Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Note 5 Pro set new benchmarks for budget smartphones
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Note 5 Pro set new benchmarks for budget smartphones on Business Standard. The phones bring major upgrades over the predecessor in terms of design, features and camera, while retaining the best features of the Redmi Note 4 -- battery, build quality and memory
Latest News Xiaomi started the year with the launch of the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro – successor of 2017 highly popular budget smartphone the Redmi Note 4. Both, the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro bring major upgrades over their predecessor in terms of design, features and camera, while retaining the best features of the Redmi Note 4 –battery, build quality and storage options. The Redmi Note 5 is more of a regular upgrade in accordance with the trend fast catching up in the smartphone industry -- 18:9 aspect ratio screen. The Redmi Note 5 Pro, on the other hand, is a radical one infused with enhanced hardware and software upgrades. First impressions of the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro: Design In terms of design, the Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro are strikingly similar to the Note 4. However, with a new 6-inch 18:9 aspect ratio screen on the front, both the smartphones have tall stance that adds to the overall design theme. In the Redmi Note 5, the back looks almost similar to its predecessor. The Redmi Note 5 Pro, on the other hand, with dual-camera set-up on the back looks like a Chinese-cloned version of iPhone X. Both devices come with more curvaceous aluminium anodised backs that blend well with the Gorilla Glass
on the front. Overall, the Note 5 and Note 5 Pro set the benchmark in design for budget smartphones. Display Both smartphones sport 6-inch 18:9 aspect ratio screen of fullHD+ (2160 x 1080) resolution. The screen seems to have better contrast and sunlight legibility than predecessor. The colour reproduction is satisfactory, if not perfect, and the 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass on top makes it easier to operate. The curved corners of the screen might not please everyone but, based on screen usage patterns and utility, they seem to look better than pointed edges. Camera In the Redmi Note 5, imaging is taken care of by a 12-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 5 MP selfie camera. Both the cameras are coupled with LED flash, which is a new addition over the predecessor. The cameras show improvement to some degree over the predecessor. However, we did notice that the photos look washed out at times and the manual mode is limited to adjust ISO and white balance. READ MORE