Smartphone enthusiasts are going to have an electrifying start to the new year as Xiaomi gears up to launch the Redmi Note 13 series in India in January 2024. The Chinese tech giant, known for its innovation, dropped the news during the Redmi 13C launch on December 6. While the exact launch date remains shrouded in mystery, anticipation is building for the arrival of the Redmi Note 13, Redmi Note 13 Pro, and the flagship Redmi Note 13 Pro+ on Indian shores.
Initially unveiled in China last September, these smartphones promise to redefine your visual experience with a captivating 6.67-inch 1.5K full-HD+ AMOLED display. The series maintains a consistent front, featuring a 16-megapixel camera to capture your best moments in stunning clarity.
Distinguishing themselves under the hood, the Redmi Note 13 and Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boast MediaTek Dimensity SoCs, while the Pro model flexes its muscle with the formidable Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC. Xiaomi, in a bold move, used the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G to shoot the entire launch event of the Redmi 13C, a testament to the prowess of this cutting-edge device.
As the countdown to the Indian debut continues, speculation abounds regarding the pricing. In China, the Redmi Note 13 starts at CNY 1,199 (roughly ₹14k), the Redmi Note 13 Pro at CNY 1,499 (roughly ₹18k), and the flagship Redmi Note 13 Pro+ at CNY 1,999 (roughly ₹23k).
Beyond the pricing intrigue, Xiaomi’s commitment to delivering top-notch specifications remains unwavering. With features like a 120Hz refresh rate, powerful processors, and impressive camera setups, the Redmi Note 13 series is poised to make a splash in the Indian smartphone landscape.
The Indian smartwatch market is at a saturation point right now. Players like boAt, Nose, and many others offer smartwatches for as cheap as 1K with a passable list of features. However, Xiaomi has not been able to carve a niche for itself in this market segment as they’ve in the smartphone market. Well, that was until now cause I believe the Redmi Watch 3 Active is a game-changer in all aspects. Xiaomi is offering the Redmi Watch 3 Active at an attractive price of Rs 3K and covers a lot of ground when it comes to providing basic features along with an aesthetically pleasing design & a cherry on the top with Bluetooth calling. So, should it be your next smartwatch? Find out below –
Design: Straightforward
Redmi Watch 3 Active closely resembles an Apple Watch thanks to its rectangular design and soft rounded corners. It is a plastic build watch but looks ultra premium thanks to a non-conductive vacuum metallisation coating. It has a large 1.83-inch display however, it is not heavy by any means. I spend the majority of my time typing content and have to put any watch or bracelet aside whenever I am at work. However, I didn’t need to do that with the Redmi Watch 3 Active as it’s that lightweight at just 41.67 grams. There’s a single button here which works well. Overall, the no-nonsense design of the Redmi Watch 3 Active will attract a lot of eyeballs. You can choose between charcoal black or platinum grey colours. I used the charcoal black variant coupled with an olive-green strap which Xiaomi is selling at Rs 499. However, the black silicone strap you receive in-box of the device is not bad by any means. It is comfortable, however, the mechanism to hook the watch on your wrist might take some getting used to.
Performance: Beyond Expectations
As a tech reviewer, I have to switch between a lot of devices which require daily charging. Charging devices has become a hassle for all of us but the Redmi Watch 3 Active makes your life easier with its battery prowess. While Redmi promises 12-day battery life for this one, I was able to get 10 days out of the Redmi Watch 3 Active with active BT calling and general fitness tracking. When you take into consideration that this watch offers 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 tracking then the battery life becomes more than just impressive. I did not carry the charging cable for this watch while I was travelling across states for events as there was no fear of the battery running out.
There are a lot of customization options available for users when it comes to the watch faces. Redmi promises 200+ watch faces but I found myself sticking to the default watch face. The Bluetooth calling feature here is simply awesome as I did not face any issues while receiving calls on the watch for extended hours. Additionally, the speaker volume is good enough for you to not stick the watch to your ear while receiving calls in an indoor environment. I predominantly used the step tracker, heart rate monitor, SpO2, stress and sleep monitor features of the watch. While I am unsure about the accuracy of these parameters, they work well. Additionally, you also get music controls, an alarm, weather updates, and also a theatre mode for uninterrupted film watching. All these features make the Redmi Watch 3 Active a complete package for the price!
Verdict
Redmi Watch 3 Active is an easy choice for people looking for a smartwatch in the 3K price category. It has everything you need coupled with a classy design which makes it a complete package.
