in India after the company announced a new privacy policy last month. The messaging platform faced a lot of backlash for not fully educating its users on the various changes, especially the implications of data sharing with Facebook. While many users were seen moving to alternative apps like Telegram and Signal, the government of India asked WhatsApp to withdraw its new privacy policy immediately. In a letter written to WhatsApp head Will Cathcart, the IT ministry pointed out that the changes raise “grave concerns” when it comes to the implication for choice and autonomy of Indian citizens. The government also said that users in India are being subjected to differential treatment when compared to users in Europe.
After debuting the Mi 11 in China last year, Xiaomi today launched the Snapdragon 888-powered flagship in Europe. The flagship device features a gorgeous QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 108MP triple camera charging, and a 4,600mAh battery with 55W wired fast charging support. While Xiaomi has packed the Mi 11 with almost everything that you’d expect from a flagship phone in 2021, there’s one crucial component missing in the Mi 11’s retail package — a charger. Thankfully, a Xiaomi spokesperson has confirmed to us that the company will ship a 55W GaN charger in the European market.
When Xiaomi first unveiled the Mi 11 in China last year, the company confirmed that it would ship the smartphone without a charger in the box. However, the company gave early buyers an option to pick up a 55W GaN charger (worth ~$15) at no additional cost. While this offer was only extended to early buyers in China, Xiaomi seems to have had a change of mind for the European market. All Xiaomi Mi 11 devices purchased in Europe will come with a 55W GaN charger.
During the recently live-streamed launch event, Xiaomi confirmed that it will ship a 55W GaN in the box. This means that the device will ship in new retail packaging in Europe. The Xiaomi Mi 11 will be available at a starting price of €749 for the 8GB+128GB variant. To learn more about the device, click on this link and head over to our announcement post.
Xiaomi has just launched its Mi 11 flagship in Europe, and I’ve been testing the European/International unit for the past four days. Prior to putting my SIM into Xiaomi’s latest, I had been testing the Samsung Galaxy S21 series extensively. So the question I set out to answer when I received Xiaomi’s new phone is: How does the base Xiaomi Mi 11 compare to Samsung’s flagship, particularly the base Galaxy S21 (and also the S21 Plus for good measure)?
I don’t think it’s fair to compare the Xiaomi Mi 11 against the Galaxy S21 Ultra, because the latter is Samsung’s absolute top premium offering, and its pricing reflects that. As of the time of this writing, I don’t know the exact price of each Mi 11 variant in all markets, but we were told that it starts at €749 for the 8GB + 128GB variant. This means for consumers in Europe, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is priced right below the base Samsung Galaxy S21.
Xiaomi Mi 11 versus Samsung Galaxy S21: Specifications
Simultaneous audio sharing with two Bluetooth devices
IP68 water resistance
Samsung DeX
Samsung Knox
Design and hardware: Xiaomi feels more premium
The Xiaomi Mi 11 is a typical sleek glass-and-aluminum sandwich with a 6.8-inch, 120Hz AMOLED screen. While Xiaomi’s display panel doesn’t have the intelligent variable refresh rate of the Galaxy S21 series, its 3,200 x 1,440 resolution (WQHD+) panel is superior to the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus’ 2,400 x 1,080 panels. Honestly, I believe that 1080p is more than enough for human eyes on a small-ish phone screen, so if I must pick a winner, I’d say the Galaxy S21’s variable refresh rate is a more important feature than the Mi 11’s “more pixels.”
Mi 11 and S21 Plus
Nonetheless, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s screen is awesome. It curves on all four sides (like the Huawei P40 Pro), has a 480Hz touch sampling rate and a 5,000,000:1 color contrast ratio, and supports HDR 10+. I’ve held the Xiaomi Mi 11 side by side with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (the big dog phone) and both screens look equally gorgeous to my eyes.
Mi 11 and S21 Ultra
The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus are identical in look but differ in size and back material. The standard Galaxy S21 uses a plastic back (the S21 Plus keeps the glass back). It doesn’t matter that Samsung did a good job to make the plastic not feel plasticky, the reality is the decision to use plastic is a cost-cutting measure by Samsung, so if we’re comparing the Xiaomi Mi 11 to just the standard Galaxy S21, one phone is clearly more premium. The Galaxy S21 Plus fares much better against the Xiaomi Mi 11 in terms of in-hand feel and construction.
