Xiaomi has just announced that the Redmi Note 5 Pro has received a price hike. The budget smartphone’s base model with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage will now retail for Rs 14999 instead of its original price of Rs 13999. Manu Kumar Jain, MD of Xiaomi India announced the news via Twitter and said that the price hike is an effort to ramp up the supply of the smartphone after recent changes in PCBA import taxes and the depreciation of INR since the beginning of the year.
Mi fans! In order to ramp up supply for #RedmiNote5Pro & #MiTV4 (55), we're marginally increasing the prices. This is because of the recent changes in PCBA import taxes & INR depreciation.
The Mi TV 4, Xiaomi’s 55 inch smart LED TV has also received a price hike. The company has cited the same reasons and increased the price of the TV to Rs 44999. This is an increase of Rs 5000 since the original price of the television was Rs 39999. Xiaomi has also announced that it will honour the preorders of the Redmi Note 5 Pro and charge the consumers Rs 13999 only. For new orders and subsequent flash sales, the Redmi Note 5 Pro will retail for Rs 14999.
Mi TV 4
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro was launched in India on the 14th of February at a starting price of Rs 13999. At the time of the launch, it was the only smartphone in India to run on the Snapdragon 636 chipset and is still one of the best budget smartphones in the country. However, we have recently seen strong smartphones being launched in that price category. Asus has launched the Zenfone Max Pro in India at a starting price of Rs 10999 which runs on the same Snapdragon 636 chipset. In fact, the Zenfone Max Pro also runs stock version Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.
The price hike of Rs 1000 means that Xiaomi wants to get rid of the flash sales and increase the supply of the in-demand Redmi Note 5 Pro. However, in a price sensitive market like India, any sort of price hike can be colossal, especially considering that the Zenfone Max Pro is very able replacement for the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
Asus has launched its latest budget offering for the India market, the Zenfone Max Pro. The newly launched smartphone will go on sale via Flipkart on the 3rd of May at a starting price of Rs 10999. The Zenfone Max Pro, in the beginning, will be available two variants, one with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage and the other one with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The company also announced that a 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant with improved camera capabilities will also launch soon in India.
At such a price range, the Zenfone Max Pro directly competes with the Redmi Note 5. However, in terms of features and hardware, it stacks up against the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro was launched in February of this year and has garnered great reviews so far. The only caveat being its annoying flash sales which is still the only way to buy the smartphone. It starts at a price of Rs 13999 for the 4GB RAM and the 6GB RAM model costs Rs 16999.
In a price sensitive market like India, such a price gap between two smartphones can be telling. But, does the Asus Zenfone Max Pro hold up against highly successful Redmi Note 5 Pro? Let’s find out!
Design
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and Asus Zenfone Max Pro look identical in more than one way. On the front, the bezels have a similar size around the displays of both the phones. On the back, both the devices have a vertically placed dual camera setup with very similar placements as well. However, the LED flash on the Note 5 Pro is placed between the two cameras while on Zenfone Max Pro, it is placed beneath the dual camera setup. The brushed metal finish on both the phones means that the devices can be a bit slippery, especially if you have smaller hands and cannot get a proper grip.
It is also worth noting here that the Redmi Note 5 Pro has a camera bump on the back while the cameras on the Zenfone Max Pro are flush along the body.
Display
The display on both the smartphones is identical. It is a 5.99 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio. The corners of the displays are curved giving the smartphones a bit more premium look compared to sharp corners found on something like the Honor 7X.
The viewing angles are great and the colour reproduction is exactly what you would expect from an HD+ LCD panel. Considering how smartphones are the primary source of media consumption for a lot of users, both the devices do a great job with their respective displays. Another advantage of a tall display and thin bezels is the ability to fit a larger display in a relatively smaller body.
Hardware
When the Redmi Note 5 Pro was launched, its chipset was one of the highlights. It was the only smartphone to run on the Snapdragon 636 chipset before the Zenfone Max Pro’s launch. The Zenfone Max Pro is available in three different RAM and storage options, while the Note 5 Pro is only available in two RAM and one storage options.
