Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Review: $150 Gets You Flagship Level Specs

Only $150 for a smartphone with a 48MP camera and flagship specs? Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is able to offer that and more.

The phone was released on January 10th in China. CEO Lei Jun has announced a promising smartphone which would “focus on strengthening quality.” With its price tag of $150, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 packed with a 48MP dual camera should be one of the better investments in smartphones for the first half of 2019.

If you are still skeptical of purchasing a smartphone with a 48MP dual camera and flagship specs for only $150, then we will break down the reasons why you should consider Xiaomi Redmi Note 7.

What does the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 look like?

Do not be deceived by the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s cheap price tag. With its beauty and sleekness, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 does not bear the appearance of cheapness and substandard quality.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 has a glass body, a 2.5D curved back, water drop notch, and three gradient colors available such as Bright Black, Fantasy Blue, and Twilight Gold. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is different from previous Note models and is quite similar instead to Oppo, Vivo, and Honor — for cheaper the price, but just as appealing in appearance anyway.

Features

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 comes with a 6.3-inch FHD display with 2340 x 1080 resolution, 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 409 pixels per inch. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 also keeps things classic with the standard IR blaster, a fingerprint scanner on the back, a USB-C connector and a headphone jack. Not bad for a smartphone that costs only $150.

What is the camera of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 like?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 comes with a 48MP rear camera and 13MP front cam. While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is not the first phone with a 48MP rear sensor, it is significantly cheaper than phones that do have it as well, the Huawei Nova 4 and View 20. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 camera comes with the standard and auto HDR, electronic image stabilization, double flash, PDAF and more.  The main camera, which uses an IMX586 sensor, should be able to snap more than 48 million resolution photos or synthesize 12 million pixels through four in one. The devil is in the details for only $150.

Additional features

Its second rear sensor is 5MP with f/1.8 aperture, while the 13MP front camera comes with  AI Portrait Mode, Smart Beauty Mode, front HDR, background blur, and more.

Super Night Scene feature

While it is not out yet, Redmi has confirmed through Xiaomi’s MIUI Weibo page of a Super Night Scene feature is in the works. It will allow brighter and more saturated photos at night and in low light scenarios. While cheap smartphones often give lousy evening pictures, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is proving to be promising in offering such a feature in such a low price.

What is the processor of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7?

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s processor is Snapdragon 660, which is used in models such as the Mi A2 and Mi 6X. But what can the Snapdragon 600 do and give exactly? Good endurance, for only $150. We break the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s processor down in details.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s storage

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 starts with 3GB of RAM paired with 32GB of storage. However, the phone may also come in 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage, or 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage. You also have the choice of whether to expand your Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s memory with external storage on an SD card, which supports up to 256GB. Not bad for a smartphone that costs only $150.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s battery life

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 runs on a 4,000mAh battery typical in any Xiaomi Redmi phone. However, with the Quick Charge 4 support, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 could take just an hour and a half to charge from zero battery to 100%. Using the Quick Charge 4 will activate the 9V/2A charging option. Gone are the days of complaining about the batteries of expensive smartphones draining so easily. With Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s Quick Charge 4 support, you no longer have to put price in mind when considering the smartphone that offers good battery life.

Note: You will need to purchase the QC 4.0 fast-charging block. It is separate from the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 box, but it is worth just $1.5.

What are the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 specs?

To sum everything up, here are the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s specs: 

• Size: 159.21×75.21×8.1mm
• Weight: 186g
• Display: 6.3 inches, 2340 x 1080 pixels
• OS: Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10）
• CPU: Snapdragon 660
• Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB;6GB RAM + 64GB
• External Memory: Micro SD card up to 256GB
• Cameras: 48MP + 5MP rear camera;13MP front camera
• Battery capacity: 4000mAh
• Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.0

What else can a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 do?

Expensive phones are synonymous to fragility. You might be hesitant to buy a smartphone with a hefty price tag if it easily breaks. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 boasts the status of being the new Nokia 3310, according to Lin Bin, Xiaomi’s co-founder and president.

A durability test found the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 could smash a walnut without any significant damage to the phone. While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 remained intact, the walnut was reduced to pieces, as seen in Lin Bin’s slow-motion video at 960 frames per second.

It means the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, despite its price tag, won’t easily break. The same cannot be said for more expensive phones that crack with the slightest fall.

It is true that the camera influences a consumer’s decision in choosing the right smartphone. Often times the perfect smartphone with the best camera comes with a hefty price tag. With Xiaomi Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, your pictures will have the right quality without that sense of cheapness and substandardness without having to go big on the money. The appearance and features of the smartphone itself are worth it enough for your $150.

While not currently available on Amazon, you can still pick up the as capable Redmi Note 6 Pro!