Develop Bugs

[Review] Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro

Xiaomi have made a name for themselves by making attractive phones at prices that most of the competition could not even consider. Their phones often have unique features such as IR sensors, dual sim, and other toys that set them apart from the competition, even coming out from China. While many of these phones are in the mid-range category, they are attractive in a saturated world mobile market. Sure, there will always be a market for the latest and greatest, and people will still stand in line for the new iPhone on day one, but with so many people now owning smartphones, they no longer want to fork out $1000 on a yearly basis for the latest revision.
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These mid-range phones from Xiaomi may not have all the latest features, or may be missing some bells and whistles, but they will still fit most people’s needs very well. This is where the new Redmi Note 3 Pro finds itself. It is a powerful device in an attractive package, but Xiaomi have made some compromises to reach a rock bottom price. It may not fit everyone’s needs, but the Redmi Note 3 is a fantastic phone, and one that is a worth looking into for anyone considering a new device.
The Redmi Note 3 is an attractive device, reminiscent of the first iPhone. The all metal matte finish body has a feeling of quality, and while it may not feel quite as nice as many of the Samsung devices or the designs coming out of Cupertino, it feels great in the hands and it’s a pleasure to hold and use. The 5.5 inch Full HD screen is powered by a Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 650 SoC processor, with 3GB ram, and a fingerprint sensor for unlocking. Nothing in the phone stands out as amazing per se, but when you consider this phone can be had for under $300, things start to get a bit more interesting.
Now, before we go any further, it should be noted that this phone comes with Xiaomi’s skinned version of Android known as MIUI. The phone is running version 7.2 of the operating system, and is built on top of Android 5.1.1. If you are coming from iOS, MIUI will feel very familiar. It seems Xiaomi have gone out of their way to ensure the OS looks as close to iOS as legally possible. That is not to say it’s bad—it actually runs very well. Their little visual flairs are pleasant to look at, and performance on the OS is actually very nice. But if you were hoping for a pure Android feel, this may not be the phone for you. It can be rooted, and Cyanogen or ASOP could be loaded onto it, but for the average consumer, this is not always an easy option.
That out of the way, the real question is how does the phone run, and I am happy to report that in my two weeks of testing the device, I really have no complaints. There was a bit of a setup process, since it comes pre-loaded with a Chinese version of the OS, but downloading an international version and loading it on was a trivial matter, and the Xiaomi have made it dead simple to find the version that works on your phone and just load it up.
As mentioned before, the Redmi Note 3 Pro, unlike the cheaper variant, comes with a Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 650 SoC. This inexpensive chip is a rather big deal, as it gives near-flagship level performance at a fraction of the cost. The chip boasts a hexa-core SoC, much like the Snapdragon 808, but instead of the A57 found in that chip, the 650 has two more powerful Cortex-A72 cores running at 1.8GHz. The other four cores are Cortex-A53s that run at 1.4GHz. For graphics, the chip runs the new Adreno 510 that is only a bit less powerful than what you could find in the new flagship Snapdragon 820 found in devices like the Mi5 or the Samsung S7.
It should be noted that the Redmi Note 3 Pro comes in two models. We reviewed the more powerful 3GB Ram, 32GB storage option. There is also the more budget friendly 2Gb Ram, 16GB storage model that will save you a bit of money. There is also the option to expand the storage by sacrificing one of the Sim slots to add a microSD for a maximum of 32GB extra storage.
The fingerprint sensor on the phone is a nice touch. Yes, there are many cheap phones now offering this feature, yet it works very well and allows for quick unlocking and a level of security that is nice to have, even on a low cost device. Setting up the sensor was a breeze, and in testing, we found it took only a minute or two per finger to get it all setup and ready to go.
In terms of benchmarks, the Redmi Note 3 Pro managed to average around 74,979 in AnTuTu with it beating out many of the flagship Snapdragon 810 based phones. GPU performance we recorded an impressive 31fps in the T-Rex test in GFXbench, that again is comparable to many flagship phones from last year. This phone is a powerhouse—far more so than the price would indicate—and it is more than equipped enough to handle even the most intensive games you can throw at it.
Gaming on the device was a pleasure. In the two weeks of testing, we put the Redmi Note 3 Pro though it’s paces with a series of games, including Fallout Shelter, Anomaly 2, Vainglory, and Mortal Kombat X. The 1080P 401ppi screen was bright and colourful and displayed all the games clearly and in full resolution. Even with games such as Anomaly 2 and Mortal Kombat X, I never experienced a time when the game would slow down, or offer anything less than an optimal experience. It’s astounding to imagine this level of gaming on such a budget device, yet after throwing all the games at my disposal at it, nothing seemed to give it trouble.
The multimedia situation on the phone is not as good as I would have hoped. The audio out of the Redmi Note 3 Pro is not bad, but because the speakers are on the back, it often felt muffled unless the phone was lifted up, or you ensured to avoid covering the back speakers with your hands. On headphones, on the other hand, there were no noticeable issues. Audio came through clearly, with a nice balance of sound. If you are looking to play any games, or listen to Spotify or any podcasts, you will want to ensure you have headphones at the ready, or have a Bluetooth speaker to be able to fully enjoy your media.
With all that gaming this phone can do, it needs an equally powerful battery to ensure you can still use it as a phone once your gameplay session is done. Lucky for the Redmi Note 3 Pro, it comes equipped with an astounding 4050mAh non-removable battery that in testing managed to last a full day, even when gaming, watching media, and making calls. The phone also supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge which means that you can quickly charge up the device to 20 per-cent in around 30 minutes. It may not be what we have grown to expect from some of the competition, but considering in daily use you will rarely find yourself running low on battery, it is a nice addition.
Call quality and reception was also very good. Testing on the Rogers network in Canada, we experienced no noticeable issues while using the phone. Calls were crisp and clear and it quickly finds signal in most urban areas. It should be noted that although the chip supports more bands, because the phone comes from China, there are a few providers in North America it will simply not work with. It would be a good idea to check with your provider before jumping in and purchasing the phone, only to be later disappointed that it simply would not work.
The Redmi Note 3 Pro also has an impressive 16MP f/2.0 aperture rear facing camera and an acceptable 5MP front facing camera for video chat and self-photography. While none of these cameras will win any awards, they get the job done admirably. The 16MP camera manages very serviceable daylight shots, though it’s low light photography and indoor shots are less than ideal. The camera is better than many other phones in the category, but if you are used to the iPhone or many of the latest flagships from Samsung, you will find yourself disappointed.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro (Hardware) Review 10 Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro (Hardware) Review 11
The Redmi Note 3 does make some sacrifices to reach the rock-bottom price point. For starters, the phone is not what I could call thin. It has a bit of weight and heft to it. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth noting. It also lacks NFC abilities, so any mobile payment methods will sadly not work with this phone. The Screen is only 1080P. This will be enough for most applications, but since many people are demanding high resolutions, they may be disappointed by this panel. Finally, the phone is not yet available from local retailers. There are many places online to buy the phone such as Gearbest or Bangood, but there will be a delay in delivery and possible customs charges that could add to the cost of the phone.
Overall, the Redmi Note 3 Pro was an impressive all-round device. For gaming and everyday use, there are few phones in the price range that can come close to beating it. A great screen, astounding battery life, and a shockingly powerful set of specs make the Redmi Note 3 Pro a great buy for the price. For anyone looking to buy a new phone and does not mind buying from online retailers, the Redmi Note 3 Pro is one to look into. At under $300 the Redmi Note 3 Pro is the new mid-range phone to beat.
Original Source: CGMagazine

