Xiaomi launches Redmi 6 in India

In mid-June, Xiaomi launched the Redmi 6 and 6A in China and a few days later, the Redmi 6 Pro, which sells in most markets as Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, came to life. More than 10 weeks later, Xiaomi has finally launched the Redmi 6 trio in India.

While India isn’t the first market outside of China to get a taste of the new Redmi 6 series, the phones have finally landed in the Asian sub-continent as successors to the Redmi 5, which has had a great run since its March 2018 launch in the country.

Related:

• Xiaomi doubles down on the camera with the Redmi 6 handsets

• Difference between Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A: What’s common and what’s not

Specifications

The first notable change between the Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 compared to Redmi 5A and Redmi 5 is the screen size, where the Redmi 6 and 6A have the same 5.45-inch panel as opposed to the outgoing duo, where the Redmi 5A has a 5-inch panel and the Redmi 5 has a 5.7-inch screen. You also get the same 18:9 aspect ratio on both phones alongside an HD+ resolution and they have no notch.

Under the hood, Xiaomi Redmi 6 went for a MediaTek chipset, the Helio P22, to succeed the Snapdragon 450 used in the Redmi 5 and Redmi 6A has an Helio A22 chipset in place of Snapdragon 425. While we aren’t demonizing MediaTek chipsets, we hope that Redmi 6 and 6A software updates won’t be a problem like it has been the case for a certain MediaTek-powered Redmi Note 4, which has never made it past Android Marshmallow while other Redmi Note 4 variants went on to receive Nougat.

Related: Xiaomi Android 9 Pie update news

In terms of photography, there’s a significant upgrade to a dual-lens camera on the back of the Redmi 6, but the battery capacity has dropped from 3300mAh to 3000mAh, which is still acceptable for a device with a power-sipping HD display screen. Software-wise, you get Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with a promise of Android 9 Pie somewhere in Q2 or Q3 2019.

The same battery capacity is used in the Redmi 6A and so is the software, but the Redmi 6 Pro has a bigger 4000mAh battery, a superior processor, and a bigger display screen as well, all of which come at a steeper cost.

Price and availability

There’s also a first-sale offer for those using HDFC Bank debit and credit cards to pay for the Redmi 6 or Redmi 6 Pro, where they’ll get INR 500 off the RRP.