The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has been around for months, which can be equated to years in the smartphone industry. That’s just how the industry works, but sometimes there are products worth revisiting, especially if it’s been a solid contender as one of our favorite devices from the past year.
Would the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE be a worthy purchase in 2022? If these three reasons are important to you, it might still be worth adding to the cart.
You’ll pick the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE because you value style
A smartphone is functional and essential to get through our modern lives. But for some of us, it’s equally important to have a smartphone that can complete an outfit or look we’re going for. And Xiaomi is targeting that set of users with the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE.
This Xiaomi handset comes in light, pastel shades that are easy to pair while making it a distinctive device to carry around. I have gotten compliments about the Snowflake White version I carry. As I’ve mentioned in my 24 hours story on the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, the matte frosted glass finish reminds me of a pearl or capiz. It’s pretty classy, plus the texture isn’t a fingerprint magnet. I use the included case for protecting it and getting a better grip instead of keeping fingerprints away from the rear panel.
If Snowflake White isn’t for you, the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is also available in Truffle Black, Bubblegum Blue, and Peach Pink.
What’s also particularly attractive about this phone is its thin and light build. It’s so easy to slip into a purse, coming in at just 6.81mm thin and 158g light. I definitely wish for more purse-friendly phones like this one.
Even with a 6.55-inch display, the phone’s svelte profile makes it easy to hold with one hand. Xiaomi placed the fingerprint sensor on the middle right side of the phone, making it accessible for the right thumb and the left index finger.
The other Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE hardware specs include:
- a volume rocker above the power button/fingerprint sensor;
- a single bottom-firing speaker, USB-C, and hybrid dual nano-SIM slot;
- and an IR port, earpiece, and hole-punch for the selfie camera at the top.
You want to capture and share your favorite moments
I’ve had the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE for months now. And it’s been an easy device to reach for when I want to capture family moments or even record quick clips for LiTT‘s social media. You have seen this Xiaomi handset at work on both LiTT‘s and my personal social media. I have used it to record the Xiaomi 11T’s unboxing. And I’ve used it, and its handy VLOG mode, to record this candle unboxing you see below.
That VLOG mode is a personal favorite because it’s the easiest way to get polished, social media-ready videos out. It has saved me the time to create professional-looking videos online. I just needed to find the VLOG template I wanted to use, and then I pointed it at the subject I wanted to shoot. (Like what I did with this POCO F3 unboxing shot on this phone.)
The hardware that supports its different camera modes includes a 64-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 5-megapixel telemacro lens. I have relied mainly on the primary sensor to get the photos and videos I needed.
As with many smartphone cameras—especially in its price range—you can get pretty good photos in well-lit areas. But quality will dip a bit in low light, whether with pictures or videos. (This TikTok video was shot with the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE.)
LiTT Tip #1: If you spend your time recording videos of your kids or cute pets, there’s a way to get clearer clips of them. Open the Camera app, then head to Video. Tap on the burger menu/three lines on the top right. You’ll see a Track Moving Objects icon there. Tap on that and experiment with the feature.
You need to stay connected, inspired, and entertained
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is as functional as eye-catching. It works well as a daily driver. I’m not the most demanding smartphone user, though. I just need it to check on popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter and create content for them. I check my email and do some light work using Google’s products. And watch videos on YouTube, Viu, and Netflix. I also play a few casual games on the side, like Cooking Battle and Brawl Stars. Oh, and the occasional phone call (mostly delivery services at this point).
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 5G processor paired with Android 11-based MIUI 12.5, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB expandable storage. The test unit we had is the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration. For my use, this variant was more than enough to handle those tasks.
The MIUI skin isn’t one of the cleaner mobile user interfaces out there, but personally, I don’t mind it. I like how you can customize many things on this phone. But some might find it too cluttered. You can tweak the interface to look how you want it if you’re knowledgeable. Or you can take the time and scour through Xiaomi’s Theme Store for a look that you’ll love. When you have that setup, you can just go in and use your favorite apps and do what you need to do.
I can easily stay in with loved ones, co-workers, and clients on the many available messaging apps. It allows me to scour the internet and get into the apps that help me stay inspired and informed. I use it while I exercise, whether as a screen to view workout videos or listen to podcasts or audiobooks. And it keeps me entertained for the times when I need to relax and unwind. You know, just the typical wonders of having a smartphone in 2022.
I enjoy watching content on this phone’s 6.55-inch flat AMOLED screen. It has features like Dolby Vision support, a full DCI-P3 wide color gamut, and 10-bit TrueColor color depth to ensure the colors it displays are close to accurate. The selfie camera cutout keeps out of the way on the top left corner. The viewing angle is good, even when I place the phone on a desk instead of on a stand. There are even video tools Xiaomi includes in the phone to improve the experience. (I’ll talk about it later.)
I would prefer that there was a dual speaker setup here. But I’m speculating that there’s not much space for that extra speaker. This is also another “no 3.5mm audio jack” phone, but this phone comes with a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, which is great for the cool kids who prefer wired earphones or just don’t want to spend extra on getting wireless earbuds.
With a slim profile, I do not expect battery life to be as long as the heftier phones. But I can still get a full day’s work out of it. I will need to charge the 4,250mAh battery at the end of the day. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE supports 33W fast wired charging, which typically recharges the phone in around an hour. Putting it down to have dinner should be enough time to charge it to 100%.
LiTT Tip #2: If you’re the type who watches video podcasts or watches tutorials on YouTube but want to save a bit of your phone’s battery. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE can play a video’s audio even when the phone is locked. First, make sure that you have Video Toolbox enabled. Head to Settings > Special features > Video Toolbox. Select Manage video apps to ensure the Video Toolbox is enabled for the video apps you use. When enabled, there should be a shortcut on the upper left or right that you can swipe into the screen when watching videos. In the same section where Record, Screenshot, and Cast options are located, there is a Play video sound with screen off option. Tap on that to play a clip’s audio while the screen is turned off.
LiTT Tip #3: Did you know you don’t need to install a QR code reader on this phone? The default Camera app already has Google Lens integrated into it. So, if you need to check into places via QR code, all you have to do is open the Camera app. Tap on the Google Lens icon. It’s between the Star Wand icon for the filters and the Beautify mode and the three-line menu. And then you can just point it at the QR code and search for the link it redirects to.
What’s lit and what’s not?
What’s lit about it:
- Comes in attractive colors you can match with your OOTD
- Not a fingerprint magnet
- Thin and lightweight enough to slip into purses and hold in one hand
- Supports Xiaomi’s handy VLOG mode and other cool Xiaomi camera modes
- Highly customizable interface
- Can smoothly handle the tasks I throw at it
- Enjoyable to watch content on
- Fast-charging tech quickly tops up the phone
What needs the extra spark:
- A bit on the slippery side
- Night mode is handy but expect to see some grain in photos and videos shot in low light
- UI might be too cluttered for some
- Wished it had dual speakers
- A slim profile means a smaller battery capacity
Final thoughts
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is built for users who value how a device looks. But it is also designed to help them get their tasks done, pursue their passions, and more. Many users will find this handset’s performance to be enough for day-to-day use. But if you’re the type who demands the fastest and best specs, this isn’t the option for you.
The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE retail price starts at PHP 16,990 (around USD 330 converted). But right now, the variants available online are the two 8GB options (one with 128GB of storage and the other with 256GB of storage), which retails for PHP 18,990 (USD 370) and PHP 20,990 (USD 410), respectively.
Buy the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE from Lazada HERE. *
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