Xiaomi launches the successor to Redmi Note 3 almost on its one-year anniversary. The new Redmi Note 4 is equipped with a 5.5-inch full-HD screen, a powerful Helio X20 processor, and a large battery. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 doesn’t offer many large upgrades. Some Xiaomi fans might, therefore, be disappointed that the company hasn’t incorporated more new features in this model. For example, the internal RAM memory and storage remain the same as those utilised by the predecessor Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. Furthermore, the resolution of the rear camera has decreased from 16 MP to 13 MP (although the aperture has increased to f/2.0). This is not to say that consumers won’t enjoy this smartphone. The major highlights of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 are:

• The processor has been upgraded to a 10-core Mediatek Helio X20, which is much faster than the 8-core Helio X10 model utilised by Redmi Note 3. Xiaomi itself claims that the new processor is 62% faster than the previous version.
• The battery capacity has expanded to 4,100 mAh.
• The video can record in full-HD at a rate of 30 frames per second (fps). A whopping 120 fps is available in HD format. It’s worthwhile noting that the front camera is also capable of recording in full-HD. This is ideal for video calls!
• Runs the latest MIUI 8 user interface.

Two variants of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

The cheaper variant has 2 GB of RAM memory and 16 GB of storage, while the more expensive one has 32 GB of storage. The cost for the variants in the Chinese market is 899 CNY (about NZ$215 inclusive of GST) for the 16 GB variant and 1,199 CNY (about NZ$287) for the 32 GB one. Xiaomi does seem to set higher prices in overseas markets. Redmi Note 3 with 32 GB storage currently retails at $330 including shipping on PriceMe. Thus, expect to pay at least something similar for Redmi Note 4