A department where the Zenfone Max Pro hands down one-ups the Note 5 Pro is the battery. The Zenfone Max Pro has a 5000 mAh battery compared to Redmi Note 5 Pro’s 4000 mAh battery. Also, Asus has managed to keep the weight of the Zenfone Max Pro at 180 grams, identical to that of the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
If you are someone who swears by the benchmark scores, here they are for both the devices:
Antutu BenchmarkGeekbench
Camera
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 20MP Sony IMX376 camera on the front with an LED light. To the back of the smartphone is a vertically placed dual-camera setup. It is a 12MP colour sensor with an f/2.2 and a 5MPcolour sensor with an f/2.0 aperture setup. The smartphone clicks portrait mode photos from the front and rear cameras.
The Asus Zenfone Max Pro has a 13MP primary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and the depth sensor is a 5MP camera. The front of the device houses an 8MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an LED flash. The Zenfone Max Pro records 4K videos at 30fps while the Redmi Note 5 Pro can only record 1080P videos. Both the smartphones have EIS (electronic image stabilisation) when recording 1080P videos.
Xiaomi has launched a few stellar smartphones over the past few months. The Mi A1, for a long time, was the best budget smartphones in India. In 2018, the company launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro which, right now, is probably the best budget smartphone that a lot of people cannot buy. Now, it appears that Xiaomi is preparing to launch another budget smartphone in India.
A report by XDA Developers claims that Xiaomi will soon launch the Redmi S2 in India. Judging by the specifications that have been unearthed, the Redmi S2 will be an entry-level smartphone. The Redmi S2 will be priced cheaper than the Redmi 5 which was launched in mid-march at a starting price of Rs 7999. The Redmi S2 could be priced at Rs 5999 as a replacement to the Redmi 5A.
Redmi Note 5 Pro
According to the report, the Redmi S2 will have an 18:9 IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. The exact size of the display has not been confirmed.
Under the hood, the Redmi S2 could run on the Snapdragon 625 chipset. If true, this will be an interesting move by Xiaomi since the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5 also run on the same chipset. The Snapdragon 625 chipset will be coupled with either 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage. The fingerprint sensor will be placed on the back of the smartphone just like every other Xiaomi smartphone.
Redmi Note 5
Powering the device will be a 3080 mAh battery which should be enough to power an HD display.
In the camera department is where the Redmi S2 could have a lot to offer. To the back of the smartphone will be a dual-camera setup with a 12MP primary sensor and a 5MP depth sensor. However, it is not yet confirmed if the primary lens will be anIMX486 or an OmniVision OV12A10 sensor. Interestingly, the Redmi S2 will also have EIS and Face Unlock along with the regular portrait mode. On the front will be a 5MPSamsung S5K5E8 sensor.
Mi MIX 2s
The Xiaomi Redmi S2 will be launched in China and India. The date of launch has not been confirmed yet and there are chances that Xiaomi could launch it along with the Mi MIX 2s in India in the coming weeks.
The budget segment of smartphones in India has seen an influx of some great devices. In 2017, the Xiaomi Mi A1, Moto G5s Plus and the Honor 7X were some of the best budget Android devices. 2018 did not have a bad start either, the Honor 9 Lite with its all-glass design and quad-camera setup turned some heads. However, in February, Xiaomi launched the smartphone to beat in this segment, the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Now, HMD Global has launched the Nokia 6 2018 in India at a price of Rs 16999 which will be sold offline only.
In our review of the Redmi Note 5 Pro, we expressed that this was the true successor to the Redmi Note 4. However, Xiaomi also launched the Redmi Note 5 which has been selling well in the previous flash sales. The Nokia 6 2018, on the other hand, succeeds the Nokia 6 from 2017 which left a lot to be desired thanks to its extravagant pricing.
Dual-Camera Redmi Note 5 Pro
With the Nokia 6 2018, HMD Global has provided better specifications while retaining the 16:9 aspect ratio. This means that despite its new colour accents, the Nokia 6 2018 will look like an older smartphone when compared with the likes of Redmi Note 5 Pro and Honor 7X. It is also worth noting that these two devices cost less than the Nokia 6 2018. The new Nokia 6 also retains a single camera setup on the back while its competitors sport a dual camera setup.
