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LG K11 Smartphone Review

Rugged and scratch-resistant. The LG K11 is a budget smartphone that is designed to withstand the stresses and strains of daily life. The MIL-STD device has a 5.3-inch display and is equipped with mid-range hardware. Find out in this review how the K11 stacks up against its competitors.
LG K11

LG has a smartphone for every category from flagships like the LG V30 and the LG G7 ThinQ to budget devices like the LG K series. Our current test device falls into the latter category and will attract attention from buyers looking for a rugged smartphone on a budget.

The LG K11 is equipped with a MediaTek MT6750 SoC, an ARM Mali-T860 MP2 GPU, 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. The device packs in a 5.3-inch display, a 3,000 mAh battery and a 13 MP rear-facing camera.

The K11 costs 130 Euros (~$150) at the time of writing, which is a price point with plenty of competition. We have chosen the LG K10 (2017), the Samsung Galaxy J6 (2018), the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, the Motorola Moto G6 Play and the Huawei Y7 2018 as comparison devices.

LG K11
Processor
Mediatek MT6750 8 x 1.5 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.30 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 277 PPI, Capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 10 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: Up to 2 TB microSD cards, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Compass
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.2, GSM: 850, 900, 1,800, 1,900 MHz. UMTS: B1, B2, B5, B8. LTE Cat. 4: B1, B3, B6, B8, B20, B38., LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.68 x 148.7 x 75.3 ( = 0.34 x 5.85 x 2.96 in)
Battery
3000 mAh Lithium-Ion, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 30 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 550 h
Operating System
Android 7.1 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Two speakers, Keyboard: Virtual keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, USB power supply, USB Type-A to Micro USB cable, SIM tool, 24 Months Warranty, SAR values: Head – 0.812 W/kg, Body – 1.585 W/kg, fanless
Weight
162 g ( = 5.71 oz / 0.36 pounds), Power Supply: 50 g ( = 1.76 oz / 0.11 pounds)
Price
130 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The K11 has a metal case that is available in either black or gold. The design is finished off with a silver trim that separates the display from the case.

The K11 has two physical buttons, but you would be forgiven for thinking that there was only one. There is the volume rocker on the left-hand side of the device, which is flanked by the SIM and microSD card tray on the opposite side. LG has integrated the power button within the fingerprint scanner, which is on the back of the device. We last saw LG employ this with the LG V30.

The case is scratch and MIL-STD impact resistant. Our test device is sufficiently sturdy to give us the impression that the K11 could survive a couple of drops relatively unscathed. We would still expect the device to pick up scratches though as these are difficult to prevent.

LG K11
LG K11
LG K11
LG K11
LG K11
LG K11
LG K11

Size Comparison

158.5 mm / 6.24 inch 75.45 mm / 2.97 inch 8.05 mm / 0.3169 inch 180 g0.3968 lbs158.3 mm / 6.23 inch 76.7 mm / 3.02 inch 7.8 mm / 0.3071 inch 155 g0.3417 lbs154.4 mm / 6.08 inch 72.2 mm / 2.84 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 175 g0.3858 lbs149.3 mm / 5.88 inch 70.2 mm / 2.76 inch 8.2 mm / 0.3228 inch 154 g0.3395 lbs148.7 mm / 5.85 inch 75.3 mm / 2.96 inch 8.68 mm / 0.3417 inch 162 g0.3571 lbs148.7 mm / 5.85 inch 75.3 mm / 2.96 inch 7.99 mm / 0.3146 inch 138 g0.3042 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The K11 is equipped with a MediaTek MT6750 SoC, which integrates an ARM Mali-T860 MP2 GPU and 2 GB RAM. The K11 comes with 16 GB of eMMC flash storage that can be expanded with up to 2 TB microSD cards. The K11 can only format microSD cards as external memory though, so you will not be able to store apps on your microSD card.

The K11 has a 3.5 mm jack and a Micro USB 2.0 port, the latter of which does not support USB On-The-Go (OTG). There is also an FM Radio.

