Is the Redmi Note 11 Pro Worth Buying? Price, Pros & Cons (2025)

A phone that launched with a flagship 108MP camera and a smooth 120Hz screen for hundreds less than rivals — it sounds like a steal. But three years after its debut, the Redmi Note 11 Pro is mostly available on the refurbished market, where prices have tumbled below €200.

Release year: 2022 ·
Main camera: 108MP ·
Battery capacity: 5000mAh ·
Display size: 6.67-inch AMOLED ·
Typical price (refurbished): €130–€200 ·
Processor: Snapdragon 695

Is the Redmi Note 11 Pro worth buying?

That depends on what you value. If a vivid 120Hz display and a 108MP camera are high on your list and you’re willing to buy refurbished, this phone delivers an impressive spec sheet for the money. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G variant, running on a Snapdragon 695 chipset, handles daily tasks smoothly and offers 5G connectivity — something you won’t always find at this price point.

But there are trade-offs. The ultrawide camera and macro lens are mediocre, the phone lacks an official IP rating for water resistance, and Xiaomi’s MIUI software comes with pre-installed bloatware. For gaming, the Snapdragon 695 can struggle with demanding titles at high settings.

Performance benchmarks vs competitors

The Snapdragon 695 inside the 5G model delivers benchmark scores that put it in the mid-range bracket. According to GSMArena’s testing database, the chipset manages everyday apps and navigation without lag, but heavy games like Genshin Impact require reduced graphics settings.

Long-term software support

Xiaomi typically provides two major Android updates and three years of security patches for its Note series. The Redmi Note 11 Pro launched with Android 11 and received Android 13. Security patches are expected until early 2025, meaning the software support window is closing. After that, you’ll be running an unsupported operating system with no further security fixes.

How much does the Redmi Note 11 Pro cost now?

Pricing depends heavily on which variant you pick and whether you buy new or refurbished. A new unit still in its box can cost around €300, but most listings now are refurbished — and the discounts are steep.

Six price points, one pattern: refurbished models cluster around the €120–€200 range, while new old stock remains above €250.

The implication: refurbished prices have dropped significantly since launch. A B-grade unit from WeBuy Ireland at €125 is less than half the original retail price, making it one of the cheapest entry points for a phone with a 108MP camera.

New vs refurbished pricing

New units of the Redmi Note 11 Pro can still be found at some retailers, but the price difference is striking. While refurbished models start around €125, new stock typically starts above €300. The trade-off for buying new is a full warranty and an unused battery, but you’ll pay a premium for a three-year-old design.

Current deals and discounts

The best deals right now appear on specialist refurbished platforms. Back Market and MyMobiles both list the Redmi Note 11 Pro below €150 for the base 5G variant. On the Irish market, WeBuy.ie offers the phone at €125 for a B-grade unlocked unit. These prices are dynamic and vary with stock levels.

How old is the Redmi Note 11 Pro?

The Redmi Note 11 Pro made its debut in China in October 2021, followed by a global launch in March 2022. That means as of 2025, the phone is about three years old — a significant age in the smartphone world, where major software updates typically stop after two years.

Five milestones, one pattern: the phone has passed its peak support period and is now in the tail end of its lifecycle.

The catch: the phone is now a legacy purchase. Software support will end in 2025, which means no more security updates after that point.

Impact on software update longevity

Xiaomi’s update policy for the Note 11 Pro series promised two major Android version upgrades and three years of security patches. With Android 13 already delivered, the phone will not receive Android 14. After the security patch window closes in early 2025, the device will be running an unsupported OS — a consideration for anyone planning to keep their phone for more than a year.

What are the disadvantages of the Redmi Note 11 Pro?

For all its headline specs, the Redmi Note 11 Pro has several shortcomings that become apparent with daily use. The most significant ones revolve around camera consistency, performance under load, and build compromises.