Xiaomi India recently launched the Redmi Buds 4 Active, an affordable earbuds priced at ₹1,399, alongside the Xiaomi Pad 6. The budget-friendly TWS earbuds are offered in two colour variants in India and will be available for sale from June 20th. The company has also announced a special launch price in which the buds will be available for sale at ₹1,199, valid till June 23.
The TWS market in India is dominated by audio brands like Boat, Boult and Mivi due to their affordable prices. However, audio devices made by smartphone brands like Oppo, Redmi, Samsung and OnePlus enjoy a decent share of the clustered audio market. The Redmi Buds 4 Active feature several decent features that make it an appealing buy for the price. Let’s see where they stand out.
Available Colours – Bass Black and Air White
Design
The design language of the Redmi Buds 4 Active is drastically different from the Buds 3 Active, which had a lock-in design. While the Buds 4 Active arrives with a stick earpiece, which makes them more appealing. The generically designed charging case of the Buds 4 Active houses Redmi branding at the back, a small LED indicator, and a USB-C port at the bottom.
The colour variant we received for the review is branded Air White, and at first look, the charging case seemed like a portable egg. Inside the case, the earbuds are nestled, and once you open the lid, they’ll welcome you with two bright LED indicators. Like the case, the Redmi Buds 4 Active are featherlight and sit comfortably in the ears. Along with the default ear tips, the earbuds come with three additional pairs of ear tips.
Touch Controls
The Redmi Buds 4 Active is loaded with basic touch gestures; for example, a single tap on the buds leads you to play and pause the music/video, a long tap means accessing voice assistant, and a double tap lets you shuffle the playlist, like the most rivals. In the case of Redmi Buds 4 Active, the gestures do the job 6 out of 10 times; not bad, but not that good either.
Connectivity
When it comes to connecting the Redmi Buds 4 Active with your smartphone or laptop, it’s a simple process. Just go to the Bluetooth menu and then wait for a second, and it’ll pop up on your screens, ready to serve. Besides the old convenient way, the buds have another Android-only option, where the buds will show on your Android device in close range. I’ve paired it with Samsung Galaxy A54, and OnePlus 7, it works smoothly.
Audio Performance
The Redmi Buds 4 Active boasts powerful 12mm drivers, on par with the OnePlus Nord Buds’ 12.4mm drivers, delivering a sound that will make your eardrums dance with joy. The earbuds offer an immersive sonic experience and hit the sweet spot at 70% volume, where vocals and instruments take centre stage. However, cranking it up further leads to a loss of detail and audio distortion, a treacherous path to walk.
The Buds 4 Active don’t have a dedicated customization app, and that’s where it stays behind in the race. The hardware inside is ready to handle multiple profiles but missing the resources to make it happen. However, the earbuds offer a great calling experience matching the Nord Buds’ prowess. The crystal-clear audio and flawless microphone of the buds make every conversation shine.
Battery
With a promised battery life of 30 hours (with the case), the Redmi Buds 4 Active won’t leave you hanging. Realistically, you’ll get around 25 hours, depending on usage. Light users can have a week without a charge, yes, that’s right. Just 10 minutes of plugging in and the case grant you a heavenly 90 minutes of battery life. Perfect for those frantic moments when you’re racing against the clock.
Verdict
Rating –⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Redmi Buds 4 Active blend power, clarity, and convenience, crafting a symphony for your ears. However, when you compare them with rivals like the OnePlus Nord Buds 2, they seem stammering. The earbuds offer solid audio performance, a fast pair option and decent battery life at the price of ₹1,399 or ₹1,199* (valid till June 23). So, if you are looking for something at an affordable price, just go for it.
Get ready, India! Xiaomi is about to make a grand entrance into the tablet scene with a bang! Brace yourselves for the highly anticipated release of the all-new Xiaomi Pad 6, available for sale from June 21st. Xiaomi is back in action, ready to captivate your tech-loving hearts after a seven-year hiatus from the Indian tablet market.
The tablet has a sleek, feather-light design that will make heads turn. At a mere 6.51mm thick and weighing just 490g, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is the epitome of elegance and portability. Crafted with an all-metal construction, this tablet is a true fashion statement. But it’s not all about looks – the Xiaomi Pad 6 packs a punch when it comes to performance. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 processor, this beast is ready to handle anything you throw at it.
