Xiaomi goes all-in with new 64MP Redmi phone

Redmi is positioned as a budget-friendly category.- Supplied photo

Xiaomi on Monday, October 14, introduced its newest range of Redmi smartphones in the UAE, aiming to capitalise on the mid-range market that has been growing thanks to flagship-level offerings.
The company launched four devices - the Redmi 8, 8A, Note 8 and Note 8 Pro - in Dubai. All devices put a focus on essential daily tasks and artificial intelligence-backed photography.
Eric Wong, country manager of Xiaomi UAE, said that the Redmi Note 7, which was revealed in January this year, sold 20 million units globally. Overall, Redmi devices have crossed the 100 million mark.
Redmi is positioned as a budget-friendly category. It is a sub-brand of Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi, which is the world's fourth-largest smartphone vendor behind Apple, Huawei and Samsung.
International Data Corporation figures show that the Beijing-headquartered company shipped 32.3 million units in the second quarter of 2019, good for a 9.7 per cent market share.
"Standing by what we call 'honour price' - the right price for the right value - we would never charge people a lot for a smartphone," Ashraf Fawakherji, general manager of Task FZCO, the exclusive distributor of Xiaomi in the UAE, said at the event.
"These are actual upgrades of phones and quality and for users... so they can enjoy what they do all the time."
The top-end Redmi 8 Pro comes with a quadruple-lens camera system bannered by a world-first 64MP main sensor, supported by 8MP ultra-wide-angle, 2MP macro and 2MP depth-control lenses. It is also pegged for gaming and has the biggest battery in a Redmi by far that promised two-day life.
The device, which comes with a 6.53-inch screen and 6GB of RAM, will retail for Dh949 (64GB) and Dh1,049 (128GB).
The Redmi Note 8 Pro will be available through etisalat, Carrefour and Mi Stores starting this week.
The Redmi Note 8, meanwhile, features a 6.3-inch display, 4GB of RAM and also comes with a quad-lens camera, led by a 48MP sensor. It is priced at Dh729 and Dh829, respectively.
The entry-level Redmi 8 and 8A start at Dh499 and Dh399, respectively.
alvin@khaleejtimes.com