Left-hand side: volume rocker
Left-hand side: volume rocker
Right-hand side: nano-SIM and microSD card tray
Right-hand side: nano-SIM and microSD card tray

Software

The K11 ships with Android Nougat 7.1.2, with our test device running Android security patch level May 1, 2018, at the time of writing.

The K11 runs on an LG-customized version of Android that we have seen running on devices like the LG V30. LG’s UI resembles stock Android, but there are some visual changes and an overhauled Settings menu. LG also installs plenty of its own apps including LG Mobile Switch, LG SmartWorld, Smart Doctor, and an Audio Recorder among others.

Default home screen
Default home screen
Default home screen
Default home screen
LG preinstalled apps
LG preinstalled apps
LG preinstalled apps
LG preinstalled apps
LG preinstalled apps
LG preinstalled apps
Quick Settings drop-down menu
Quick Settings drop-down menu
Quick Settings customization options
Quick Settings customization options
Settings
Settings
Internal storage breakdown
Internal storage breakdown
Software Information
Software Information

Communication & GPS

The K11 supports GSM, UMTS and LTE Cat. 4, the latter of which allows our test device to achieve 150 Mb/s uplink and 50 Mb/s downlink LTE speeds. Our test device had good reception throughout our testing too.

The K11 also supports NFC, Bluetooth 4.2 and IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi networks. This means that the K11 supports 2.4 GHz but not 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Our test device is on par with our comparison devices in iperf3 Client Wi-Fi tests though; it cannot match the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 for Wi-Fi speed, with the Redmi Note 5 around five times quicker than the K11.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Adreno 509, SD 636, 32 GB eMMC Flash
273 MBit/s +366%
LG K11
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 16 GB eMMC Flash
58.6 MBit/s
Huawei Y7 2018
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
56.9 MBit/s -3%
LG K10 2017
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 16 GB eMMC Flash
54.6 MBit/s -7%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
46.8 MBit/s -20%
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
Mali-T830 MP1, 7870 Octa, 32 GB eMMC Flash
44.3 MBit/s -24%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +716%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Adreno 509, SD 636, 32 GB eMMC Flash
268 MBit/s +481%
Huawei Y7 2018
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
55 MBit/s +19%
LG K10 2017
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 16 GB eMMC Flash
46.2 MBit/s 0%
LG K11
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 16 GB eMMC Flash
46.1 MBit/s
Motorola Moto G6 Play
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
44.7 MBit/s -3%
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
Mali-T830 MP1, 7870 Octa, 32 GB eMMC Flash
43.8 MBit/s -5%
GPS test: indoors
GPS test: indoors
GPS test: outdoors
GPS test: outdoors

Our test device takes a while to find a GPS lock indoors, but it is accurate up to five meters when it does so. Expectedly, our test device is more accurate outdoors with a location accuracy of up to three meters.

We took the K11 on a bike ride to test its location accuracy against a professional navigation device, the Garmin Edge 520. Our test is 98% accurate to the Garmin over the total distance covered, with the K11 recording a total distance covered of 9.13 km while the Garmin recorded 9.25 km. The K11 cannot match the Garmin for preciseness though, with our test device frequently struggling to maintain the Garmin’s accuracy through corners. Overall, the K11 should be suitable for general navigation tasks but nothing where you need precise location accuracy.

GPS test: LG K11 - Overview
GPS test: LG K11 - Overview
GPS test: LG K11 – Corners
GPS test: LG K11 – Corners
GPS test: LG K11 – Loop
GPS test: LG K11 – Loop
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Overview
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Overview
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Corners
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Corners
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Loop
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Loop

Telephone Function & Call Quality

The K11 uses the standard Android suite of apps for telephony, so there should be no surprises when you start using the device.

Call quality on our test device is good with background noise reliably filtered out. However, the maximum call volume could be higher as we occasionally struggled to hear our call partner over ambient noise in loud areas.

Calls over speakerphone work well too. The K11’s dual speakers are loud enough for making calls in the office or in other similarly loud environments.

