Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro review

Design

If you've seen a recent Redmi phone, then you've seen them all. Xiaomi is keen on sticking to its signature shapes - we've seen it make changes only when it's necessary and not for the sake of new looks.

That's exactly the case with the Redmi Note 6 Pro. Its exterior is virtually the same as on the most recent Redmi Note 5 (AI Dual Cam). The notched screen is a massive give away, of course, but other than that - it's the Redmi you know.

Upon further inspection we found one thing that Xiaomi has changed since the previous Redmi phones. Remember those plastic strips that cover the top and bottom antennas at the back? Well, those are now conjoined with the Note's frame and the huge metal piece is now completely surrounded by plastic. And you know what, it does look better this way!

The 6.26" tall screen with a cutout is probably the Note's top feature. It's quite the improvement over the Note 5's display - the bezels and the chin have shrunk, the pixel count grew even bigger, and so did the screen-to-body ratio. The notch, like it or not, is the most recognizable thing this year and it's on the Redmi Note 6, too.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro

So, the front is mostly screen, yes, and it's protected by a flat piece of a Gorilla Glass. Xiaomi has managed to fit more novelties besides the display, though. There is a new dual selfie camera in the notch - a 20MP snapper with a 2MP depth sensor for better portraits.

But wait, there is more. We have good news for the fans of the notification LED - it's present on the Redmi Note 6 Pro, right of the earpiece. It's white-only though, which could be a bummer for some.

The plastic frame is quite thin, but grippy thanks to its sharper shape. And the matte material further anchors the phone in your hand and makes handling the Redmi Note 6 Pro a hassle-free job.

The back has another praised feature - the dual AI camera. The Note 6 Pro borrows the setup from the Note 5 Dual AI Camera - it's a 12MP sensor with 1.4µm big pixels and bright f/1.9 lens helped by a 5MP depth-sensing cam and a dual-LED flash. The whole thing is sitting on a small hump that makes the phone wobble on a flat surface.

The audio jack did make it on the Redmi Note 6 Pro, as well as the microSD slot and the IR blaster. Well, you still have to choose between a second SIM and a memory card, but that's still a good middle ground.

The Redmi Note 6 Pro measures 157.9 x 76.4 x 8.2 mm - that's about the same as the Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera, though the Note 6 has a larger screen in the same body.

Well, the Redmi Note 6 Pro is just like the Redmi Note 5 as far as handling and looks is concerned. The bigger and notched screen brought more pixels to use, but the jury is still out on their usability. The plastic frame might improve the display's survival rate though, as it should be better at absorbing the force from those accidental drops on the floor that are bound to happen at some point.