The Galaxy S21 and the Mi 11
Inside, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888, while the Galaxy S21 series uses either Qualcomm’s SoC or Samsung’s own Exynos 2100. All the Galaxy S21 phones I’ve tested were Snapdragon versions, so I have no idea how Exynos 2100 fares against the Snapdragon 888. But the general consensus seems to favor Qualcomm’s SoC. If that’s the case, then the Xiaomi Mi 11 has an SoC advantage in Europe and Southeast Asia, where Samsung ships Exynos-powered devices.
The Galaxy S21 Plus fares much better against the Xiaomi Mi 11 in terms of in-hand feel than the S21
The Galaxy S21 phones are all rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, while Xiaomi’s Mi 11 has no official rating. However, Xiaomi wins the speaker battle: Its stereo speakers, fine-tuned by Harman/Kardon (coincidentally a Samsung subsidiary), pump out noticeably fuller, louder, more vibrant audio than any of the S21 phones.
Moving over to the battery, the Galaxy S21 Plus and S21 pack a 4,800 mAh and 4,000 mAh cell respectively compared to the Xiaomi Mi 11’s 4,600 mAh, but Xiaomi’s battery can be topped up at 55W wired or 50W wireless speeds, while Samsung’s charging speeds feel pedestrian at 25W wired and 15W wireless. Also, contrary to its decision in China, Xiaomi decided to include a 55W charging brick with the Mi 11 in its international packaging; Samsung does not.
Cameras: trading blows
The Xiaomi Mi 11’s camera system consists of a 108MP sensor with a large 1/1.33″ sensor size, along with a 13MP ultra wide-angle camera and a 5MP macro sensor. The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus have identical camera systems: a 12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and a 64MP telephoto.
For still photos, if I’m viewing images on the phone screen or on social media, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s photos look very similar to the Galaxy S21’s photos.
However, if I blow images up to full size and pixel peep on a computer monitor, Xiaomi’s photos are sharper thanks to the Mi 11’s 108MP camera pixel-bins for 27MP shots, while the Galaxy S21 phones just use a rather average 12MP sensor that’s more than a year old.
100% cropped shots, Mi 11 (left), S21 (right).
The script flips for photos after the sun sets: If I’m viewing just on a phone screen, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s shots keep up very well against the Galaxy S21’s, but once I pixel peep, the S21’s night shots tend to be sharper with slightly better dynamic range, because the more pixels you have in a shot, the more light you need.
The ultra wide-angle cameras for the Xiaomi Mi 11 and Galaxy S21/S21 Plus are solid, but not at the level of the best ultra-wide shooters such as the Huawei Mate 40 Pro or even the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 48MP lens. Details are a bit soft if you zoom in, and dynamic range isn’t anywhere as good as their main cameras.
Zooming is where Xiaomi and Samsung decided to compromise in order to both meet a sub-$1,000 price point. The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus’s so-called telephoto lens is a far cry from the periscopic system seen in the Galaxy S21 Ultra; and Xiaomi’s Mi 11 skips the zoom lens entirely, instead relying on digital crop via the 108MP sensor.
Zoom shot results for both phones are respectable — certainly better than most iPhone zooms — but no match for what the Galaxy S21 Ultra or top Huawei phones can produce. Below are a series of 10x samples. The Xiaomi Mi 11’s shots have slightly better details, but the Galaxy S21’s has better colors.
Video performance is very good for both the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the Galaxy S21 or S21 Plus. All three phones can shoot at up to 8K resolution and produce really stable footage up to 4K/30fps. New this year to the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a series of “Movie Effects” shooting modes, which are basically preset video effects that users can enable within the camera app. Some of these are very fun, including an Inception-like “Parallel World” mode. I am also a huge fan of Xiaomi’s “clone” mode, which can superimpose the same person multiple times into a photo or video, and the results are quite convincing (and fun).
Personally, I find the Xiaomi Mi 11 more fun to play around with for videos.
Software: clean, zippy, full of shortcut gestures
Both Xiaomi’s and Samsung’s phones run a skinned version of Android 11, respectively MIUI 12.0.1 Global (for the Mi 11) and One UI 3.1 (for the Galaxy S21 series). MIUI has a more playful touch, including little software flourishes such as apps “exploding” when being uninstalled, and the phone’s storage capacity being represented by a glass of water that flows along with the orientation. One UI is a bit more business-like and to the point, but does offer tons of customization options if you’re willing to dive deep.
Aesthetics aside, however, they behave very similarly. Since this is the international version of MIUI meant for audiences outside China, it’s got Google support built-in, including Google Assistant as the default voice assistant. There’s even an app tray, which had been missing from Xiaomi phones in years past.
Both MIUI 12 and One UI 3.1 are filled with gesture shortcuts that add to the Android experience, such as the ability to open most apps in a floating window, or double-tapping on the screen to turn the display on or off.