Very balanced review. Three things though. Presumably you mean $300 Canadian? Because it's about $230 USD online for the 3GB model. Also, it can take up to a 128GB memory card. Lastly some versions are compatible with T-Mobile USA LTE and H+ Band 4. I think it's the China Unicom version. Otherwise it's compatible with all Worldwide 3G frequencies.

Redmi Note 4 will be the next flagship Xiaomi samples, metal frame and dual cameras

Dual cameras are becoming the trend design manufacturers smart phones and of course also no exception Xiaomi. More information for advanced phones that redmi upcoming Note 4 will have a metal frame and dual camera.
New images have been revealed also partly confirmed the authenticity of the information on, redmi Note 4 can be arranged 2 cameras with larger sensors in the longitudinal direction and LED flash in the middle, instead of horizontally like most camera phones now double.
Part designed as images, frames will be made of curved metal claws on each side at the back, volume up key phrases placed on the right side.
Of course can not be confirmed by leaked images have exactly the redmi Note 4 or not, but the probability is very high. Because if compared with previous redmi Note 3 both have similarities, only behind fingerprint sensor has been replaced by cameras. If accurate information, redmi Note 4 will have the home button integrated fingerprint sensor?

Nomu S20 5" HD MT6737 3Gb-32Gb Android 6, IP68, 3000mAh |Info|Reviews|General

Nomu is a new Chinese Brand and chooses Nomu S20 as device name for his first attempt on the market.
Nomu will build three different smartphones, all RUGGED and with different specs S10, S20 and S30.
This is the mid range!
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Specs
Android 6.0
MTK6737 Quad Core 64Bit
3GB RAM+ 32GB ROM
5.0'’ HD
3000mAh
Water, Dirt, Scratch, Shock proof IP68
Cameras 13MP and 5MP
Details:
Design
Form factor Candybar
Rugged Water Dust Shock proof
IP grade IP68
Drop test 1.5M
Dimension 145.4×75×10.3 mm
Standby Card "Dual Nano SIM Card（SIM1 default 4G）or Nano SIM+MicroSD
Network mode: FDD&TDD－LTE＋WCDMA ＋GSM"
OS Android 6.0
Display
Physical size 5.0'’ HD（720*1280）On Cell
TP IPS,COF, Capacitive
Built-in Memory "3GB DDR3 (RAM)+ 32GB EMMC (ROM)
"
Battery
Capacity 3000mAh,unreplaceable,Polymer electric core
Camera
Camera Front camera: 2.0MP FF((Interpolation to 5.0MP)
Rear camera: 8.0MP ( Interpolation to 13.0MP )
Technology
Platform MTK6737（64bit Quad-core 1.5GHz), quad core
Network GSM：850/900/1800/1900（B5/B8/B3/B2）
WCDMA：900/2100（B8/B1）
"FDD-LTE：800/900/1800/2100/2600（B20/B8/B3/B1/B7）
TDD-LTE：2300(B40)"
VoLTE Support(Should adjust SW according to each carrier, and need to provide carrier name, country and VoLTE compliance table during adjustment, also if carrier has not been adjusted before by MTK, then MTK has big shipment quantity requirement.
Micro SD card maximum Up to 32GB
Phone features
GPS/Location GPS&APGS＋Glonass
WIFI Support WiFi and WiFi Hotspot, 2.4GHz/5GHz
Sensor Gravity sensor, Light&Distance Sensor 2 in1,
Gestures in wake up support
Glove touching Not support
Cradle charging Not support
NFC Not support
Quick charging Support
OTG Support
Speaker 1318mm
Microphone Single
Multimedia
FM Radio Yes (Earphone used as antenna)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0 BLE
Earphone interface 3.5mm(Samsung standard)
Charging data interface Micro 5PIN USB
Standard accessories 1earphone+1 charger+1USB cable+1 built in battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/nomumobile
website: http://nomu.hk/
Price 149-169$

some real pictures, Nomu renamed Pro as S20 :
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161013/c15a23e7d6f6aa1b03185dd41a56ab91.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161013/8dcec5675f9afdbf00a92ac52da869b6.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161013/9ffa95e0a71cdb5e3eaf78c9faeae1c7.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161013/2b61fbe6680ded17b85dd5cba2c22df6.jpg
Sent by Mi5 64Gb

Unboxing and Real Use (Italian comment):

This is also an unboxing S20 + S30 from Spain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr6S_NjWxMc

Best in Price Range Rugged Type
Nomu S20 water and dust protection, in addition to a rugged body with IP68 Rating, With Jaw Dropping Price of Just $169 ...... When it comes to specs, the Nomu S20 comes with a 5-inch 720p
HD display, sporting a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel
front-facing camera. Under the hood, this phone comes with the MediaTek MT6737
(that’s a 64-bit Quad-core 1.5GHz) processor, with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of
internal storage and it does also support a micro SD card for expandable
storage for up to 32GB. On the software front, it runs Android 6.0, and
it appears to be running a fairly stock or AOSP version of Android
Marshmallow. Inside there is a 3000mAh non-removable battery, which
should last you all day long, there is also quick charging so you can
quickly top off the Nomu S20 when needed. It also features 4G LTE
support, although support for your carrier’s 4G LTE .... Nomu You Nailed it

