Xiaomi has just launched the all-new Redmi 5 and 5 Plus at an event in Beijing today. The new devices bring a huge improvement over their predecessors. However, the biggest improvement is the adoption of the almost bezel-less display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. After Huawei’s Honor 7X, it’s good to see another company making a good bezel-less smartphone at affordable prices. So let’s see what the Redmi 5 and 5 Plus have to offer us, shall we?
Redmi 5 and 5 Plus Specifications
| Device | Redmi 5 | Redmi 5 Plus |
| Dimensions | 151.8 x 72.8 x 7.7 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.30 in) | 158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm (6.24 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 157 g | 180 g |
| Display | 5.7 inches, IPS LCD Panel (720 x 1440) | 5.99 inches, IPS LCD (1080 x 2160) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 | Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 |
| RAM | 2/3GB | 3/4GB |
| Storage | 16/32GB | 32/64GB |
| Primary Camera | 12 MP, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash (1080p@30FPS) | 12 MP, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash (1080p@30FPS) |
| Secondary Camera | 5 MP, 1080p | 5 MP, 1080p |
| Battery | Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh | Non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Operating System | Android 7.1.2 (Nougat) with MIUI 9 | Android 7.1.2 (Nougat) with MIUI 9 |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyrometer, proximity sensor, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyrometer, proximity sensor, compass |
| Connectivity | Dual-nano SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Dual-nano SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
As you can see, the only similarity between both the phones is the same 12 MP primary and 5 MP secondary camera. Other than that, the phones differ from each other in every aspect. The Plus model is more powerful as it is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor instead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 which is powering the smaller sibling. The Redmi 5 Plus also offers a better display, a larger battery and more RAM and internal storage. So, if the price is not a constraint for you, you should definitely go for the Redmi 5 Plus instead of the Redmi 5.
Redmi 5 and 5 Plus Pricing and Availability
Redmi 5 and 5 Plus has been launched in China today in four different colors namely, black, blue, gold, and rose gold. However, Xiaomi has not made any announcement as to when the devices will reach other markets such as India. In Chine the Redmi 5 is costing CNY 799 (~ Rs. 7,800) for 2 GB/16GB variant and CNY 899 (~ Rs. 8,800) for 3GB/32GB version. The Redmi 5 Plus is starting at CNY 999 (~ Rs. 9,900) for the 3GB/32GB and CNY 1,299 (~ Rs. 12,700) for the 4GB/64GB version.
As mentioned above, no information has been released for the international launch of the devices. There are speculations that the devices will reach other markets by the end of December to early January. In India, the devices will be costing similar to their Chinese counterpart. So, are you excited about these smartphones? Do let us know in the comments section below.
