First Impression - Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5 Pro

With over 9.6 million units of Redmi Note 4 sold in India last year, Xiaomi has introduced the success or to its all-rounder smartphone. This year, the company has launched two new phones in its Redmi Note series - the Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro. While the former offers upgrades in terms of design, camera and built quality, the Redmi Note 5 Pro offers more power and the company is calling it a camera beast.

Both, the Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro, continue to have the same design language as on the Redmi Note 4. Boasting a premium metal body with tapered back cover, the new Note devices feature a 5.99inch 18:9 display with 2160x1080p resolution and are yet ergonomic to hold. For incorporating a bigger display in a the same-sized body, the navigation keys - home, back and multitasking - now appear on the screen only. There is a fingerprint scanner at the rear that instantly unlocks the phone.

Running Mi UI9 based on Android N, the Redmi Note 5 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor (Redmi Note 4 had the same processor on board). The device is available in two variants - 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB onboard storage.  We had a chance to experience the unit with the 4G RAM variant which registered the benchmark score of 77091 on Antutu benchmark. The Redmi Note 5 Pro with Snapdragon 636 processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage, scored 112618 on Antutu benchmark.

Although the Redmi Note 5 continues to have the same processor as the predecessor, the company has worked on the camera front. The device comes with an improved 12MP rear camera (with large 1.25?m pixels) for capturing better low-light images. Xiaomi has added a vertical dual camera to the Redmi Note 5 Pro which packs in a 5MP and a 12MP sensor for capturing depth images. The portrait images captured from the phone's rear camera were pretty impressive. While the company claims to compete against the iPhone X and Google Pixel 2, we are yet to compare the camera results. Using artificial intelligence, Xiaomi has also enabled portrait selfies on the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Both the Redmi Note 5 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro packs in a 4000 mAh battery, which can easily last over a day and a half. To be available on Flipkart, mi.com, Mi Home stores to start with, the devices will go on sale starting February 22. The Redmi Note 5 has been priced at Rs 9,999 for 3GB RAM and 32GB storage and Rs 11,999 for 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is available for Rs 13,999 for 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and Rs 16,999 for 6GB RAM and 64GB storage.