Xiaomi Mi Play hits Europe, but you should probably get a Redmi Note 7 instead

The Xiaomi Mi Play was first announced in December, so its global debut is clearly long overdue. Now, the device has officially landed in Ukraine, which suggests that a wider European launch could be on the cards.

Xiaomi’s Mi Play is available at a starting price of 4,699 Ukrainian hryvnia (~$174), according to the Mi Ukraine Facebook page (h/t: GSMArena). That’s a pretty small difference compared to the 1,099 yuan (~$163) Chinese price.

For the cash, you’re getting a device with a low-end Helio P35 chipset (12nm, octa-core Cortex-A53), 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, and a 5.84-inch full HD+ waterdrop screen. A 12MP+2MP rear camera pairing, 8MP front-facing camera, 3,000mAh battery, rear fingerprint scanner, and micro-USB connectivity rounds out the package.

If you’re tempted by the Xiaomi Mi Play when it hits the rest of Europe, you might want to look at the Redmi Note 7 first. The 4GB/64GB model is a little more expensive than the Note 7 (5,999 hryvnia in Ukraine, or ~$222), but it comes with a 6.3-inch full HD+ screen and a waterdrop notch, a 13MP selfie snapper, USB-C connectivity. and 18-watt wired charging.

What’s more, the Redmi Note 7 has a more capable Snapdragon 660 processor, a 4,000mAh battery, and a 48MP+5MP dual rear camera combo. If you can afford to spend a little extra, you’re getting a lot more phone for the price.

If you can’t afford it, even the ~$204 Redmi Note 6 Pro may offer more bang for your buck. The device delivers a more powerful chipset (Snapdragon 636), a 12MP+5MP rear camera pairing, a 20MP+2MP front-facing camera combo, and a 4,000mAh battery. Sure, this model is the 3GB/32GB variant, but that’s the only downside when comparing it to the Xiaomi Mi Play.

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