Xiaomi Redmi 4

Xiaomi has upset the budget flagship market yet again with the release of Redmi 4. Priced at a meagre Rs. 6,999 – this flagship product comes with a good camera and capable performance that is an exception in this range. Redmi 4 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which is a bit dated. MIUI does not boost its performance, and it might seem a bit slow. However, if you ignore a slight drop in overall fantastic performance, Redmi 4 still packs power, great cameras, and a crisp display – all in one, coming in style at a great price range.

Redmi 4 Price in India

Xiaomi Redmi 4 is an entry-level smartphone device with a decorated confirmation. The smartphone is available in three RAM variants, they are 2GB, 3GB and 4GB with 16GB, Redmi 4 launch price in India is Rs.8,499 only, while the base variant starts just at Rs.6,999, which is a totally pocket-friendly device. It can surely fetch good sales for Redmi at this price.

In the price range, Redmi 4 is a premium-looking phone, especially the matte black variant. The back panel is made of aluminium while the head and chin get uninterrupted reception due to the use of polycarbonate. The rounded edges with a curved back and the 2.5D curved glass at the front make it handy and smooth to hold, even with one hand. Though a bit on the bulky side due to the juicy battery, Redmi 4 comes at 150 grams which won’t get your arms sore. At the back, the camera is nestled at the top corner, but the back-centre is housing the fingerprint scanner. It looks big, can be reached easily, and is quite snappy.

Redmi 4 doesn’t go for any significant upgrades with their display. It comes with a 5-inch IPS LCD 720p HD display and a pixel density of 294 ppi, which produces a sharp display and bright colours. The screen is fitted with 2.5D glass on top to protect it from scratches. Harsh sunlight doesn’t make it difficult to read on the phone giving it good sunlight legibility. However, the navigation buttons sitting at the bottom of the display are not backlit which downgrades the style in comparison to the bright notification LED below the Home button.

Powered by the Snapdragon 435 octa-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz coupled with the graphics performance of the Adreno 505 GPU, Redmi 4 is capable of smooth processing. Though the MIUI may get a bit sluggish at times, it does not create a significant slowdown issue. Moderate functions like multimedia use, social networking, and browsing are fast and does not cause any lag. However, heavy games like Asphalt 8 might stutter a bit. Redmi 4 scored 43,677 for processing and 5,890 for GPU, which is at par with other Snapdragon 435 powered phones.

Redmi 4 has a 13MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, activated with Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), and an LED flash. The PDAF works like a charm with fast detection and snappy image processing that is much faster than the Redmi 3S Prime. Speed does not take away the quality – Redmi 4 produces detailed pictures with vibrant colours that are not distorted by noise. While Macro shots may get a slight haziness, turning on HDR mode helps to remove it. The problem is, HDR mode makes the capturing and image processing very slow, and without steady hands working behind the phone, the image quality will seriously deteriorate. Therefore, a proper light source is a must for well-balanced images.

Low-light photography gets a small boost in Redmi 4, capturing much better well-lit pictures than Redmi 3s Prime. Dim lights catch a lot of noise, and the low-light images lack definition. Even the motion blur increases significantly.

Redmi 4 has a 5MP front camera with a f/2.2 aperture which can click striking images under well-lit situations. Images clicked under dim light will produce graininess and loss of details. The lack of screen flash is noticeable, especially while clicking selfies in low-light conditions.

The Camera UI is excellent and helpful in most cases. You can get an added colour balance on well-lit images by adjusting the brightness level on the UI. It offers multiple modes and settings to play with. However, the thick black panel that the UI produces takes up about 70% of the phone which clutters the 5-inch display.

Despite being packed with a whopping 4,100 mAh battery, Redmi 4’s camera is its main highlight. Moderate use of basic features like calling, occasional use of social media, and browsing the internet gets you about 35 hours of backup. Heavy use can get you sailing to the end of the day without any issue. Constant HD video loop found it running for 14 hours 20 minutes which is marvellous for this range. Plus, Xiaomi has confirmed that Redmi 4 supports Quick Charge 3.0. So this juicy battery can get back all its power from 0% to 100% in just 2.5 hours!

Redmi 4, as is usual for Xiaomi releases, has set a standard for budget flagship models. While it does not ‘wow’ when it comes to its looks, the power-packed performance and juicy battery are enough to get you a smooth phone experience without creating any Low Battery Anxiety. This phone is for budget power user looking for a cheap upgrade.