Cameras

Photo taken with the front-facing camera
Photo taken with the front-facing camera

The K11 has a 13 MP rear-facing camera and an 8 MP front-facing camera. Shots taken with the front-facing camera often look underexposed and washed out, and objects only stay in focus if you keep the device still. There is also a slider to adjust skin tone before shooting, should you need it.

The rear-facing camera takes acceptable shots, but objects in dark areas lack any detail. The rest of the image is clear, but details are often blurry. Our test device fared better with macro photography though. Colors in macro shots look rich and objects are reproduced sharply, but dark areas still lack any definition.

Predictably, the camera struggles in low-light conditions with shots coming out blurry and underexposed. The camera app allows for some minor customization like filters and different resolutions, but there is no manual mode.

Videos suffer from the same drawbacks as still images and there is the same lack of customization options. The K11 has an image stabilizer, which works best at correcting minor shakes, but it cannot compensate for bigger sudden movements.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images
ColorChecker: The reference color is displayed in the lower half of each patch
ColorChecker: The reference color is displayed in the lower half of each patch

Our test device struggles to reproduce colors accurately; most colors are too light while black and dark grey tones are too dark when compared to reference colors.

The K11 does a better job at reproducing our test chart under controlled lighting conditions though. Fine lines are visible in the middle of our chart even with our zoomed shot, although things start to blur as you get towards the edges of the image.

Photograph of our test chart
Photograph of our test chart
Test chart in detail

Accessories & Warranty

The K11 comes with a USB wall charger, a USB Type-A to Micro USB cable and a SIM tool. LG does not currently sell any K11 specific accessories.

The K11 comes with 24 months manufacturer’s warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices & Operation

LG preinstalls its keyboard app as the K11’s default, which is reasonably fast to type on and has numerous customization options. You are not bound to use the keyboard though and there are many other reputable alternatives on the Google Play Store from which to choose.

The touchscreen works well with inputs recognized accurately and quickly. The positional sensor worked well throughout our testing too.

While the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor quickly unlocks our test device, we had to precisely place our finger for it to do so.

Using the keyboard in portrait mode
Using the keyboard in portrait mode
Using the keyboard in landscape mode
Using the keyboard in landscape mode

Display

Sub-pixel array
Sub-pixel array

The K11 has a 5.3-inch IPS display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1280x720 native resolution. X-Rite i1Pro 2 gives our test device an average maximum brightness of 384.7 cd/m², which is considerably darker than both the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and the Motorola Moto G6 Play. Conversely, the K11 is 9% brighter than the LG K10 (2017) and 24% brighter than the Samsung Galaxy J6 (2018). Our test device has a 93% uniformly bright display, which is on par with the best of our comparison devices. In daily use, this means that large areas of color will look brighter on some parts of the display than on others.

369
cd/m²
384
cd/m²
382
cd/m²
382
cd/m²
394
cd/m²
398
cd/m²
377
cd/m²
384
cd/m²
392
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 398 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 384.7 cd/m² Minimum: 5.3 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 394 cd/m²
Contrast: 597:1 (Black: 0.66 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 8.2 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 7.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
75.1% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.6
LG K11
IPS, 1280x720, 5.30
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
Super AMOLED, 1480x720, 5.60
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
IPS, 2160x1080, 5.99
Motorola Moto G6 Play
IPS, 1440x720, 5.70
Huawei Y7 2018
IPS, 1440x720, 5.99
LG K10 2017
IPS, 1280x720, 5.30
Screen
24%
63%
66%
38%
23%
Brightness middle
394
296
-25%
518
31%
614
56%
393
0%
384
-3%
Brightness
385
294
-24%
532
38%
593
54%
365
-5%
350
-9%
Brightness Distribution
93
93
0%
94
1%
90
-3%
85
-9%
85
-9%
Black Level *
0.66
0.23
65%
0.29
56%
0.29
56%
0.36
45%
Contrast
597
2252
277%
2117
255%
1355
127%
1067
79%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
8.2
2.8
66%
5.66
31%
5.9
28%
5.28
36%
6
27%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
21.5
9.8
54%
10.32
52%
9.6
55%
9
58%
14
35%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
7.5
1.9
75%
6.8
9%
5.5
27%
4.2
44%
5.9
21%
Gamma
2.6 85%
2.09 105%
2.269 97%
2.32 95%
2.6 85%
2 110%
CCT
7581 86%
6398 102%
8564 76%
7822 83%
7086 92%
8042 81%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The K11 has a 0.66 cd/m² black value, which is much higher than our comparison devices. This relatively high black value contributes to a comparatively underwhelming 597:1 contrast ratio, which is around 25% of the Redmi Note 5’s contrast ratio.

