Redmi 11 Prime 5G : As 5G networks are rapidly spreading in India, smartphone makers are trying to make 5G-enabled handsets available to everyone. One of the notable competitors in this space is the Redmi 11 Prime 5G – an inexpensive device that comes with a promise of livid performance, future-ready connectivity and a minimalist design costing less than ₹13,000.
But does it succeed in ticking all the boxes that will make it so popular for the penny pinching buyer? Let’s do a deep dive into what this phone can offer and where it excels — or doesn’t.
Design and Build: Functional, but Not Too Fussy
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G opts for a simpler, sober design. It has a textured matte plastic back which feels strong to the touch and doesn’t attract smudges or fingerprint. The dual camera setup is in a vertical module and the side power button doubles as a fingerprint reader.
The handset weighs in at just under 200g, but the weight in the hand felt quite well-distributed. It comes in three color options — Meadow Green, Chrome Silver and Thunder Black — that all offer a clean, understated vibe that will appeal to a lot of people.
Display: Good Looking Display with Smooth Touch
What you do get is a 6.58-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen is fairly crisp with the colors looking realistic. It is bright enough for indoor use and just about usable outdoors in direct sunlight.
It can’t hold a candle to the rich contrast of AMOLED panels, to be sure, but for the price, the display quality is more than passable. The high refresh rate also means scrolling is smoother — something you don’t often see in cheaper phones.
Performance: Good for the Average User
Under the hood, the Redmi 11 Prime 5G is running on the MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor, a proven SoC for budget 5G devices. With 4GB or 6GB of RAM and either 64 or 128GB of storage, it runs basic tasks like social media, streaming and web browsing without any delay/ lag.
Games like Subway Surfers and Free Fire run without a hitch but games with more rich graphics, such as PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile, will require you to dial down the settings for a relatively smooth play.
Runs ok on MIUI 13 based on Android 12 but the bloatware and ads can be a bit of a nuisance to first-timers.
Camera Setup: Just Average, But Ok
The camera is home to a 50MP main sensor with 2MP depth sensor. Daytime is a solid performer, with good exposure, color and reasonable detail from the main camera. The camera does have some issues in low light, despite the dedicated Night Mode, with noise encroaching on images.
The front facing 8MP camera is decent, and will allow for good enough selfies and video calling with natural light. It’s good enough, but nothing to write home about. If you take a lot of photos, you may chafe at the limits here.
Battery and Charging: All-Day Comfort The EW2 has a great 24-hour battery life, which is excellent for both short and marathon sessions.
One huge advantage for the Redmi 11 Prime 5G is its 5000mAh battery. The battery can easily last an entire day on mild usage, and even stretch to the second day in some cases. Whether you’re streaming, chatting or gaming casually, you can forget about carrying around a charger.
It’s got 18W fast charging, but there’s only a 10W charger in the box — you could invest in a faster adapter for quicker top-ups.
Pros:
Low-cost 5G connection
Full HD+ Display with 90Hz refresh rate
Long-lasting 5000mAh battery
Trusted MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC
Gorilla Glass front and back panels
microSD, up to 1 TB (dedicated slot) External Storage expandable up to 1TB via micro-SD card slot
Cons:
No ultra-wide or macro lens
Camera under low light not so good
Comes with Android 12 (not the newest)
Ships with spammy bloatware and ads in MIUI
10W charger included (18W supported)
Redmi 11 Prime 5G Final Thoughts
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G sits at a nice equilibrium point between price and peformance. It’s not perfect by a long shot, but it gets you what you need — particularly if you want to switch to 5G without spending a ton of money.
With a slick design, steady performance and lighter price tag, it’s also a great option for students, first-time smartphone owners or anyone shopping on a shoestring—but still hoping to stay future-proof.