Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) review: Take Note!

Take Note!

GSMArena team, 27 March 2017.

Telephony

The dialer and the phonebook share a single app, but two shortcuts bring you straight to the tab you need. The app has a pleasant flat look which feels somewhat fresh. It uses a tabbed interface - recents and dialer on the first and the contact list on the second.

Call recording is available - the files can be saved either on your device or on your MiCloud.

The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review The Phonebook - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
The Phonebook

The dialer may look rather familiar, but it's quite capable. Unfortunately, most of the new smart features are only available in a few markets such as China and India.

It can automatically recognize business numbers, as well as scan contacts thanks to the Xiaomi's Caller ID database. You can also search in both Hindi and English from the T9 numpad, which is helpful. And if you live in those countries, you can use the integrated Yellow Pages option.

The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review The Dialer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
The Dialer

The Snapdragon edition of Redmi Note 4 scored Very Good in our speaker loudness test, up from the Good mark achieved by the Helio-powered Note 4. Its sound is rich and crisp, with good bass and high notes.

Speakerphone testVoice, dB Pink noise/ Music, dB Ringing phone, dB Overall score
Xiaomi Mi 4 62.0 62.1 66.6 Below Average
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime 63.1 67.3 71.3 Average
Meizu m3 note 66.5 64.6 71.7 Average
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 66.1 66.0 76.0 Good
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20) 64.2 67.2 76.9 Good
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 66.5 66.6 75.8 Good
Moto M 64.5 72.9 72.0 Good
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) 67.3 70.3 81.5 Very Good
Xiaomi Mi 5s 64.2 70.0 84.9 Very Good
Meizu M5 Note 65.1 70.7 86.8 Very Good
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 72.8 71.3 81.9 Very Good
Meizu MX5 75.7 73.5 79.5 Excellent

Other apps

The Redmi Note 4 offers an excellent file managing app called Explorer, which lets you browse the files in its internal storage and groups them by type.

Explorer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Explorer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Explorer - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
Explorer

The MIUI v8 also offers a Security app. It can scan your phone for malware, manage your blacklist, manage or restrict your data usage, configure battery behavior, and free up some RAM. It can also manage the permissions of your installed apps.

The Security app also allows you to define the battery behavior of selected apps and applies restrictions only to the apps you choose.

Security app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Cleaner - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Battery management - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Managing a single app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Battery Saver - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
Security app • Cleaner • Battery management • Managing a single app • Battery Saver

The Mi Remote uses the IR blaster to control anything from TVs (including the Mi TV, of course) to digital cameras. The setup process is relatively straightforward, and a handy option shares the remotes you've set up with others on the same Wi-Fi network. You'd have to go through the setup only once per home, assuming everybody else uses a Xiaomi phone as well.

MiRemote app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review MiRemote app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review MiRemote app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
MiRemote app

The custom and now flat Calendar looks good, syncs with your accounts including Google, and offers Day and Month views.

Calendar - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Calendar - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
Calendar

There is also the standard sound recorder, flashlight, clock, and weather apps, among others, that are offered with any self-respecting Android package nowadays.

Voice recorder - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Alarms - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Clock - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Weather - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
Voice recorder • Alarms • Clock • Weather

We liked the Compass app. It has clean interface, shows the magnetic directions and doubles as a level meter. If you lift the phone up, then you'll get a nice augmented reality view with real-time East/West/North/South overlay.

Compass - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review level - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review VR directions - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
Compass • level • VR directions

The Calculator app has been updated - it now supports advanced calculations and conversions.

Finally, there is a brand-new Notes app. It has been given new templates, a new look, and support for checklists.

Notes - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Notes - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Calculator - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Conversions Menu - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review Conversions - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Snapdragon review
Notes • Notes • Calculator • Conversions Menu • Conversions

Reader comments

  • Atha Xiaomi note 4
  • 03 Jan 2024
  • 61q

This phone that I used since 2017 stil performed well to 2024 more better than my friend Samsung A03 had more sensor and more durable I hope Xiaomi made the Xiaomi note 4 performance with more powerful Snapdragon prosesor and keep the original desig...

  • Anonymous
  • 23 Apr 2023
  • L2M

Using this beast since 2017 .. and since 2020 as gaming phone only .. im surprised with its solid and unchallenged performance over these years .. its a real master solid piece of phones .. coming years itll be like rare treasure for whom hold it

  • Jerry
  • 28 May 2022
  • Kxe

i agree, i used this phone since 2017 and the only problem is i'm using 3/32. If i have 3/64, it's can do better