Nomu First Global Sale Event is now in progress
Chinese manufacture Nomu is holding their first global sale event now (Oct 20th to Oct 27th). Starting now, you can purchase anymodel of Nomu series for 30 dollars discount. Therefore,the price of Nomu S10, Nomu S20 and Nomu S30 is $99.99, $149.99 and $229.99.
Aside these sales you can also find a giveaway event (Online Fishing Activity) for the iPhone 7 (Plus), Samsung S7 Edge, Nomu smartphones and coupons for Nomu smartphones. The participants only need to fill the email and play the game according to the rules and then they will inform you via email as you win a phone or other prizes.
Check out the detailed rules down blow or visit the activity page: http://promo.nomu.hk/fishing/
Activity Rules：
1. Fill in your email, click the "Continue" Button to join in the contest;
2. Click the bubble, fish, hand or fishing rod to begin;
3. If you get the Smartphone shown on the picture, congratulations, you win it! Just leave your name, email, shipping address and phone number, we'll contact you when the event ends.
4.If you get the bottle, you win a $10 coupon code for Nomu S20 or S30. You can select the product with specific color given and click the logo of e-shop that you want to buy from to get the $10 coupon; Click the logo again to enter the e-shop and use the coupon by placing order. (With the coupon, you can get $10 discounted base on the special price)
5.If you get the fish, watch the promotional video and share it on your social media, you will have another chance to participate in the contest.
6.After joining the activity, you also have another chanceclick the photo and then the "Share" button) to participate in the contest
7. Click the "bucket", you can view what you have got.
8.The fishing activity begins at 16:00 GMT+8, Oct 20th, and ends on Oct 27th, 2016.
All of the model’s specifications of the Nomu series can be found: http://nomu.hk/products
And on top of that we have one video for you to learn about Nomu S30. For more video, check out Nomu YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyTCLz5Sib7OPBCZw6fU0A

The S10, 20 and 30 series and their IP68 proof video from Nomu:
I want also to share Stock Rom for S20:
NOMU_S20_COMMON_V1.0.2_2016_10_09_FQ5C23WTE1D.XWP.NOMU.M0.HB.H.SM.1009.V3.02
https://mega.nz/#!6RszkazA!_f-P_Fx7F9f9tl4o4ypY9b7dEFxOplf60au1XFJtK4M
TWRP 3.0.2-1 :
https://mega.nz/#!7JVFDYaL!yxZirE674p9gIotxLyT27v1vLOx-ss7yIKGShsO_u-A
Sent by Mi5 64Gb

Nomu special video collection: http://bit.ly/2eFJJwa
Nomu Display hardness test video: http://bit.ly/2ekX9Nf
Nomu water-proof test: http://bit.ly/2fopqTU
Site: www.nomu.hk

And here's freeze test!
http://bit.ly/2fCa6ao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltgVv1NlQS8

The 10/20/30 are all fantastic phones, a real difficult decision as to which one to purchase.
The decision for me was a no brainer....NONE OF THEM.
Yup, they didn't include the Notification LED.
Nuf said...............................

