Xiaomi
Redmi 2 is now official and is pegged to be the successor to the popular Redmi
1S. The most improved player in the international mobile market has packed
nifty features which took a leap from last year’s entry-level offering. The
Xiaomi Redmi 2 is defined by the dual-LTE SIM connectivity as well as the latest
Snapdragon 410 64-bit chipset.
The
release of the handset culminates the long-standing rumor of a purported release
of another Redmi 1S version with the same 4G connectivity. When it comes to
specs, everything else is pretty basic – 4.7-inch 720p high definition display
with 312 ppi pixel density, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of build in storage with up to
32GB micro SD support. On the software front, the device will be powered by
Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI 6.0. Judging from this given feature set, the new
Redmi 2 is closely patterned with its predecessor’s melting pot.
The Snapdragon 410
Chipset
The
handset also got an improved Snapdragon 410 chipset, better than last year’s
Snapdragon 400 MSM8228. The new SoC (MSM8916) is now packed with 64-bit
desktop-class architecture with four Cortex A53 cores, the successor between A5
and A7 line. Aside from the main mobile CPU, you’ll also get the Qualcomm’s
proprietary Adreno 306 for your graphics needs.
The new 4G
connectivity
Xiaomi
is marketing the Redmi 2 to have a dual-LTE SIM slots. The 4G connectivity is
capable of up to 150 mbps download speed. Other connectivity features includes
WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS (A-GPS and GLONASS) radios.
Battery and Camera
Battery-wise,
the handset is also convincing. The 2,200 mAh battery now supports a QuickCharge
1.0 via a microUSB 2.0 port. Unlike the battery, there’s no significant bump in
the camera division. You’ll still have the same 8-megapixel rear camera with
OmniVision feature, f/2.2 aperture and 28-millimeter wide angle lens that can
shoot full HD videos. The selfie camera is now 2-megapixel with 720p video, up
from 1.6-megapixel of the 1S.
Philippine Price and
Availability
The
Xiaomi Redmi 2 is now available in China for just USD 110. It will also take a
matter of weeks for the Chinese giant to release it in the Philippines. We are also expecting it to be exclusively distributed in Lazada with several
batches of flash sales. Stay Tuned.
Update: Redmi 2 is coming soon in the Philippines and will bear an official price of PhP5,999.
Update: Redmi 2 is coming soon in the Philippines and will bear an official price of PhP5,999.
Xiaomi Redmi 2 Specs
4.7-inch
HD IPS display (720 x 1280p at 312 ppi)
Scratch
Resistant Corning Gorilla Glass
64-bit
Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916 Chipset
1.2-gigahertz
quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU
Adreno
306 GPU
1GB RAM
8GB Internal Memory
up to 32GB via microSD
1GB RAM
8GB Internal Memory
up to 32GB via microSD
8-megapixel
AF Main camera with LED Flash, OmniVision
f/2.2
aperture with 1080p video recording
2-megapixel
Front Camera
DUAL
4G LTE SIM
4G
LTE, 3G and 2G
Wi-Fi
b/g/n with Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wireless
Display
Bluetooth
4.0
GPS
with A-GPS and GLONASS
FM
Radio
USB
OTG Support
3.5mm
Audio Jack
Compass,
Gyroscope
Accelerometer,
Proximity Sensor
Ambient
Light Sensor
Android
4.4 Kitkat with MIUI 6
2200mAh
Li-Po Battery
PhP5,999 Official Price