Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is a feature-packed smartphone that effortlessly blends style and functionality. With its sleek design, vibrant display, and powerful performance, this device is a true game-changer. Sporting a 5.5-inch IPS LCD screen with a sharp resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, the Redmi Note 4 offers an immersive viewing experience. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and Adreno 506 GPU, it delivers smooth multitasking and lag-free gaming. The device comes in different variants, offering 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM. The 13MP rear camera captures stunning photos, and the 5MP front camera is perfect for capturing beautiful selfies. Equipped with a large 4100mAh battery, the Redmi Note 4 ensures long-lasting usage. The device also features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, providing enhanced security. With its fantastic features and affordable price, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is definitely worth considering.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 boasts an aesthetically pleasing design with a sleek and premium look. Its physical appearance showcases a solid build quality and robust construction. The device features a glass front, aluminum back, and an aluminum frame, giving it a sturdy and durable feel. With dimensions of 151 x 76 x 8.5 mm and weighing 165 grams, the Redmi Note 4 has a form factor that is comfortable to hold and use. The textured back panel enhances grip, ensuring a secure feel in hand.

The phone's ergonomics are well thought out, allowing for easy one-handed usability. The placement of buttons and controls is intuitive, ensuring convenient access. The bezels surrounding the 5.5-inch IPS LCD display are minimal, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and providing an immersive viewing experience. The 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution and 401 ppi density contribute to sharp and vibrant visuals.

The finishing touches on the Redmi Note 4's design are noteworthy. The device comes in various color options, including Dark Gray, Gold, Black, and Lake Blue, catering to different aesthetic preferences. The sleek design and premium materials used give the phone a sophisticated look. Additionally, the build quality ensures durability and longevity.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 strikes a balance between portability and functionality, making it a suitable choice for users seeking a reliable and stylish smartphone. Its combination of sleek design, premium look and feel, and sturdy construction make it an attractive option in its price range.

Display

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen size allows for comfortable viewing and provides ample space for multimedia consumption and productivity tasks. The display offers good color accuracy and vibrancy, ensuring that images and videos appear vibrant and true to life. With a pixel density of approximately 401 pixels per inch, the Redmi Note 4 provides sharp and detailed visuals.

The display also has decent brightness levels, making it easily readable in most lighting conditions. Outdoor visibility is satisfactory, although direct sunlight may cause some visibility issues. The touch responsiveness of the display is smooth and precise, allowing for a seamless user experience.

To protect the display from scratches and accidental damage, Xiaomi has incorporated a durable glass front and an aluminum frame. While the specific type of display protection is not mentioned, it is likely to include at least a standard layer of Corning Gorilla Glass.

The Redmi Note 4 doesn't feature advanced display technologies like OLED or HDR. However, it offers wide viewing angles and an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare. The device does not have a notch design and comes with noticeable bezels, resulting in a slightly lower screen-to-body ratio.

Additional features include an always-on display option, which allows users to view essential information without waking up the device, and a blue light filter to reduce eye strain. The adaptive brightness feature automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. Users also have the option to calibrate the display to their preference.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 provides a satisfactory display experience with its size, resolution, color accuracy, and touch responsiveness. However, it lacks some of the advanced display technologies found in more premium devices.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, which offers a balance between performance and power efficiency. The octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Adreno 506 GPU contribute to the smooth and lag-free performance of the device. In terms of CPU benchmarks, the Redmi Note 4 performs well, delivering good multitasking capabilities and app loading speeds. The processor efficiency ensures that tasks are handled efficiently without draining the battery too quickly.

When it comes to gaming performance, the Redmi Note 4 holds up admirably. The combination of the Snapdragon 625 chipset and Adreno 506 GPU allows for a satisfying gaming experience. The GPU benchmarks highlight the device's ability to handle graphics-intensive games with ease. Gaming capabilities are further enhanced by the 3GB or 4GB of RAM, which ensures smooth gameplay and prevents any significant frame rate drops.

In terms of thermal management, the Redmi Note 4 excels. The device manages heat well during extended gaming sessions, keeping temperatures within reasonable limits. This ensures that the performance remains consistent and doesn't suffer from thermal throttling.

Benchmark tests provide further insight into the performance of the Redmi Note 4. Synthetic benchmarks such as GFXBench showcase the graphics scores achieved by the device, indicating its ability to handle demanding visual tasks. The Redmi Note 4 also performs well in gaming benchmarks, further solidifying its reputation as a capable gaming device.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers a commendable performance across different metrics. Its chipset performance, GPU benchmarks, and gaming capabilities make it a suitable choice for gamers. The smooth user experience, lag-free performance, and system optimization contribute to a seamless usage experience. Whether it's multitasking, gaming, or everyday tasks, the Redmi Note 4 delivers a reliable and efficient performance.

Software and User Interface

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, which is upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat with MIUI 11 skin on top. This provides users with a familiar and user-friendly interface. MIUI is known for its extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize their device according to their preferences. The software also offers a smooth and responsive user experience, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset and Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU.

One aspect worth mentioning is the pre-installed apps on the Redmi Note 4. While some users appreciate the included apps as they offer useful features and functionality, others consider them as bloatware. However, MIUI allows users to uninstall or disable most of these pre-installed apps, giving them more control over their device's storage and performance.

