Redmi Note 5 Global Version - Budget Low Mid-Range phone

Got the Redmi Note 5 Global version delivered to me last week, and it is the new all-rounder budget phone below USD250 from Xiaomi. This is the first smartphone that utilizes the Snapdragon 636 SoC and it is a much more capable SoC compared to the Snapdragon 625 or 630.

Camera

The Redmi Note 5 Global variant has the same camera setup as the China variant. Rear camera sports a dual-camera system; primary camera uses the 12MP Samsung S5K2L7 with f/1.9 and secondary camera uses the 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 with f/2.0, front facing camera uses the 13MP Omnivision OV13855 with f/2.0.

The Global and China variant has a wider aperture lens on the rear camera compared to the India variant which has a f/2.2 lens. Auto-focus is also faster on the Global/China variant compared to the Indian version.

I'm actually quite happy with the camera performance, especially the video captures. EIS ( electronic image stabilization ) is excellent on this camera (rear). The stability of the videos far outweighs the slight detail loss when it is activated. The official stock camera can only record up to Full HD resolution only, which is unfortunate. I hope Xiaomi will add 4k resolution option in the near future.

Open Camera app

If you can't wait for the official stock camera app to have 4K recording ability, installing Open Camera app from Google Play store is an option. Open Camera app works pretty good on this phone and you can record up to 4K resolution. Expect some frame drops on 4K recording when it is in average and below lighting conditions. You can also adjust the bitrate on it, to minimize the frame drops.

Bacon Camera app

The stock camera app gives very limited control in Manual mode while taking photos. I can only access ISO and White Balance while in manual mode. This is where Bacon Camera app comes in. I am able to adjust shutter speed, ISO, EV, WB,focus etc. And I can do all that without having to root my phone and enable certain things that might actually break something(incompatibility). Downside is you can only go up to 3200 ISO instead of 6000+ ISO(on the stock camera app).

Display and Screen Vibrancy

The Redmi Note 5's IPS LCD FHD+ display is manufactured by Tianma and it has a cooler colour temperature tone to it. This cooler colour temperature seems to be bothering some people it seems. Frankly, I don't find it to be a big deal breaker.

Colours like yellow, green, red has a lighter tone to it. These colours can be improved slightly by setting it to 'warm' in the display settings. Let's hope Xiaomi is able to come up with Colour Saturation controls for the display in the future for the more colour sensitive crowd.

Pre-installed apps and Bloatware

The Global variant comes pre-installed with the usual Google apps, some Microsoft apps, Xiaomi's own cloud service apps and utilities apps like calculator, videos, music, remote control.

Approximately 52GB of storage space is available excluding the pre-installed apps. (based on the 4GB RAM/64GB ROM variant)

Most Google apps can be uninstalled. I can't completely remove some Google apps, but that is not a problem because uninstalling the updates to it, will leave just a tiny footprint which doesn't occupy much storage space. You can disable them too, so they don't appear on your Google Play update list.

All Microsoft apps can be uninstalled if you don't need them.

Confusing names and variants

It is called Redmi Note 5 for China/Global, and in India it is called Redmi Note 5 Pro. They can't use the same name in India because the Redmi Note 5 is actually Redmi 5 Plus in other parts of the world. Isn't it confusing?

Well, that's all for now. I'll probably add more findings and points in the future. In the meantime, you can also checkout specification list between the various variants of the Redmi Note 5 here.

Here are some photos of the Redmi Note 5 Global.

 Global version - Manufactured in China, April 2018

Dual-Camera setup and fingerprint sensor.

From left: 3.5mm audio jack, microphone, Micro USB port, speaker

What's in the box.

5V/2A adapter/charger.

Redmi Note 5 Global - soft TPU case

Soft TPU case fitted on.