Xiaomi’s Mi 11, in fact, crams more shortcut gestures than most phones I’ve tested, including the ability to launch apps or shortcuts (like turning on the flashlight or opening the QR code scanner) by double-tapping the back of the device or knocking on the screen with a knuckle.
There is one annoying bug in MIUI 12 that’s been around for a couple of years, however: Its one-hand mode can only be activated if the user is using on-screen software buttons and not swipe gesture navigation.
Lastly, in terms of software support, this is one area where Samsung has Xiaomi beat. Samsung has committed to delivering three generations of Android OS updates, while Xiaomi still offers the standard two years of support for its flagship phones.
Performance and battery life: neither lacking in power
Since the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the Galaxy S21 I tested ran on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888, I saw no difference in performance. However, the Mi 11 feels “faster” to my eyes, although it’s just an illusion — Xiaomi’s MIUI’s animations simply zip around faster. In my opinion, 120Hz on the Mi 11 feels slightly zippier/snappier than 120Hz on the Galaxy S21 phones, including the Ultra.
That’s just my opinion, however. In a more objective comparison, I find the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus have far better battery life than the Xiaomi Mi 11 thanks to the former having less pixel-dense screens that can adjust their refresh rates depending on the content, whereas for the Mi 11, my phone ran at 120Hz and WQHD+ resolution most of the time.
In fact, battery life may be an issue for the Mi 11, as the phone hasn’t been able to last more than 11 hours away from a charger in any of the days I’ve had the phone. The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus can last the entirety of a 14-hour day for me easily.
Conclusion: none of these phones are true premium flagships, but one comes closer
A recent trend that’s been established in the mobile scene is that there are flagship phones, and then there are premium flagship phones. The former usually already have the latest SoC, beautiful screen, and capable cameras, but the latter just has those extra bells and whistles and all the bleeding-edge components.
No one is going to confuse a plastic back, 1080p flat panel phone as a premium flagship
The Xiaomi Mi 11 is in an interesting place because most of its components, from the 120Hz WQHD+ screen to the 108MP camera to the curvy-aluminum body put it in the premium flagship tier, but its lack of zoom lens keeps it from being one. It’s a phone that flirts with premium flagship status but ultimately ends up being slightly below that.
Samsung’s non-Ultra S21 phones, particularly the standard Galaxy S21, are more firmly entrenched in where they stand: No one is going to confuse a plastic back, 1080p flat panel phone as a premium flagship. In other words, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is slightly more premium than the Galaxy S21 or S21 Plus while undercutting both in price.
If you live in a region where Xiaomi’s phones are sold officially (that would be most of the world outside of North America), then the Xiaomi Mi 11 is likely a better value than the standard Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus. If you have a bit more money to spend and want something a bit more premium, then your best option is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, rumors suggest Xiaomi will launch a Mi 11 Pro and possibly a Mi 11 Pro+ (or Mi 11 Ultra?) in the near future, so it might be worth waiting a bit to see what’s in store.
While the Galaxy S21 doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the S21 Ultra offers, it's still a compelling smartphone with flagship-tier hardware.
Shortly after the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 last year, Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 in China. The company’s latest flagship device was the first to feature Qualcomm’s new SoC, coupled with an impressive QHD+ 120Hz display, a 108MP triple camera setup, and much more. The company has now finally launched the device in the European market, and here’s everything you need to know about it:
As Ben pointed out in our hands-on preview of the Xiaomi Mi 11, the device features a gorgeous 6.81-inch QHD+ AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz and curves on all four sides. The display offers a resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels and a pixel density of 515 ppi. It features a hole-punch cutout in the top left corner for the selfie camera and an in-display fingerprint scanner underneath that doubles up as a heart rate sensor.
While the 120Hz panel on the Mi 11 Ultra doesn’t offer a variable refresh rate like the Galaxy S21 Ultra, it can switch between 30Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, depending on the content. The panel is 10-bit capable, it offers HDR10+ support, and has a peak brightness of 1500nits. The Xiaomi Mi 11 also packs a couple of cool software features, like Super Resolution, that can enhance your viewing experience even further.
Design
The Xiaomi Mi 11 features a design similar to its predecessors, the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. It offers a familiar package over on the front with a display that seamlessly curves over the edges to 1.8mm metal frame that gives it a premium look and feel. The display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, which offers 2m drop protection and twice the scratch resistance as the company’s previous offerings.
Over on the back though, it features a new “squircle” shaped camera module with a circular silver accent around the primary 108MP sensor. The device has subtle Xiaomi branding towards the bottom of the back panel, unlike some of the recent budget offerings from the company.