Four water-proof phones you'll want right now
Lots of people tells you electronics and water cannot mix. If you work outdoors, tired of being afraid of having something spilt on your precious phone; or you just want to Tweet while you shower. Whatever the reason, an IP67/IP68 rating smartphone should be at the top of your shopping list. The following are 4 waterproof smartphones I would recommend.
iPhone7/7 Plus
Although iPhone7/7 Plus almost looks like the same as iPhone6s/6s Plus except for adding two new colors and redesigning back antenna, there are still some new impressing features. Aside from iPhone 7 Plus coming with dual rear cameras for the first time, what appeals to me is that iPhone7/7 Plus finally come with IP67 rating water and dust resistant which allow for briefly dunking in the water. Besides, iPhone7/7 Plus come with the most powerful specs especially the A10 processor that is almost twice as fast as iPhone6s/6s Plus. It is safe to say iPhone7/7 Plus is one the best smartphones in the world. When you are looking for a smartphone with water and dust resistance, taking iPhone7/7 Plus into account is reasonable.
Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung made Galaxy S5 feature IP67 2 years ago, and now Galaxy S7 Edge is also IP68 dust and water proof (30 minutes in water over 1.5 m deep). As the best android smartphone after Galaxy note 7 suffered its disastrous failure, not only is Galaxy S7 Edge equipped with high-end specs but also has the gorgeous appearance with the edge to edge AMOLED display and a metal body, but also the performance of its cameras is very likely to be the best of all the smartphones including iPhone7/7 Plus. Galaxy S7 Edge definitely deserves being considered by everyone who is into Android phones.
Sony Xperia XZ
Sony Xperia XZ as the latest addition to their flagship X family features the general rectangular slab-like design, with glass up front, an all metal back plate, and of course, an IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water. In terms of specs, Xperia XZ comes with a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB of on-board storage, 23 MP rear and 5 MP front cameras, bears 2,900*mAh battery which is good enough for a full day of use. This device is priced at $699 which is in the same price range as Galaxy Note 7, I would say the price is a bit high, but if you want a high-end smartphone with IP68 rating and you don’t like Galaxy S7 Edge, then you can’t ignore Sony Xperia XZ.
Nomu S20
After introducing 3 high-end flagships, now I am going to recommend a budget rugged phone named Nomu S20 which comes with a 5-inch HD display, 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras. Under the hood, this phone comes with MediaTek quad-core 4G LTE processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of ROM and is packed with 3000*mA battery along with a fast charging feature. Nomu S20 has IP68 rating just like Galaxy S7 Edge, but unlike those three above, Nomu S20 is a professional rugged phone. It is able to survive a drop from 1.5 meter height, which those high-end flagships are too fragile to survive. Also, -20℃ to 55℃ working temperature range allows you to use it in most of the places you can imagine. You can feel free to use this handset without worrying in the most unexpected conditions. What’s more, $169.99 price point make it the most affordable waterproof smartphone. If you do not have hundreds of dollar to spend, maybe Nomu S20 is a good choice for you.
Nomu website: http://bit.ly/2f7gaUV
Official FB: http://bit.ly/2fB6RBa

jerzyjerzy said:
Four water-proof phones you'll want right now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iPhone 7+ - IP67 - Not Mil Spec-810G - 2900mAh - Notification LED - Locked down.
Galaxy S7 - IP68 - Not Mil Spec-810G - 3600mAh - Notification LED - Locked down.
Xperia XZ - IP65 - Not Mil Spec-810G - 2900mAh - Notification LED - Locked down.
Nomu S20 - IP68 - Not Mil Spec-810G - 3000mAh - NO Notification LED - Locked down
CAT S60 - IP68 - Mil STD-810G - 3800mAh - Notification LED - Locked down - FLIR Camera
Nomu S20/Xperia XZ/Galaxy S7/iPhone 7 comparison:
http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/comparison/e71d9cf7c
The Nomu S10 and S30 both have 5000mAh batteries.
You forgot the Cat S60 with the FLIR camera....FLIR camera, now how cool is that!
It also is a true IP68, it can go down to 15 Ft for 30 minutes, that is a true IP68 rating, not this 3 feet for 30 min that Nonu and Samsung have.....iPhone and Xperia only take a splash, not a dunk, the'e IP67.
http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/75203bc3
If you do anything outdoors that relies on GPS, with the screen ON, and listening to music, the bigger the battery the better....for me.
My criteria:
5.5" / 720p / Backlit keys / Notification LED / 4000mAh min / Quad 64bit 2000MHz min OR Octo 64bit 1500MHz min / 2GB RAM DDR3 min / 16GB ROM min / 64GB SDHC/XC / IP68 / Mil STD-810G OR Ruggedized / GPS / Gyro/ Compass / Proximity / Accelerometer / SIM2 3G / Lollipop or lower, I want R00T capability.
Its not that far of a dream the phone I want, the Nomu S30 had it all and then they left out the Notification LED....A phone with some amazing specs and NO Notification LED.....WTF.....
http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/b0e73f1b
I will give up 4G, or backlit keys....I won't compramise on the Notification LED.

Well, you mentioned your innermost need of the notification led twice already. I do not need it but please follow your ideal phone.
Please also give us a ballpark price range of the CAT phone when you have a chance. What is it? Like FOUR times the Nomu's price?