Smartphones have improved a lot in the last few years. And now, we have smartphones with four cameras, high-resolution displays and faster chipsets. However, when it comes to battery, we still use older Li-ion batteries, which can drain out rapidly. All these hardware features require a lot of power and to address this issue, smartphone makers have started including a bigger battery, which can last up to 2 days. Here are the top 5 smartphones under Rs 20,000 with a massive battery.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a large 5.99 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD screen. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with 4/6GB RAM and 64GB storage. The phone has a 4000 mAh battery with Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0 support. The device has a dual camera setup with a 12MP sensor and a 5MP depth sensor to produce bokeh shots. The 4GB RAM and 64GB model is priced at Rs 13,999 and the 6GB RAM and 64GB model is priced at Rs 16,999.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
If you think, that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is over your budget, then consider this miniature version of the same. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 has a same 5.99 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset. The smartphone has a 12MP primary camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. Like the Note 5 Pro, the Note 5 packs in a 4000 mAh battery with Qualcomm quickcharge 2.0 capability. The 3GB RAM and 32GB storage is priced at Rs 9,999 and the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model is priced at Rs 11,999.
Xiaomi Mi MAX 2
The Xiaomi Mi MAX 2 is a multimedia-centric device, which has a 6.44 inch 16:9 1920 x 1080 px IPS LCD screen. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage. Similarly, the 3GB RAM model retails for Rs 13,999 and the 4GB RAM model retails for Rs 15,999. To fulfil the power requirements of this massive display, the device has a 5300 mAh battery with fast charging support via USB type C port.
Lenovo K8 Note
When it comes to features packed specifications, the Lenovo K8 Note is no slouch either. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek Helio X23 Deca-core chipset with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage. Similarly, the 3GB model retails for Rs 10,550 and the 4GB RAM model retails for Rs 11,615. The Lenovo K8 Note has a dual camera setup, which can capture bokeh shots. Additionally, the device runs on stock Android 7 Nougat and expected to receive Android 8 Oreo update.
Moto C Plus
The Moto C Plus is one of the most affordable smartphones with a 4000 mAH battery. The device has a 5 inch HD 1280 x 720 px IPS LCD screen. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek MTK6737 Quad-core chipset with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Additionally, storage is expandable up to 32GB. The device runs on stock Android 7 Nougat and expected to receive Android 8 Oreo update.
The face unlock feature is slowly gaining a lot of traction in the smartphone industry ever since the iPhone X was launched. Similarly, Android smartphone OEMs began to push this feature on their flagship smartphones. Now, the technology is even available on mid-tier smartphones. Though face unlocking is not as secure as a fingerprint sensor, it is definitely getting better by the day. So, here are the top three smartphones with face unlock under Rs 15,000.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
Along with face unlock, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro packs some interesting attributes for Rs 13,999. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. In fact, this is the first global smartphone to have this processor. The smartphone has a metal unibody design with a dual camera setup. The 12MP primary sensor captures images and the 5MP depth sensor helps to create a bokeh effect. Face unlock is achieved using a 20MP front-facing camera.
Honor 9 Lite
Honor 9 Lite
The Honor 9 Lite has a bunch of features that are not usually found on the smartphones at Rs 10,999. The device has a glass back, glass front, and a metallic mid-frame. On the front, the mobile has a 5.7 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD screen with a 2.5D curved glass finish. The smartphone has dual camera setup on both the sides with a similar 13 MP RGB and a 2MP depth sensor combination. The face unlock is achieved using front-facing camera and it works fine in well-lit lighting conditions. In fact, this is one of the most affordable smartphones with face unlock.
Honor 7x
Honor 7x
If you liked Honor 9 Lite and wanted to have a bigger screen with a metal body, then the Honor 7x might be the one to consider. It uses a conventional metal unibody design with a slightly bigger 5.99 inch FHD+ 18:9 aspect ratio. Compared to the Honor 9 Lite, the 7x has a better primary camera setup with a 16MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The device recently received a software update, which adds face unlock feature. However, unlike the Honor 9 Lite, the device has an 8MP front-facing camera. This smartphone is priced at Rs 12,999 for 4GB RAM and 32GB storage variant.
Xiaomi only recently rolled out MIUI 9 for almost all of its smartphones here in India. The Chinese smartphone maker was commended for not leaving old devices in the dark and even the Redmi 1s, launched over three years ago, received the MIUI 9 update. However, the support will end there for a lot of these smartphones. Xiaomi has announced that the new MIUI 9.5 update will start seeding in late-March. It will gradually reach about 30 Xiaomi devices by the end of April 2018.
