What makes Xiaomi so appealing? If it's the compelling range of smartphones and subsequent upgrades, fans are in for a treat soon enough. As the company is riding high on the success of its recently-launched Redmi Y1 and Redmi 5 series, rumours about another major upgrade have fans on the edge of their seats.
The successor to the most popular Xiaomi smartphone – the Redmi Note 4 – is expected to be released in January 2018, completing a full annual upgrade cycle. The Redmi Note 5 hasn't hit the company's official teaser spinning mill yet, but speculations, leaks, and rumours have been more than generous to offer a sneak peek into its development.
Based on the information gathered from a series of most-recent leaks about the Redmi Note 5, here's what we know about the upcoming budget premium handset.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is going to undergo a massive makeover, complete with new design, improved camera, and hardware. Complying with the new demand, the Redmi Note 5 will have a tall 18:9 aspect ratio FullView display with thin bezels and a large 5.99-inch display. The large display will boast an improved resolution of 2160 x 1080 so that the pixels are evenly distributed to give you a brighter picture.
For those who loved the Redmi Note 4's camera will find the new handset even more appealing. It is rumoured that the Redmi Note 5 will offer two 12MP sensors on the back and have the same 5MP front snapper for selfies. We are guessing the focus here is on the low lights and portrait, which smartphone users have grown to adore.
Under the hood, the smartphone will sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. But it's unlike Xiaomi to launch just one configuration, so power users will have the option to choose a higher-end model with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.
The Redmi Note 5 is said to have a large 4,000mAh battery inside that sealed metallic unibody. There's no word on whether the phone will have any type of dust or water resistance, which is highly unlikely for a smartphone its range.
In terms of software, Android 7.1.2 Nougat-based MIUI 9 will power the Redmi Note 5, which will support dual SIM cards, rear-mounted fingerprint scanning feature and the standard sensors that its predecessor offers.
With these premium offerings, the Redmi Note 5 is expected to be priced in the budget range. As far as the rumours go, the base model will be priced at ¥1,200 (roughly Rs 11,600) and go up to ¥1,500 (about Rs 14,600) for the high-end model. But nothing is confirmed until the company says so. Let's keep an open mind towards the pricing until next month.
