iPhone Air vs Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE: Which One Should You Buy?

iPhone Air edges ahead with a BeastScore of 78.1/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Apple · 2025

iPhone Air

iPhone Air
78/ 100
Launch price$999
Xiaomi · 2021

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
78/ 100
Launch price$399
Head-to-head

iPhone Air wins 4 of 8 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

iPhone Air
iPhone Air
4 wins
Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
3 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivitySecurityValue
iPhone AirXiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeediPhone Air
    90
    80
  • CameraXiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
    82
    84
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieTie
    76
    76
  • BatteryXiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
    58
    70
  • DisplayiPhone Air
    90
    74
  • ConnectivityiPhone Air
    88
    70
  • SecurityiPhone Air
    100
    34
  • ValueXiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
    55
    80
Key differences
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has the bigger battery4,250 mAh vs 3,149 mAh
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE charges faster33W vs 20W
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has a sharper main camera64 MP vs 48 MP
  • iPhone Air has a smoother screen120 Hz vs 90 Hz
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has the bigger screen6.55" vs 6.5"
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is lighter158 g vs 165 g
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE launched cheaper$399 vs $999
  • Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has a sharper selfie camera20 MP vs 18 MP
  • iPhone Air has newer Bluetooth6 vs 5.2
  • iPhone Air has more RAM12 GB vs 8 GB
  • iPhone Air has faster Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6E
  • iPhone Air is better protected from water and dustIP68 vs IP53
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy iPhone Air
  • ✓48 MP main camera
  • ✓6.5" display at 120 Hz
Reasons to buy Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
  • ✓7 g lighter (158 g vs 165 g), easier to hold
  • ✓$600 cheaper at launch ($399 vs $999)
  • ✓Bigger 4,250 mAh battery (+1,101 mAh)

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationiPhone AirXiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
1. Display & Screen🏆 iPhone Air Wins Display
Screen typeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLEDAMOLED
Screen Size6.5"6.55"
Resolution & Density2736x1260 (460 ppi)2400x1080 (402 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz ProMotion90 Hz
Brightness3,000 nits peak800 nits peak
Screen ProtectionNot listedNot listed
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone Air Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorApple A19 Pro (3nm)Snapdragon 778G (6nm)
CPU CoresNot listedNot listed
GPU GraphicsApple GPU (6-core)Adreno 642L
Operating SystemiOS 26Android 11
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory12 GB LPDDR8 GB LPDDR
Internal Storage256GB / 512GB / 1024GB128GB / 256GB
Storage SpeedNot listedNot listed
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE Wins Camera
Primary Camera48 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Fusion 48MP64 MP, f/1.79, OmniVision OV64B
Telephoto ZoomNone (digital zoom only)None (digital zoom only)
Ultrawide CameraN/A8 MP, f/2.2
LiDAR / DepthNoneNone
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
Not listed
Front Video
Not listed
Not listed
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens18 MP, f/1.920 MP, f/2.24
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE Lightest Chassis
Dimensions156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64 mm160.53 x 75.73 x 6.81 mm
Weight165 g158 g
Build MaterialsNot listedNot listed
SIM TypeNot listedNot listed
Water ResistanceIP68IP53
8. Battery & Charging🏆 Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE Wins Battery
Battery Capacity3,149 mAh4,250 mAh
Wired Fast Charging20W wired fast charging33W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging25W wireless chargingNot listed
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedNot listed
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth6.05.2
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 2.0USB-C 2.0
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedNot listed
Satellite FeaturesNot listedNot listed
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedNot listed
Launch Price$999$399
Our verdict

iPhone Air wins — BeastScore 78.1/100

The iPhone Air is the better pick for most people thanks to its smoother screen (120 Hz vs 90 Hz) and newer Bluetooth (6 vs 5.2). The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is worth a look if you prefer its bigger battery (4,250 mAh vs 3,149 mAh).

Buy iPhone Air if you want

Smoother display: 120 Hz vs 90 Hz · Brighter screen: 3,000 nits vs 800 nits

Buy Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE if you want

Larger battery: 4,250 mAh vs 3,149 mAh · Faster wired charging: 33W vs 20W

Common questions

Which is better: iPhone Air or Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE?

The iPhone Air is the better pick for most people thanks to its smoother screen (120 Hz vs 90 Hz) and newer Bluetooth (6 vs 5.2). The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is worth a look if you prefer its bigger battery (4,250 mAh vs 3,149 mAh). BeastScore: iPhone Air 78.1/100, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE 77.8/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between iPhone Air and Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE?

iPhone Air has a 6.5-inch display and 3149 mAh battery. Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE has a 6.55-inch display and 4250 mAh battery.

How do iPhone Air and Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE compare for speed?

iPhone Air scores 90/100 for performance; Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE scores 80/100.

Similar Smartphones

Gear for the iPhone Air

All Amazon Finds →

Related articles

All articles →