MIUI 9.5 Update Timeline
Late-March: Redmi Note 3 Special Edition, Redmi Note 3 Qualcomm, Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm/Redmi Note 4X, Mi Max, Mi Max Prime, Redmi 3S, Redmi 4 Prime, Redmi 4A and Redmi Note 4 MTK.
Early-April: Redmi Note 5A Prime/Redmi Y1, Redmi Note 5A/Redmi Y1 Lite, Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi Note 5/Pro, Redmi 5, Mi Max 2, Mi 5/Pro, Redmi 4X, Mi 6 and Mi MIX 2
Mid-April: Mi Note 2, Mi 5s, Mi MIX, Mi Note 3, Mi 5s Plus, Redmi Note 2, Redmi 3, Redmi 4, Mi 3, Mi 4
The company has not announced any new features that will be a part of the new MIUI update. However, there are a few users who have been using a stable build of MIUI 9.5 on Redmi Note 4 units. The new update will bring in features like Notification Shade, Quick Reply and the February security patch.
Despite the latest MIUI update, none of the Xiaomi smartphones barring the Mi MIX 2 run on Android 8 Oreo. However, after Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 in China running Android 8 Oreo, it looks like at least the 2018 Xiaomi lineup will get a software upgrade.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Note 5 Pro and Redmi 5 have an 18:9 aspect ratio, like the Mi MIX 2. There is a possibility of these devices also getting support for gesture-based navigation with a future Android 8 Oreo update.
Xiaomi started 2018 with two great budget smartphones, the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro. While the Redmi Note 5 is essentially the Redmi 5 Plus that was launched in China, many expected the Redmi 5 to never hit the Indian shores. That, however, changed on the 14th of March when Xiaomi held a live stream event and launched the Redmi 5 in India.
At a starting price of Rs 7999, the Redmi 5 is a peculiar device for the India market. That doesn’t mean that it won’t sell because Xiaomi appears to have cracked the code for India. With three variants launched, there are a few options to consider. But, the base variant is expected to be the popular choice because the Redmi Note 5’s base variant essentially cancels out the other two models of the Redmi 5. Pricing:
So, does the Redmi 5 have enough firepower to have an impact on the increasingly congested budget smartphone segment of India? Let’s unbox the device and find out:
Xiaomi Redmi 5
Documentation
Wall Charger
Micro USB Cable
Clear Case
First Impressions
Usually, the difference between a regular and a plus variant of a device is usually substantial, size wise. However, that is not the case with the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 (Redmi 5 Plus). At a glance, the difference between the two is barely noticeable. The design and build quality of the Redmi 5 resembles the Redmi Note 5 with the same 18:9 aspect ratio. That being said, it still possesses considerable bezels which are even more prominent if you buy the Gold colour variant.
One of the two main differences between the Redmi 5 and Note 5 is the display. It has a 720P display which measures 5.7 inches.
Specifications
Under the hood, it has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset, a 1.8GHz octa-core processor, Adreno 506 GPU, 2GB, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card. In fact, the Snapdragon 450 is an underclocked Snapdragon 625 chipset, which is used in the Note 5.
There is a fingerprint sensor placed at the back of the phone just below the camera. However, that is mainly a signature Xiaomi decision and not due to the lack of bezels on the front. Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery which, Xioami claims has a standby time of up to 12 days. The battery is charged via a micro USB slot which means no fast charging.
Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi Note 5 AI in China that, surprisingly, runs Android 8 Oreo. However, that is not the case in India as the Redmi 5 still runs Android 7 Nougat with MIUI 9 on top.
The device has a 12MP camera at the back with 1.25-micron pixel size. The camera surprisingly only records 1080P videos at 30fps. To the front of the device is a 5MP camera with Beautify 3.0, which is Xiaomi’s software for enhanced selfies. However, unlike the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, the device misses out on Face Unlock feature.
Xiaomi India launched the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 in India on the 14th of February. The smartphone is the successor to Xiaomi’s best selling Redmi Note 4. While many believe the Redmi Note 5 Pro should have been the Redmi Note 5 in India, the true Note 4 successor has launched in China. It is similar to the Redmi Note 5 Pro but, with some better features and camera upgrades.
