Xiaomi Redmi Pro review: Peripheral vision

Unboxing the Xiaomi Redmi Pro

Redmi phones are usually high-scorers in bang for the buck competitions, so we don't mind when the phone comes in a basic package. But with a 'Pro' moniker and a higher price tag, we kind of expected a bit... extra.

What we got is the basics - a USB Type-C to Type-A cable and a charger. It's not a fast charger, mind you, it outputs 5V/2A. It's certainly faster than normal 5V/1A chargers but not quite there. In all fairness, Huawei has been equipping its Kirin chipset smartphones with a similar charging solution. So we're okay there.

The retail box

A headset would have been nice, though. Xiaomi has some attractive, affordable headsets like the Mi in-ear plugs (winners of the 2015 Red Dot Design award), which retail for only $15.

Xiaomi Redmi Pro 360° spin

The Xiaomi Redmi Pro measures 151.5 x 76.2 x 8.2mm and weighs 175g. If you've looked at the Redmi Note 4 spec page, those dimensions will sound familiar.

Granted, this time, the front also has to house the hardware Home key, which is also the fingerprint reader. On the Redmi Note 4, that reader was a circle below the camera, which looks suspiciously like the circle that is the secondary camera on the back of the Redmi Pro. Hm.

Hardware

Did Xiaomi reuse the metal panel of the Redmi Pro for the Redmi Note 4 (or vice versa)? They do look quite similar, but that's due to the shared design language.

Anyway, they come in distinctly different finishes - the Note 4 has a satin finish, the Pro a brushed one. Despite that brushed texture, the metal is very smooth, which spoils the feeling somewhat. It also makes the phone slippery and fingerprints are more visible on the high-gloss surface. A 'rougher' brushed finish would have helped with those issues.

The Redmi Pro is a looker

'Big' isn't the right word to describe the Redmi Pro, 5.5" is the new normal. Still, Xiaomi has been clever about ergonomics. The back is curved, so it sits well in the hand, but the sides are squared off, allowing for a nice grip of the fingers. Where the metal sides meet the glass screen, there's a two-step design that offers a secure perch for your thumb.

Speaking of glass, Xiaomi is mum on any scratch-proofing. The glass has a subtle curve near the side, but calling it 2.5D would be a stretch.

Anyway, below the screen is the hardware Home key, which sits flush with the glass. It is a real button you can press. But it also detects touch, so you can use it as a capacitive key.

The one time you have to press it is to activate the fingerprint reader when the phone is locked and the screen is off (probably a power optimization). The App switcher and Back capacitive keys are on its left and right sides, respectively.

The Home button is flush with the glass

Above the display, there's the 5MP selfie camera on the far right, followed by the proximity sensor, the earpiece, and notification light.

Above the display is a 5MP selfie camera

The power key, that's on the right, below the Volume rocker. Both are fairly narrow and have a shallow press.

On the left side, we find the card tray. You need an ejector tool to access it and you can place up to two cards - two SIMs (nano + micro) or one SIM and a microSD card.

Volume rocker and Power key on the right • Card tray on the left

Turning back the Redmi Pro, we find the dual camera setup comprised of a 13MP and 5MP shooters. In between them is the dual-LED flash.

The dual camera setup on the back

At the top of the Xiaomi Redmi Pro are the 3.5mm audio jack, the secondary mic and an IR blaster. At the bottom are a regular microUSB 2.0 port and two grilles. Only one of them hides an actual speaker.

Top side • 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster, secondary mic • USB Type-C port and speaker