Xiaomi Redmi 5A has finally been unveiled by the Chinese smartphone maker as an-all new (not really) budget phone. The device is the direct successor of the highly successful Redmi 4A but when it comes to changes, other than the 8-days standby battery, a feature that was leaked hours before the launch, there are not many updates in the Xiaomi Redmi 5A.
While the smartphone comes with the recently introduced MIUI on top of Android Nougat, it still doesn’t feature a fingerprint scanner, an omission which differentiated its predecessor for the Redmi 4. Moreover, while previous leaks suggested that the Xiaomi Redmi 5A will come with a uni-metal body, instead, it comes with a textured plastic back which makes the device feel like it’s built out of metal.
Other than that, more rounded corner and a slightly smaller battery (100mAh) are some specifications that differentiate Xiaomi Redmi 5A from the Redmi 4A.
Xiaomi Redmi 5A Specifications
- 5-inch (1280 x 720) HD IPS display with 1000: 1 contrast ratio, 72% color gamut, offering 296 PPI.
- 1.4GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425 SoC coupled with 500MHz Adreno 308 GPU
- 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable up to 128GB via microSD
- Android 7.1 (Nougat) with MIUI 9 on top
- 13MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, PDAF, LED Flash, 5-lens system and 1080p video recording
- 5MP front camera with fixed focus and f/2.0 aperture
- Hybrid Dual SIM (micro + nano / microSD) and Infrared sensor
- 3000mAh battery with fast charging support
- Xiaomi Redmi 5A measures 140.4 x 70.1 mm x 8.35 mm and Weighs 137g
- Connectivity: 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS + GLONASS
Xiaomi Redmi 5A Price And Availability
The Xiaomi Redmi 5A will be available in Platinum Silver, Rose Gold and Champagne Gold color options at Xiaomi Mall, JD.com, Lynx, among other online platforms and is priced at 599 yuan (Rs. 5880 approx.). The device will go on sale in China starting 16th October 2017.
While its availability outside China has not been announced, we expect Xiaomi Redmi 5A to be launched in India in March 2018, exactly one year after its predecessor’s launch date.
Xiaomi Redmi 5A Review
As for as our first impressions are concerned, Redmi 4A was already leading the entry-level smartphone segment with its bang for buck value and we also witnessed the launch of a 3GB/32GB version of the device. Now, considering the minimalistic updates in the Xiaomi Redmi 5A, we don’t think that Xiaomi needed to even launch a mid-life update rather than an all-new smartphone.
Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4A Review
Having said that, considering the price tag of 599 yuan (Rs. 5880 approx.), it is still the best smartphone providing bang for buck value as well as segment-leading features.