The latest entry models published by Xiaomi are Redmi 4, Redmi 4 Prime and Redmi 4A. The three are to replace the Redmi 3 series, bringing solid specs at the unbelievable price. Let’s see how the three models compare and what the main differences between the three are.
Design, Dimensions
The Redmi 4 and 4 Prime are identical on the outside. Metal body, one antenna band on the back, camera and a fingerprint sensor placed on the upper middle part of the backside. The two devices look better than the previous Redmi 3 models, with thin bezels and stealth look of the front side. The 4A looks similar to the iPhone 7; the camera is placed on the upper left part of the backside, the phone doesn’t sport a fingerprint sensor, with the front side dominated by a 5-inch screen with the speaker, sensors, and selfie camera being the only details seen on the front.
The Redmi 4 and 4 Prime sport identical dimensions, measuring 141.3 x 69.6 x 8.9 mm; quite a compact size, although a bit too thick. The Redmi 4A measures 139.5 x 70.4 x 8.5 mm; it’s a bit less tall but also wider than the Redmi 4 and Redmi 4 Prime, result of bezels being wider than on the two Redmi 4 models.
Hardware, Display
The Redmi 4A is powered by Snapdragon 425 (Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 along with Adreno 308). The CPU part of the chipset is solid, with the GPU being a poor choice for newest games. The model packs 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of expandable internal storage(uses SIM 2 slot).
The Redmi 4 features Snapdragon 430 (Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 coupled with Adreno 505). Four CPU cores more than on the Snapdragon 425 and a better GPU mean snappier performance and better gaming experience. The Redmi 4 comes with 2GB of RAM and 16 GB of expandable storage (uses SIM-2 slot), the same as the Redmi 4A.
The Redmi 4 Prime is powered by more than a solid Snapdragon 625 (Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 along with Adreno 506). The 625 should offer very snappy performance, not on the level of Snapdragon 650, or flagship chipsets, but more than enough for an average user. We can also find 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of expandable built-in storage (SIM 2 slot).
The Redmi 4A and Redmi 4 feature the same 4-inch 720p, IPS LCS screen offering natural colors and wide viewing angles. Sharpness could’ve been better (296 ppi pixel density). Nevertheless, you’ll hardly see any pixelation since the sharpness count is very close to the 300ppi mark where individual pixels can’t be spotted by a human eye.
The Redmi 4 Prime comes with a 5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display, also having natural colors and wide viewing angles, but also presenting a 1080p resolution for the first time on Redmi series smartphone. Sharpness is much higher than on the other two models (443 ppi pixel density), you can expect a sharp and clear image.
Camera
Unlike the hardware, the main and selfie cameras are the same on all three models. The main camera measures 13 MP (f/2.0), supporting phase detection autofocus (regular autofocus on the Redmi 4A), LED flash (dual LED flash on the Redmi 4 Prime), and HDR. It is capable of recording 1080p@30fps videos. The selfie camera has 5 MP (f/2.2) and can record 1080p videos.
Battery, Software
The Redmi 4 and Redmi 4 Prime feature a huge 4100 mAh battery that can offer up to three days of usage before craving for a charge. The Redmi 4A comes with a smaller, 3210 mAh battery, no as large as on the other two but good enough for at least one full day of usage. The Redmi 4 and Redmi 4 Prime also come equipped with a fingerprint sensor.
All three phones work under Android Marshmallow-based MIUI 8.
Conclusion
The Redmi 4A sports an unbelievable price of $70 (around Rs 4600) and the phone is a great choice for such a low price tag. The Redmi 4 has a price tag of around $105 (around Rs 7000) and presents a solid choice, especially since it packs a better chipset than the Redmi 4A. The Redmi 4 Prime will sport a price of around $135, offering a 1080p screen, 3 gigabytes of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, as well as excellent Snapdragon 625. If you want a 1080p screen and excellent hardware for the price, go for the Redmi 4 Prime.