In practical terms, this means that blacks look gray and colors are generally reproduced inaccurately. CalMAN highlights that the display struggles to accurately reproduce red tones.

CalMAN: Color Accuracy (sRGB)
CalMAN: Color Accuracy (sRGB)
CalMAN: Color Space (sRGB)
CalMAN: Color Space (sRGB)
CalMAN: Grayscale (sRGB)
CalMAN: Grayscale (sRGB)
CalMAN: Saturation (sRGB)
CalMAN: Saturation (sRGB)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 26.8 ms rise
↘ 17.2 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 98 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
72.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 40 ms rise
↘ 32.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 99 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The K11’s comparatively weak maximum brightness and contrast ratio render the device practically unusable in direct sunlight. The reflective display finish only compounds this. The device is easy to use in the shade, but this is not saying much.

Using the LG K11 outdoors
Using the LG K11 outdoors
Using the LG K11 outdoors
Using the LG K11 outdoors

The K11 has strong viewing angles thanks to its IPS display with no noticeable loss in brightness or color even at acute angles.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

The K11 is equipped with a MediaTek MT6750 SoC, which incorporates both an octa-core ARM A53 processor and an ARM Mali-T860 MP2 GPU. The SoC is complemented by 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of eMMC flash storage, but there are plenty of other more powerful devices priced under 200 Euros (~$231).

