Xiaomi recently launched its next-generation of the Redmi series with the launch of Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro. The Redmi Note 5 comes with a price tag of Rs 9,999 for the 3GB RAM variant, while the 4GB RAM option is priced at Rs 11,999.The Redmi Note 5 Pro is priced at Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM option, while the 6GB RAM variant is priced at Rs 16,999.
Though the Redmi Note 5 Pro is the first device that has been launched in India first and then in other markets, the Redmi Note 5 brings the much-needed upgrade in the Redmi Note series. The smartphone comes with the new 18:9 display, while rest of the specifications largely remains the same. Therefore, if you are planning to buy the latest Redmi Note 5, we suggest you consider these top 5 alternatives.
Honor 7X
The first smartphone that comes to our mind is the Honor 7X. Both the smartphonesare well matched on display with the Redmi Note 5 sporting a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display, while the Honor 7X sports a 5.93-inch Full HD+ display. Both of them have a similar resolution, but the display on the Redmi Note 5 looks a bit on the cooler side, while the display on Honor 7X provides warmer colour output. In terms of design, Honor 7X looks more premium and sleek as compared to the Redmi Note 5. Check out the detailed specs of Honor 7X.
On the camera front, the Honor 7X looks more promising with its dual-camera setup at the rear which includes a 16-megapixel primary sensor with LED Flash, PDAF and a secondary 2-megapixel sensor. Read our detailed review of the Honor 7X here. In its front lies an 8-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls.The Redmi Note 5 makes do with a single camera setup and it also sports a lower 5-megapixel sensor as compared to Honor 7X. Click here for the Camera samples and picturesof Honor 7X. In terms of software, the Honor 7X has an EDGE over Redmi Note 5 as the former runs on Android 8.0 Oreo which is based on EMUI 8.0, while the latter is powered by MIUI 9 based on Android Nougat.
In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 5 takes a lead with a small margin with a combination of 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage along with Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Processor and a 4,000mAh battery. Lastly, the Redmi Note 5 is a bit cheaper with 4GB RAM variant priced at Rs 11,999, while the Honor 7X is priced at Rs 12,999 for the 3GB variant.
Lenovo K8 Note
Coming to the Lenovo K8 Note, the smartphone surely gives a stiff competition to the Redmi Note 5 in almost all the departments. Starting with the display, the Redmi Note 5 has an edge as the smartphone bears the new 18:9 display with better screen resolution as compared to K8 Note’s 5.5-inch Full HD display. The Lenovo K8 Note has an advantage of dual rear cameras and better front-facing camera. The phone comes loaded with a combination of 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel shooter at the rear along with 13-megapixel shooter at the front. Check out the review of the Lenovo K8 Note.
In terms of performance, Lenovo K8 Note is powered by a MediaTek Helio x23 deca-core processor along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The Chipset is surely powerful and gives a stiff competition to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 624 SoC. For detailed specs of the Lenovo K8 Note click here. However, the Redmi Note 5 is offering double the storage (64GB) and more RAM (4GB). Interestingly, both the smartphones run on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and are backed by a 4000mAh battery. Both of them come with the same price tag of Rs 11,999 making the K8 note a strong opponent of the Redmi Note 5. (Check out the pictures of Lenovo K8 Note)
Xiaomi Mi A1
This is where it gets really interesting. Xiaomi’s first Android One smartphone is surely considered as an arch rival of the newly-launched Redmi Note 5. These are the detailed specs of Xiaomi Mi A1. The major advantage of the Mi A1 is the fact that it runs on stock Android provided by Google and we all know that the majority of users remain in favour of stock Android over MIUI 9 (yes, we are talking about the deleted Tweet from Xiaomi). Check out our verdict on Xiaomi Mi A1.
Apart from this, the Mi A1 also has an advantage of dual rear cameras with a combination of two 12-megapixel sensors. The primary sensor sports a Wide-Angle lens, while the secondary camera offers telephoto lens. The camera is surely better in Mi A1 as compared to the Redmi Note 5. In terms of performance, both the smartphones bear the same processor, RAM and storage option.
The Redmi Note 5 runs on Android Nougat, but Mi A1 recently got Android Oreo update. In terms of display, the Redmi Note 5 has an edge with the 18:9 display, but in terms of design, Mi A1 gives a much more premium feel. The Xiaomi Mi A1 comes with a price tag of Rs 13,999 and but for the extra Rs2,000, is clearly the better choice here.
Motorola Moto G5 Plus
Though some might consider Moto G5 Plus be an old device, it continues to turn up as an option worth considering. Firstly, the older Moto G5 Plus is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, which is present in the Redmi Note 5. Click here to know more about Moto G5 Plus. The phone is backed by a 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, which is again similar to what we have seen in Redmi Note 5 except the storage.
Again, both the smartphones feature a 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera. In terms of terms of design, the Moto G5 Plus is compact, while the Redmi Note 5 looks more immersive. In terms of display, the Redmi Note 5 bears a better 5.99-inch Full HD+ display as compared to the 5.2-inch Full HD display present in the Moto G5 Plus. Check out the photos of Moto G5 Plus. Both the smartphones run on Android Nougat, but it is Redmi Note 5 that sports a better battery backup of 4000mAh as compared to the 3000mAh battery found in the Moto G5 Plus. The latter is Rs 1,000 cheaper than the Redmi Note 5 and yes it is still can be considered as a good alternative to Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, if that final Rs 1000 is bridge too far.
Honor 9 Lite
One area where the Redmi Note 5 is weak is its design. The smartphone makes it to the list of identical looking smartphones from Xiaomi and this is why Honor 9 Lite is a very serious challenger. Click here to know full specs of Honor 9 Lite. Firstly, it comes loaded with a glass design, which gives a premium and stylish look. The phone is more compact than the Redmi Note 5 while bearing almost similar display and resolution. Another department where the Honor 9 Lite looks more promising is the software which is based on Android Oreo instead of Android Nougat present in the Redmi Note 5.
The Honor 9 Lite also beats the Redmi Note 5 is the camera department (Check out the Honor 9 Lite). On one hand, the Redmi Note 5 bears a single camera both at the back and front, on the other, the Honor 9 Lite comes loaded with a quad-camera setup with two cameras being at the back and two at the front. However, the Honor 9 Lite has its share of drawbacks as well. It bears a much smaller 3000mAh battery and the performance on the Redmi Note 5 seems to be better (Honor 9 Lite Review: Premium design raises some serious bar in budget segment!) The Honor 9 Lite is priced at Rs 10,999 for the 3GB RAM variant, while the 4GB RAM option comes with a price tag of Rs 14,999. So, if you are looking a for good-looking smartphone along with a better set of cameras, but can live with lower storage option, then Honor 9 Lite is the option for you.