Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Announced March 29, 2021
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra stands out as a powerful camera-focused flagship that leverages a massive sensor to produce natural bokeh and sharp detail. That said, the device is held back by its unwieldy, top-heavy design, inconsistent software, and a high price tag that makes it difficult to recommend over the competition.
Weighted from 43 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent camera hardware and performance
- Stunning, bright, and smooth display
- Fast wired and wireless charging capabilities
- High-quality build and materials
- Powerful performance and loud stereo speakers
Cons
- Heavy, bulky, and top-heavy design
- Gimmicky or limited secondary display
- High price point
- Inconsistent camera focus and software bugs
- Tendency to overheat during use
- Launch price $1,413 (USD)
- Main camera 50MP f/1.95 + 48MP Ultrawide + 48MP 5x Telephoto
- Video 8K 24p
- Display 6.81-inch AMOLED 120Hz
- Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 12GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 43 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 7.5/10
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra hasn’t usurped the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as 2021’s best camera smartphone so far, but the use of the GN2 sensor really does make it stand out, and the natural bokeh it produces can’t be replicated on any other phone around at the moment.
- Android Authority 8/10
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a fine phone, but it’s overpriced for what it delivers.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is arguably one of the finest smartphones available today that in a couple of areas might even edge out the Galaxy S21 Ultra, provided you’re happy with some software quirks.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a standout phone, and is one of the best camera phones of 2021. It’s Xiaomi’s first attempt at an across-the-board spec-leader, complete with a periscope camera, class-leading image sensor, and power.
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Therefore, Xiaomi will make or break the Mi 11 Ultra based on how much it charges for the new phone.
- Digital Trends 6/10
[T]he Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra does everything you want from a top-spec smartphone in 2021, but introduces a few things you don't want, and that gives the competition the edge.
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If you're in the market for a flagship with standout cameras, look no further.
- Android Police 8/10
It's truly "Ultra" from top to bottom, but it isn't without bugs.
- PhoneArena 8.5/10
The model I reviewed is the white one, and it was always pristine and clean, holding no fingerprints whatsoever. Still, you’d want to use a case as the Mi 11 Ultra is a bit on the slippery side.
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Now that the Pro moniker has gone mainstream, it's Ultra that has come to represent the cream of the crop, and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra can wear that badge proudly.
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Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, this is the new benchmark, but I do think the Galaxy S21 Ultra still does enough things better that both have a place.
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This seems like a blind buy for the vast majority of people who are looking at a 70k to 80k smartphone, so Xiaomi seems to have knocked this one out of the park and I, for one, am very happy with recommending this device.
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In its current state with everything working, this is easily a top Android phone of the year for me.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra offers everything one could possibly ask for in a premium flagship smartphone and it does all of these things very well.
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The Mi 11 Ultra is a rare moment from Xiaomi. One that's excited us more than any other phone of late.
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You can’t call the Xiaomi Mi 11 the perfect phone - it’s heavy, bulky and not to mention the eye-sore that is the camera module on the back.
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The Mi 11 Ultra packs some of the absolute best hardware out there, from top internal specs to a powerful camera, beautiful display, and fast charging using both wired and wireless methods. There are downsides though.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is something of a conundrum. As a top-tier handset it ought to knock the rest of Xiaomi’s range into a cocked hat, yet in terms of value for money the Mi 11 is a better phone.
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[T]he Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a big, bold, powerful phone, but also extremely expensive phone.
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If you’re looking to spend on a premium smartphone, you can definitely consider the Mi 11 Ultra.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is absolutely bat mental, off its rocker, and I think I kind of love it a bit. You'll certainly struggle to find a smartphone that's quite so unapologetically flamboyant in 2021 beyond the usual foldy bendy efforts.
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I would be lying if I said it was the greatest smartphone on the planet, but then again I'd be lying if I said it wasn't.
- Root-Nation.com 9.6/10
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is without a doubt the most modern and powerful smartphone Xiaomi has ever made. Quality cameras, great powerful specs, perfect display, long battery life and extremely fast wired and wireless charging.
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Xiaomi's excellent and the customizations are practical, so maybe in time the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra's camera can live up to what its hardware promises to deliver. But until then, save your money and look elsewhere.
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The Mi11 Ultra is just another flagship phone, and though it’s worth considering, it doesn’t do anything that smartphones in this price range shouldn’t already do.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is definitely the best smartphone I have ever used and arguably the best Android smartphone there is right now. [...] You see, this is my favorite Android smartphone right now and the best you can get, period.
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[T]his is still without any doubt an impressively constructed premium smartphone, especially if you're into photography, and if those cons I mentioned are not too much of a concern for you, then this is still a great flagship smartphone [...]
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On the one hand, the smartphone is impressive and thrilling - on the other - however, it has a few shortcomings that do not suit its class and its price. Mi 11 Ultra has an original design, a great display and excellent cameras.
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Xiaomi did a pretty amazing job with the cameras that are on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, faltering just a little bit on this potential selfie screen only because, well, I've already said it before, it's a little bit cut at the knees for what it can provide in the camera app.
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The only difference is that it's actually cheaper, so even though the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a fantastic phone, it's kind of priced out of the market right now.
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When you put all these things together, you have in my opinion the true ultra phone of 2021, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, the best phone that I've used so far this year.
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Obviously I'm super impressed with the camera setup. I've been constantly getting super good results with all three of the lenses.
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So clearly, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra well justifies its name, starting with the fact that it has the largest ever image sensor placed inside a smartphone, which I guess contributes a lot to this amazing result that DXOMARK's testing has given to the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.
- Pocket Gamer 7/10
A big, brash, feature-packed smartphone that runs games brilliantly. However, it's unbalanced by a hefty design, superfluous features, disappointing battery life, and a sky high price tag.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra at the end I think this is definitely a device that you should look into if you want a phone that is good as a camera as well, depending on the style that you need of course.
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The Mi 11 Ultra is as good as a flagship Android phone can get in the year 2021. [...] That massive camera bump means serious photography and it hardly disappoints.
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This is actually a really solid flagship smartphone from Xiaomi with one of the most impressive camera modules out there and it kind of reminds me of my ancient Nokia Lumia 920 which is older than some of you guys.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a well-rounded high-end phone that offers great performance, along with a great display and camera, but its secondary screen is unnecessary and its high price tag makes it difficult to recommend over the competition.
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I think the Mi 11 Ultra is one of those phones that has the most potential out there. Sadly, however, it is somewhat forgotten.
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As incredible as the Mi 11 Ultra is at being a technological showcase piece, it doesn’t quite deliver across the board.
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I think it's a really fantastic phone.
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The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is a fantastic smartphone. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with it.
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It's undoubtedly the best camera smartphone in terms of hardware out there. The only deal breakers for me would be the humongous size and the weight along with the heating issues for the smartphone.