The Xioami Redmi Note 5 AI is available in two storage and three RAM variants. The 3GB/32GB combination and the 4GB/6GB and 64GB combination. The 4GB RAM model retails for CNY 1,399 and the 6GB RAM model retails for CNY 1,699. Interestingly, this pricing is very similar to the Indian pricing of the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
The Redmi Note 5 AI runs on Android 8 Oreo with MIUI 9 on top. In India, only the Mi A1 and Mi MIX 2 have been updated to Android 8 Oreo so far. It even supports Project Treble, which means it is bound to receive faster software updates when compared to other Xiaomi devices.
Specifications of the Xioami Redmi Note 5 AI
The smartphone has a 5.99 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with 2.5D finish. Under the hood, the device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with 3GB or 6GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB storage.
On paper, the Redmi Note 5 AI has a similar dual camera setup compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro. However, the Chinese version has a much better 12MP primary sensor with 1.4 micron pixel size and an f/1.9 aperture. However, the secondary sensor on the back remains the same for both the devices. The difference does not stop there, as the Redmi Note 5 AI’s camera also supports Dual PD dual-core speed focus for a faster autofocus speed. However, not all is doom and gloom for the Redmi Note 5 Pro as it sports a superior 20MP front camera compared to the 13MP sensor found on the Redmi Note 5 AI.
Finally, both devices come with a 4000 mAh battery. The Redmi Note 5 AI also supports Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 while the Redmi Note 5 Pro is limited to Quick charge 2.0.
The Apple iPhone X has a display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio with almost no chin, which eliminates the space for a home button. So, the company introduced gesture-based navigation, which replaces the home button.
Similarly, Xiaomi has also started testing the gesture-based UI on its “Full-Screen” devices. The list of compatible devices includes the Xiaomi Mi MIX, MIX 2, Redmi Note 5 Pro, and the Redmi Note 5. Similarly, OnePlus is also testing gesture-based navigation for the OnePlus 5T on an open beta ROM.
Xiaomi introduced the gesture-based navigation system in the Mi MIX 2 initially. This comes after Apple introduced similar gestures in the iPhone X. With devices moving toward an all-screen and no bezel design, gestures could be the future. While the transition for iPhone users from the home button to gestures was organic, same can’t be said for Android users.
iOS used gestures before the introduction of the iPhone X as well. Swiping from left to right on the screen to go back in an app was one of them. However, Android has always used three buttons for navigation. Hence, the transition could be a bit more cumbersome. That being said, we expect more smartphone makers to introduce gestures within their UI as time goes by.
It is worth noting that one has to install Global MIUI 9.5 Beta ROM to test out the feature on this smartphone. Similarly, as this is a beta ROM, we do not recommend installing this on a daily driver. To enable gesture control, go to Settings, full-screen display, select full-screen gestures. Go through the tutorial ones to understand basic commands.
Basic Gestures
Swipe from the middle bottom to go Home from anywhere
Swipe and hold from the middle to open multi-tasking tray
Dual cameras are one of the features, that the majority of consumers will consider when buying a smartphone. The trend of two cameras started with the Apple iPhone 7 Plus in 2016. Similarly, flagship Android smartphones adopted the feature, which later started trickling down to budget smartphones as well. In fact, a dual-camera setup has become staple for most budget smartphones today.
So, if you have a budget of around Rs. 15000 and need a smartphone with a dual-camera setup, what do you pick? Let’s have a read!
Xiaomi Mi A1
5.5 inch IPS LCD 1920 x 1080 px display
Snapdragon 625
4GB/64GB
12MP wide-angle + 12MP telephoto
4K video recording
Xiaomi Mi A1 is an allrounder smartphone, which retails for Rs 13,999. The smartphone has a premium metal unibody design with a USB type C port. The device has a dual camera setup, which is similar to the iPhone X with a 12 MP wide angle lens and a 12 MP telephoto lens with lossless zoom. However, the camera misses out on any kind of image stabilisation. The smartphone also has an added advantage of the Android One programme, which guarantees regular software updates.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
5.99 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display
Snapdragon 636
4GB/6GB RAM, 64GB storage
12MP+5MP depth sensor
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the latest smartphone to join the dual camera clan. The smartphone has an 18:9 aspect ratio with a 5.99 inch FHD+ display. This is also the first smartphone to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. The dual camera setup on the device consists of a 12 MP primary sensor and a 5 MP depth sensor, which helps take the depth of field/bokeh effect. The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM variant and the 6GB variant will cost Rs 16,999. However, the only caveat this great device has is its Flash Sales.
