Through 2016, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 3 was one of the most recommended budget phones around.
Success again
It was solid, stable and total value for money. Its excellent sales no doubt contributed to the $1 billion in revenue the company notched up from India.
One would have been right to be skeptical about whether the Redmi Note 4 would be able to replicate the stellar success of its predecessor. But Xiaomi seems to have run out of stocks on its very first sales of the phone, with 2,50,000 units being picked up in ten minutes flat. Obviously, customers are more than willing to put their faith in an upgrade to a device they know was a favourite.
Familiar look
But if they expect the Redmi Note 4 to have a brand new look, they may be disappointed. There are some minute differences, but it would have been nice to move away from that templated design everyone is now using.
Of course, it’s probably only reviewers who are more tired of the design than anyone else. It’s perfectly serviceable.
The device is very light for something that has a 4,100mAh battery inside — a battery that works beautifully and can even last you two and a half to three days if you’re a light user. The battery’s performance is one of the phone’s highlights.
The Note 4 is contoured so that it’s easy to hold. But it’s slippery, so best get a case for it.
This phone in India is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (MSM8953) processor working at 2GHz and an Adreno 506 GPU. It’s a tried and tested processor and no complaints on its performance, which is smooth enough. Currently, the phone is on Android 6.0.1.
There’s one for everyone
The three variants are — 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, 3GB RAM and 32GB, and 4GB RAM with 64GB storage. These options put it within the reach of those on a budget at ₹9,999, ₹10,999 and ₹12,999 respectively. It’s a dual SIM phone with hybrid slots (memory card or a nano SIM). It has 4G VoLTE support and includes NFC and an infrared blaster that lets you use it as a TV remote. Software features include Google Now on Tap and Second Space, an option to use two instances of apps like Whatsapp. The camera is decent for its price.
Price: ₹9,999 (2GB RAM and 32GB ROM), ₹10,999 (3GB RAM and 32GB ROM), ₹12,999 (4GB RAM and 64GB ROM)
Love: Great battery life, prices for everyone, stable performer, tried and tested formula
Hate: Old hat design, too many preloaded apps, no quick charging