Getting even better - burning this time

jerzyjerzy said:
Well, you mentioned your innermost need of the notification led twice already. I do not need it but please follow your ideal phone.
Please also give us a ballpark price range of the CAT phone when you have a chance. What is it? Like FOUR times the Nomu's price?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3X The $$ and 4X the phone. 15 feet deep for ½ Hour!
> FLIR camera .... Fun stuff! I can think of all sorts of places to use it and annoy my girlfriend at the same time.
> MIL-STD-810G
What's annoying about the CAT S60, and prevented me doing the purchase is ...
#1) Battery, Nomu/3800mAh - CAT/3000mAh
#2) Smaller screen, Nomu/5"(on screen keys) - CAT/4.7"
CAT S60 is a solid, robust phone that is weak in the battery department and a step back for me as I have a 5" phone and want to go to a 5.5" phone.
The Nomu S30 was almost perfect, then they missed the Notification LED, what a letdown......
Kinda like, meeting the perfect girl, then she opens her mouth and sounds like Fran Drescher.

so much talking about nice phones from Nomu but you claim to have bought HT20 with the smallest screen. just for Notification light.
HT20 claims 3850 battery and you admit yourself it below 3000.
Moreover Ht20 has serious mic problems and hence waterproof problems if one uses Homtom cure for mic..
BTW you are mistaken Nomu S20 does not have 3800 battery . it is 3000 mAh.
Personally I do not like LED light at night. I do not care for NL. I like t check myself than be bothered by the light

Interesting video for Nomu
There is an very interesting video collection for Nomu, , very impressive, love it so much.

Jonesblake said:
There is an very interesting video collection for Nomu, very impressive, love it so much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it seems that Nomu with his S** Series entered in the market with great devices for the price!

Nomu - Pepsi Cola Mix Mentos Test

jerzyjerzy said:
Nomu - Pepsi Cola Mix Mentos Test
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though the test is failed, it carries funny style to the video, looking forward to more video come out of Nomu brand.

[Review] Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime: The schoolgirl selfie companion?