Moto G5s Plus
5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px display
Snapdragon 625
4GB/64GB
13MP RGB + 13MP Monochrome
The Moto G5s Plus is one more smartphone, that offers a great value for money. The device runs on stock Android OS and retails for Rs 14,750on Amazon. The device has a full metal unibody design with a matte finish. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset, that also powers the Mi A1. The smartphone has a 13MP RGB and a 13MP monochrome sensor, which helps to produce selective black and white photos.
Honor 7x
5.99 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD
Kirin 659
4GB, 32GB/64GB
16MP +2MP depth sensor
The Honor 7x is available on Amazon for Rs 12,999 for the 4GB RAM and 32GB storage variant. The device has a 6 inch 18:9 display, powered by the Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset. The dual cameras on the smartphone consist of a 16MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The device has an 8MP front-facing camera and expected to support Face Unlock via future software updates.
Honor 9 Lite
5.65 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD
Kirin 659
3GB/32GB, 4GB/64GB
13MP + 2MP depth sensor
The last but definitely not the least is the Honor 9 Lite. In fact, this is the only smartphone that has a premium glass design with a quad camera setup. The pricing starts at Rs 10,999 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The device has a 5.65 inch FHD+ 18:9 display, powered by Kirin 659 chipset. The phone has a 13MP primary shooter and a 2MP depth shooter both on the front as well as on the back.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Redmi Note 5 on the 14th of February. While the Redmi Note 5 succeeds the highly popular Redmi Note 4, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is essentially a more powerful Redmi Note 5. We still believe that the Redmi Note 5 Pro could have easily been the Redmi Note 5. However, Xiaomi clearly had different plans. Even after three flash sales, it is still difficult to get one due to its high-demand.
In fact, on the day of its first slash sale, the Redmi Note 5 Pro received the Face Unlock feature via an OTA update. However, all isn’t rosy in the Redmi Note 5 Pro land. A few users started reporting that the volume on the smartphone goes very low after connecting a wired headset. However, the volume through the loudspeaker was adequately sound.
Xiaomi was keen enough to listen to the customers about their query on the Mi Community Forum. In fact, the company has already issued a new MIUI 9.2.5.0 software update, which resolves the issue. However, our review unit is still running on MIUI 9.2.4.0 and haven’t received an update.
Specifications
The Xioami Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 5.99-inch 2160 x 1080p IPS LCD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass. This is the first global smartphone to use Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor with 4GB or 6GB RAM and 64GB storage.
The smartphone has a dual-camera setup on the back. The primary camera is a 12MP sensor while the other one is a 5MP camera used for depth effect shots. There is a 20MP front-facing camera which records 1080p videos.
The smartphone runs MIUI 9 on top of Android 7.1 Nougat. Powering the smartphone is a massive 4000 mAh battery which supports Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro along with the Redmi Note 5 on the 14th of February. Up until now, the company has had two flash sales. However, only the 4GB RAM and two colour variants of the Redmi Note 5 Pro were available to buy via the flash sales.
Redmi Note 5 Pro
According to a report, all four colours of the Redmi Note 5 and the Note 5 Pro will be available for the next flash-sale. Similarly, the sale will also include the 6GB RAM variant of the Note 5 Pro. However, only the Black colour will be available in the 6GB RAM variant. The price of the Redmi Note 5 Pro starts at Rs 13,999 and goes up to Rs 16,999 for the 6GB RAM model.
Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 5.99-inch 2160 x 1080p IPS LCD display with Gorilla Glass protection. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with either 4GB or 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. In fact, this is the first smartphone in the world to feature this chipset.
The smartphone has a dual primary camera setup with a 12 MP primary camera and secondary 5 MP depth sensing sensor. For the first time, the company has used a 20 MP front-facing camera with soft selfie-light.