And with a colossal 8,840mAh battery supporting lightning-fast 33W charging, you won’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of your Netflix binge. Speaking of binge-watching, feast your eyes on the 11-inch 2.8K LCD display that brings your favourite movies and shows to life. With a stunning 144Hz refresh rate and a dazzling peak brightness of up to 550nits, every scene will be a visual extravaganza. And let’s not forget the HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support – prepare to be immersed in a world of vibrant colours and stunning clarity.
Are you ready to capture life’s precious moments? The Xiaomi Pad 6 has you covered with its 13MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing camera. Whether it’s a breathtaking landscape or a fabulous selfie, this tablet will help you seize the perfect shot. And with the MIUI 14 software, based on the latest Android 13, you’ll experience a smooth and intuitive interface that’s a joy to navigate.
Wait, there’s more!
Alongside the Xiaomi Pad 6, get ready to groove with the affordable Redmi Buds 4 Active wireless earbuds. Immerse yourself in pure audio bliss with these sleek and pocket-friendly earbuds. So, mark your calendars, folks! On June 20th and 21st, Xiaomi takes India by storm with the budget-friendly Redmi Buds 4 Active and the revolutionary Xiaomi Pad 6, respectively. Prepare to be amazed, entertained, and utterly captivated by the Xiaomi experience.
POCO revealed the launch date of its new smartphone, C50, and it’s just a week away. The launch date was made public today for buyers, along with other details of the smartphone. The smartphone was earlier announced as Redmi A1+, but the company is planning to launch it with a new name.
The new entry-level upcoming smartphone is labelled as the company’s most affordable smartphone, and it will be available in two variants – a 2GB+32GB variant at the price of ₹6,249 and a 3GB+32GB variant for the price of ₹6,999. The C50 smartphone will take you to another level with its design, 8MP dual and AI camera.
The smartphone boasts a 6.52 inches HD+ display with 720X1600 resolution and is powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 processor. The smartphone features a fast rear fingerprint sensor and 5000mAh battery, but it takes a long time to refill as it charges slowly at 10W. The smartphone will have a bare essential version of Android – Android 12 Go Edition.
POCO C50 sports two cameras on the back; one is a depth sensor, while the other is an 8MP f/2.0 wide camera and claims to capture crisp and vibrant photographs in all lighting conditions. The phone has a rear camera that can record 1080p video at 30 frames per second.
Himanshu Tandon, Country Head, POCO India, said, “We are confident that it will be a market disruptor and will further redefine the smartphone experience. Strengthening our position in the sub-10K segment, the latest addition to the C-series portfolio is a perfect blend of the enhanced display, software, gaming, and camera experience.”
The festivities of Diwali may have come to an end and I hope you’ve had some of the best times of your life with friends and family. However, when it comes to the smartphone market in India, the festivities never seem to come to an end. Each month brings in a slew of new mobile devices and November is no different. Be it flagship or budget devices, there is definitely a device or two launching to fit each price category! So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the exciting upcoming devices launching in November 2022 in India!
Xiaomi 12T series
Both Xiaomi 12T and 12T Pro made their global debuts back on October 5, 2022. The long-rumored devices are finally expected to make an entry into the Indian market in late November! The 12T sports a 6.67-inch CrystalRes AMOLED display flaunting smart features like AdaptiveSync. The standard variant is powered by the MediaTek 8100 chipset, 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Whereas the 12T pro houses the beast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Both variants are coupled with up to 256GB of storage. While the 12T Pro offers up to 12GB RAM, the standard variant is limited to 8GB. The Xiaomi 12T is expected to be launched in the 50K price category, and the 12T Pro in the 60k price category.
Realme 10 4G
While 5G has become a common feature for even budget to midrange devices in India, Realme is sticking to its guns with 4G launching the Realme 10 4G this month. The company has officially revealed that will be hosting the Realme 10 launch event this month but the exact date of the same is still under wraps. Leaks around the internet claim that the upcoming device will feature a 6.5-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen. The refresh rate of the device is still unknown. It will be backed by the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC and sport a 50MP camera coupled with a 2MP macro sensor. The front of the device is expected to rock a 16MP shooter. It will pack a 5000 mAh battery and support 33W fast charging. The expected price of this device is said to be between 17K to 19K thus putting it in competition with the likes of Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G and Moto G72 in India.
iQoo Neo 7
Vivo’s sub-brand iQoo has just recently launched the iQoo Neo 7, the successor to the previously launched neo 6. It is equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with HDR 10+ certification with Full HD+ capabilities and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The device runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC paired with up to 12GB of RAM. It rocks a Sony IMX766V 50MP camera lens with optical image stabilization coupled with an 8 MP ultrawide and a 2 MP macro lens. The 5000 mAh battery of Neo 7 can be juiced up quickly thanks to its 120W charging support. Neo 7’s top model with 12GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage is priced in China at approx Rs 37,000. While the device is right now available only in China, it will be making its global launch in the coming month.
