Xiaomi is continuing to roll out handsets that offer incredible value for money, with the latest offering being the Redmi 2. The successor to the Redmi 1S, the Redmi 2 has been officially unveiled in China over the weekend, and features even better hardware.
The handset features a 4.7-inch 720p display, which is exactly the same as the first-generation model, but this time around the innards are powered by a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 SoC that contains four Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.2 GHz and the Adreno 306 GPU. Also included is 2 GB RAM, 8 GB internal memory, microSD card slot up to 32 GB, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, GLONASS as well as Beidou. In terms of imaging, the device features an 8 MP camera sensor from OmniVision that offers a 28mm wide-angle lens and the ability to shoot full-HD video. The front shooter is a 2 MP variant. When it comes to software, the Redmi 2 is running Xiaomi’s latest MIUI 6.
A novel feature on the Redmi 2 is the dual-SIM LTE connectivity, with both SIM slots offering LTE. Not all variants have this feature, however, as the China Telecom edition limits the second SIM card slot to 2G connectivity. Part of Xiaomi’s strengths is that it is one of the few manufacturers that is keen on user feedback, and as such the Redmi 2 comes with settings to adjust the display’s color temperature.The microUSB 2.0 port comes with QuickCharge 1.0 support, which means that you can charge a certain percentage of the battery quickly.
The Redmi 2 is set to launch in China on January 9 to the equivalent of $110 (CNY 700). Currently, there is no word on when other countries will receive the handset. With the kind of momentum Xiaomi is witnessing in India, it should not be too long before the handset makes its way to the subcontinent. Xiaomi is also set to unveil its next-generation flagship this month, with rumors suggesting an official launch date of January 15.