In terms of operating system, the smartphone runs on Android 7 Nougat with custom MIUI skin on the top. Finally, the smartphone features a 4000 mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick charge 2.0 capability.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 has a 5.99-inch display with a 2160 x 1080px resolution. Under the hood, the Redmi 5 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, Adreno 506 GPU, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, and 32GB or 64GB of storage. Similarly, the storage is expandable using micro SD card slot.
The Redmi Note 5 is powered by a massive 4000 mAh battery which, according to Xiaomi, has a standby time of up to 17 days. The device has a micro USB port for charging and data syncing along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The device has a 12MP primary camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP secondary camera with beautify 3.0 software. In fact, the camera sensor is identical to the primary camera on the Note 5 Pro.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the first Xiaomi smartphone to support Face Unlock. Similarly, the company is testing this feature for the Mi MIX 2 and the Mi 6 on the beta version. In fact, users can install the Global beta ROM to test this feature. However, as the ROM is in beta stage, it might not be suitable for a primary device.
So, if you own a Mi MIX 2 or the Mi 6, the device will receive an OTA update in next few days. However, the company warns about using the feature, as it can be fooled using a photo or a video.
Specifications of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has a 5.99 inch 2160 x 1080 px LCD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by a 3,400 mAh battery which is considerably smaller than the previous generation Mix’s 4,400 mAh battery. The Mi Mix 2 runs Android 7.1.1 with Xiaomi’s custom MIUI 9 on top.
Under the hood, the flagship smartphone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, Adreno 540 GPU, 6GB RAM and storage options of 64GB, 128GB or 256GB. A special edition Mi Mix 2 with a full ceramic body, 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage has also been announced.
The smartphone sports a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 sensor with 1.25-micron pixels, an f/2.0 aperture 4-axis optical image stabilisation, 5-piece lens, and facial recognition. On the front is a 5MP which features facial recognition as well.
Mi Mix 2
Specifications of Mi 6
The Mi 6 has a 5.15 inch 1920 x 1080 px LCD display. Under the hood, the device has Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and Adreno 540 GPU for graphics. The fingerprint sensor is housed in the home button just below the display. Powering the device is a 3350 mAh battery and the phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat with MUI skin on top.
The Mi 6 has a dual camera set up of two 12MP cameras at the back. On its front, it has an 8MP camera which records 1080P videos.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 and the Note 5 Pro in India on the 14th February. The company has already had two flash sales on Flipkart and Mi.com. At the time of launch, the company announced four colour variants Gold, Black, Lake Blue, and Rose Gold. However, in both the sales the devices were only available in the Black and Gold Variant.
These devices will go on sale for the third time on the 7th of March. Similarly, Flipkart has now listed all the four colour variations of the Note 5 and the Note 5 Pro. The company might sell all the four variants of the smartphones from the next sale. However, the 6GB version is not yet listed on Flipkart, which will be available at a later date.
Do note that the Redmi Note 5 and the Note 5 Pro are also expected to be available offline from 6th March. However, there is no official word from Xiaomi regarding this latest development.
Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 5.99-inch 2160 x 1080p IPS LCD display with Gorilla Glass protection. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with either 4GB or 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. In fact, this is the first smartphone in the world to feature this chipset.
The smartphone has a dual primary camera setup with a 12 MP primary camera and secondary 5 MP depth sensing sensor. For the first time, the company has used a 20 MP front-facing camera with soft selfie-light. In fact, this is the first Xiaomi Redmi smartphone to support face unlock
In terms of operating system, the smartphone runs on Android 7 Nougat with custom MIUI skin on the top. Finally, the smartphone features a 4000 mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick charge 2.0 capability.
Redmi Note 5
Specifications of Redmi Note 5
The smartphone has a 5.99-inch display with a 2160 x 1080px resolution which translates to an 18:9 aspect ratio. This is one of the biggest changes in the Redmi Note series.
Under the hood, the Redmi 5 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, 2.0GHz octa-core processor, Adreno 506 GPU, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, and 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card.
The Redmi Note 5 Plus is powered by a massive 4000 mAh battery which, according to Xiaomi, has a standby time of up to 17 days. The device has a micro USB port for charging and data syncing along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The device has a 12MP primary camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP secondary camera with beautify 3.0 software.
