The Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro launches with a new 50MP main camera and without a charger in the box

Xiaomi has expanded its Mi 11 line-up with several new variants on an international scale today. This includes the long-hyped Pro variant, which, despite posing a potentially appealing balance between the vanilla and new Ultra models, also seems to be a Chinese market exclusive.

This is somewhat of a shame, as the phone looks much like a Mi 11 from the back, albeit with (apparently popular) dark silver, green and black color options. However, this variant swaps the older HM2 main sensor with the new ISOCELL GN2, which might prove an advantage even if this new CMOS is 50MP rather than 108MP.

Xiaomi asserts that it has developed the Pro's new primary camera in conjunction with Samsung for over a year now, and that it exhibits new and cutting-edge features such as dual native ISO fusion and Stagger HDR as a result. Then again, unlike the Ultra, this camera is joined by more conventional 8MP periscope zoom lens and 13MP ultrawide lenses in the Mi 11 Pro.

However, it also does rock the same 6.81-inch 2K 120Hz E4 AMOLED display, new Dolby Vision support and all, as its top-end counterpart. It will be kept on with an all-new "silicon-oxygen anode" battery, which is set at 5000mAh in this variant. Then again, it also charges at up to 67W, even though the OEM also has 120W technology for older flagships.

Xiaomi notes it has made this choice with the Pro so as to strike a balance between fast charging and thickness in this device. Accordingly, its IP68-rated chassis comes in at 8.53mm high and 208g in weight (apparently optimal given its new battery technology), compared to 8.06mm and 196g in the 4600mAh Mi 11. Furthermore, the Pro also now charges wirelessly at 67W.

It might have dismayed some Mi Fans at Xiaomi's live presentation to learn the company will pull an Apple and ship the new Pro without a charger in the box. However, it may have made up for that by offering buyers the option to add its new 67W brick to their orders for free. Alternatively, it is bundling its new, ground-breaking 80W wireless charger with the phone for 199 yuan (~US$30) extra, as opposed to the new product's normal 499 yuan (~$76) price.

As for the Mi 11 Pro itself, it starts at 4999 yuan (~$760) for an 8GB RAM/128GB base model. This rises to 5299 yuan (~$808) for an 8/256GB unit, or 5699 yuan (~$868) for the top-end 12/256GB unit. It will go up for pre-order later today (March 29, 2021), whereas general sales start on April 2.