The K11 performs better than its predecessor in CPU benchmarks, but it cannot compete with our more expensive comparison devices. Our test device runs smoothly in daily use though, but the system performance starts to struggle when running more complex apps and games.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
LG K11
39898 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
47274 Points +18%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
92672 Points +132%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
46267 Points +16%
Huawei Y7 2018
45687 Points +15%
LG K10 2017
39063 Points -2%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (38547 - 44842, n=17)
41781 Points +5%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
LG K11
Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
62758 Points
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
115654 Points
Motorola Moto G6 Play
58511 Points
Huawei Y7 2018
59421 Points
LG K10 2017
54204 Points
Average Mediatek MT6750 (52278 - 56639, n=10)
54391 Points
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
LG K11
4241 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
4731 Points +12%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
4590 Points +8%
Huawei Y7 2018
4918 Points +16%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (3667 - 4532, n=13)
4271 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +256%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
LG K11
3249 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
3833 Points +18%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
5642 Points +74%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
3624 Points +12%
Huawei Y7 2018
3874 Points +19%
LG K10 2017
3167 Points -3%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (2782 - 3394, n=17)
3221 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +235%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
LG K11
787 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
1004 Points +28%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
923 Points +17%
Huawei Y7 2018
1020 Points +30%
LG K10 2017
821 Points +4%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (253 - 965, n=19)
663 Points -16%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +625%
System (sort by value)
LG K11
1599 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
2208 Points +38%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
1531 Points -4%
Huawei Y7 2018
1906 Points +19%
LG K10 2017
1259 Points -21%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1077 - 2003, n=19)
1776 Points +11%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +502%
Memory (sort by value)
LG K11
728 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
1086 Points +49%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
741 Points +2%
Huawei Y7 2018
1144 Points +57%
LG K10 2017
623 Points -14%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (609 - 1288, n=19)
833 Points +14%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +756%
Graphics (sort by value)
LG K11
487 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
534 Points +10%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
737 Points +51%
Huawei Y7 2018
739 Points +52%
LG K10 2017
508 Points +4%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (471 - 649, n=19)
585 Points +20%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +2754%
Web (sort by value)
LG K11
679 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
795 Points +17%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
866 Points +28%
Huawei Y7 2018
673 Points -1%
LG K10 2017
1137 Points +67%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (9 - 1137, n=19)
446 Points -34%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +119%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
LG K11
609 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
732 Points +20%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
1339 Points +120%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
643 Points +6%
Huawei Y7 2018
676 Points +11%
LG K10 2017
593 Points -3%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (590 - 682, n=18)
618 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +731%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
LG K11
2259 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
3709 Points +64%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
4943 Points +119%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
2322 Points +3%
Huawei Y7 2018
2889 Points +28%
LG K10 2017
2311 Points +2%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1790 - 2765, n=18)
2520 Points +12%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +500%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
LG K11
1559 Points
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
4578 Points +194%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
2224 Points +43%
Huawei Y7 2018
2133 Points +37%
LG K10 2017
1480 Points -5%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1393 - 1935, n=16)
1705 Points +9%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +579%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
LG K11
8567 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
7771 Points -9%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
20033 Points +134%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
9585 Points +12%
Huawei Y7 2018
9583 Points +12%
LG K10 2017
7998 Points -7%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5606 - 10269, n=18)
9018 Points +5%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
LG K11
8177 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
7007 Points -14%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
20909 Points +156%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
9713 Points +19%
Huawei Y7 2018
9713 Points +19%
LG K10 2017
7936 Points -3%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5884 - 10361, n=18)
9007 Points +10%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
LG K11
10285 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
12566 Points +22%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
17471 Points +70%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
9162 Points -11%
Huawei Y7 2018
9153 Points -11%
LG K10 2017
8223 Points -20%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (4811 - 10553, n=18)
9040 Points -12%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
LG K11
447 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
301 Points -33%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
1458 Points +226%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
600 Points +34%
Huawei Y7 2018
603 Points +35%
LG K10 2017
445 Points 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (136 - 559, n=18)
471 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3548 Points +694%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
LG K11
381 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
244 Points -36%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
1313 Points +245%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
522 Points +37%
Huawei Y7 2018
524 Points +38%
LG K10 2017
380 Points 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (109 - 484, n=18)
411 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3905 Points +925%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
LG K11
1127 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
1694 Points +50%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
2379 Points +111%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
1254 Points +11%
Huawei Y7 2018
1280 Points +14%
LG K10 2017
1105 Points -2%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (694 - 1219, n=18)
1059 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
3005 Points +167%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
LG K11
306 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
251 Points -18%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
934 Points +205%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
309 Points +1%
Huawei Y7 2018
310 Points +1%
LG K10 2017
303 Points -1%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (105 - 393, n=19)
324 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2685 Points +777%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
LG K11
252 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
202 Points -20%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
797 Points +216%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
254 Points +1%
Huawei Y7 2018
255 Points +1%
LG K10 2017
252 Points 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (83 - 329, n=19)
272 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2675 Points +962%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
LG K11
1233 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
1735 Points +41%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
2346 Points +90%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
1259 Points +2%
Huawei Y7 2018
1258 Points +2%
LG K10 2017
1047 Points -15%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (702 - 1233, n=19)
1086 Points -12%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3127 Points +154%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
22 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
19 fps -14%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
35 fps +59%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
26 fps +18%
Huawei Y7 2018
27 fps +23%
LG K10 2017
22 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (12 - 25, n=16)
20.6 fps -6%
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=177, last 2 years)
83.6 fps +280%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
13 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
12 fps -8%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
35 fps +169%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
16 fps +23%
Huawei Y7 2018
16 fps +23%
LG K10 2017
13 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (12 - 17, n=16)
15.1 fps +16%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=177, last 2 years)
243 fps +1769%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
LG K11
11 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
10 fps -9%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
15 fps +36%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
14 fps +27%
Huawei Y7 2018
14 fps +27%
LG K10 2017
11 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5.6 - 13, n=17)
10 fps -9%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
71.3 fps +548%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
5.3 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
5.4 fps +2%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
16 fps +202%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
7.1 fps +34%
Huawei Y7 2018
7.1 fps +34%
LG K10 2017
5.3 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (5.3 - 7.1, n=17)
6.26 fps +18%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=178, last 2 years)
137.9 fps +2502%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
8.6 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
6.9 fps -20%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
10 fps +16%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
10 fps +16%
Huawei Y7 2018
10 fps +16%
LG K10 2017
8.6 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (3.8 - 10, n=17)
7.46 fps -13%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=178, last 2 years)
60.2 fps +600%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
3.5 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
3.2 fps -9%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
9.8 fps +180%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
4.6 fps +31%
Huawei Y7 2018
4.6 fps +31%
LG K10 2017
3.5 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (3.5 - 4.7, n=17)
4.18 fps +19%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=178, last 2 years)
97 fps +2671%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
4.3 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
4 fps -7%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
6 fps +40%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
5.3 fps +23%
Huawei Y7 2018
5.4 fps +26%
LG K10 2017
4.3 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (2.3 - 4.9, n=18)
3.57 fps -17%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=178, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +898%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
LG K11
1.9 fps
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
2 fps +5%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
6.3 fps +232%
Motorola Moto G6 Play
2.6 fps +37%
Huawei Y7 2018
2.6 fps +37%
LG K10 2017
1.9 fps 0%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1.9 - 2.5, n=18)
2.24 fps +18%
Average of class Smartphone (2.9 - 166, n=178, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +2984%
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
255 Points
Average of class Smartphone (177 - 6114, n=61, last 2 years)
2145 Points

