Finance
Redmi’s Indian division announced three entry-level phones today: the Redmi 11 Prime 5G, the Redmi 11 Prime, and the ultra-affordable Redmi A1. All phones use Mediatek chipsets and will go on sale later this week.
Redmi 11 Prime 5G
This is the most powerful of the three smartphones. It has a Dimensity 700 chip and two memory configurations: 4/64 GB or 6/128 GB. A third model, 4/128 GB, is also listed on the Xiaomi website, but it is not yet available for purchase.
The display is a 6.58″ Full HD+ LCD with a refresh rate of 90Hz. A 5MP f/2.2 camera is housed in the waterdrop notch. The Redmi 11 Prime 5G has a 50MP primary camera at the back with an f/1.8 lens and a 2MP depth sensor.
Xiaomi Redmi 11 Prime 5G is powered by MIUI 13 on top of Android 12. Its battery has a capacity of 5,000mAh and supports 18W charging, but the adapter included in the box can provide 22.5W rates.
Other notable features include a fingerprint scanner on the side, a long tray for two SIM cards and a microSD card, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and an FM radio.
The Redmi 11 Prime 5G is available in three colors: Thunder Black, Chrome Silver, and Meadow Green. The first sale is scheduled for September 9, and the prices for the two available storage options are INR12,999 ($160) and INR14,999 ($185).
Redmi 11 Prime
Although not all of the Redmi 11 Prime’s specifications have been confirmed, we do know that it will be powered by the Helio G99 chipset, which is a 6nm chip.
The Redmi 11 Prime, like its 5G sibling, has a 6.58″ LCD with 90Hz refresh rate and FullHD+ resolution, as well as a waterdrop notch on top. On top, there is Gorilla Glass to protect the screen.
The back has a “50MP triple camera system,” which consists of a 50MP main unit and two 2MP macro and depth modules. The sensor on the selfie camera is 8MP.
The Redmi 11 Prime features a 5,000mAh battery and, like the 5G version, comes with a 22.5W charger, despite only supporting 18W top-ups. A 3.5 mm audio jack, an IR blaster, and Bluetooth 5.3 are also included.
Xiaomi stopped short of announcing a launch date, saying the Redmi 11 Prime will arrive “soon”. It did reveal the prices though – INR12,999 for 4/64 GB and INR14,999 for 6/128 GB. Color options are three – Black, Green, and Purple, the latter two with a fancy diamond-shaped design. Interestingly enough, the phone looks a lot like the Poco M5 which was already announced yesterday in India with ever so slight price differences.
Redmi A1
The Redmi A1 is similar to the Xiaomi Mi A1 of old, but it tries to fit into a much more limited budget. The Redmi A1 does not have MIUI; instead, it runs a stock version of Android 12.
The back of the Redmi A1 has a leathery finish, and many people mistake leather for a premium texture, even though the panel is actually plastic. On the inside, we have a Helio A22 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. There is also a MicroSD slot for additional storage of up to 512GB.
The phone’s display is a 6.52″ LCD with 720p resolution and a tall 20:9 aspect ratio. The back has a dual-camera setup that visually resembles the Xiaomi 12 flagships.
However, the main shooter only has an 8MP sensor, and the 2MP depth sensor doesn’t add much to your shots. A 5MP sensor is used in the selfie camera.
The Redmi A1 has a 5,000 mAh battery, just like its bigger siblings, but it has a microUSB port on the bottom, which is a little disappointing for a phone released in the second half of 2022.
The Redmi A1 costs INR6,499 (approximately $80). The phone will be available in Black, Blue, or Green in the first flash sale on September 9.
