Redmi Pro is Announced - Will You Buy It?

alz on 27/07/2016 - 19:06

The device is powered by Mediatek's deca-core Helio X25 chipset with Mali-T880 GPU, and sports a 5.5-inch FullHD OLED display. Xiaomi says the Redmi Pro is the company's "most powerful Redmi ever."

RAM options include 3GB and 4GB, while internal memory options include 64GB and 128GB. The phone packs in a large 4,050mAh battery.

The Redmi Pro features a rear dual camera setup - consisting of a 13MP main unit and a 5MP depth sensor - which the company claims lets you produce DSLR-quality bokeh effects. There's also a 5MP front shooter.

Measuring 151.5 x 76.2 x 8.15mm and weighing in at 174g, the phone offers a front fingerprint sensor as well as USB-C connectivity. Support for dual-SIM and VoLTE is also there.

The Xiaomi Redmi Pro starts at RMB 1,499 (around AUD $300), but for that amount you'll get a variant with Helio X20 SoC, 3GB RAM, and 32GB storage. The version with Helio X25 chipset, 3GB RAM, and 64GB storage costs RMB 1,699 (around AUD $340), while the top model with Helio X25, 4GB RAM, and 128GB memory will set you back RMB 1,999 (around AUD $400).

Color options include Gold, Silver, and Dark Grey.

The device will be available for purchase in China starting August 8.

I was never a fan of Chinese droids, but I am not kinda interested for that price.

Mobile

Comments

  • No on 27/07/2016 - 19:09

    The price will come down a lot eventually.

    I am not interested because if I understand correctly the Helio chipset makes it a lot harder to come up with custom roms so we won't see all the rom options you get on the current Redmi Pro snapdragon.

  • scrimshaw on 27/07/2016 - 19:15

    It would be nice if

    1. it gets a Snapdragon chipset (probability — likely)
    2. it does 4G / 3G dual sim, rather than 2g only on the second sim slot (probability — unlikely)
    3. it does B28 (700mhz 4G LTE) (probability — very unlikely)
    4. it gets proper OTA updates all the way from Marshmallow to a stable release of Android 'N' (probability — unknown)
    5. it supports Android Pay (probability — Never?)
    6. it supports CyanogenMod / AOSP.

    If all 6 requirements are met, It'll be my next device.

    • Diji1 on 27/07/2016 - 20:08

      Sounds like it's not ;)

    • Clear on 28/07/2016 - 10:42

      it does 4G / 3G dual sim, rather than 2g only on the second sim slot (probability — unlikely)

      Mi Max does so I've got my hopes up.

  • railspider on 27/07/2016 - 20:00
    +1

    I'm more interested in the laptop they announced at the same time

    https://twitter.com/hbarra/status/758202518627201025

    That cheaper model (3500yuan, ~$700aud) looks really nice. Love the plug options and the brand-less exterior. Hoping there are some decent deals available to us outside of China.

    • hilariouspowerr on 27/07/2016 - 21:01

      Oh wow, now that I know about it, I'm frothing.

      • Baron-K on 27/07/2016 - 22:05

        Good laptops, great prices but I mean come on the visual cues are enough did they really have to call it AIR!?

        • Baron-K on 27/07/2016 - 22:06

          …um still probably gonna buy one though lol

        • scrimshaw on 27/07/2016 - 23:58

          @Karza:

          Xiaomi's success lies in their ability to copy trends and ride on the success of other brands.

          Xiaomi Note series <—> Samsung Galaxy Note series (although they look nothing like each other, it's obviously a direct competitor)

          Xiaomi miPad series <—> iPad Mini series

          Xiaomi Yi <—> GoPro Hero

          Xiaomi Keynote <—> Apple Keynote

          [Xiaomi Mi box] <—> Apple TV

          MIUI <—> IOS

          to quote Picasso: Good Artists Copy; Great Artists Steal

        • Baron-K on 28/07/2016 - 00:52

          MI3 was not an apple copy.

          Mi4 was a lame apple copy.

          Mi note had the curved back form before Samsung so it was a sign of some originality forming.

          MI5 took this further.

          I just think at this stage of Xiaomi's game calling the new laptop an AIR was just a really lame step backwards.

        • BadGiraffe on 28/07/2016 - 14:43

          Which is why they'll never sell it in Australia. They're a lawsuit waiting to happen.

        • BadGiraffe on 28/07/2016 - 14:45

          @scrimshaw: And that's a quote that Steve Jobs famously used too.

        • Baron-K on 28/07/2016 - 14:52

          They don't need to sell it here for me to get one, I've got about 10+ different Xiaomi products already.

  • Brianqpr on 27/07/2016 - 20:05

    Definitely interested if the camera is up to scratch. Had the note 3 for 6 months and its a great phone. Camera the only weakness.

  • UosdwisRDewoh on 27/07/2016 - 21:50

    Seems great. If I had to get a Xiaomi, it would be this or the Mi5

  • inherentchoice on 28/07/2016 - 11:49

    Only if it's a bargain and only after my current phone starts to show its age, which hopefully won't be for 2 years.

  • spychiatrist on 28/07/2016 - 12:16

    More interested in the laptop thingy

  • hamwhisperer on 29/07/2016 - 18:08

    Does this have the following 4 features? I won't buy a new phone without them

    Wireless charging
    USB C
    Thumb scanner
    Physical home button

    ?
    I know a couple of them but I don't know about thumb scanning and wireless charge.

    EDIT: found out it has a thumb scanner, yay - dunno if it's capacitive like the HTC 10 or a button like Samsung (button only plz)
    but no NFC? In mid 2016? Really?
    Oh well, close but no cigar.

    • Brianqpr on 29/07/2016 - 23:33

      Because pulling a card from your wallet is so difficult.

      • Clear on 30/07/2016 - 00:00

        There are people out there that prefer the security of a phone rather than a card.

      • hamwhisperer on 30/07/2016 - 12:59

        I don't use NFC for payment, I use it to apply profiles to my phone.
        I swipe my Note 2 (2!) against an NFC pad next to my bed and it

        Goes into silent
        Dims the screen
        Turns off 4G data
        Turns on Wifi
        Opens a "white noise" app playing sea sounds
        Sets the volume
        and finally opens a desk clock

        Then I rest it on my WIRELESS charging pad.
        NFC is super useful.

  • codename47 on 01/08/2016 - 09:48

    I checked the pricing on AliExpress yesterday, the base version (32gb , 3GB RAM and Helio X20) was listed for $404 aud.

  • Waynes world on 25/08/2016 - 03:40

    I need a dual SIM phone as I'm sick of carrying 2 phones at times. I am considering an S7 Dual Z5 Premium Dual, but the price tags are holding me back.

    I've really only taken an interest 20 minutes ago… Is the Xiaomi Redmi Pro a good alternative?

    What sort of support/warranty do they have here in Australia?

    I have a Z3 and love it. Am I going to be satisfied with a Redmi?

  • Waynes world on 25/08/2016 - 08:05

    Just noticed that they don't seem to support any of the 700MHz bands. I feel this might be a deal breaker.

    • bargainisg8 on 07/10/2016 - 18:49

      But Note 3 pro has 'special' version that covers 700mhz band.
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/268344

      Also MIUI 8 has dual phone space, if you want to have 2 phones setup in one phone, read it somewhere that u can run same app differently on 2 phone spaces. Suggest research around that. Sorry, not much detail.

      No local warranty but for the price its great. Pay with PayPal so at least you r covered for 180 days I.e. a strong lawyer(paypal) at your side. :)

      P.S. I m using note 2 for 10 months n still going strong.

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