The software also supports various features such as a fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing the overall user experience. Additionally, the MIUI skin provides additional features like dual apps, second space, and a theme store, allowing users to further customize their device and enhance productivity.

Overall, the software on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers a stable and user-friendly experience. The MIUI skin provides extensive customization options, and the device comes with a good balance of pre-installed apps that can be managed according to the user's preference.

Camera

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 comes equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0, allowing for decent low-light sensitivity. The camera performs well in daylight photography, capturing images with good sharpness and natural colors. It also offers a satisfactory dynamic range, ensuring that details are well-preserved in both highlights and shadows. In terms of image quality, the Redmi Note 4 produces impressive results, with images exhibiting clarity and sufficient detail.

When it comes to indoor photography, the camera performs adequately, although some noise reduction may be noticeable in low-light conditions. However, the device does not offer dedicated night mode or image stabilization, which can affect its low-light performance.

The camera features of the Redmi Note 4 include HDR mode for enhanced dynamic range, panorama mode for capturing wide scenic shots, and a pro mode for manual control over settings such as ISO and shutter speed. Additionally, the device incorporates AI scene recognition, which automatically adjusts settings based on the detected scene.

In terms of video recording, the Redmi Note 4 can shoot videos in 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. It does not support 4K video recording but offers video stabilization to reduce shakiness. Slow-motion video and time-lapse features are also available, allowing users to capture creative shots.

Overall, the camera of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 delivers satisfactory performance for everyday photography needs, particularly in well-lit environments. However, it may not excel in low-light conditions compared to some higher-end smartphone cameras.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 boasts an impressive battery life, thanks to its Li-Po 4100 mAh non-removable battery. This powerful battery provides extensive standby time and allows for extended screen-on time. The device also incorporates power efficiency and optimization features to ensure that the battery lasts longer. While the phone does not support wireless charging, it does support fast charging technology, allowing for quick and convenient charging. The battery performance is commendable, providing users with a reliable battery backup. The device's battery capacity is substantial, ensuring that users can go about their day without worrying about running out of power. With its battery optimization features and efficient charging speed, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers users a seamless and hassle-free battery experience.

Connectivity and Networking

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers a range of connectivity options to ensure a seamless user experience. It supports 4G LTE network compatibility, allowing for fast data speeds and reliable connectivity. The device also features dual SIM capability, enabling users to easily manage two phone numbers simultaneously. In terms of wireless connectivity, the Redmi Note 4 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards, ensuring compatibility with various Wi-Fi networks. Bluetooth 4.1 is available for wireless file transfers and connecting to other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Additionally, the device comes with GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, providing accurate location tracking and navigation capabilities. It is worth noting that the Redmi Note 4 does not support NFC or USB-C connectivity. However, it does come with a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers a good range of connectivity options, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize network compatibility and reliable connectivity.

Additional Features

• Standout Features: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 comes with a range of standout features that make it a popular choice among budget smartphone users. With its sleek design, aluminum frame, and glass front and back, it exudes a premium feel.


• Water and Dust Resistance: Unfortunately, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 does not come with any official water or dust resistance rating. It is advisable to keep the device away from water or dusty environments to ensure its longevity.


• Wireless Charging: The Redmi Note 4 does not support wireless charging. To charge the device, it needs to be connected to a power source using a microUSB cable.


• Advanced Sensors: The Redmi Note 4 is equipped with a range of advanced sensors including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the device's functionality and enable features like auto screen rotation and accurate navigation.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 with other related gadgets in the market, it becomes clear that this device offers a competitive set of features at an affordable price point. One of its main competitors is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, which offers an upgraded processor and camera but at a slightly higher price.

In terms of market positioning, the Redmi Note 4 is positioned as a budget-friendly smartphone that provides excellent value for money. Its specifications include a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, and various memory options, including 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM. It also features a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, and a large 4100mAh battery.

When compared to other phones in its price range, such as the Moto G5 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime, the Redmi Note 4 stands out with its larger battery capacity and lower price. It also offers a hybrid dual SIM slot, which is a feature not commonly found in devices at this price point.

In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 4 performs admirably for its price range. It may not be as powerful as flagship devices, but it handles day-to-day tasks smoothly and can handle moderate gaming without significant lag or overheating. Benchmark comparisons show that it performs well in its price segment, offering good value for the money.

One of the key advantages of the Redmi Note 4 is its cost-effectiveness. It offers a solid set of features and specifications at a fraction of the price of flagship devices. This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers who still want a reliable and capable smartphone.

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 holds a strong position in the budget smartphone market. Its competitive pricing, solid performance, and decent specifications make it a popular choice among consumers looking for value for money. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of high-end devices, it offers a compelling package for its price range.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 offers a compelling package with its impressive features and affordable price. Its sleek design, solid build quality, and vibrant 5.5-inch display make it visually appealing. The Snapdragon 625 processor ensures smooth performance and efficient multitasking. The camera setup captures decent photos and videos, and the battery life is exceptional, lasting for extended periods. However, the outdated Android version and lack of NFC may be drawbacks for some users. Considering its value for money, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable and feature-packed smartphone.