Xiaomi Redmi 6 REVIEW In-Depth: 5 Reasons To Buy and 3 Reasons Not to Buy THIS Phone

The Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi makes very strange things in 2018. It releases many smartphones, not even from different series, but even two generations at once. In particular, we are talking about budget series Redmi.

At the beginning of this year, Xiaomi has released Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus, and after half a year, we already received the next generation Redmi 6. Why is the Chinese manufacturer in such a hurry? Is it worth to release smartphones so often? Is Redmi 6 really better than Redmi 5? Too many questions, and we will try to answer them in this review of Xiaomi Redmi 6.

By the way, for comparison you can read our full review of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus. Also we want to thank GearBest online store for providing Xiaomi Redmi 6 for this review.

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Design

First, let’s talk about package content. The red box with Redmi 6 logo on the front, and specifications list on the back has only necessary things. Here you can find the smartphone itself, microUSB cable, power adapter 5V/1A, user manual and SIM needle. The silicone protective case, headphones or even protective film on the screen you need to buy additionally. This is a standard practice for a budget smartphone.

If we talk about design, then first we want to note the compact size of Redmi 6. It is one of the few devices in 2018 with a really comfortable size for one-handed use. Today most smartphones have 6-inches or even larger displays. Xiaomi Redmi 6 is equipped with 5.45-inch screen with HD+ resolution (1440×720 pixels) and 18:9 aspect ratio.

Of course, this is not bezel-less phone, because there are pretty thick bezels on sides. Even compared to Redmi 5, the bezels on Redmi 6 look bigger. The screen to body ratio is about 72%. In general, this is standard IPS LCD panel with good brightness and contrast. By the way, you can adjust color temperature of the screen in the settings menu.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 uses on-screen button, but also you can use gestures. From the top on the screen, there is front camera, earpiece and different sensors. The display has oleophobic coating, but most likely, you will use protective film or glass, so it does not play an important role.

The rear panel has dual camera, flashlight, fingerprint reader and even speaker. Yes, the speaker is located on the backside, and we think it is very good. The sound is loud, while the quality is good for budget phone.

The power button and volume control are on the right side.

There is a very interesting thing on the left side – you can see two slots.

One of them is hybrid slot for SIM card and MicroSD memory card, while another slot for the second SIM card. So, you can use two SIM cards and microSD memory card at the same time. So, now you shouldn’t select between dual SIM or microSD card.

 

On the bottom, there is only microUSB port and microphone.On the top you can find 3.5mm audio jack and the second mic. It is a little strange that Redmi 6 has not IR blaster, because most Xiaomi phones have it.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 is made of matte plastic. It looks and feels much cheaper than Redmi 5 with metal case. The smartphone is available in black, grey, blue and gold colors. Blue and gold color options have white front panels.

Performance

Xiaomi Redmi 6 is the first Android smartphone on Helio P22 chipset. By the way, Redmi 6A is the first mobile device on Helio A22. We already talked about this processor here. As you know, Xiaomi uses Snapdragon chipsets for its smartphones, but these two devices are exception.

We have a model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. Also, there is more powerful version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but we think that 32GB will be enough. If not, there is a dedicated slot for microSD card. From other side, the difference in price between 32GB or 64GB versions is only $25, so it does not hit your pocket.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 scores about 75000 points in AnTuTu, and it is great result for $130 smartphone! In addition, we tested GeekBench 4, 3DMark, GPS and Wi-Fi. You can see results on the screenshots below.

As for games, we played Asphalt 8, PUBG Mobile, Modern Combat 5. Xiaomi Redmi 6 started all of them, and you can even play without lags or slowdowns. However, the graphics is low, and sometimes FPS drops.

Software

Xiaomi Redmi 6 runs on Android 8.1 with MIUI 9.5 user interface. We have an international version, so the smartphone supports Multilanguage, Play Store, YouTube, Maps and other Google apps. In addition, there are pre-installed Microsoft Office apps and Xiaomi apps.

In general, this is the same user interface as on other Xiaomi phones. Among the most interesting functions, we want to note: gesture control, one-handed mode, second space.

Camera

Xiaomi Redmi 6 received very good cameras for its price category. Yes, dual camera on the rear panel is not surprising in 2018; however, there is Sony IMX486 sensor with 12-megapixel. The secondary sensor has 5-megapixel. The front camera is also 5-megapixel.

If you are not interested in specs, then look at real sample photos below. As usual, the shots in good lighting conditions are very good. In low light conditions the quality drops, as one would expect.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 records video in Full HD resolution. There is an option of image stabilization in the settings menu. You need to enable it before recording the video. It makes the footage smoother and pleasant.

Battery

Xiaomi budget smartphone has 3000mAh built-in battery. It’s not much for 2018, but Redmi 6 is compact device. The hardware is entry-level, and display has HD resolution, so the battery life is decent.

You can get up to 2 days of battery life on a single charge. Of course, it will depend on usage, because if you play games, then the battery will be enough for 5-6 hours. However, using social media, messengers, calls, then Redmi 6 will work about 2 days.

As for charging, the smartphone supports only 5V/1A. It is because of microUSB port. So, the full battery charge takes about 3 hours! This is very long for 2018!

Why you shouldn’t buy Redmi 6

We finished the review of Redmi 6, and it has some good and bad things. Let’s start with bad ones.

First, the plastic body. It’s not a big problem, and we even know some people prefer plastic over metal. However, in my opinion, metal case looks more premium and expensive. Another question is why Redmi 5 had metal body, while Redmi 6 comes with plastic? We don’t know.

Perhaps the main drawback of Redmi 6 is microUSB port. It provides only 5V/1A charging, so you need to wait about 3 hours until full charge.

Also, Xiaomi Redmi 6 hasn’t NFC. I don’t know is it important for you, but I often use it for contactless payment.

Why you should buy Redmi 6

Now, let’s talk about good things, and there are much more than bad ones.

First, we want to note its compact size, because it is hard to find the smartphone for one-handed use in 2018.

Redmi 6 has two slots for dual SIM and microSD memory card. It is very good feature for many people, because they cannot choose between more memory and dual SIM cards. Use everything at once!

The fingerprint reader not surprising in 2018, but still good for budget smartphone.

The performance and cameras are very good for $130 phone. You can play any Android games (but on low graphics settings), and take excellent images (but in good lighting conditions).

Finally, the price. We often mentioned the cost in this review, but it is really important for a budget smartphone! Those who are interested in Redmi 6, first of all look at the price, and then on specs and features. Xiaomi Redmi 6 has a price tag of $130, which is very good for this smartphone.

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By the way, if you want better selfie camera and larger display, then read our full review of Redmi S2. It has the same price as Redmi 6, but provides some other features.

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