Xiaomi today unveiled the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro in India. Unlike previous years, this was a global launch from Xiaomi meaning the handsets are being first unveiled in India before anywhere else. The Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 4 helped Xiaomi build and cement its position in the budget mid-range smartphone segment in India.

With the Redmi Note 5, the company is hoping to continue its lead over Samsung and other Chinese OEMs in India and even enter other smartphone markets across the world so as to ensure its growth does not stall in 2018.

Xiaomi has taken a very different approach with the Redmi Note 5 this year. The company is launching the handset in two different flavors: a regular Redmi Note 5 and a version meant for heavy and power users dubbed the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Both phones come with a 5.99-inch FHD+ 18:9 aspect ratio display at the front that is protected by a 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3. They feature a unibody aluminum design, with the fingerprint scanner located at the rear. Other common specs of both handsets include a microUSB port, a 4000mAh battery, and a hybrid dual-SIM/microSD card slot. On the connectivity front, you get VoLTE support, Wi-Fi g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, FM radio, and a 3.5mm audio jack along with the usual bunch of sensors.

The Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro differ from each other when it comes to their internal specifications and camera setup. The Redmi Note 5 sports a Snapdragon 625 chipset clocked at 2GHz, and it will be available in 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB variants. The Redmi Note 5 Pro lives up to its ‘pro’ moniker with its Snapdragon 636 chipset which can reach speeds of up to 1.8GHz. It is the first phone in the market to launch with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 636 chip which features its custom-designed Kryo 280 CPU cores. It will be available in 3/4/6GB RAM variants with 32/64GB storage.

Another differentiating aspect between the two devices is their camera. The Redmi Note 5 comes with a 12MP f/2.2 shooter with 1.25um large pixels and dual-LED flash at its rear. At the front, the handset features a 5MP snapper with a selfie-light. The Redmi Note 5 Pro, on the other hand, comes with a dual-camera setup at its rear. While the primary 12MP sensor remains the same, it is now paired with a 5MP shooter used for capturing depth information. This allows the Redmi Note 5 Pro to capture photos with a bokeh effect. At the front, the Redmi Note 5 Pro features a 20MP selfie shooter assisted by a selfie-light. The higher resolution camera at the front allows the Redmi Note 5 Pro to offer face unlock as well. The two handsets are otherwise similar in almost all aspects.

The Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro will go on sale in India from February 22. The prices of the different variants are as follows:

Redmi Note 5 Price:

• 3GB RAM + 32GB storage – Rs 9,999
• 4GB RAM + 64GB storage – Rs 11,999

Redmi Note 5 Pro Price:

• 4GB RAM + 32GB storage – Rs 13,999
• 4GB RAM + 64GB storage – Rs 16,999

Both handsets will be available in four colors: Black, Rose Pink, Blue, and Rose Gold.

What do you think about the Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro? Drop a comment and let us know!