Unboxing Xiaomi Redmi 2 in English 
I have been wondering which phone would perform better, the Redmi 1s or the Redmi 2. Although the Snapdragon 410 has a 64bit cpu and is much newer, the Snapdragon 400 is running on a higher frequency.
I'm not able able to purchase a Xiaomi phone directly via their webshop, so I ordered one at ibuygou.com. I have purchased many other products at them and I know that they sell genuine Xiaomi products.
Here are the main differences of the Redmi, Redmi 1s and Redmi 2
Specs | Redmi 1 | Redmi 1s | Redmi 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Chipset | MediaTek MT6589T | Qualcomm MSM8228, Snapdragon 400 | Qualcomm MSM8916, Snapdragon 410 |
CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz | Quad-core 1,6 GHz | Quad-core 1,2 GHz |
GPU | PowerVR SGX544 | Adreno 305 | Adreno 306 |
ROM | 4 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
Camera | 8MP + 1,3MP | 8MP + 1,8MP | 8MP + 2MP |
GPS | GPS + A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou |
Weight | 158g | 158g | 133g |
Size | 137 x 69 x 9,9 mm | 137 x 69 x 9,9 mm | 134 x 67,2 x 9,4 mm |
The first things I did when I received this phone:
- Created some unboxing pictures.
- Installed the latest firmware release via OTA (6.2.8.0.KHJCNBK). After applying the upgrade, the phone booted into the Recovery menu.
- Downoad the latest Multi Language ROM via Xiaomi.eu ROM. I have loaded it via the updater app (version 5.1.16/Weekly).
- Configured Google Play, when I downloaded new apps, I received a error message [ RPC:S-7:AEC-7].
- I created a backup of the screenshots that I made with the phone.
- Flashed the phone via "Factory data reset". I had marked the next checkboxes as well: Erase apps and Erase stored content.
- After the reboot, I was able to configure my phone again and I was able to use Google Play.
A few quick samples, not representative for a review
Benchmarks:
My first impression:
The phone is very light and it feels much smaller than the Redmi 1s. The phone is more rounded at the edges. The screen is OK, but you can feel that isn't a high end screen (there is something strange with the toplayer of the phone, I'm checking it out and will post my results in my full review). When you press on it, you could see some rings around your finger. Not annoying, but it is the first time I've seen this on a smartphone in the last 4 years.
The phone feels smooth, but I haven't installed many apps on it at this moment. I will transfer some apps like Whatsapp to this phone very soon, so I can use it all day long.
The phone was released in January 2015. At this moment the price may still vary a lot, because there are many webshop selling this phone. At this moment the phone costs about €95,00 via Xiaomi, but resellers will sell it for ~€ 135,00. Be careful where you buy it, because there are many fake Xiaomi phones.
• Would it be useful to upgrade from a Redmi 1s to the Redmi 2?
I don't think so, not with the current Android version. Android 4.4 is based on 32bit CPU's. I hope that Miui based on Android 5.0 will make use of the 64bit processor. In the 4 benchmarks it seems to be a draw. The score is 2 - 2
• What about the Redmi, is the Redmi 2 better and quicker than the first Redmi?
Yes, the phone is improved on most parts. The CPU frequency is lower, but it can still beat the Redmi on most points.
02-'15 Wat als, je benaderd werd door een Smartphone fabrikant
01-'15 Xiaomi product launch 15-01-2015
Comments
Very interesting.Here are the main differences between the Redmi, Redmi 1s and Redmi 2
How 'cheap' is actually the Redmi1?

If you are able to find the Redmi, than it will be about €120,-/130,-Chame_Wizard wrote on Friday 23 January 2015 @ 14:42:
[...]
Very interesting.
How 'cheap' is actually the Redmi1?
The Redmi 1s around € 130,-
Redmi 2 around € 140,-
(1 Year ago I bought the Redmi for ~ € 175,-, this means that the margins for webshops are decreasing).

Zodra ik een review af heb, dan laat ik het je even wetenWesley wrote on Friday 23 January 2015 @ 18:32:
Ik zie dat je nog steeds liefhebber bent van XiaomiIk kijk in iedere geval uit naar je review, plaats jij deze ook op Chinakorting.nl?

Hoe kun je aan een scherm de kwaliteit voelen?The screen is OK, but you can feel that isn't a high end screen.

Anyway, wel een goede bespreking en ook voldoende tijd ingestoken, keep it up!
Is primaKiswum wrote on Saturday 24 January 2015 @ 10:32:
[...]
Zodra ik een review af heb, dan laat ik het je even weten

Haha, ja klopt, kwaliteit kun je niet voelen, maar vermoedelijk wel de robuustheid.MrBreaker wrote on Sunday 25 January 2015 @ 10:06:
[...]
Hoe kun je aan een scherm de kwaliteit voelen?
Ik denk, ik moet het nog echt goed verifiëren, maar er zit denk ik geen glaslaag op de digitizer zit, maar een kunststof of niets (kan dat?). Hierdoor zie je kringen op de plaatsen waar je je vinger plaatst. Tevens is het scherm erg gevoelig. Tijdens het scrollen kan het zijn dat je vrij snel op een link klikt. Dit is mijn ervaring na de telefoon zo'n 24 uur echt in gebruik te hebben.
Waarom in het Engels?WietKop wrote on Sunday 25 January 2015 @ 13:42:
Waarom een Engelse review schrijven op een Nederlandstalige site?
Doordat de meeste Xiaomi gebruikers wel Engels kunnen om hun telefoon in te kunnen stellen

Hier zijn andere reviewblogs van me te vinden:
Tweaker Kiswum
Domo arigato.Kiswum wrote on Friday 23 January 2015 @ 14:51:
[...]
If you are able to find the Redmi, than it will be about €120,-/130,-
The Redmi 1s around € 130,-
Redmi 2 around € 140,-
(1 Year ago I bought the Redmi for ~ € 175,-, this means that the margins for webshops are decreasing).
Redmi 2 is instant buy

[Comment edited on zondag 25 januari 2015 21:20]

Je hebt hem sneller dan sommige hier in China.
ot; xenon aan het inbouwen?


Kenzi: Ik heb zo mijn contacten in China

Ik heb een aantal mensen al van wat korting mogen voorzien bij o.a. deze Redmi 2
Xenon, ja dat is inmiddels weer ruim een jaar geleden. Het is een leuk projectje geweest en een aanrader voor elke auto en motor.
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