OnePlus Nord 3
OnePlus’ Nord brand has quickly become one of the front liners in the smartphone market in the midrange section. Doubling down on its Nord branding, OnePlus has unveiled the Nord N300 in the US. The budget smartphone comes with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The device sports a waterdrop notch which is a first for the OnePlus brand. It comes with a 48MP main camera and a 2MP depth lens. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. The 5000 mAh battery of the Nord N300 can be juiced up with 33W fast charging support. It runs on the Oxygen OS based on Android 13 sporting 4GB RAM and 64GB storage options. There is not much choice here when it comes to colors as it comes in only one shade – Midnight Jade. It is priced in the US at $228, which is roughly 19K in India. If released at the same price in India, it will make the OnePlus Nord 3 the cheapest offering by the company in the country. The new OnePlus device is expected to be launched in India in the fourth week of November.
Redmi Note 12 Series
Redmi fans are all set to receive yet another treat from the company with the launch of the Redmi 12 series. The series has officially launched in China in three variants, namely, Redmi 12, Note 12 Pro, and Note 12 Pro+. As one would expect, all three devices come with different features and are placed at different price points. The standard Redmi Note 12 comes with the latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, whereas the Pro and Pro+ variants house a Dimensity 1080 chipset. Another difference between the three is that the standard Note 12 houses a 48MP primary shooter, whereas the 12 Pro sports a 50MP primary camera with OIS, and the 12 Pro+ flaunts a massive 200MP beast of a camera. The Redmi 12 series is expected to be launched in multiple price points starting at Rs 13.5K up to 25K.
Moto Edge 30 Neo
Moto will be adding yet another device to its successful Edge series with the Edge 30 Neo. The device is already available in the UK and US and now it’s time for it to shine in the Indian market. It is expected to house a Snapdragon 695 coupled with 8GB RAM and an internal memory of 128GB. The device will flaunt a P-OLD 6.28 inches display with 1080P resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The dual camera setup of the device features a 64-MP lens and a 13-MP secondary lens. In the front, the device houses a 32-MP lens. It is expected to launch in the 25k to 30K price segments in India in November.
The tablet market in India has seen a boom in recent years with key players introducing a number of budget tablets in the market. Xiaomi introduced the Xiaomi Pad 5 a few months back packing in powerful specs in the midrange segment. Now, Redmi has come up with its first tablet titled Redmi Pad which is launched at the introductory pricing of Rs12,999 for the base 3+64GB model. The device is currently available to buy on Mi.com and all other retail partners of Xiaomi. Read below to know all the specifications of the Redmi Pad:
Redmi Pad specifications
The tablet packs a solid 10.61-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate, at the rate of Rs 12999, this is the cheapest tablet to offer a high refresh rate. The tablet also comes with Widevine L1 certification so that users can enjoy watching content in HD. The tablet comes equipped with an 8MP front camera for video calls. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 with support of up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. There is also the support of expandable storage with support of up to 1TB. other features include Bluetooth 5.3, dual bank WiFi 5, dual microphones, and also a built-in document speaker.
It comes with a 2K display which is also surprising for this price range. The Redmi Pad runs on MIUI 13 based on Android 12 out of the box. users get all the features they expect from a tablet like split screen, floating window, multi-window support, reading mode, and much more. YouTube fanatics will be happy to know that the tab also comes bundled with 2 months of free YouTube Premium. The Redmi Pad is backed by an 8000 mAh battery with the support of 18W fast charging. It is quite odd that the device only supports 18W fast charging but it comes bundled with a 22.5W fast charger in the box. Redmi claims that the device can offer 21+ hours of video playback and 12+ hours of gaming. You can buy the Redmi Pad from Mi’s official website – HERE.
Xiaomi launched a few Redmi sub-brand products at today’s virtual event, including Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11S, Redmi Smart TV X43 and Redmi Smart Band Pro. The event was live-streamed through the Redmi India social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Let’s take a brief look at the products launched at the event.
