Xiaomi today unveiled the Redmi 5 in India with an 18:9 aspect ratio display. The handset was initially unveiled by Xiaomi in China in December last year.
The design of the handsets is similar to the recently unveiled Redmi Note 5 albeit with a few compromises to keep its cost down including a plastic build. The switch to an 18:9 display also means that the handset lacks capacitive navigation buttons. The phone also comes with reinforced corners which helps reduce impact and protect the screen from any kind of damage due to an impact. Additionally, Xiaomi is also using dual pyrolytic graphite sheet which helps in reducing the overall device temperature by 2C. The 7.7mm thin handset is 11 percent thinner than its predecessor, the Redmi 4.
The front of the handset is dominated by a 5.7-inch 720p+ display. Internally, the Redmi 5 features an octa-core Snapdragon 450 chip. This is paired with 2/3/4GB RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage. There’s also a hybrid SIM card slot for dual-SIM connectivity and storage expansion. All the other usual sensors and ports are also present on the handset including a fingerprint scanner which is placed at the rear.
Like the Redmi Note 5 Pro, Xiaomi is focusing on improving the camera performance with the Redmi 5. The handset comes with a 12MP rear shooter with large 1.25um pixels, while at the front, there is a 5MP shooter along with a LED selfie-light. Xiaomi is also bundling an ultra-slim case with the handset along with a 2A charger that is capable of handling voltage fluctuations of up to 380V. All this is powered by a 3300mAh battery which Xiaomi claims is good enough for a full day of heavy use.
The handset will run on MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. This means you will get access to the usual range of features, though notably there’s no face unlock here.
Pricing for the handset starts from Rs 7,999 for the 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant, with the 3GB/32GB variant coming in at Rs 8,999. The top of the line 4GB RAM variant with 64GB storage comes in at Rs 10,999.
Xiaomi will be selling the Redmi 5 in Gold, Rose Gold, Lake Blue, and Black colors in India. The handset will be available on Mi.com and Amazon India starting from March 20, with retail availability expected to follow after that.
