When a new smartphone is launched, we expect all the hype and momentum to flood the media for a while before we really get down to the specifics. To many, this is the time when they make that important decision whether to purchase or not; however, for more experienced techies out there and some traditional conservatives, it’s a time to look deeper and analyze the specs to determine whether it’s worth their cash. For the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, it’s been quite an experience and the only reason I skipped the last version was a bigger screen and some decent specs underneath.
Let’s face it, in 2018, a 5.99-inch screen that is used on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is in most part the current trend and utilizes an 18:9 aspect ration you’d expect on almost every flagship being released to the market now. The resolution is however somewhat odd at 1080x2160pixels rather than the QHD we’ve come to expect on flagships, but at 401 pixels per inch density, images are still sharper and we are practically unable to distinguish individual pixels just by looking at it with a naked eye.
It’s a shame that we don’t get a better and latest snapdragon 630 chipset (at launch time) on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus; instead, it’s equipped with a 625 chipset, that’s still efficient in most part and doesn’t over burden the Li-Po 4000 mAh battery. At the moment, you’ll part away with at least Kenya shillings 28,000 for the 64GB version with 4GB RAM if you purchase the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus at Telkom Kenya shops, meaning some areas that don’t really count have been omitted. For instance, instead of a quick charge power adaptor, we get a standard 5 volts – 2amps adaptor in the packaging and if you’re lucky enough, a protective case comes included.
My review model was black, and inside the packaging, of course there was the usual instruction manuals, a disappointing microUSB 2.0 cable instead of a type C data cable and a convenient SIM tray removal tool.
Back on the phone, there’s an IR transmitter at the top, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a secondary Mic. While at the back is a 12MP camera, dual tone LED flash and a fingerprint reader. At the bottom is a MicroUSB port (sad) – I would have liked to see a type C port instead, a microphone and a Speaker. On the front sits a 5MP camera and the usual sensors.
For the price, it’s well built and very comfortable to hold. Software-wise, you get the usual android 7.0 experience. When listening to audio, make sure you don’t cover the speaker holes, lets it’ll be muted.