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Xiaomi Redmi 5 expected to launch in India on February 14 exclusively at Flipkart
Update (02/08): Flipkart has confirmed that Xiaomi's upcoming Redmi device will launch exclusively in India via the online retailer following its unveiling on February 14th. A "GiveMe5" page on Flipkart's website is now live, which further suggests that we're likely to see either the Redmi 5 or Redmi Note 5 at the event, alongside the hashtag #OnlyOnFlipkart.
The e-commerce company also tagged Xiaomi India in a tweet referencing an "all-rounder", which you can see below. Make sure to check back with Android Authority on Wednesday as we bring you all the announcements from Xiaomi's launch event.
[twitter url="https://twitter.com/Flipkart/status/961514933811728384"]
Thanks @gauravkapur. Looks like everyone is excited about @XiaomiIndia’s all-rounder that’s a 5/5. Tune in to Flipkart on 14th Feb, 12 noon to find out who it is. #WhoIsTheAllRounder https://t.co/KO6jyUWq46 pic.twitter.com/z5bDbJIH6n— Flipkart (@Flipkart) February 8, 2018
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Original story (02/05): Xiaomi India has sent out press invites for a launch event on February 14. The invite has a large ‘5’ written, hinting at the launch of the Redmi 5. While it’s not clear whether both the Redmi 5 and 5 Plus would be launched at the event, said phones have already been launched in China in December 2017.
The Redmi 5 comes in Black, Gold, Light Blue, and Rose Gold and features a 5.7-inch HD+ (720 x 1440 resolution) display in an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC and is available in a multitude of RAM and storage options. The Redmi 5 Plus on the other hand, comes with a Snapdragon 625 SoC and a 5.99-inch full HD+ (1080 x 2160 resolution) 18:9 display and sports the same choice of memory and storage options as the Redmi 5.
Imaging is handled by a 12 MP f/2.2 PDAF rear camera, beneath which is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. For selfie stills, there is a 5 MP selfie camera with a soft light LED flash. The phone supports the standard suite of connectivity options including 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, a 3.5 mm headphone jack (thankfully!), and a microUSB port (no USB-C yet, sorry folks). The Redmi 5 features a 3,300 mAh battery, while the 5 Plus is powered by a 4,000 mAh unit.
The Redmi 5 is the successor to the hugely popular Redmi 4 that set the benchmark for budget smartphones in India in 2017. The Redmi 5 sits directly above the Redmi 5A that offers great performance in the sub-$100 segment. Pricing for the Redmi 5 can be expected to be in line with the current pricing for Chinese variants, which are currently as follows:
- 2 GB RAM/16 GB storage — CNY 799 (Rs. 8,100 or $126)
- 3 GB RAM/32 GB storage — CNY 899 (Rs. 9,100 or $142)
- 4 GB RAM/64 GB storage — CNY 1,099 (Rs. 11,200 or $175)
It’s no surprise that Xiaomi would aim for a highly competitive pricing, given the onslaught of many feature-filled offerings in the sub-Rs. 12,000 ($187) price range, such as the HUAWEI HONOR 9 Lite, Xiaomi’s own Redmi Y1, and the Samsung Galaxy J7 Nxt. The Chinese OEM could also look towards offering a permanent price cut to help in faster adoption. The Redmi 4 has proved its worth and hopefully, the Redmi 5 will continue Xiaomi’s excellent price-to-performance ratio.