Redmi Note: The pocket-friendly phablet

Even with a dated OS, Xiaomi's first 4G compatible device is a performance beast

Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi launched its first phablet last week. The Redmi Note is priced at Rs 8,999 for the 3G version, while the 4G version costs Rs 1,000 more. Let's check out if the large-screen device lives up to the hype.

Design & display

The Redmi Note's design is similar to the Nokia Lumia 1020, only bigger and heavier than similar phablets. The rear panel is made of cheap plastic and while different back panels exist for the phone, we don't know when we'll get them in India.

Xiaomi phones have always had a brilliant display and the Note carries on the legacy, with a high-definition IPS display of 720X1,280 pixels, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Just like the Redmi 1s, the Note's touch is amazingly smooth and swift. Since the screen is big, those not used to the size will have to use both hands to type. Like the Redmi 1s, the Redmi Note has three capacitive buttons below the screen. The screen and resolution are just perfect for gamers and those who love reading eBooks on their mobile phones.

Camera & battery

The Redmi Note comes with a 13-megapixel (MP) rear camera that boasts of standard features such as geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection and HDR modes. The front camera is no laggard at 5MP. Xiaomi has kept the camera interface simple and not tried to go over the top - this works well for the device.

The phablet boasts of a 3,100mAh battery, which lasts easily for more than a day, even with heavy usage. The Redmi Note also has a feature to lengthen battery life.

Performance

The Redmi Note is powered by an octa-core MediaTek processor clocked at 1.7GHz and coupled with 2GB of RAM. The flip side is the phone still runs Android Jelly Bean 4.3. It's a bit jarring, considering that every new smartphone these days runs at least Android KitKat. There is no clear indication either if the device will be eligible for the latest Lollipop update. The Redmi Note runs Xiaomi's customised MIUI v5 and an update to MIUI v6 is promised soon.

This, however, doesn't take away much from the performance of the phone, which is super smooth. The powerful processor should be good enough for the latest games as well.

3G or 4G?

If the decision to spend the extra Rs 1,000 for the 4G version seems tricky, we'd safely recommend you go in for the 4G LTE device, the one we reviewed. While 4G is yet to be rolled out in many major cities (Delhi being no exception, we couldn't check out the device's 4G performance), the service is expected to see a wider rollout next year. Yes, it's going to be a longer wait for the 4G version - as it would be available only at Airtel stores (we don't know how soon), while the 3G version goes on sale on Flipkart this Tuesday - again flash sales.

Verdict

Xiaomi just makes us wonder how much they are willing to push the bar with each of its launches. Their skill lies not just in the features the devices pack, but also in the cost-cutting, which make these so attractive to the consumers. The Redmi Note, too, leaves its nearest competitors - the LG Optimus L7, the Lava Magnum X604 and the Lenovo S880, to name a few - far behind either in terms of specifications or the price.

XIAOMI REDMI NOTE

• Price: Rs 8,999 (3G); Rs 9,999 (4G)
   
• Processor: 1.7GHz octa core
   
• RAM: 2GB
   
• Screen: 5.5-inch, 720 x 1,280 pixels HD IPS
  

 

Memory: 8GB internal, expandable (up to 64GB microSD cards supported)
 

Camera (rear/front): 13MP with LED flash, 5MP
 

OS: Android 4.3 with MIUI v5
 

Weight: 199g
 

Battery: 3,100 mAh removable Li-ion