Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 was a massive blockbuster and its successor, the Redmi Note 5 Pro, has big shoes to fill. The good news is that it seems more than up for the task. Xiaomi has paid due attention to factors that made Redmi Note 4 so popular among the masses and has modeled its successor accordingly.
The Redmi Note 5 Pro uses one of the most promising mid-range SoCs around and it does so well ahead in advance of the competition. All contemporary hot trends including 18:9 display aspect ratio, dual cameras, selfies, etc. have been taken care of as well. But at the end of the day, these are all mere specs on paper. How good is the Redmi Note 5 Pro in practice? Well, let us try and answer that in our Redmi Note 5 Pro review.
Key Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro:
| Model | Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro |
| Display | 5.99 inch FHD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass display |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor |
| Camera | 12 +5 MP rear + 20 MP front cameras |
| Battery | 4000mAh |
| RAM | 4GB / 6GB |
| Internal Memory | 64GB |
| Dimensions and Weight | 158.6 × 75.4 × 8.05 mm and 181 grams |
| Software | Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS with MIUI 9 |
| Dual SIM | Yes (hybrid dual SIM) |
| Price | 13,999 INR / 16,999 INR |
Design and Build
The Redmi Note 5 Pro has considerably evolved in terms of design when compared to the Redmi Note 4. On the front, Xiaomi is using a tall 18:9 Full HD+ display but there still are significant bezels on top and bottom. The back panel is primarily metal with plastic caps on top and bottom.
The side edges are rounded which facilitate a firm grip. The dual camera module on the back is same as the one you’d find on iPhone X and it also juts out a bit. All buttons, ports, and fingerprint sensor are within reach. The IR blaster has made the cut this generation as well and is present on the top edge. Complaining about the missing Type-C port feels like nitpicking, but Xiaomi should have switched to the new norm this generation.
Overall, the Redmi Note 5 Pro might not be the most premium looking phone in its class, but it solidly built, ergonomic and feels good. This year, you will also get a protective case bundled in the box, one that can even out the camera bump.
Display
The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 5.99-inch Full HD+ panel dominating the fascia, layered with unspecified 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The panel is quite vibrant and colors pop nicely. By default, the white balance leans towards cold tones, but we could find a preferable preset under display settings. The display quality is very good for the price.
Performance and Software
This is where the Redmi Note 5 Pro really shines. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is powered by 1.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 636 chipset. It is the first mid-range chipset to use Qualcomm’s customized Kryo cores and that’s what makes it special. Moreover, Xiaomi uses LPDDR4X RAM (up to 6GB) which is a faster RAM than what we usually see in this price range.
As you would expect, the performance is butter smooth. High-end games are responsive and work smooth, apps open and close quickly, and the overall experience is impressive.
The software used on the phone is Android Nougat based MIUI 9.0. Even though there is a vast section of people who’d prefer stock Android, but Xiaomi’s own software is pretty stable and efficient. There are numerous customization options that come in handy.
Camera Performance
Another area where Xiaomi has focused during product development is the camera. This is the part that rarely anyone has managed to get right for affordable phones, but Xiaomi did a great job with its Mi A1.
The camera on the Redmi Note 5 Pro is comparable to that on the Mi A1 if not better. In certain situations, the camera exceeds Mi A1 as well.
On the rear, you will find a combination of 12MP and 5MP sensors with f/2.2 aperture and f/2.0 aperture, respectively. The extra sensor is used for Portrait mode and the camera software is actually quite good at discerning edges of the subject from the background. In indoor lighting, the portrait mode performance is the best that we have seen for phones under 20,000 INR.
On the front, the Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 20MP sensor with LED flash. The selfie camera performance is at par with the current generation selfie experts.
Battery, Price, and Verdict
The 4000mAh battery on the phone can comfortably last for a day. We could easily manage a screen on time of about 8 to 9 hours. Xiaomi’s official page says that the phone supports QuickCharge 2.0, but the bundled 5V/2A charger doesn’t support fast charging.
Priced at 13, 999 INR for the base 4GB RAM option and Rs. 16,999 INR for the 6GB RAM variant, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a steal. The competition simply doesn’t have a better all-rounder that can match up.
Of course, it’s extremely tough to lay your hands on one and it shall be for at least a few more weeks. But if you visit one of the Xiaomi Mi Home stores, you shall be able to pick your choice of RAM variant in your choice of color.
