Redmi Note 5 & Note 5 Pro: All that you need to know

Xiaomi's next iteration of the loved and most sold Redmi Note 4 is here.

Ashish Narsale presents a quick first look.

Photograph: Courtesy mi.com

Xiaomi has followed up its extremely popular Redmi Note 4 with simultaneous launch of the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Both the Redmi Note 5 iterations follows the modern design of 18:9 aspect ratio, i.e. full screen display or full vision display. And both comes with Conning Gorilla glass protection for display.

Redmi Note 5 Pro has higher specs than Note 5.

Take a first look at the specs -- including their price in India -- that could make the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro as popular as its predecessors.

Redmi Note 5 Pro Photograph: Courtesy mi.com

Redmi Note 5 Pro

The Redmi Note 5 Pro places more emphasis on the camera.

It comes with a rear dual-camera setup with a bokeh effect (background blur) for portrait lovers. The two cameras are 12 MP with 1.2 µm sensor and f/2.2 aperture for primary and 5 MP with 1.12 µm sensor and f/2.0 aperture to create the bokeh effect.

The camera also comes with EIS (Electronic Image Stabilizer).

And in news that will excite selfie lovers the most, Redmi Note 5 Pro will allow you to take selfies even in darkness. The front camera, a Sony IMX376 20 MP camera, is coupled with an LED selfie light and Beautify 4.0 AI to enhance the picture.

Both camera setups use AI algorithms to take better portraits with blurred background.

The phone will also support face unlock, with the feature becoming available OTA (Over The Air) in March.

The LCD display measures 5.99 inches with 18:9 aspect ratio and resolution of 2160 X 1080, a FHD+ (full high definition).

Considering the 18:9 ratio the navigation buttons are on screen. The fingerprint scanner is at the center back as usual.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro will be available in 4GB/64GB and 6GB/64GB versions that are priced at ₹13,999 and ₹16,999, respectively.

Xiaomi has used LPDDR4X RAM in the Redmi Note 5 Pro, which is more power efficient and is found on flagship phones.

All this hardware runs on Qualcomm's newest Snapdragons 600 series, the Snapdragon 636 SoC (System on Chip), which is built for advance photography and enhanced gaming. The SoC comes embedded with a octa-core 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 CPU (Central Processing Unit) for carrying out the tasks and the Adreno 509 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for graphics and gaming.

The phone is powered by a 4000 mAh battery and supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0.

It retains the micro USB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro is also equipped with all the necessary sensors.

Redmi Note 5 Photograph: Courtesy mi.com

Redmi Note 5

The Redmi Note 5 is just a minor upgrade barring its screen, when compared to the Redmi Note 4.

It supports 18:5 aspect ratio and has a resolution of 2160 X 1080, a FHD+.

The primary rear camera in the Redmi Note 5 is a single module. It has been downgrade by one mega pixel to 12 MP, but has a slightly bigger sensor of 1.25 µm to capture more light when compared to the Redmi Note 4.

The front camera remains 5 MP shooter, but there is minor hardware addition, like the front LED flash, for selfie lowers.

The Redmi Note 5 continues to run on Redmi Note 4's Qualcomm's Snapdragon 625.

It is powered by 4000 mAh battery.

The Redmi Note 5 will be available in 3 GB/32 GB and 4 GB/64 GB versions that are priced at ₹9,999 and ₹11,999, respectively.

As a gift from Xiaomi, it includes an ultra slim case free in the box to protect the phone from dust and accidental splashes.

Considering that the Redmi Note 5 just a minuscule upgrade to the Redmi Note 4 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro is class apart with respect to features and price, the latter will sell like hot cakes.

But with Xiaomi's tradition of online sale, the demand is going to make the process frustrating for buyers.