Xiaomi is
now refreshing the other end of its portfolio by bringing the Redmi 6 and Redmi
6A entry level devices.
The Xiaomi Redmi 6 is built around a 5.45-inch HD+
(720 x 1440) IPS display with contemporary 18:9 aspect ratio. Driving those
pixels will be the 12nm MediaTek Helio P22 chip with 2GHz octa-core CPU and
3,000 mAh battery. The capacity is, by the way, a tad lower than the 3,300 mAh
pack in the Redmi 5, but given the vastly more efficient chipset and smaller
screen it should last quite a lot longer.
The Redmi 6 will be available in two memory
configurations - either 3GB of RAM with 32GB of flash storage or 4GB + 64GB.
Either way, you get a microSD card slot for further storage expansion. The
phone offers dual back cameras (12MP + 5MP) and a 5MP selfie snapper on the
front.
The Xiaomi Redmi 6's key feature is the AI-aided
face unlock. Once you lift up the phone, the screen lights up and scans your
face making the whole unlocking process a bit faster and more convenient. If
you prefer the fingerprint unlock, however, the Redmi 6 carries a reader on the
back.
Speaking of AI, it's an essential part of the whole
MIUI 10 software that powers the Redmi 6 and will help with performance and
camera stills. As for the more affordable Xiaomi Redmi 6A, it uses the same
body as the standard version but carries slightly downgraded hardware.
An identical display is at hand powered by a Helio
A22 chipset, which is built on the same efficient 12nm process as the Helio
P22, but with four CPU cores instead of eight. It's still clocked at 2.0GHz,
but it's paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.
On the back, the Redmi 6A has only one 13MP sensor
with LED flash while the front features the same 5MP sensor. Since it's powered
by the MIUI 10, the usual AI camera and software features are available. The
fingerprint sensor is missing from the equation so the face unlock is your only
biometric unlock option.
As far as pricing is concerned, the standard 3GB/32GB
version of the Redmi 6 will sell for CNY 799 (US$ 125) while the beefed-up
4GB/64GB variant will be CNY 999 (US$ 155). The Redmi 6A's price tag is just CNY
599 (US$ 95). Both phones go on sale in China on June 15 with availability in
other markets yet to be detailed.
