High 5! Xiaomi’s latest budget offerings
Xiaomi has launched two phones in its budget Redmi series.
For Xiaomi, the Redmi range of affordable smartphones has been its secret weapon in India. Redmi Note 4 was a popular model last year. Now it has launched 2 successors -- Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro. The Redmi Note 5 is thinner than earlier, at 8.05mm and comes with a metal body and increased display area thanks to an 18:9 screen ratio. The 5.99-inch device sports 12MP + 5MP cameras and features an LED light to make low-light selfies brighter. Each image pixel is made larger, so images are less pixelated. The device claims to withstand voltage surges up to 380V. With the Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood, powered by a 4000mAh battery, the Redmi Note 5 comes in two variants: the 3GB + 32GB at Rs 9,999 and the 4GB + 64GB priced at Rs 11,999.
Go pro, bro!
The beefed up elder brother -- Redmi Note 5 Pro --marks the global debut of the new Snapdragon 636 processor, and comes with enhanced camera specs. The 12MP + 5MP dual back camera comes with a 5MP Sony sensor for better depth detection and a 12MP Sony IMX 48 sensor for better still images. Turn on your screen and the phone will automatically recognize your face and unlock. The 20MP front camera comes with a soft LED flash. Additionally, electronic image stabilization features ensure that videos are smoother and sharper. Continuing to woo selfie enthusiasts, the Redmi Note 5 Pro uses deep learning algorithms to beautify selfies and remove blemishes, with special attention to unique Indian beauty components like bindis and nose pins. While most image enhancement tools treat these as blemishes, Xiaomi treats them with respect. The 4000mAH device comes in a 6GB + 64GB variant (priced at Rs 16,999) and a 4GB + 64GB configuration (priced at Rs 13,999).
Both the phones are available on mi.com and Flipkart and constitute good combos of post and performance. For a few thousand rupees extra, the Pro version offers a huge leap in camera specs; I'd go for it if I could afford it.
—IndiaTechOnline