Legend

 
LG K11 Mediatek MT6750, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa, ARM Mali-T830 MP1, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, Qualcomm Adreno 509, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Motorola Moto G6 Play Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Huawei Y7 2018 Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
LG K10 2017 Mediatek MT6750, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash

Our test device is on par with its predecessor in browser benchmarks, but again it struggles against our other comparison devices. The K11 is powerful enough for casual web-browsing though. Websites load quickly with images and videos taking somewhat longer to render.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 104.3, n=2, last 2 years)
85.2 Points +412%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Chrome 67)
44.32 Points +167%
LG K10 2017 (Chrome 57)
20.84 Points +25%
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 (Chrome 67.0.3396.87)
20.75 Points +25%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (12 - 20.8, n=19)
18.2 Points +9%
Motorola Moto G6 Play (Chrome 66)
18.14 Points +9%
Huawei Y7 2018 (Chrome 66)
17.86 Points +7%
LG K11 (Chrome 67)
16.63 Points
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33355 Points +882%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Chrome 67)
8422 Points +148%
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 (Chrome 67.0.3396.87)
3721 Points +10%
LG K10 2017 (Chrome 57)
3407 Points 0%
LG K11 (Chrome 67)
3397 Points
Huawei Y7 2018 (Chrome 66)
3363 Points -1%
Motorola Moto G6 Play (Chrome 66)
3296 Points -3%
Average Mediatek MT6750 (1994 - 3506, n=19)
3095 Points -9%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Average Mediatek MT6750 (11708 - 22627, n=19)
14563 ms * -3%
LG K11 (Chrome 67)
14150 ms *
Motorola Moto G6 Play (Chrome 66)
13730 ms * +3%
Huawei Y7 2018 (Chrome 66)
13541 ms * +4%
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 (Chrome 67.0.3396.87)
11916 ms * +16%
LG K10 2017 (Chrome 57)
11708 ms * +17%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Chrome 67)
4740 ms * +67%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1658 ms * +88%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Chrome 67)
158 Points
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 (Chrome 67.0.3396.87)
91 Points
Huawei Y7 2018 (Chrome 66)
82 Points
Average Mediatek MT6750 (34 - 78, n=5)
61 Points
LG K10 2017 (Chrome 57)
34 Points

* ... smaller is better

The K11 has underwhelming internal storage speeds. While they surpass the K10 (2017), the K11 cannot compete with our comparison devices, all of which are also equipped with eMMC flash memory.

MicroSD card performance is much better. Our test device achieves 61 MB/s sequential write and 82 MB/s sequential read speeds in AndroBench when tested with our Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 reference card. These speeds put the K11 on par with our comparison devices.

