Review of Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro - a smartphone that replaced Redmi Note 5

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Inexpensive model with a metal body with four cameras and artificial intelligence.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Completion and appearance
• Screen and sound
• Performance
• Autonomy
• Camera
• Software
• Outcomes

Redmi Note 6 Pro is the successor to Redmi Note 5, one of the most popular smartphones of this year. The life hacker carefully tested the new model to see if it could repeat the success of its predecessor.

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Specifications

Frame	Metal
Display	6.26 inches, 1,080 × 2,280 pixels, IPS
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, GPU Adreno 509 video processor
RAM	3 or 4 GB
Built-in memory	32 or 64 GB, the ability to install memory cards up to 256 GB
Cameras	Main - 12 Mp (Samsung S5K2L7) and 5 Mp; front - 20 Mp (Samsung S5K3T1) and 2 Mp
Connection	Combo slot for two nanoSIM and microSD memory card; 4G: B1 (2 100), B3 (1 800), B4 (1 700/2 100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2 600), B8 (900), B20 (800), B34 (TDD 2 100), B38 (TDD 2 600), B39 (TDD 1 900), B40 (TDD 2 300), B41 (TDD 2 500) 3G: B1 (2 100), B2 (1 900), B5 (850), B8 (900) 2G: CDMA BC0 (800), B2 (1 900), B3 (1 800), B5 (850), B8 (900)
Wireless interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n 2, 4 and 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, A-GPS
Expansion slots	MicroUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD up to 256GB
Sensors	Accelerometer, fingerprint scanner, geomagnetic sensor, proximity and light sensors
Operating system	MIUI 9 (Android 8.1 Oreo)
Battery	4000 mAh (non-removable)
Dimensions (edit)	157, 9 × 76, 4 × 8, 3 mm
Weight	176 g

After a cursory acquaintance with the technical characteristics, it may seem that we accidentally cited the data of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. But there is no mistake: it is just that the Redmi Note 6 Pro uses almost the same components.

The chipset is the well-known Qualcomm Snapdragon 636. It includes a 64-bit processor with eight Kryo 260 cores, operating at frequencies up to 1.8 GHz. To work with graphics, the Adreno 509 video accelerator is used, which makes it possible to launch any modern mobile games. Supported work with several systems of geolocation, Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, as well as the newest wireless standard Bluetooth 5.0.

The smartphone comes in two versions. We have reviewed a model with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. Testing has shown that this is still enough for the comfortable operation of applications and storage of user data. However, if you want to buy a smartphone with a margin for the future, then it is better to think about buying a version with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM.

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Completion and appearance

The smartphone comes in a red cardboard box, the design of which is typical for the entire Redmi series. Its top cover has the model name, and on the back there is a short list of technical specifications and barcodes.

In the box, the manufacturer put the smartphone itself, a cable for charging and data exchange, a charger, a protective case, instructions and a clip for the SIM card tray. The silicone case perfectly fits the body of the device, literally protruding a fraction of a millimeter from the display surface and providing additional protection from scratches.

The main visual difference from the Redmi Note 5 is a rather wide notch at the top of the screen due to the dual front camera. If desired, this "monobrow" can be hidden.

There is nothing interesting on the back of the Redmi Note 6 Pro case. A regular metal cover with plastic inserts on the top and bottom, a dual block of the main camera in the upper left corner, a fingerprint scanner in the center and a company logo at the bottom. A lot of smartphones of both Xiaomi itself and competing companies now look about the same.

The main controls are located on the right side. The power button and volume rocker sit tightly in their places, pressed with a light click.

On the opposite side there is a tray for SIM cards. It is combined: instead of a second SIM card, you can install a memory card with a capacity of up to 256 GB.

There is a charging connector in the center of the bottom edge. It is strange that the Redmi Note 6 Pro still uses the microUSB format, while most competitors have already switched to USB Type-C for a long time. On the sides of the connector are two rows of holes that hide the external speaker and microphone.

On the top edge there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a noise canceling microphone and an infrared port, with which you can control smart home appliances.

In general, the design of Redmi Note 6 Pro seemed to us rather ordinary. The only new detail in the look is the notorious "monobrow", but not everyone will like it. However, the devices of the Redmi series have never been distinguished by a chic appearance. The manufacturer focused on practicality and low price. In this sense, the new smartphone is no exception.

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Screen and sound

The smartphone is equipped with a display with a diagonal of 6, 26 inches and a resolution of 1,080 × 2,280 pixels. This is slightly larger than the Redmi Note 5, which has a screen diagonal of 5.99 inches. At the same time, the size of the case of the new model remained practically unchanged due to the cutout in the screen and rather thin frames.