It’s worth noting that Xiaomi offers two different back panel designs on the Mi 11, one with a frosted matte finish back panel that is soft to the touch and another with a vegan leather finish. The company offers the frosted matte finish variant in three colorways — Midnight Gray, Horizon Blue, and Frost White — while the vegan leather variant is available in two color options — Lilac Purple and Honey Beige. However, Xiaomi has only launched two of the three frosted glass variants — Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue — in the European market.
In terms of ports, the Xiaomi Mi 11 features a USB Type-C port at the bottom flanked by the SIM card slot on one side and the primary microphone and speaker grille on the other. Over on the top, the device features a secondary microphone next to another speaker grille that features Harman Kardon branding and an IR blaster. The volume rocker and power button are situated within the metal frame on the right edge.
SoC, RAM, and Storage
As mentioned earlier, the Xiaomi Mi 11 packs Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 chipset. We have dedicated coverage on the SoC, and we encourage you to check it out for more details. You can click on this link for an in-depth look at the Snapdragon 888 and on this link to get an overview of its benchmark results.
The Snapdragon 888 is paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB or 256GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. While Xiaomi does offer a more premium 12GB+256GB variant of the Mi 11 in China, the company hasn’t launched it in the European market.
Cameras
The Xiaomi Mi 11 packs a respectable triple camera setup on the back, featuring a 108MP primary camera, a 13MP secondary ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro camera. The device uses Samsung’s ISOCELL Bright HMX 108MP sensor for its primary camera that promises great results thanks to Xiaomi’s extensive optimizations.
In our hands-on preview, Ben found that the main camera delivered sharp and vibrant images with excellent dynamic range. The camera offers razor-sharp and fast focusing, and good low-light capabilities. The primary sensor also does a great job while capturing video with excellent stabilization. The secondary 13MP wide-angle shooter also does a decent job with stills. However, its video performance isn’t as good as the primary sensor, and it suffers in dynamic range a bit.
As far as the raw specifications are concerned, the primary 108MP f/1.85 camera boasts of a 1/1.33″ sensor that produces images with 1.6µm large pixels. It offers OIS and AF capabilities. The 13MP f/2.4 wide-angle camera has a 123° FoV, and the 5MP f/2.4 macro camera can get as close as 3cm to the subject. Over on the front, the device features a single 20MP f/2.2 selfie shooter that also produces 1.6µm 4-in-1 Super Pixel images. To get a glimpse of the Mi 11’s real-world camera performance, check out the photo and video samples in the camera section of our hands-on preview.
To complement the impressive camera hardware, Xiaomi has also packed a host of new features in MIUI 12.5. These include enhanced night-mode capabilities with the primary, ultra-wide, and selfie cameras, RAW-level noise reduction for night mode video, six one-click AI cinema features like Parallel World and Freeze Frame Video, a Magic Zoom mode, and more. The Mi 11 also offers support for HDR10+ video recording, a new Pro Time-lapse mode, and AI Erase 2.0 for easy object removal.
Battery and Charging
The Mi 11 packs a substantial 4,600mAh battery that supports 55W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. The device also features support for 10W reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices in a pinch. Sadly, Xiaomi followed in Apple’s footsteps and removed the charger from the box when the device was launched in China. Thankfully though, the company will ship a 55W GaN fast charger in the box to all European buyers at no additional cost.
5G and Connectivity
Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888’s integrated Snapdragon X60 modem-RF system, the Mi 11 offers 5G support across various bands, including n1/n3/n5/n8/n20/n28/n38/n41/n77/n78/n79. The device also supports dual 5G standby. Along with that, the device features Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth 5.2, multi-functional NFC, and an IR blaster.
MIUI 12.5 and Android 11
The Xiaomi Mi 11 was the first phone to launch with the company’s latest software release based on Android 11 — MIUI 12.5. This MIUI update brings minor improvements over MIUI 12 from last year, and it packs a host of new wallpapers, new system sounds, MIUI+, an updated Notes app, additional privacy settings, and more. Check out the section below for a complete changelog.
MIUI 12.5 changelog
System:
New: Response to gestures is now instant
New: With 20 times more rendering power, there are now few limited to what you can see on your screen.
New: With custom device model adjustments, any phone becomes faster after the upgrade.
Optimization: MIUI became lighter, faster, and more durable.
System Animations:
New: A new animation framework renders movement more realistically.
New: New UI design is focused on visualization and making your interaction with the device more lifelike.
System Sounds:
New: Nature mix is a new exciting way of creating your own notification sound system.
New: Hundreds of system sounds that represent animals from all around the world.
