There are different versions on the market; this is the Chinese version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
Since it is a smartphone that is very similar to the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus due to its design, its hardware and the price difference is not that great, I will try to compare them to a certain extent so that you can decide which one is the right one for you.
As usual for the manufacturer, this Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 comes in a red cardboard box with the model’s name on the back cover. At the bottom are the specifications of the terminal and the IMEI numbers. Inside is the device with a transparent TPU case, a quick start guide (in Chinese), the 5V 2A Chinese version charger, the micro USB to USB cable and the skewer to access the nanoSIM card slot and micro SD. As you can compare, it is precisely what came in the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus. It is as if they had taken the same box and distributed it to all the models.
It is an added incentive that incorporates a cover to protect the device and should be included in all ranges. However, what I did not like, and I always say, is that it does not incorporate the new USB Type C standard. What did it cost them to include it?
Design and Screen
This Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 looks identical to the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus I told you about a few weeks ago.
It maintains an innovative design with an 18:9 screen ratio and dimensions of 75.4 mm long x 158.6 mm high x 8.1 mm thick. The device is made of aluminum with a one-piece body and a weight of 180 grams.
The smartphone has a 5.99-inch LCD screen with a Full HD + resolution of 1080×2160 pixels. The functional surface is 77%, which makes the edges of the terminal increasingly narrower, and we can enjoy larger screens in a smaller device. Ideal for enjoying games or multimedia content.
On the front of the smartphone is the call speaker; on the right are the proximity sensors, the brightness sensor, and an LED Flash that is difficult to find on the front, but it seems that Xiaomi is beginning to have this good habit, and the notification LED. On the left is the selfie camera.
On the left side is the slot to insert the nano-SIM tray and the shared microSD. And on the right side are the typical volume up/down button and the lock button. All of them are made of metal.
Now I will describe the only thing I have seen that changes the design of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.
In this case, the dual camera and a double LED Flash are located in the upper left corner of the back of the device. This part reminds me a lot of the design of the iPhone X camera. On the other hand, the fingerprint reader is centred, fast and accurate.
Power and Hardware
This will be one of the most exciting points when buying this Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. Since its hardware is what makes its most significant difference, giving it better performance.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 8-core processor at a maximum speed of 1.8 GHz. It is a 64-bit processor manufactured in 14 nm and has a Kyro 260 architecture that achieves 40% more performance than its predecessor. In addition, this is not the only thing that changes since it incorporates an Adreno 509 graphics processor that, according to the data, offers 10% more graphics performance, with which we can enjoy more demanding games.
Although there is also the version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and the one with 6GB of RAM, and the one with 64GB of storage, as I started by saying, this version that I am testing has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage expandable by microSD. People who use smartphones less with a basic understanding will have more than enough.
Before installing any application that could slow down Xiaomi to a certain extent, I installed the application “AnTuTu Benchmark v7” to check the power and performance of the smartphone. The result I have obtained has 116663 points. As we can see, it is pretty different compared to the 76883 points the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus achieved. (It is not clear which is better of the two).
I have also done some performance and overheating tests playing different games. For this, I have been playing 30 min to somewhat demanding online multiplayer games, such as “PUBG Mobile” or “Arena of Valor,” and the smartphone temperature went from 26.2ºC to 38.5ºC. The heat was appreciated on the surface, but it has not been anything alarming. As for the gameplay, it has been exceptional. I am daring to say that I have even considered the possible cancellation of my “Xiaomi Mi 5”.
The speaker’s sound quality is correct and has a power similar to that of other smartphones. I will give you a screenshot of the maximum volume achieved.
I think this Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is excellent, and I venture to say it will be one of the best-selling terminals. Get fantastic performance on a screen and ideal dimensions.
