At the beginning of this month, Xiaomi unveiled its new smartphone in India: the Redmi 5A. Dubbed as the ‘Desh ka Smartphone’ a.k.a India’s own smartphone, the Redmi 5A is the successor to the massively popular Redmi 4A from earlier this year. 

The cheapest handset in Xiaomi’s current smartphone lineup, the Redmi 5A features largely the same specs and features as its predecessor but comes with a better build quality and other modest improvements. The first sale of the handset is all set to take place in India on December 7.

If you are planning on buying the Redmi 5A but have some questions about the device, check out our FAQ below.

Q) What are the full specifications of the Redmi 5A?

A) The full specs of the Redmi 5A are as follows:

• Dimensions: 140.4 x 70.1 x 8.35 mm
• Weight: 137-g
• Display: 5-inch 720p IPS LCD, Reading mode
• Chipset: Quad-core Snapdragon 425 chipset clocked at 1.4GHz
• GPU: Adreno 508 clocked at 500MHz
• RAM: 2/3GB
• Storage: 16/32GB, dedicated microSD card slot
• Rear camera: 13MP, f/2.2 aperture, LED flash
• Front camera: 5MP, f/2.0 aperture
• Sensors: Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient light sensor, Infrared
• Connectivity: LTE, (Hybrid) Dual-SIM, GPS, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB
• Battery: 3000mAh non-removable
• Others: MIUI 9

Q) Does the Redmi 5A feature a metal construction?

A) No, the Redmi 5A is made of polycarbonate plastic. The back of the phone does feature a metallic matte finish that is smooth to touch.

Q) Is the battery of the handset removable?

A) No, the rear panel and battery of the Redmi 5A are not removable.

Q) What are the differences between the Redmi 4A and Redmi 5A?

A) Not much really. Both phones have the same internals and only differ a bit in terms of their build quality. While both handsets are made of plastic, the Redmi 5A features a metallic matte finish which gives it a slightly premium feel.

Q) What kind of SIM card slot does the phone have? Can I use two SIM cards and a microSD card at the same time?

A) The Redmi 5A features a dedicated microSD card slot and two nanoSIM card slots. This means that you can use a microSD card along with two SIM cards on the phone at the same time.

Q) Does the Redmi 5A support 4G SIM cards on both SIM slots?

A) Yes, the Redmi 5A supports 4G SIM cards on both its SIM slots. However, you can only have one SIM connected to a 4G network at any given time.

Q) Does the Redmi 5A come with an IR blaster?

A) Yes, the Redmi 5A features an infrared blaster that you can use to control other electronic appliances around you using the Mi Remote app.

Q) Is the display on the Redmi 5A protected by Gorilla Glass?

A) The 5-inch 720p IPS display on the Redmi 5A is not protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass. It is a strengthened glass that is less prone to scratches, but it is not Gorilla Glass.

Q) Does the Redmi 5A feature a fingerprint scanner?

A) No, the Redmi 5A does not feature a fingerprint sensor.

Q) Can one record slow-motion videos on the Redmi 5A?

A) No, the phone cannot record slow-motion videos.

Q) Which version of Android does the handset run on?

A) Android 7.1.2 Nougat.

Q) Which version of MIUI does the Redmi 5A run on?

A) The Redmi 5A runs on MIUI 9 out of the box.

Q) Does the Redmi 5A support LTE and VoLTe networks? Will a Reliance Jio SIM work on the phone?

A) Yes, it does support LTE and VoLTE out of the box. Unlike many other phones, the handset will also work with a Reliance Jio SIM out of the box. Additionally, it also has support for AirTel’s VoLTE network. The Redmi 5A also supports Band 5, which will be used by many Indian operators in the future.

Q) Is Quick charging supported on the Redmi 5A?

A) No, it does not. The handset also comes bundled with a 1A charger.

Q) How much free storage space does the Redmi 5A has out of the box?

A) The 16GB variant has around 10GB of free storage space.

Q) Can you uninstall or disable pre-installed apps on the handset?

A) Yes, you can uninstall or disable some pre-installed apps on the Redmi 5A, but not all.

Q) Are the capacitive keys on the Redmi 5A backlit?

A) No, the capacitive keys on the Redmi 5A are not backlit.

Q) What contents do you get inside the retail box of the Redmi 5A?

A) You get the phone, a 1A charger, a USB cable, SIM ejector tool, and some regulatory papers. No case, screen guard, or earphones are bundled with the phone.

Q) Does the handset support USB OTG?

A) Yes, the Redmi 5A supports USB On-The-Go. This allows you to directly connect pen drives, external hard disks and more using an adapter to the device.

Q) What is the price of the Redmi 5A?

A) The 2GB RAM/16GB variant of the Redmi 5A is priced at Rs 4,999. This is an introductory price and only valid for the first 5 million units of the handset sold by Xiaomi in India. As for the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant, it is priced at Rs 6,999.

Q) When does the Redmi 5A go on sale and where?

A) The Redmi 5A goes on sale on Mi.com and Flipkart from December 7. It can also be purchased offline through Xiaomi’s Mi Home stores. The handset will eventually also makes its way to Xiaomi’s offline Mi Preferred Partner stores.

Have any other question about the Redmi 5A? Drop a comment and we will answer them for you.