Redmi Note 6 Pro uses a high-quality IPS-matrix with wide viewing angles, correct color balance and high contrast levels. You can adjust the basic display parameters manually, but even with the standard parameters, everything looks perfect.

There are no problems with brightness control: the smartphone is comfortable to use both in low artificial light and outdoors in sunlight. For lovers of e-books, there is a special reading mode that reduces eye strain in the dark. It can be turned on automatically on a schedule or manually.

The smartphone has a classic 3.5 mm jack for wired headphones. When connected to a high-quality headset, Redmi Note 6 Pro is able to please even demanding music lovers, as it produces excellent loud sound with a full spectrum of frequencies. But the sound of the external speaker is not very impressive. The volume is sufficient, but the quality is poor.

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Performance

The Redmi Note 6 Pro uses the same chipset as the previous model in the series. We have nothing against the Snapdragon 636 as this platform has not reached its full potential. But why release a new smartphone if its performance is completely identical to Redmi Note 5? Only Xiaomi marketers know the answer.

In synthetic tests, the results of which you can see in the screenshots, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro performed moderately. However, in practical use, the smartphone did not cause any discomfort. Redmi Note 6 Pro copes with all real tasks without problems. The operating system interface does not slow down, switching between tasks is fast.

The situation with games is typical for devices based on the Snapdragon 636 platform. Most games run with high settings, but for some especially demanding on resources, you will have to twist the graphics to the middle or even a minimum. At the same time, even during long gaming sessions, the heating of Redmi Note 6 Pro does not reach a critical level.

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Autonomy

The battery capacity is 4,000 m · Ah - exactly the same as that of the Redmi Note 5. Therefore, it is not surprising that the battery life has remained the same.

A single charge lasts for about two days of use, provided you don't overload it. If the smartphone falls into the hands of a PUBG or World of Tanks fan, then the device, perhaps, can be planted in a day. Although in this case you will have to try.

Charging time from the supplied charger is about two hours.

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Camera

As the main camera, a dual module is used, consisting of two Samsung sensors (S5K2L7 for 12 megapixels and S5K5E8 for 5 megapixels). This configuration has moved without any changes from Redmi Note 5, which has excellent photo capabilities. Therefore, we expected at least not the worst result from Redmi Note 6 Pro.

In good light, Redmi Note 6 allows you to take excellent quality photos. Automatic algorithms skillfully recognize objects in the camera and almost always correctly set the optimal settings. And if you have some experience and knowledge in this area, you will be able to photograph in completely manual mode.

In conditions of insufficient illumination, artificial intelligence makes mistakes much more often, so the percentage of rejects increases. But even in this case, you can get good photos, especially if you are not lazy and take several takes with different focus points and exposure times. And, of course, a solid support does not hurt, eliminating blurring of pictures.

But the front camera of Redmi Note 6 has received improvements. Firstly, it has become double, and secondly, it now uses a high-quality 20MP Samsung S5K3T1 sensor. The result is images with good detail, correct color reproduction and wide dynamic range. Having an additional camera, which is used to estimate the depth of the scene, comes in handy for creating beautiful portraits with blurred backgrounds.

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Software

Redmi Note 6 Pro runs MIUI 9.6 operating system based on Android 8.1. The manufacturer is currently working on an update to MIUI 10, which is expected to be released soon.

Many articles have already been written about the features of MIUI, so we will not go deep into this topic. We only note that the smartphone software has never been a cause for criticism during our testing. The system works stably, applications start quickly, there are no bugs.

The global version of Redmi Note 6 Pro contains all European languages, including Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian, as well as the Google Play app store. We recommend that you pay attention to this circumstance when buying, so as not to accidentally run into a smartphone intended for the Chinese market. It can cost a few dollars less, but you have to spend time reflashing.

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Outcomes

If you read our review carefully, you have already realized that Redmi Note 6 Pro is almost a complete analogue of the previous model. Yes, the manufacturer added a "monobrow" and upgraded the front camera, but these innovations are not needed by everyone. Especially when you have to pay a few thousand rubles for it.

Pros of Redmi Note 6 Pro

• Good build and materials.
• Large and high quality screen.
• Loud, realistic sound through headphones.
• Excellent photo quality for both the main and front cameras.
• Long battery life.
• Up-to-date software, constant updates.

Cons of Redmi Note 6 Pro

• Lack of fresh ideas.
• Outdated microUSB connector.
• No NFC.
• Slurred sound from external speaker.

At the time of this writing, the cost of the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone is 13,332 rubles for the version with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM, or 11 495 rubles for the version with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM.