Redmi Note 5 review – 18:9 screen and 2 days battery life, upgraded Note 4

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 5 in India, this in fact is the Redmi 5 Plus that was launched in China. It’s the same handset, same specifications. Key highlight is the 5.99 inch 18:9 display with FHD+ resolution and 4000 mAh battery, is this worth the price? find out.

I had already done the review of Redmi 5 Plus, you can check that here. Since this is the same phone the results will be same, most of what you will see here is copy and paste from the Redmi 5 Plus review, as far as the images are concerned I have shot that again with the Redmi Note 5.

Redmi Note 5 is Snapdragon 625 octa core powered and packed with 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM. There will be two variants, one with 3GB /32GB RAM / ROM and the other with 4GB / 64GB RAM/ROM.

This is upgraded version of Redmi Note 4, also if you note the Note 5 is using the same hardware as on the Note 4. This you can say is a replacement of the Redmi Note 4. Performance is great as seen on the Note 4, plus like on the Note 4 the Redmi Note 5 also delivers 2 days of battery life.

Redmi Note 5 features, specifications

Inside the box (Unboxing the Redmi Note 5) : Handset, user guide, silicon case, data cable (USB to micro USB), SIM ejector PIN and travel charger 5V/2A (you can use fast charger – fast charging is supported)
Body : Metal body, curvy design, very comfortable to hold and use, though a little slippery. Better use the silicon case
SIM Type : Nano + Nano / Micro SD (Hybrid slot)
Screen  :  5.99 inches, 2160 x 1080 pixels resolution – FHD+, viewing angles, touch response and color reproduction are very good, 2.5D curved glass
Connectivity :  4G, VoLTE, WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth
Sensors : Accelerometer, Proximity, Gyro and Magnetic and Ambient Light sensor
Security and Extra : Finger Print sensor on back and IR blaster
LED Notification : Yes
OTG : Yes supported
RAM : 4GB (about 1.5GB free on first boot)
ROM : 64GB (about 55GB free on first boot)
OS : MIUI 9 Global based on Android Nougat 7.1.2

Redmi Note 5 Performance

CPU :  Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (MSM8953), 64 bit octa core @ 2.02GHz
GPU :  Adreno 506
Heating : Medium
Max Battery Temperature : 36 degrees

Smooth performance, no lags, MIUI 9 is a delight gives a unique more premium Android experience. Hardware can play high end games with ease.

Redmi Note 5 Benchmark

Antutu : 76636 / 12637
NenaMark3 :  59.4fps (3-3)
Multi Touch : 10 points
Disk Speed :  219 MB/s read  and 142 MB/s write

Redmi Note 5 Gaming Review

I played MC5 Modern Combat 5 and the Asphalt 8 and both games played really well, no issues at all. Check the video review for gaming action.

Redmi Note 5 Camera  Review

Rear Camera : 12MP, auto focus, LED flash
Front Camera : 5MP
Video Recording : 4K resolution

The camera quality is above average. Day light shots turned out great and the low light shots were pretty decent. Do check the samples below. This handset can shoot 4K videos.

Camera Rating : 4 out of 5

Redmi Note 5 Camera samples

Other features

Sound is loud and clear. I did not face any issues with networks. Finger print sensor on the back is fast and accurate. You can use IR blaster to control TV, AC and other electronic appliances.

Redmi Note 5  Battery Review

Battery capacity : 4000 mAh (Non-removable)
Charging Time : Charge – up to 3 hours or less, using the charger provided, if you use fast charger the handset can be charged much faster
Battery Life : 8 to 11 hours non-stop (moderate to heavy)
Daily usage battery life : One and a Half days to 2 days or more depending on your usage

Battery Test Results

Battery Temp at idle : 30 degrees
Running Benchmark app :  13 minutes / 2% / 32 degrees
Asphalt 8  + MC5 game play : 16 minutes / 3% / 36 degrees
4K video playback with full brightness (WiFi /4G on) :  7 minutes / 1% / 32 degrees

Verdict

The Redmi Note 5 is as good as the Redmi Note 4 but with 18:9 screen and that gives a whole new experience to this handset. Indeed a very good buy.

Rating : 4.1  out of 5

Redmi Note 5 price in India is Rs. 9,999 for 3GB/32GB and Rs. 11,999 for 4GB/64GB.