Redmi Note 11 Series
The Redmi Note 11 series includes two smartphones, Note 11 and Note 11S, starting at ₹13,499 and ₹15,999, respectively. A majority of features are the same for these two 11-series smartphones. They both get a 90Hz refresh rate with an AMOLED dot display, come with MIUI 13 out-of-the-box and a 5,000mAh battery along with a 33W charger.
However, they differ in terms of camera, as Redmi Note 11 features a 50MP quad-camera setup that sports a 50MP primary lens, 8MP ultra-wide sensor, 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. Whereas Redmi Note 11S also sports a quad-camera setup, it has a 108MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide sensor, 2MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor.
Redmi Smart TV X43
Along with the Note 11-series phones, Redmi launched Smart TV X43, the smallest TV in the X-series line-up. The smart TV is priced at Rs. 28,999, and it would be available for sale from February 16 ( at 12 PM) on the company’s website, Mi.com, Amazon and other retail websites. It sports a 43″ display with a 4K resolution that supports HDR, Dolby Vision, PatchWall software and IMDb integration.
Redmi Smart Band Pro
The Smart Band Pro is priced at ₹3,999, and it will be available for sale from February 14 on the company’s website and Amazon. The Smart Band Pro is priced at Rs. 3,499 for a limited period sale price.
Xiaomi is launching a number of products under the Redmi banner on February 9, including Redmi Smart TV X43, Redmi Note 11S smartphone, and Redmi Smart Band Pro. The company already have several X series TVs in their portfolio, such as Redmi Smart TV X50, X55, and X65 models, but the upcoming X43 would be the smallest TV in the line-up.
The official teaser page suggests it will sport a 43″ display with 4K resolution that features support for HDR and Dolby Vision. The smart HDR TV will support powerful Dolby 30W speakers with Dolby audio for better sound output. The company hasn’t revealed the processor of the smart TV yet, but the page shows it will have a future-ready flagship performance to provide a seamless experience.
The previously launched X-Series smart TVs, such as Redmi Smart TV X55, sport quad-core MediaTek SoC with Mali G52 GPU, paired with 2GB of RAM. Besides powerful processors, the X-Series TVs also feature e-ARC and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which makes us expect almost the same features from the upcoming 43″ smart TV.
The upcoming smart TV will feature the company’s latest PatchWall software and IMDb integration. The PatchWall is the company’s unique launcher which sits on top of the core Android TV software, which acts as an alternate user interface and helps you access over-the-top (OTT) platforms. It also supports controlling smart home devices like smart lights and Mi Air Purifier.
The price of the upcoming Redmi X43 smart TV hasn’t been unveiled yet, but it is expected to be priced below the cost of the Redmi Smart TV X50, which is currently priced at Rs. 37,999 and available on Amazon for sale. The Redmi X43 TV will be available for sale on Xiaomi official website, and it might be going on for sale on Amazon too.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 11T 5G, the rebranded version of the regular Redmi Note 11 5G and successor to last year’s Redmi Note 10T 5G, on a live-streamed YouTube event. The 5G enabled handset features a 6.6-inch display with a 90Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate. The model sports a hole-punch display design and supports Dual Split Fast Charge technology which helps the handset to charge faster than usual.
The smartphone is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 810 6nm octa-core chipset coupled with 6/8GB RAM and 64/128GB storage, and it will be the first Redmi phone to come with a 6nm SoC. The smartphone is available in three colours: Aquamarine Blue, Matte Black, Stardust White and three variants, 6GB+64GB priced at ₹16,9999, 6GB+128GB priced at ₹17,999 and 8GB+128GB priced at ₹19,999.
The handset arrives with a dual rear camera setup, which means you only get a 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 lens and 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens around the back. While for selfies and video chats, the smartphone has a 16-megapixel camera in the front. Along with this, the Redmi Note 11T 5G features a 3.5 headphone jack, stereo speakers and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Redmi always offers the best to its consumers and that too without burning a hole in the pocket. The Note 11T 5G smartphone is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass and is IP53 rated. The model also includes sensors such as an accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, magnetometer, and proximity sensor. On the battery front, the smartphone is packed with a 5000 mAh two-day battery that supports 33W Pro fast charging via USB-C.
The budget smartphone comes with Android 11 out of the box, and still, it has all the features you could ask for from a high-end smartphone. The Chinese electronics giant has also partnered with Reliance Jio for conducting 5G trials in the country on their Redmi Note 11T 5G smartphone. The smartphone will go live for sale on 7th December at noon via Xiaomi India’s website, Mi Home stores, Amazon India and partnering retailers.
