Xiaomi, known for its affordable yet quality phones, recently launched the Redmi S2, which is the newest member of the ever-growing Redmi series.
The Xiaomi Redmi S2 is another value-for-money smartphone with an affordable price and a special emphasis on the front camera for selfies (hence the initial letter of the “S” series). Let’s take a closer look at the features it offers.
The new Redmi S2 is equipped with a 5.99-inch HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, 3GB of RAM – non-expandable – and offers the option to expand the storage up to 32GB. It offers some top-notch features, such as a fast and accurate fingerprint scanner, dual cameras for realistic “bokeh” effects, and a 16-megapixel selfie camera with LED flash. However, it lacks advanced features, such as fast and wireless charging, water resistance, and NFC support.
The overall design of the new smartphone is attractive, with the device having nicely rounded edges and a good screen-to-body ratio. On the left side of the device you will find the SIM card tray. It offers space for two nano-SIM cards and a microSD card, so you don't have to sacrifice one of the nano-SIM slots to expand the phone's storage. Along the top side there is a 3.5mm headphone jack, an IR blaster and a noise-cancelling microphone, which improves call quality, while on the bottom you will find the microphone, mono speaker and micro-USB port. Unfortunately, it does not have USB Type-C, as is often the case with low-cost devices. On the back of the device there is a fast and accurate fingerprint scanner, as well as the iPhone X-style camera. The phone's 5.99-inch IPS display has a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels.
The Redmi S2 runs Xiaomi's custom MIUI 9.5 skin. MIUI combines the best of iOS and Android with good performance, while also introducing some welcome features. The global version of the Redmi S2 supports multiple languages and can be used almost anywhere in the world, thanks to its wide support for international mobile network bands. In addition to offering a variety of Google apps, Xiaomi has also included a few other features. There's a remote control app, which can be used with the IR blaster, that lets you control various devices with your phone, while Xiaomi's Security and Cleaner apps are also present.
The Redmi S2's camera has a design similar to the iPhone X, with a 12-megapixel Sony-made snapper and a 5-megapixel secondary camera. Xiaomi claims that the phone's cameras are AI-powered for better images. The front camera is a 16-megapixel sensor that has its own LED flash. While the default camera app lets you shoot videos in 1080p, the Redmi S2 is actually capable of recording 4K video - you'll need to install a third-party camera app from the Google Play store to access this feature, however.
Despite its imposing dimensions, the Redmi S2 is only equipped with a 3080mAh battery. However, the low-resolution display and mediocre chipset mean that the battery will last a full day on a single charge, and can even last two days with moderate use.