New: Stereo system sounds.
Super Wallpapers:
New: Mount Siguniang super wallpaper.
Privacy Protection:
New: Now you can see what apps access your clipboard and control access.
New: Using approximate location adds up points to privacy protection.
New: You can now manage sensitive permissions and related app behavior independently.
New: The behavior of web pages is also tracked now, which helps you to block unwanted and malicious actions.
New: Now it’s up to you who and when can track your online behavior.
New: All apps now come with a security statement from GetApps.
New: Privacy risk scanner.
New: Control which apps access and delete items from your Gallery.
New: A comprehensive overview of all sensitive permissions.
New: You’ll be notified whenever high-risk permissions are used and will be able to block the corresponding actions.
Optimization: An all-new privacy protection page.
Notes:
New: Compose mind maps with complex structures.
New: New tools for doodling and sketching.
New: Press and hold a sketch to adjust the strokes automatically.
New: A gesture shortcut now allows you to create notes, tasks, and excerpts anywhere.
New: Excerpts save texts, URLs, and images to Notes in a few simple taps.
New: Dynamix layouts make bring the typography in Notes to a new level.
All-new Notes.
MIUI+:
You can combine your phone and computer into a single working station.
You can view MIUI notifications and open phone apps on your computer.
Apps from your phone can be handed off to your computer.
The items copied on a phone can now be pasted on the computer and vice versa.
Photos and screenshots from a mobile device can be instantly used on a computer.
Web pages can be seamlessly handed over from one device to another.
You can transfer files to your mobile device using the “MIUI+” panel on your computer.
New “File Manager” and “Notes” for computers.
Floating Windows:
New: Instant messengers now support floating windows.
New: Floating windows can be quickly replaced with fullscreen versions of the apps.
New: App flashcards show key info when apps are displayed as floating windows.
Learn more about new features in “Special features”.
Xiaomi Health:
New: You can measure your heart rate using the camera now.
New: Start recording running, walking, and cycling workouts manually, and enjoy lots of online workout classes.
Optimization: Automatic workout recognition is much more accurate now.
Home screen:
New: “Ripples” animation for downloading apps.
New: “Burst” animation for uninstalling apps.
New: New design for app folders.
New: A vertical layout for Recents.
Casting:
New: The aspect ratio is adjusted to the external monitor automatically during casting.
New: The audio of the app that’s being cast in a floating window is separated from other audio.
Xiaomi Cloud:
New: Password manager allows you to store passwords in the cloud.
New: You can share device location with other people in your family sharing group.
New: Location information can be recorded automatically before the device powers off.
New: Convert images to PDF.
Mi Carrier Services:
New: You can manage multiple SIM cards now.
IME:
New: A more convenient way to move a cursor using the scrollbar.
New: Function buttons support switching between languages and keyboards.
New: You can press and hold the function buttons to access more features.
New: Custom themes for keyboards.
Themes:
New: Font weight adjustment options for third party fonts.
Optimization: Personalization features for system wallpapers, animations, and sounds.
Browser:
New: Wallpaper customization in the lite mode.
Optimization: Redesigned Incognito mode.
Optimization: Pages load much faster now.
Mi Family:
New: You can manage multiple SIM cards now.
Optimization: Revamped device control center.
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Along with the aforementioned changes, the Mi 11 is also capable of sharing audio with two connected Bluetooth audio accessories at the same time. This will allow you and one of your friends to listen to the same music from your phone without disturbing others. It’s worth noting that the international variant of the Mi 11 doesn’t ship with MIUI 12.5 out of the box. The device will receive the update in Q2, 2021, along with the Mi 10, Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10, and Mi 10 Pro.
Xiaomi Mi 11: Pricing and Availability
The Xiaomi Mi 11 is priced at €749 for the 8GB+128GB variant and €799 for the 8GB+256GB variant. As expected, the device undercuts Samsung’s Galaxy S21 lineup by a significant margin and offers a much better value proposition for buyers. As of now, Xiaomi hasn’t revealed availability details. The company will release more information via its regional social media channels in the coming days.
The device will be available for purchase on Xiaomi’s website and various other channels. It will only be available in the Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue colorways in the European market. The Mi 11 will come with a two-year warranty, and buyers will be eligible for a one-time free screen repair service at their local Xiaomi Service Center during the first 12 months after the purchase.
It’s also worth noting that Xiaomi has also announced a special edition Mi 11 that features a unique color-shifting back panel design. However, the company hasn’t released any details about the special edition model, except for the fact that it will be available in limited quantities. We’ll update this post as soon as we learn more about the Mi 11 Special Edition.
