Kishalaya Kundu
Xiaomi has just launched the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A smartphones at a press conference in China. The new devices are part of the company’s entry-level Redmi 6 lineup, and are successors to the Redmi 5 devices that were launched last year. In keeping with the latest trend, the new handsets come with ‘full-screen’ 18:9 displays, but neither features the ‘notch’ that has become an emerging trend this year. Both the smartphones come with software-based Face Unlock, run Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 10 out-of-the-box, and feature the Xiao AI assistant.
Redmi 6 Hardware Specifications
The Redmi 6 features a 5.45-inch HD+ (720×1440 pixels) display, and is powered by the MediaTek Helio P22 SoC, which comes with an embedded octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU and an IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The phone is being offered in 2GB/3GB/4GB RAM options with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of on-board storage that can be expandable via microSD card.
In terms of cameras, the Redmi 6 offers a 12MP+5MP dual-camera setup at the back, with the primary sensor boasting of a large, 1.25um pixel size. The cameras come with AI-enabled features that the company says will help capture enhanced images. Thanks to the dual-camera setup, the Redmi 6 is capable of capturing portrait shots with hardware-level bokeh (Portrait Mode). On the front, the Redmi 6 sports a 5MP camera for selfies and video chats.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, 4G VoLTE, and an IR blaster. The device also comes with a rear-facing fingerprint scanner, and sports a 3,000mAh battery.
| Display | 5.45-inch (1440 × 720 pixels) HD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) |
| RAM | 3GB / 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB / 64GB, microSD Support up to 128GB |
| Rear Cameras | 12MP (1.25μm pixel size) + 5MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP |
| Battery | 3,000mAh |
| OS | Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 9.6 |
Redmi 6A Hardware Specifications
Like the Redmi 6, the Redmi 6A also features a 5.45-inch display with 720 x 1440 HD+ resolution and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Unlike the Redmi 6, though, the 6A is powered by a MediaTek Helio A11 SoC that Xiaomi claims is more powerful than the Snapdragon 425. The devices comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB on built-in storage.
On the imaging front, the Redmi 6A features a single camera setup at the rear unlike its more powerful stable mate. The device offers a 13MP sensor at the rear and a 5MP snapper on the front. Like the Redmi 6, the cameras on the 6A also come with AI features to help snap great images. Connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS, but it misses out on the fingerprint scanner found on its more premium sibling.
| Display | 5.45-inch (1440 × 720 pixels) HD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio A22 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB, microSD Support up to 128GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP |
| Battery | 3,000mAh |
| OS | Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 10 |
Pricing and Availability
The Redmi 6A starts at 599 yuan (around Rs. 6,300) for the 2GB/16GB variant, while the standard Redmi 6 carries a price-tag of 799 yuan (Rs.8,500 approx.) for the 3GB/32GB model and 999 yuan (around Rs. 10,500) for the 4GB/64GB model. Both devices are being offered in Grey, Blue, Gold and Rose Gold colors, and will go on sale in China on June 15 at 10 AM. There’s no word at the moment on when they will be launched in India, but the Indian variants are expected to come with Qualcomm chips under the hood.