Hi there!
Below is adapted from my original review on gadgetvictims.com
Turns out that Redmi 5A Prime is better than expected.
-----------------
Xiaomi has just released the Redmi Note 5A priced below 140€.
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Identification
With Xiaomi's plethora of variants under a same model, it is important to start by identifying the product in order to set the expectations right.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Redmi: regroups the low cost phones as opposed to the Mi, which is more middle range to flagship.
Note: indicates a 5.5" size device (although I've seen 5.5" Mi phones without that denomination).
A: indicates the entry level phones.
Prime: The sample I'm reviewing here is actually the 32GB ROM version of the Prime variant (120€/140$). That suffix is not always mentioned by the shops but has its importance.
The Prime specifications are a notch above the bottom-of-the-low-range with a better chipset (Snapdragon 435 vs 425), more memory (3/32GB vs 2/16GB) and a 16MP selfie camera (vs 5MP). The Prime version also adds a fingerprint sensor. A higher spec. version with 4/64GB is expected soon.
The cheapest non-Prime 16GB version is at 100€/120$.
Key Specification
Display: 5.5-inch, 720 x 1280 pixels (400 ppi pixel density)
Size: 153 x 76.2 x 7.7 mm
Weight: 153 g
Rear camera: 13 MP with AF, f2.2, with LED Flash
Front (Selfie) camera: 16 MP, f2.0, with LED Flash
Storage: 3GB of RAM + 32GB ROM
Chipset: 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435
(Octa-core Cortex-A53 + Adreno 505 GPU)
IR blaster (infra Red cell)
Battery: 3080mAh non-removable
Unpacking and Design
The compact box is just the size of the phone, with some extra depth for the accessories: a charger, a USB cable, a SIM tray extractor pin and a leaflet.
The 5A has a classic design and yet, looks nice, slim and well finished.
Its light weight (153gr) and thinness (7.7mm) makes you regret that no hard case in the box. At least, there quite a good choice of accessories to choose from already.
A long 3-in-1 tray takes 2 nano-SIM's and one MicroSD together.
The micro USB is still used and there's no quick charger although the technology is supported. Using a spare one from Doogee, it took about 1 hour to full charge.
Cameras: "Only" one per side...and that's great news!
Xiaomi does not make any fuss about the camera sensors inside, and honestly, I don't mind if they are from Samsung, Sony or even Omnivision!
The result is far better than most manufacturers trumpeting the latest IMX on-board while ruining it with sub-par software.
The front camera features a LED flash, a resolution of 16.0MP, an aperture of f2.0 and a Phase Detection Auto Focus.
If the advertising illustrations of the product were not clear enough, this phone is targeted at the selfie and ussie takers!
All the expected options are present, including advanced "face beauty" settings, some funny filters, and a face detection that tries to evaluate the gender and age (not always accurate with toys...).
The back camera is "only" a 13MP, f2.2, and (shock horror) there is only one!
And still...it makes all those double-camera models look pathetic in comparison!
For those who expected a double camera just to improve their blur background shots, Google Camera can use the embedded gyroscope to achieve a similar effect, as well as the 360 Photo Sphere shots.
The camera is fast in all aspects: launching, focusing, shooting.
With the appropriate option activated (under Lock screen & password), launching the camera app and taking a shot takes no more than a second!
2x optical zoom means no loss of pixels up to that level, with the digital zoom kicking in afterward, effectively zooming on the existing pixels. The shots below show different level of zoom (0x, 2x and 4x) in low light. (see original review for full size view)
There is a decent set of options, even if they are not always grouped in the most convenient way between options and settings menus.
MIUI 8 and bloatware
The phone came with MIUI 8.5.4 and an OTA update to 8.5.8 was available. It is based on Android Nougat (7.1.2). MIUI 9.0 is due soon after the Golden Week (黄金周) holidays with hopefully, a global ROM.
I used the option to select an alternate home screen to install the excellent Yandex launcher, tried previously with the Bluboo S1.
Where is Google Play?
There is no global ROM yet for the Redmi Note 5A, and since the Chinese ROM does not include Google Play, a bit of DIY is needed to install it and configure the permission and battery saving options.
I first tried a certain Google Installer 2.0 which didn't work for me.
The easiest way has been to restore one a backup made available on miui forum.
As always, MIUI is generous in bloatware, although there's a few worthwhile Mi applications in the lot. A good deal of them can be uninstalled but some useless services, considered as system apps, will remain active.