LG K11Samsung Galaxy J6 2018Xiaomi Redmi Note 5Motorola Moto G6 PlayHuawei Y7 2018LG K10 2017Average 16 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
8%
33%
98%
2%
-14%
-34%
1240%
Sequential Read 256KB
253
206.5
-18%
287.6
14%
243.7
-4%
256
1%
246.1
-3%
164.5 ?(9.66 - 294, n=256)
-35%
1468 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
480%
Sequential Write 256KB
48.32
100.5
108%
121.6
152%
135.8
181%
71.5
48%
43.6
-10%
43 ?(8.74 - 106.3, n=256)
-11%
1078 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
2131%
Random Read 4KB
45.8
27.05
-41%
48.9
7%
65.9
44%
38.8
-15%
25.1
-45%
21.7 ?(2.49 - 62.1, n=256)
-53%
242 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
428%
Random Write 4KB
13.16
12.37
-6%
16.3
24%
61.7
369%
9.5
-28%
10.8
-18%
8.08 ?(0.49 - 44.9, n=256)
-39%
266 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
1921%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
82.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
81.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
83.4
1%
83.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
85
3%
77.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-7%
59.1 ?(8.1 - 87.7, n=137)
-29%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
61.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
65.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
8%
62.4
2%
60.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
61.5
1%
61.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
1%
39.8 ?(6.38 - 65.8, n=137)
-35%

Games

The ARM Mali-T860 MP2 GPU can comfortably play relatively simple games like Arena of Valor and Dead Trigger 2. The GPU is only powerful enough to play more complex titles at low graphics settings though.

The touchscreen and positional sensor worked well and without issue throughout testing.

Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2

Emissions

Temperature

The K11 is a relatively cool device, but it will feel warm under load. Our test device averaged 28.8 °C at idle, with the hottest area reaching 31.4 °C. Our test device averages 34.5 °C under load, which will feel warm to the touch, but not uncomfortably so. The area around the earpiece reaches 37.1 °C though, which will feel particularly warm to the touch.

Max. Load
 36.2 °C
97 F
35.1 °C
95 F
35.4 °C
96 F
 
 37.1 °C
99 F
35.4 °C
96 F
35.7 °C
96 F
 
 36.8 °C
98 F
35.5 °C
96 F
34.4 °C
94 F
 
Maximum: 37.1 °C = 99 F
Average: 35.7 °C = 96 F
32.9 °C
91 F
33.2 °C
92 F
33.2 °C
92 F
32.5 °C
91 F
33.4 °C
92 F
33.7 °C
93 F
32.7 °C
91 F
34 °C
93 F
33.4 °C
92 F
Maximum: 34 °C = 93 F
Average: 33.2 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  29.6 °C = 85 F | Room Temperature 20.8 °C = 69 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.7 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 37.1 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.5 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat-map of the front of the device under load
Heat-map of the front of the device under load
Heat-map of the rear of the device under load
Heat-map of the rear of the device under load

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The K11 has two speakers, which have a relatively balanced sound and a good maximum volume, which we measured at 85.7 dB(A). The sound quality is good enough for occasional media consumption, but the speakers start booming at maximum volume.

Audio output via the 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth is clean and will sound better than the device's speakers for listening to music for extended periods.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.934.22528.435.13136.133.64030.926.75030.634.46322.224.78024.928.210024.421.812523.522.216020.321.820019.819.425018.220.631517.426.740016.638.450017.14563015.95380015.963.4100015.968.8125016.773.816001673.5200015.970.1250016.272315016.471.140001776.4500016.571.6630016.470.4800016.680.1100001779.91250016.570.81600016.952.9SPL28.685.7N1.157.2median 16.6median 68.8Delta0.917.533.933.728.433.636.129.330.933.730.63322.226.724.923.524.430.623.542.320.341.819.840.718.244.517.449.916.656.617.15915.962.915.966.215.966.916.765.41670.715.973.116.272.216.478.61772.116.56716.468.716.670.41773.216.566.916.953.728.683.91.154median 16.6median 66.20.99.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLG K11Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
LG K11 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 46.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 10.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.7% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (34.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 82% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 17% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 92% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Samsung Galaxy J6 2018 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 33% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 59% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 53% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 39% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life

