Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: a full camera comparison

The Realme Narzo 50 Pro has just been unveiled by the former OPPO sub-brand as a new entry into the mid-range market. It would appear that like Realme’s signature number series, the Narzo brand has also spread its wings to venture into higher price segments than just being limited to the budget realm. At a starting price of Rs 21,999, the device goes head-to-head with the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (review). This comparison piece will focus, excuse the pun, on both phones’ camera performance.

The camera layout is similar in terms of the lens variety on each and it will be quite interesting to find out the differences in their image-taking prowess. On the Realme Narzo 50 Pro, the primary camera is a 48MP Samsung sensor which is supported by an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro shooter. The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (pictured below) has a 108MP Samsung HM2 lens as the primary camera while the 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro sensors remain the same as the Narzo.

Daylight landscape

Both phones click pixel-binned shots by default that are 12MP in resolution. I have kept HDR on auto and turned off any AI-based enhancements to get the most natural possible shot. In bright lighting, I can see that both devices offer plenty of details on the subject alongside instant focus and shutter speeds. However, while the natural colour science on Redmi’s photo is evident clearly, Realme has oversaturated the image. The exposure levels are slightly higher on the latter giving a more prominent look at the detailing in the shadows. The dynamic range is better on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ but not by much while neither phone oversharpens the image. My eyes gravitate more towards the natural tones provided by the Redmi image so I’m giving this round to the Note 11 Pro+.  

Winner: Redmi Note 11 Pro+

UHD landscape

Of course, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+’s full resolution capabilities are more than double that of the Realme Narzo 50 Pro. Even so, as I’ve stated in a previous comparison, higher megapixel count is never a sure-shot way to determine better image quality. However, when comparing Redmi’s full resolution shot to the Realme, I see more of the same that was evident in the pixel-binned landscape shots. The colours are much better on the Redmi while the dynamic range remained the same for both. With a 10X crop into the shots, it was quite easy to see that the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ could maintain much better details than the Narzo 50 Pro. This round goes to the Redmi as well.

Winner: Redmi Note 11 Pro+

Ultra-wide shot

The story slightly changes when looking at ultra-wide images with it being Narzo 50 Pro’s turn to churn out the better colours as compared to Redmi. I’m quite impressed with how the dynamic range is maintained among the two shots. Even so, looking at the detailing on the dirt just below the frame, Realme takes a slight lead over Redmi. Exposure is maintained well across both phones although the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ tends to shift towards a warmer colour temperature. This round is taken by the Realme Narzo 50 Pro but only just.

Winner: Realme Narzo 50 Pro

Portrait mode

On the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ shot, edge detection on the flower is not quite flawless with some of the petals merging into the background. The colours are a bit more saturated than I would’ve prefered but overall the image is easy on the eye. On the Realme Narzo 50 Pro’s image, the background blur is smooth and the subject’s edge detection around the petals is precise. Colours have a more natural tone to them and the photo is exposed properly. In this round, the Narzo 50 Pro takes the win quite easily. 

Winner: Realme Narzo 50 Pro

Macro

In terms of macro photography, both phones come with a 2MP lens with a 4cm range of focus. From the shots, it becomes clear Realme gets in better detail on the flower’s pollen grains and has better colours. Try as I might, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ found it difficult to focus after a certain point and even then the details were quite soft. This round goes to the Realme Narzo 50 Pro as well.

Winner: Realme Narzo 50 Pro

Selfies

Both phones pack in a 16MP selfie camera but the photos captured are slightly different. The Realme shot has warmer colours as compared to the more natural-looking shot on the Redmi. While facial oversharpening is minimal on both phones, the Note 11 Pro+ captures slightly more details. This round goes to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+.

Winner: Redmi Note 11 Pro+

Low light

Phones have steadily become quite adept at churning out good nighttime images as compared to just a few years ago. The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ takes a decent shot but given the abundance of external lighting across the frame, I expected better details. On the sides of the frame, you can see that the focus has gone quite soft while the detailing on the tree leaves looks quite overprocessed. The same is true also for the building in the front. Even so, the exposure levels are maintained efficiently and the noise is kept at a minimum. Apart from that, the Note 11 Pro+’s viewfinder takes quite a while to focus on any subject. On the Realme Narzo 50 Pro, the story is much better thanks to a sharp focus across the frame. Colours are more toned to the natural surroundings and the detailing is far better than what I saw on the Redmi phone. The shadowy areas of the frame are not exposed as well as I would’ve liked but that is a small compromise on an otherwise decent shot. This round has been won by the Realme Narzo 50 Pro.

Winner: Realme Narzo 50 Pro

Night mode

When using the dedicated Night mode, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ tends to add a lot of exposure in the shot which gives the image a more overprocessed look. There is a bit of lens flare that is evident in the image sample above but in terms of detailing, the buildings and the grass below are decently in focus. On the Realme Narzo 50 Pro, the colours are more natural-looking and lens flaring is minimal, but the focus across the building is soft and there does seem to be a certain amount of noise creeping in. This round is a tie between the two phones. 

Winner: Tie

Verdict

From this comparison, it is clear that as far as selfies and daylight images are concerned, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ is a winner. In almost all other scenarios, the Realme Narzo 50 Pro takes the lead which gives it an overall edge in the scoring chart.