Xiaomi has been making waves with its bang-for-buck smartphones. The original Redmi Note is no longer available because of a court injunction, but the Redmi Note 4G offers the same features and comes with 4G connectivity.
Quick specs: 5.5-inch IPS display 720 x 1280 pixels | Android 4.3 OS with MIUI 5 | 1.7 GHz MediaTek MT 6592 octa-core CPU | Mali 450 GPU | 2GB RAM | 8GB internal memory expandable up to 32 GB | 13 MP rear camera | 5 MP front camera | 3200 mAh battery | Android 4.4.2 KitKat with MIUI
Price: Rs 9,999
Difference between Redmi Note and Note 4G?
The Redmi Note 4G has a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, as opposed to the Note’s octa-core Mediatek processor. The 4G version also supports microSD cards up to 64GB, compared to Note’s 32GB. And of course, you can use 4G networks. Redmi Note 4G also runs on Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, while the Note is yet to get updated from 4.2 Jelly Bean.
Is there any difference in performance?
Nope. Don’t go by the cores, the two phones feel and perform almost the same way. Android KitKat does make it a little smoother, but you can’t really tell the difference since the custom interface MIUI is identical.
Do you really need 4G?
Need? Probably not. But it’s a matter of future-proofing yourself. 4G networks are slowly rolling out across India. Not all cities and all operators are covered yet, but if you plan on buying a phone that you stick with for at least two years, it’s better to go for a 4G model. The price difference between Note and Note 4G is just Rs 1,000, which is well worth the upgrade.
Is it worth Rs 10,000?
Definitely. The screen is bright and responsive, the performance is fluid, the battery is long-lasting, the camera quality is good (although the shutter is slow). There is little to fault the Redmi Note 4G, especially for its price—even at Rs 15,000, this would be a good phone to have.
So should I buy it?
If you’re looking for a phablet with good battery life and future-proofing, then definitely. You might want to also take a look at the Micromax Yu Yureka (read our review) before making your decision. But if 5.5 inches is too big for you, then there are better phones for Rs 10,000.
If you want to buy a 4G phone, again, consider your options among the 4G smartphones in India. The Note 4G is great, but the large size might be a bit too much for some people.
