Xiaomi Redmi 5 review: Premium-priced all-rounder with a modern 18:9 screen

The Redmi 5 costs a tad higher when compared with the earlier Redmi-series smartphones. But the Redmi 5 notches up the smartphone game with its modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen

After a successful run in 2017 with its value-for-money smartphones, Xiaomi started 2018 with the launch of its budget-centric devices. Soon after the launch of the Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the Chinese mobile phone maker has launched the entry-level Redmi 5 in India at a price of Rs 7,999 for the base model.

Unlike what has been seen in previous-generation devices, the succeeding generation of Redmi-series smartphones costs a tad higher than the predecessor -- be it the Redmi 5 Pro or the Redmi 5. However, the Redmi 5 notches up the smartphone game with its modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen wrapped in a metallic-plastic chassis which looks premium.

The smartphone is built on the blue print of its elder sibling, the Redmi Note 5,which gives it an edge in terms of design. However, the innards have been kept in line with previous generation, besides some minor improvements, to keep the price in check.

Business Standard reviewed the Redmi 5 to test its overall performance. Here are our observations:

Design and display

The Redmi 5 takes design cues from the Redmi Note 5 and, therefore, looks similar. However, the younger sibling has a few elements of difference. The front of the Redmi 5 is dominated by a 5.7-inch HD+ 18:9 aspect ratio screen, covered by a 2.5D glass. It does look plush; but for an 18:9 screen device, the smartphone has huge bezels on the top and bottom.

The screen is bright and vivid. However, the HD+ resolution in the 5.7-inch screen looks pixelated. For a budget smartphone, the screen works satisfactorily to render multimedia content such as photos and videos. The touch response is smooth and the phone registers the touch without lag.

Coming on to the back side, it is covered with a metallic sheet, but the chassis is made out of plastic that extends towards the back from top and bottom. The colour of the metallic sheet and plastic chassis has different shades; it comes to notice in bright light conditions. As for the build quality, it is top-notch and the edges blend well into the chassis with no gaps, either on the front or back.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Micromax Bharat 5 Pro: Who wins value-for-money battle?

The Bharat 5 Pro is primarily a battery-centric smartphone, whereas the Redmi 5 shows some strength in every vertical

China-based smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi on March 14 announced the Redmi 5 in India. On the same day, home-grown electronics company Micromax announced a new budget offering, the Bharat 5 Pro. Both the smartphones compete in the same price segment of sub-Rs 10,000.

While the Redmi 5 offers a modern look because of its futuristic 18:9 aspect ratio screen, the Bharat 5 Pro centres around the battery. Business Standard compared the Micromax Bharat 5 Pro and the Xiaomi Redmi 5 on ke parameters, and here is what we found:

Where the Redmi 5 is ahead of Bharat 5 Pro

The Redmi 5 looks similar to the recently launched the Redmi Note 5. The smartphone looks modern with its 5.7-inch 18:9 aspect ratio HD screen. The metallic chassis looks plush and the form factor is better than most of the budget smartphones, except the Huawei Honor devices.

In terms of performance, the Redmi 5 uses better innards with three RAM and storage options to choose -- 2GB/16GB, 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB. The Redmi 5 features MIUI 9, which is an optimised Android Nougat-based operating system.

It runs smoother and offers a lot of features and customisations in comparison with the unknown Android Nougat-based skin that the Bharat 5 Pro boots.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi Redmi 5 with 18:9 display now in India

Where the Bharat 5 Pro beats Redmi 5

The Bharat 5A is primarily a battery-centric smartphone. It is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, which is good 1,700 mAh more than what the Redmi 5 offers. Interestingly, the mammoth battery doubles up as a power bank to charge other devices using a USB OTG cable; that is a major add-on for a budget smartphone. In terms of features and specifications, the Bharat 5 Pro comes with just one RAM and storage variant i.e. 3GB/32GB. However, it is more than what the Xiaomi is offering in the Redmi 5 base model (2GB/16GB).

ALSO READ: Micromax launches 'Bharat 5 Pro' at Rs 7,999

Verdict

Though both are budget smartphones, the Bharat 5 Pro and the Redmi 5 come with their own distinct strengths. The Bharat 5 Pro is primarily a battery-centric smartphone, whereas the Redmi 5 shows some strength in every vertical.

Xiaomi to unveil battery-centric smartphone on March 14; is it the Redmi 5? Edit

The Redmi 5 was unveiled first in China last year, along with the Redmi 5 Plus, which has been renamed and launched in India as Redmi Note 5

Smartphone maker Xiaomi is a company in a hurry. Exactly a month after the Valentine's Day launch of the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro, the company is gearing up to launch another smartphone in India on March 14. Though the Chinese manufacturer did not reveal any specifics of the upcoming device, its shared promo on social media platform hints that the smartphone could be the Redmi 5.

The Redmi 5 was unveiled first in China last year, along with the Redmi 5 Plus, which has been renamed and launched in India as the Redmi Note 5. The Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 are strikingly similar in appearance and it is the innards or technical specifications where the two differs with each other.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro review: Modern screen, dual camera at premium price

The Redmi 5 sports a 5.7-inch screen of (1440 x 720p) HD+ resolution stretched in 18:9 aspect ratio.

There is a fingerprint scanner on the back, along with a 12-megapixel camera primary camera. On the front, there is a 5 MP selfie camera but without a flashlight, which is there in Redmi Note 5. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 450 SoC, an octa-core processor build on 14nm FinFET technology.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: Modestly priced ultra-wide screen version of Note 4

The Redmi 5 sports a 3,300mAh battery, which the company claims offers 12 days of standby time. The phone might be available in two storage and RAM variants – 16GB/2GB and 32GB/3GB. As for the pricing, the Redmi 5 costs CNY 799 for the base variant in China, which translates to approximately Rs 7,500 in Indian currency.