Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Plus: Bang for the Buck

By Samrat Amatya

Xiaomi, a Chinese OEM, which has successfully captured the No.1 smartphone rank in India is doing considerably well in Nepal. They have been providing amazing smartphones with great features at a relatively low prices. The recently launched Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Plus is a prime example of it! Vatsa Impex, the official distributor of Xiaomi products in Nepal, has priced the phone at Rs. 25,499 for the 4GB RAM and Rs 22,499 for the 3GB RAM variants. The phone, for the price, has a lot to offer including a near bezel-less design, feature-packed software, and a large battery. But is it the best mid-tier smartphone that money can buy right now in Nepal? Well, let’s find out.

Multimedia Experience

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is a multimedia powerhouse! At the heart of the whole experience sits a 5.99 inch Full-HD IPS display with an 18:9 near bezel-less design. This gives Xiaomi the opportunity to fit a phablet-sized panel in a relatively small body. Watching movies, catching up on some YouTube videos, and playing games result into an enjoyable experience on this device. Though I do wish the phone was a tad bit brighter especially for outdoor visibility. Speaking of gaming, the phone has 4GB of RAM and Adreno 506 GPU. Overall, the multi-media experience is pleasant and I relished my time with the Redmi 5 Plus.

Photography Experienc

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus flaunts f/2.2 12MP rear camera accompanied by a dual-tone LED flash. In optimal lighting conditions, the phone produces some great images with plenty of detail and vibrancy. The phone also packs a slew of features and modes to get the best images and videos. The same, however, can’t be said about its low light performance. In such scenarios, the snaps come out to be a bit grainy and soft. The phone also has a f/2.0 5MP front camera for all your social media ready selfies. Just like its rear counterpart, the camera takes some amazing selfies with a layer of beautification added. The performance too was very similar as, in optimal light, the shooter took some great self-portraiture while quality degradation was introduced in the vice situation. That said, the overall usability of the camera is great especially for the price.

Day-to-day Experience

The Redmi 5 Plus is a fantastic device that was able to keep up with all my day-to-day needs. Performing task like scrolling through Facebook, browsing the web, and running a bunch of apps was no problem for the phone. The octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor flew through everything that I threw at it. The battery life is another area that this phone excels at. The inbuilt 4000 mAh non-user removable battery gave me 5-6 hours of on-screen time which is amazing. Normal users will easily be able to get a day and a half worth of battery life out of this phone. Redmi 5 Plus, however, doesn’t come with any fast charging capabilities making charging the device a painstaking process. Not only the internals but the externals of the phone are also very congenial. The phone comes encased in a metallic shell which gives it a premium look. Not only the looks but the whole ergonomics of the phone feels quite meticulous. This plays a huge role in making up a splendid day-to-day experience.

Software Experience

The phone runs MIUI 9.2 based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat. The software experience of the phone captivates users. I love how the UI has evolved overtime giving us something that is aesthetically pleasing and functional. Subtle touches like the new icon packs, guide page, split-screen multitasking, and the pristine animations were all well executed. The software is something Xiaomi phones have always gotten right and this phone is no exception.

Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is an amazing smartphone that has a lot to offer. Everything works well without a hitch! I loved having the 18:9 Full-HD near bezel-less display, premium and hefty build, great battery life and the feature-packed software to top it all off. That said, the speaker of the phone could have been a bit louder with a touch of extra bass. I also wish Xiaomi had opted with a USB Type-C port with fast charging capabilities instead of the rather outdated USB 2.0. These, however are small pet peeves and will not take away much from the day-to-day usability of the phone. There is no doubt, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is one of the better if not the best mid-tier smartphone that you can buy right now in Nepal.