Just like the big players, Xiaomi is establishing a solid stronghold in India. With the Chinese manufacturer introducing new and successful devices week after week there are now ample choices for customers who are looking to buy decent quality phones at an affordable price range. Within the last 45 days Xiaomi has launched 3 handsets which include the Redmi 5 which is retailing at Rs 7,999, Redmi Note 5 which comes with a price tag of Rs 9,999 and lastly the wildly popular Redmi Note 5 Pro which is selling for Rs 13,999. With so many similar sounding devices there is bound to be some confusion among the buyers. Below we make a detailed breakdown of the specifications and highlights to help you decide which is the best buy for your bucks among the three.
Xiaomi Redmi 5
Speaking of the phone’s design, Xiaomi has kept things minimalistic and has not changed the aesthetics of the phone much by going with the popular metal unibody design. We get to see the similar build in the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Note 5. Although the device belongs to the lower end of price spectrum the screen is large enough to provide a decent viewing experience. The 5.7inch HD+ display comes with 18:9 aspect ratio and has a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. The Redmi 5’s predecessor has certainly gone through a lot of changes in terms of design, as the previous phone had 16:9 standard aspect ratio and only an HD screen. This time the 18:9 ratio tells us to expect thinner bezels on the side, thus giving it the looks of a 2018 phone.
As far as the performance goes, the Redmi 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor which is an octa-core processor one with 14nm FinFET technology design. Claims have been made by the company saying that the device will deliver appreciable battery life and performance, thus maintaining a balance between the two. The unique thing about the device which is setting it apart from other Xiaomi devices is the fact that Redmi 5 is going to be selling in three variants. The combinations for the three models are 2GB+16GB, 3GB+32GB or 4GB+64GB RAM and prices for the same are Rs 7,999, Rs 8,999 and Rs 10,999 respectively.
On the imaging front, the Redmi 5 comes loaded with 12MP (rear) primary shooter and a 5MP secondary (front) shooter. The front shooter on the phone is complemented by the presence of a LED selfie light. The battery of the device is a decent 3,300mAh, which although is less than the 4,000mAh which we get to see on the Redmi Note 5 and the Note 5 Pro, but Xiaomi asserts that the battery will provide enough juice for the phone to get through the day.
The Redmi 5 comes with the MIUI 9 built on top of Android Nougat 7.1.2, one drawback which we get to see is that Xiaomi has decided to keep the Micro-USB for the Redmi 5 instead of bringing in the USB Type- C.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
The Redmi Note 5 does the job of being the big brother to the Redmi 5. The phone sports an 18:9 aspect ratio with a Full HD+ screen which translated to a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The phone has thin bezels on the side and definitely makes an attempt to give a premium feel to the users.
The shocking part about this phone is the fact that Xiaomi has not brought any significant changes to the hardware of the phone. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 which we notice in the Redmi Note 4 last year stays as the norm in 2018 too. The phone offers two variants – the first with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, the second with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. However, Xiaomi does offer the option of expandable storage which is capped at 128GB.
The rear camera offered on this phone has a megapixel count of 12, which although is a little bit improved than the last device, but still fails to manage decent low-light shots. The front camera is a 5MP shooter and like the Redmi 5, comes with a selfie LED flash.
We get to see an impressive increase in the battery compared to what we saw on the Redmi 5, with the phone running on a 4,000mAh battery. Speaking about the software, Xiaomi is running its custom ROM, the MIUI 9.2 which is again built over Android 7.1.2 Nougat. The Oreo update for which is unfortunately nowhere to be seen now. The device has been strategically priced at Rs 9,999 for the 3GB model and Rs 11,999 for the 4GB model. For someone looking to shell out a little more than ten thousand for a smartphone with decent specs, Redmi Note 5 looks like a fairly attractive deal.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
In a competition between all Redmi phones, the Redmi Note 5 Pro can easily be given the title of the show stopper because the Note 5 Pro takes the first place by being priced as the most expensive Redmi phone that Xiaomi has rolled out in the markets till now. The latest technology that Xiaomi showcases in this device includes the dual camera setup, a better processor and a variant with an impressive 6GB RAM option.
Like we said, the Redmi Note 5 Pro comes in two variants, the first one sporting a 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and the second one sporting 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. Both the models come with an exquisite 5.99-inch Full HD+ display along with 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone has a very sleek and aesthetically pleasing look as the bezels have been shrunk a lot thus offering more screen real estate to the phone. Xiaomi has definitely kept up with the trend with the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 636 which definitely is a promising piece of hardware in regards to performance.
The dual camera setup for the phone is made possible by the combination of 12MP primary shooter and a 5MP secondary shooter. The front camera comes with a whopping 20MP setup which is accompanied by a LED flash. Xiaomi has also shipped face unlock, and a fingerprint scanner on this phone. The device is capable of clicking photos in the popular portrait mode or with the bokeh effect.
The UI on the phone still remains the same by Xiaomi, the MIUI 9.2 running on top of Android Nougat 7.1.2. The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a battery of 4000mAh which has been claimed to easily deliver a day’s worth of power. Also, the micro USB continues to be the trend with this device, and also the absence of the fast charging feature might be a thing to keep in mind.
The Note 5 Pro is priced at Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM variant, whereas the 6GB RAM variant ships for Rs 16,999.
Well, there you have it. The 5's from Xiaomi India. Xiaomi made it clear by launching the Redmi Note 5 Pro and Redmi Note 5 with massive differences on board. If you want a more powerful smartphone, the Redmi Note 5 Pro should be your pick. While the reasons to pick up a Redmi Note 5 are limited, it still offers excellent value for money in the Rs 10,000 price range.
Then lastly we have the newly launched Xiaomi Redmi 5, which the company managed to sell four lakh units in a single day. The 2GB RAM variant of the Redmi 5 is an excellent value for money option, and so does the 3GB RAM variant. But do make a note that the 4GB RAM variant of the Redmi 5 enters the territory of the Redmi Note 5. Honestly, Xiaomi shouldn't have launched the 4GB RAM variant of the Redmi 5 in India. However, the Redmi 5 is aimed at users looking for a compact smartphone and boy, it feels great when taken into the hands. But with investing Rs 1,000 more, we get the Redmi Note 5's 4GB RAM and 64GB variant.
So there you have it- powerful smartphone- go with the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Compact Smartphone- Redmi 5 and a value for money option- Redmi Note 5. Which one will you pick amongst the three?
