If that was the case then we'd see a low profile roundel too.
And, for other aircraft in the PLA we've never seen them change the colour of the radome alone as part of a repaint scheme.
The low profile serial number is something we've seen since 2020.
.... And this modification is also entirely consistent with the changes seen on J-11BG for PLAAF as well.
But we know that both J-16 and J-10 B/C moved the airspeed tube to other locations, so shifting the tube shouldn't be a big hassle, so why did J-11BGH not use J-16's very mature solution and instead go through the trouble of modifying the radar design?
It is a hassle, because the J-16 and J-10B/C were new build airframes as well as major variants of aircraft themselves, and thus among other modifications, moving the air data probe was also done.
The J-11BG/BHG are upgrades to existing in service airframes. So the real question should be, why should we even expect them to move the air data probe on an aircraft that's only getting an upgrade?
And as I've mentioned before, J-11BG/BHG is far from the world's only fighter type with a nose tip probe that has an AESA.
Older F-16s upgraded to F-16V (which includes an AESA in the nose) retain the same nose tip probe as well.
Dispense with this idea that "nose tip air data probe = incompatible with AESA fit".