Fingerprint scanner: lightning fast!
I found most fingerprint scanners to work well and fast enough...until now!
This one reacts just... instantly!
I would have prefered it located at the front, but I'll get use to it. There's simply no way I return to the slower ones!
Performance:
Snapdragon 435 Octa Core 1.4GHz: This chipset is aimed at the mid/low-range market. It may not the fastest one around but it's certainly not sluggish.
The "only" HD but nevertheless excellent IPS screen is a perfect fit for the Snapdragon 435 and the phone works smoothly through any task.
The phone feels much faster in general than its Mediatek counterpart with similar benchmark score (MT6750T).
Geekbench: single core:675 / Multi-core: 2581
Antutu: 45740
HD "only" screen:
The screen is not full HD but [email protected], and yet it's bright and sharp, ideal for reading ebooks, which I tried for a few hours.
There's even a schedulable Reading Mode to reduce the background glare at bed time.
This IPS screen is almost as good as an AMOLED with vibrant colors, deep blacks and excellent contrasts.
The Contrast and Colors under Display also allow to adjust the overall color temperature.
Communications
Phone calls / Sound quality
Sound quality is of tradition with Xiaomi products, and that's even true with their cheapest IP cameras, so no bad surprise here, the sound is crystal-clear during phone calls and the speakers are perfect for voice and can go quite loud without damage for music.
The in-call interface is functional with all the necessary options available.
Networks:
On the mobile data side, 4G is supported but I'm only getting HSPA+, and the easiest way to find out why is to visit frequencycheck.com. In my case, there's very little B3 (1800Hz) coverage in my area.
Wi-Fi reception is good but seems limited to 2.4GHz, although the 5GHz band should be supported by the Snapdragon 425 Processor.
Notification LED (I missed you so much!):
It rings loud (and louder if a call is not answered), it vibrates and, if you miss it, there's even a LED!
Kudos to Xiaomi for not ditching this essential option to spare a few cents!
Battery life
The advertised capacity of the 3080mAh battery is rather modest but probably the actual capacity unlike many competitors.
On the other hand, Qualcomm Snapdragon is well known for its power efficiency and the 435 Octa Core is not the most demanding chipset.
I achieved 24 hours of mixed use with some intensive sessions (all the de-MIUIzation, lots of pictures taken, frequent interaction, benchmarks, ...)
There are many clever optimization options under the Battery & performance menu but I didn't even use the battery saver.
IR Blaster:
The 5A can be used as an IR remote controller. The native Mi Remote application mostly supports the smart home devices from Xiaomi but also some popular brands of TV and set top boxes. However I could not get it work with any device, even my LG TV.
As an alternative, I've installed "Universal TV Remote" from Twinone which works great, even with my old X10 IR relay.
GPS: 20 satellites under 4 seconds...that should do the job.
Conclusion: so, who is that phone for?
On paper, the Xiaomi 5A Prime is inferior to its bigger brothers on almost every aspect: smaller battery, lower pixel density, slower processor, slightly heavier, a bit thicker, ...
My opening title "The schoolgirl selfie companion?" (just a tad bit sarcastic) reflects my opinion before testing this phone.
Now, I realize that the Redmi Note 5A Prime is a silent killer for the competitors in that price range!
The Redmi Note 5A Prime (in 3/32GB) turns out to be a high quality smartphone and if the components are not all the latest and fastest, there's been no compromise on the quality and the cameras are possibly the best available under 150€.
Unlike the very widespread trends amongst entry-level smartphones, the Redmi Note 5A Prime does not make false promises, but delivers exactly what's announced.
The current version is a potential source of frustration for those relying on Google ecosystem, and I can't wait to see a Global Version, with MIUI 9, hopefully very soon, so we won't have to put our hands in the grease anymore.
The 3/32GB Prime variant, priced 119€/139.99$ with coupon JSMTA (expiry date: 2017-10-7) is by far the most sensible choice in the 5A family.
The other variants are:
Redmi Note 5A (not Prime): 100€/120$
There are too many concessions (no fingerprint sensor, smaller front camera, smaller chipset, only 16GB of storage) for almost the same price.
Redmi Note 5A (Prime) "4/64" with 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage: 220€/260$. There are not enough advantages to justify the higher price.
For that budget, look at the Mi 5X/A1 instead!)

