Xiaomi Redmi 4: Exceptional value for money device (Tech Review)

A strong line-up of affordable products that live up to expectations is driving the success story of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi in India. Keeping the same strategy in mind, Xiaomi has launched Redmi 4, which is an upgrade to its popular Redmi 3S device.

Xiaomi sold more than three million units of Redmi 3S (includes Redmi 3S, Redmi 3S Prime and Redmi 3S+) in less than six months, retaining the top spot in the online smartphone market in the country in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Redmi 4 comes in three variants -- 2GB RAM+16GB storage, 3GB RAM+32GB storage and 4GB RAM+64GB storage -- priced at Rs 6,999, Rs 8,999 and Rs 10,999, respectively.

Here is what works for the 3GB variant.

Encased in an anodised aluminium metal frame, Redmi 4 looks appealing. The back with two strips gives a pleasant touch to the body.

The device rests comfortably in the hand, even during longer gaming or movie sessions, thanks to its ergonomical design.

The 5-inch HD display produces vibrant colours and the shades of yellow, blue, orange, red and green do look lively on the screen (Instagrammers would love to keep scrolling).

The display is sharp even under bright sunlight and stays that way when viewed from the sides. Armed with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor, Redmi 4 is faster, consumes less power compared to its predecessor and does not go sluggish with normal use.

The device runs on MIUI 8 on top of Android Marshmallow and packs useful features. With the universal infrared remote, you can control TV, set-top box, air conditioner, fan and DVD with Redmi 4.

Other features include dual apps and fingerprint lock for apps.

Sporting a 13MP rear camera and unlike what you may experience with sub-Rs 10,000 devices, there's no shutter lag and the device also packs several picture modes, including panorama and HDR.

The camera performance is good, outdoor shots are clean, with appreciable amount of detailing. Colours also don't appear overly saturated.

The 5MP front camera is good for selfies and also comes with "Beautify" mode to enhance those. The two speaker grills at the bottom of the device produced decent sound.

The 4,100mAh battery ran for a day-and-a-half on moderate use and lasted close to a day with heavy use.

What does not work?

There is no app drawer and like Apple iOS, all apps are located on the home screen which Android users may not like.

Conclusion: Xiaomi's Redmi 4 is a perfect example of how Chinese smartphone makers are creating quality hardware which are value for money. If you are looking for an Android phone in sub-Rs 10,000 budget without compromising on performance, Redmi 4 is the best contender.

(Anuj Sharma can be contacted at anuj.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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