Power Consumption

The K11 is a comparatively power-efficient device. Our test device consumes a maximum of 1.54 W at idle, which increases to a maximum of 6.16 W under load. The K11 is more efficient than all our comparison devices bar its predecessor and consumes considerably less power than the average of MediaTek MT6750 devices that we have currently tested.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.03 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.57 / 1.48 / 1.54 Watt
Load midlight 4.56 / 6.16 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
LG K11
3000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
3000 mAh
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
4000 mAh
Motorola Moto G6 Play
4000 mAh
Huawei Y7 2018
3000 mAh
LG K10 2017
2800 mAh
Average Mediatek MT6750
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
-8%
-56%
-5%
-26%
3%
-42%
-23%
Idle Minimum *
0.57
0.85
-49%
1
-75%
0.68
-19%
0.9
-58%
0.76
-33%
1.13 ?(0.57 - 2.3, n=19)
-98%
0.894 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
-57%
Idle Average *
1.48
1.51
-2%
2.6
-76%
1.8
-22%
1.9
-28%
1.59
-7%
2.02 ?(1.42 - 3.5, n=19)
-36%
1.452 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
2%
Idle Maximum *
1.54
1.57
-2%
2.9
-88%
1.83
-19%
2.3
-49%
1.61
-5%
2.42 ?(1.47 - 5.9, n=19)
-57%
1.632 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
-6%
Load Average *
4.56
4.21
8%
5
-10%
3.38
26%
4.7
-3%
3.24
29%
5.21 ?(3.24 - 10.8, n=19)
-14%
5.55 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-22%
Load Maximum *
6.16
5.88
5%
8.2
-33%
5.67
8%
5.7
7%
4.15
33%
6.56 ?(3.3 - 12.4, n=19)
-6%
8.23 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-34%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The K11 has a 3,000 mAh battery, which is 200 mAh more than its predecessor. We tested the K11’s battery life by putting our test device through our Wi-Fi battery life test, during which we run a script that simulates the load required to render websites. Our test device lasts 12 h 21 m in this test, which is around three-and-a-half hours longer than its predecessor. The K11 is only eclipsed by our comparison devices that have a 1,000 mAh larger battery. Overall, the K11 has impressively long battery life given its battery capacity.

The included power supply fully recharges our test device in around two hours.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
12h 21min
LG K11
3000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy J6 2018
3000 mAh
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
4000 mAh
Motorola Moto G6 Play
4000 mAh
Huawei Y7 2018
3000 mAh
LG K10 2017
2800 mAh
Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3
741
708
-4%
872
18%
887
20%
624
-16%
532
-28%

Pros

+ scratch-resistant and rugged case
+ up to 2 TB microSD cards
+ good speakers
+ over 12 hours of battery life

Cons

- low contrast display
- low maximum brightness
- comparably poor system performance

Verdict

The LG K11 in review. Test device courtesy of LG Germany.
The LG K11 in review. Test device courtesy of LG Germany.

The LG K11 is a good budget smartphone that is powerful enough for most everyday tasks. The K11 should particularly appeal to those who want a sub-200 Euro (~$231) smartphone that supports high volume microSD cards. System performance is acceptable, but the K11 can hardly keep up with many of our comparison devices.

The LG K11 will suit those who have moderate hardware demands and who are looking for an affordable smartphone that is both scratch- and shock-resistant.

The main selling point of the K11 is its robust case which is both scratch and MIL-STD shock-resistant. The camera is passable for occasional photos and the hardware is powerful enough for relatively light use. Moreover, the K11 has decent battery life, but this is something in which the competition also excels.

LG K11 - 07/31/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
78%
Keyboard
66 / 75 → 88%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
36 / 60 → 60%
Weight
91%
Battery
95%
Display
80%
Games Performance
16 / 63 → 25%
Application Performance
38 / 70 → 55%
Temperature
91%
Noise
100%
Audio
66 / 91 → 72%
Camera
56%
Average
69%
78%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Mike Wobker, 2018-08- 1 (Update: 2019-02-28)