SilverBarrel said:
...........
Xiaomi does not make any fuss about the camera sensors inside, and honestly, I don't mind if they are from Samsung, Sony or even Omnivision!
The result is far better than most manufacturers trumpeting the latest IMX on-board while ruining it with sub-par software.
............
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was alot of grumbling that the Redmi Note 4 had different sensors and from what I've seen from the sample pictures, the differences are significant. The OV version was the worst with some weird tint (maybe it was just with the on) but it shows that you cannot ignore the different sensor types. Xiaomi is taking a risk with these sort of low brow bait and switch marketing tactics.

Restore IMEI?
Hi guys, i have an Redmi note 5A which i got with China Rom, and in atempt to flash Global Rom in test point i accidentaly flashed rom from Redmi 5A which lead me to lose the IMEI of the device and i cant sign in into my mi account to unlock bootloader and restore it.. I have flashed the latest China Stable Rom and the China Developer Rom from in EDL mode but that didnt restore my IMEI neither i can log in into my Mi Account..
What can i do?

Redmi 5 Plus (Note 5) vs Redmi Note 5 Pro - What to buy?

Apart from the dual cameras and the new 636 SoC, what else is there to upgrade to this from a RN5?
Lacks all the Mid-Range premium features like NFC, USB-Type C etc.

Obviously the Note 5 Pro!

harshs91 said:
Obviously the Note 5 Pro!
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Click to collapse
Well I think I am gonna wait for Moto G6 Plus. It will surely have NFC and probably USB-C too. I am using Android Pay (G5 Plus) and although I don't need it, it would be annoying to go back.

If you're going for the Redmi Note 5, then go for the 3GB/32GB variant. And if you're going for the Redmi Note 5 Pro, then go for the 4GB/64GB. Both are worth are that price

Note 5 Pro
Redmi Note 5 Pro has many features that engaged you to buy it. It has a stunning 5.99-inches full-HD+ (1080x2160) display with stunning image quality. It's dual rear camera makes it more beautiful.
Pros:
Gorgeous Display
Great Camera Quality under daylight conditions
Excellent Battery Backup
No lag while multi-tasking and gaming
Fast and Accurate Face unlock
Cons:
No fast charging
Hybrid Sim Slot