Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Is Impressive But There Are 5 Phones That Can Give It Competition

By Akriti Rana and Nimish Dubey

The Redmi Note is perhaps the highest selling phone series in the Indian market. It sells in such large numbers that if it were a separate brand, it would be among the top five brands in the country. It set new standards for phones that were priced in the region of Rs 10,000 when it was first launched in 2014. Its latest model, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, is now trying to be the benchmark for phones priced around Rs 20,000.

Given the series' amazing track record, it would be foolish to bet against it. It not only cuts an impressive figure in terms of design but also comes packed with impressive hardware, including a full HD+ super AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, a 108 megapixel main sensor, stereo speakers and a 5,000 mAh battery with a 67W fast charger.

But that does not mean that the latest Redmi Note does not face competition. There are a number of smartphones that can claim to match it and even beat it in some departments. So if you are thinking of purchasing a Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, we would suggest you consider the following devices as well:

Given the fierce rivalry between Redmi and Realme, it is not surprising that Realme has one of the strongest challengers to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ - the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 processor, which is more capable than the Snapdragon 695 chip on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, and also comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, like the Note. It too has a 6.6 inch full HD+ display and with a top of its class 144 Hz refresh rate. Where it loses out to the Note is in terms of a 48 megapixel main sensor which is decent but not in the same league as the 108 megapixel one on the Note, and the fact that it comes with only 30W fast charging. Also while that display is bright and colourful, it is an LCD rather than an AMOLED, which might disappoint some consumers. The absence of a stereo speaker setup also detracts from the multimedia experience. Finally, although it looks smart enough, it is a little on the plain side.For those who value a powerful processor and a high refresh rate display, however, this is a very good option.

Price: Rs 19,999

With so many Redmi Note 11s floating in the market, it does not come as a surprise that one phone that steps on the Redmi Note Pro+’s toes is its own sibling– the Redmi Note 11 Pro. If you are not too eager to get on the 5G bandwagon yet, the Redmi Note 11 Pro is not only a solid contender to go against the Note 11 Pro+ but isperhaps the most high profile 4G smartphone you can get at the moment. It comes with a slightly inferior MediaTek Helio G96 processor as opposed to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 that runs the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ show, but the Redmi Note 11 Pro matches the footsteps of its ‘+’ brother in all other departments. The two phones are practically specs and design twins otherwise. Both phones come with a 6.67 inch Super AMOLED full HD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate. They come with a similar camera setup on the back with same megapixel counts and specifications– 108 megapixel main sensor paired with 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 2 megapixel macro sensor but the Redmi Note 11 Pro has an extra 2 megapixel depth sensor. Both phones are powered by Android 11 which is topped with MIUI 13 and come with support for 67 W fast charging. That said, there is one area where the Redmi Note 11 Pro has a ‘plus’ point over its more powerful sibling, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ - the price. It comes with a starting price of Rs. 17,999 which is well below the Note 11 Pro+'s starting price of Rs. 20,999.

The Note 11 Pro is the perfect alternative for those who do not want to spend their money on making their present smartphone 5G-ready and can work their way around with a consistent performer.

Price: Rs 17,999

Imagine getting the same processor that powers the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ at a price that is Rs 3,000 lower? Well, that is what the Realme 9 Pro 5G brings to the Note challenger table. It comes with perhaps the most spectacular design in this list, switching from blue to red when light falls on it, in what Realme calls Light Shift design. Itsspecs are very good too - it has a 6.6 inch full HD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate, a very able 64 megapixel main sensor, and a large 5000 mAh battery. That display however, is an LCD one and not quite in the class of the bright one on the Note 11 Pro+. The phone also comes with only a single speaker, and while that large battery supports fast charging, there is only a 33W charger in the box, which makes it inferior in this department to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+. It remains a very good choice for those who want the same processor as the Note 11 Pro+ in a device with a high style quotient.

Price: Rs 17,999

If stock Android experience is what your smartphone heart seeks, then the Moto G71 5G is the perfect alternative to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ for you. It runs on Android 11 and comes bare and has no skin on top which makes it perfect for those who want the stock Android experience at this price. The phone is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 that is seen on the Note 11 Pro+ and comes with the same 6 GB and 8 GB RAM options but storage is topped at 128 GB. The Moto G71 comes with support for 5G for all those who want to get onboard with the future 5G wave and has a large 5,000 mAh battery. Another major plus point of the Moto G71 5G is its price. The smartphone comes with a starting price of Rs. 18,999 which is slightly more affordable than the starting price of the Redmi Note 11 Pro+. The Moto G71 comes with a very distinct design which helps it stand out the usual smartphone crowd in this price segment. But with the smaller price tag also come some compromised features. It has a slightly smaller 6.4 inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a relatively normal ‘60 Hz’ refresh rate. It comes with33W charging support, which is fast but not in the league of the 67W charging on the Note.The Moto G71 5G is the perfect alternative for all those who crave an authentic Android experience and can do with slightly compromised specs at an affordable price tag.

Price: Rs 18,999

It may be more expensive than the Redmi Note 11 Pro+with a starting price ofRs. 23,999 but it is the most affordable OnePlus the brand has to offer. The spec sheet of the OnePlus Nord CE 2has some significant pros paired with minor cons when compared with the Redmi Note 11 Pro+. It comes with a slightly smaller 6.43 inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz which may seem a little underwhelming in front of Redmi Note 11 Pro+’s 6.67-inch display with 120 Hz refresh rate. But the phone runs on MediaTek Dimesity 900 chipset paired with 6 GB/ 8 GB RAM options which is a couple of steps ahead of the Snapdragon 695 present on the Note 11 Pro+. Both 6 GB and 8 GB RAM options on the Nord CE 2 come with 128 GB storage options. The Nord CE 2 is the first OnePlus phone to come with expandable storage and a dedicated microSD card slot which means you have the option to expand storage when needed. There is a triple camera setup on the back with a 64-megapixel sensor spearheading the trio. The Nord CE 2 comes with support for 5G and has a 4,500 mAH battery with 65 W fast charging. It is powered by Android 11 which is topped with OxygenOS 11 and comes with a classy, premium design. If you are a Never Settler at heart and can stretch your budget a little then the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G would be the perfect choice for you.

Price: Rs 23,999