The pattern: the Redmi Note 11 Pro excels at what it was designed to do — deliver a flagship-grade main camera and display at a budget price — but cuts corners everywhere else. The camera inconsistency is a known issue. As GSMArena’s review team concluded, the phone offers “excellent battery life and a great display for the price, but the camera performance is inconsistent.”

Camera limitations

The 108MP main sensor is genuinely good in good light, producing detailed shots with plenty of flexibility for cropping. But step outside those conditions — low light, portrait mode, or moving subjects — and the results become hit-or-miss. The 8MP ultrawide lens is soft, and the 2MP macro sensor is largely a gimmick. If you’re buying a phone primarily for its camera system, the Redmi Note 11 Pro is a one-trick pony.

Performance constraints

The Snapdragon 695 handles everyday tasks like messaging, social media, and video streaming without issue. But for gaming, the chipset hits its limits. Demanding titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile need reduced graphics settings to maintain playable frame rates, and the phone can heat up during extended sessions.

Build quality and software issues

There’s no official IP rating, meaning the phone isn’t certified for water resistance. The USB-C port is an older standard, and the MIUI skin comes with a lot of pre-installed apps that can’t always be uninstalled. Xiaomi’s software experience is a matter of taste — some users like the customisation options, others find it cluttered.

Is Redmi better than Samsung?

The Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A-series debate is one of the most common when shopping in the mid-range. Redmi typically wins on raw specs — more RAM, more storage, faster charging. Samsung wins on polish — better build quality, longer software support, and more consistent camera processing.

Four comparisons, one pattern: Redmi offers better value on paper, but Samsung delivers a more complete experience in daily use.

Why this matters: Samsung’s policy of providing four OS upgrades and five years of security patches is a decisive advantage if you plan to keep the phone for more than two years. But at €125 for a refurbished Redmi Note 11 Pro on WeBuy Ireland, the price gap is significant enough to make the Redmi a better choice for budget-first buyers.

Price-to-specs comparison

Redmi consistently offers more hardware for less money. At the same price point, a Redmi Note 11 Pro gives you a higher-resolution camera, more RAM and storage, and faster charging than a comparable Samsung Galaxy A-series phone. According to a YouTube comparison between the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A52, the Redmi’s 108MP camera and 67W charging clearly outclass Samsung’s 64MP sensor and 25W charging.

Software and update policy

Samsung’s software commitment is the strongest in the Android world outside of Google’s Pixel line. The Galaxy A54, for example, will receive Android updates through 2027 and security patches through 2028. The Redmi Note 11 Pro, by contrast, stopped at Android 13 and will end security patches in 2025. For anyone concerned about long-term security, Samsung is the clear winner on software.

Camera and display quality

Samsung’s camera processing tends to be more consistent across different lighting conditions, despite having lower megapixel counts. The Galaxy A54’s 50MP sensor with OIS (optical image stabilisation) produces sharper low-light shots than the Redmi’s 108MP camera without OIS. On the display side, both phones have excellent 120Hz AMOLED panels — the Redmi’s is slightly larger at 6.67 inches versus 6.4 inches, but both are bright and colour-accurate.

Clarity check

Based on available research, here’s what we can confirm and what remains uncertain about the Redmi Note 11 Pro.

The pattern: the core hardware specs and pricing are well documented across multiple sources, but the variable nature of refurbished pricing and Xiaomi’s regional update policy leaves some question marks for buyers in specific markets.

Final takeaway

The Redmi Note 11 Pro is a phone that trades aggressively on its headline specs — a 108MP camera, a 120Hz AMOLED display, and a 5000mAh battery — while cutting costs on the secondary camera lenses, water resistance, and software support. For buyers who want the best possible camera sensor at the lowest possible price and are comfortable buying refurbished, the phone delivers genuine value. But anyone who values consistent camera performance across all lenses, long-term security updates, or a more polished software experience will find better options in Samsung’s Galaxy A series. For an Irish buyer with €125 to spend on a refurbished phone, the decision is clear: pick the Redmi Note 11 Pro for the camera and display, or pay more for a Samsung if software longevity and water resistance matter more.