Introduction
The Redmi 6 Pro marks a significant milestone in Xiaomi's popular budget smartphone lineup, introducing the first notched display in the Redmi series. This device aims to bring a modern aesthetic to the budget segment while maintaining the excellent value proposition that has made Xiaomi a dominant force in markets like India. As a tech enthusiast, I've had the opportunity to spend some hands-on time with the Redmi 6 Pro, and I'm excited to share my in-depth first impressions and analysis of this intriguing new offering.
Design and Build Quality
The Redmi 6 Pro strikes an impressive balance between familiar design elements and contemporary touches. The compact metal unibody construction feels surprisingly premium for a device in this price range, offering a solid heft that inspires confidence in its durability. The standout feature is undoubtedly the 5.84-inch display with its 19:9 aspect ratio and notch, bringing the Redmi series firmly into 2018's design trends.
While the bezels are still visible, they're not overly thick, allowing for a modern look without completely abandoning the practical aspects of having some bezel for grip. The rear of the device will be familiar to Redmi Note 5 Pro users, featuring a vertical dual camera module and centrally-placed fingerprint sensor. This consistency in design language helps maintain brand identity while still pushing the envelope with the front design.
Display Technology
The 5.84-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display is truly the star of the show here. With a resolution of 2280 x 1080 and a 19:9 aspect ratio, it offers a pixel density of about 432 PPI, ensuring crisp text and sharp images. The notch houses the front-facing camera, earpiece, and various sensors, maximizing screen real estate.
What's particularly impressive is the claimed 84% NTSC color gamut coverage. This wide color gamut support is not commonly found in budget devices and suggests that Xiaomi is paying attention to display quality beyond just resolution. In practical terms, this should translate to more vibrant and accurate colors, enhancing everything from photo viewing to video playback.
The 2.5D curved glass adds a premium touch, improving both aesthetics and the feel of edge swipes. It's worth noting that Xiaomi has included software options to "hide" the notch for those who prefer a more traditional look, showing attention to user preferences.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Redmi 6 Pro relies on the tried-and-true Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. While this might disappoint spec-chasers looking for the latest silicon, the choice of the Snapdragon 625 is a calculated one that prioritizes efficiency and reliability over raw benchmark scores.
The Snapdragon 625 is built on a 14nm process, which contributes significantly to its power efficiency. Its octa-core CPU configuration, featuring eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz, provides a good balance of performance for everyday tasks. The integrated Adreno 506 GPU is capable of handling light to moderate gaming, though it may struggle with the most demanding titles at high settings.
Xiaomi offers the device in 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB RAM/storage configurations. The inclusion of a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion is a welcome feature, especially for users who like to carry large media libraries or install many apps.
Camera Capabilities
The dual rear camera system, consisting of a 12MP main sensor and a 5MP depth sensor, is fairly standard for this segment but comes with some interesting features. The main sensor boasts 1.25μm pixel size, which should theoretically allow for better low-light performance compared to sensors with smaller pixels. The depth sensor enables portrait mode effects, an increasingly popular feature across all smartphone segments.
Xiaomi claims the camera system includes AI scene detection capable of recognizing 25 different categories. While the real-world effectiveness of such AI features can vary, it's an indication that Xiaomi is attempting to bring more advanced imaging capabilities to the budget segment.
The inclusion of Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for video is a notable feature that should help produce smoother footage, especially important given the lack of optical stabilization at this price point.
The 5MP front-facing camera might seem underwhelming on paper, especially compared to some competitors offering higher resolution sensors. However, resolution isn't everything when it comes to image quality, and real-world testing will be necessary to judge its performance accurately.
Software Experience
The Redmi 6 Pro runs MIUI 9.6 based on Android 8.1 Oreo, with a promised update to MIUI 10. MIUI is a heavily customized skin that offers a feature-rich experience but deviates significantly from stock Android. This can be a point of contention for users, with some appreciating the extensive features and customization options, while others prefer a more vanilla Android experience.
MIUI includes a comprehensive suite of built-in apps for common tasks, potentially reducing the need for third-party alternatives. The theme store offers extensive personalization options, allowing users to significantly alter the look and feel of their device.
One of MIUI's strengths is Xiaomi's commitment to regular updates and security patches, even for budget devices. This commitment to long-term software support can significantly extend the useful life of the device, an important consideration for budget-conscious buyers.
Battery Life and Charging
Perhaps one of the most compelling features of the Redmi 6 Pro is its 4000mAh battery. When paired with the efficient Snapdragon 625 processor and the optimizations in MIUI, this should translate to exceptional battery life. Based on the specifications and Xiaomi's track record, it's reasonable to expect the device to easily last a full day of heavy use, with the potential for two-day battery life under more moderate usage patterns.
The device supports 5V/2A charging, which, while not considered "fast charging" by today's standards, should provide reasonably quick charge times given the battery capacity. The lack of a more advanced fast charging solution is one of the few areas where the budget nature of the device becomes apparent.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Redmi 6 Pro doesn't skimp on connectivity options, offering dual SIM support with a dedicated microSD slot, ensuring users don't have to choose between a second SIM and expanded storage. 4G VoLTE support ensures compatibility with advanced cellular networks, enabling HD voice calls where supported.
The inclusion of an IR blaster is a nice touch that's becoming increasingly rare, even in higher-end devices. This allows the phone to double as a universal remote control for various home appliances, adding a bit of extra utility.
Market Positioning and Competition
At a starting price of Rs. 10,999, the Redmi 6 Pro enters a fiercely competitive segment of the Indian smartphone market. It faces stiff competition not only from other brands but also from within Xiaomi's own portfolio. Devices like the Realme 2, Nokia 5.1 Plus, and Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 all offer compelling features at similar price points.
The Redmi 6 Pro's main differentiators appear to be its compact form factor with a notched display, excellent battery life potential, and the trusted Redmi brand value. For users specifically seeking these attributes, the Redmi 6 Pro presents a strong option.
Conclusion
The Redmi 6 Pro represents a thoughtful evolution of Xiaomi's budget smartphone formula. It successfully incorporates modern design elements like the notched display while retaining the core strengths that have made the Redmi series so popular – solid performance, excellent battery life, and outstanding value for money.
While it may not be revolutionary, the Redmi 6 Pro appears to be another strong offering in the budget segment. It strikes a careful balance between features and affordability, potentially making it an attractive option for a wide range of users.
As with any device, the true test will come with extended real-world usage. The promising specifications and Xiaomi's track record suggest that the Redmi 6 Pro has the potential to be a standout performer in its class, but thorough testing will be required to confirm these initial impressions. For budget-conscious buyers seeking a modern design, strong battery life, and a feature-rich software experience, the Redmi 6 Pro certainly warrants serious consideration.
