It’s been a while since the last K Series device from Redmi was launched in India. You have to go back to 2019’s Redmi K20 series. We’ve seen a lot of action in the ultra-competitive Rs 25,000-30,000 price band in India. From the OnePlus Nord 2T to OPPO’s Reno 8 and the first Nothing smartphone, this segment is getting very cluttered. The Redmi K50i adds to the consumer’s choices at this price point and is riding heavily on a zippy processor and an all-round camera. We were at the India launch of this device where Redmi also unveiled a set of new earbuds.
‘Extreme’ Appeal
Redmi has built this phone around it’s ‘Extreme’ value proposition. The big story is the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor that Redmi claims gives this phone an edge over its rivals. The device comes in a choice of two hardware storage options – 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB.
The K50i sports a 6.6-inch FFS LCD display (1080 x 2460 pixels / 407 PPI). Xiaomi is playing up the 144Hz refresh rate and the clever 7-stage adaptive sync display that optimises battery performance. The display also supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. The other cool touch is the 3.5 mm headphone jack that supports hi-res audio at a time when most premium smartphones have done away with this feature.
Smart Shooter
The triple rear cam is built around the capabilities of a 64MP (f/1.9) primary lens and also includes an 8MP ultra-wide lens and 2MP macro cam. There’s also a 16MP selfie shooter in the mix. Redmi claims 23 hours of YouTube Video playback, thanks to a solid 5080mAh battery under the hood. There’s a 67W in-box charger that powers this device in quick time. The K50i comes with Xiaomi’s Custom MIUI layered over Android 12 out of the box. The device comes in three colours. We like the Quick Silver shade the best; it’s a cool new take on silver.
Buds on a budget:
At Rs 1,999 the Redmi Buds 3 Lite are cheaper than your favourite sweatshirt. They’re not just light on your pocket but feel almost weightless in your ears. Each of these buds weigh just 4.04gm each and feature what Redmi calls a unique ‘lock-in fit’ design that ensure these buds don’t fall off even during vigorous workouts. Redmi claims these buds are engineered for better bass; we’ll leave that judgement for our deep-dive review. The Buds 3 Lite are IP54 certified for dust and splash resistance and deliver 18 hours of battery life (including the case).
Pricing & Availability:
The Redmi K50i comes in two variants: Rs 25,999 (6GB/128GB) and Rs 28,999 (8GB/256GB). There are cashback offers on ICICI cards. The Redmi Buds 3 Lite cost Rs 1,999. They are available at a special launch price of Rs 1,499.
