KUALA LUMPUR: XIAOMI is aiming the high-end smartphone market with its new Redmi Note 5 phone.
Its head of South Pacific Region, Steven Shi, said the new phone has comparable features like premium phones from Samsung and Apple, namely the new S9 and iPhone X.
Speaking to the press at the launch, he said the Redmi Note 5 is capable of producing photos better than the more expensive rival devices at a much lower price of RM999.
"The Redmi Note 5 is a powerful device with an outstanding camera that can rival any flagship smartphone in the market. I believe that this device will be warmly welcomed by technology enthusiasts as it places more power into the hands of more consumers across the country," he said.
The phone sports premium features, such as the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, dual camera setup, dual camera setup with a main 12-megapixel sensor, high-capacity 4000mAh battery and a 5.99 inch full screen display.
Armed with Dual Pixel technology commonly used in professional dSLR cameras, the camera on Redmi Note 5 is said able to deliver better autofocus speed so users won’t miss any single moment they are trying to capture. Every single pixel of the main 12-megapixel sensor contains two photodiodes (semiconductor devices that can convert light into electrical current) – resulting in 24 million photodiodes in total, which is nearly 30 times more than the number of photodiodes of traditional PDAF-enabled sensors of the same resolution. This allows the sensor to measure phase differences more effectively, thus improving autofocus speed significantly.
For selfie fans, the phone's front camera sports a 13-megapixel sensor, complemented by an LED selfie light. Its Portrait Mode offers Beautify 4.0 feature, which has different effects enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) calculations for a natural look similar to having an expert makeup session.
The Redmi Note 5 comes in two versions – 3GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB, and the phone is available in three colours – Lake Blue, Gold, and Black. Pre-orders for Redmi Note 5 starts on April 25, 2018 on Lazada, and the device can be purchased from authorised Mi Stores starting May 5, 2018.