BackXiaomi K20 review: Will click with the youngsters big time
Xiaomi K20 is one of the few phones to fully embrace the bezel-less designRedmi K20 is a solid smartphone with a lot going for it
PremiumMost of Xiaomi’s premium Mi series phones, despite their impressive features, have failed to have an impact on the premium and high mid-range. Now Xiaomi is leveraging the Redmi series brand to create buzz in the above- ₹20,000 segment. The first two phones in the new Redmi K series include the K20 Pro (starting at ₹27,999) and K20 ( ₹21,999). Here is our take on the K20.
Design
Xiaomi is making huge strides in the design department. The K20, like its more expensive sibling, looks dashing with the bezel-less front panel and the shiny glass back with dual tone finish, which is in vogue these days and appeals a lot to the younger audience. The bezel-less design, first seen in Vivo Nex, gives the K20 a narrow appearance (74.2 mm), giving it a slimmer look than any of the new Xiaomi phones including the Redmi Note 7 Pro ( measures 75.2 mm sideways). While the K20 is slim and fits comfortably into the palm, it feels far from ergonomic. At 191 grams, it weighs more than the Redmi Note 7 Pro and also feels a bit slippery due to the glass back.
The front camera module has been placed at the top and pops up automatically for selfies and video calls.
The fingerprint sensor has been integrated into the screen and glows as you lift the phone or tap on the screen. It doesn’t feel gimmicky and is also faster than many of the in-screen fingerprint sensors we have come across.
Also Read | Xiaomi Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro go on open sale in India
Display
The K20 is one of the few phones to fully embrace the bezel-less design. It's screen covers the entire front panel offering full immersion while watching movies and gaming. Unlike most phones at this price point, which use LCD screens, the K20 offers an AMOLED (6.39-inch) screen, which means better colours, contrast and deep blacks, and thus watching movies becomes very enjoyable. Xiaomi has topped it off with a respectable resolution of 2,340x1,080p and has also used Gorilla Glass 5 to protect it against scratches or accidental drops from short heights like a table.
Software
The big surprise in the K20 is the UI. Instead of the regular MIUI, which Xiaomi has been using in all Redmi phones, this one runs on the Poco interface, used in the Xiaomi Poco smartphone. At the core it is similar but has a lot more customisation options. Some may find it a bit more cluttered. However, for mainstream users who like to tinker with the interface frequently, this is by far the best custom UIs out there.
Performance
What separates the K20 form the K20 Pro is the hardware. While the latter runs on the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processors, which is found in only the top of the line phones and among immediate rivals in Asus 6Z and OnePlus 7, the former is driven by mid-range processor Snapdragon 730. It is based on the new 7nm architecture and is slightly faster than Snapdragon 675, used in the Redmi Note 7 Pro. While it was able to handle games well, for avid gamers, the K20 Pro or the Asus 6Z is a better bet.
Internal storage stands at 64GB and is expandable via microSD card. The only disappointment is that the memory card isn’t separate and has been clubbed with one of the SIM slots, so if you use both SIMs, you can’t take advantage of the expandable memory.
The 4,000mAh battery lasts longer than the OnePlus 7 and can last an entire day on one charge comfortably.
Camera
The triple camera module on the K20 Pro includes a 48-megapixel camera, 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and a 13-megapixel wide angle camera. The 4G megapixel camera isn’t active by default and has to select the specific mode to switch to it. The camera impresses a lot with its detailing and captures impressive landscape shots. Low light shots are average and look noisy. The night mode doesn’t feel gimmicky and is ideal for capturing photos in night parties.
The 20-megapixel front camera is a mixed bag and works best under bright light. We have seen better selfie cameras at this price point.
Verdict
The Redmi K20 is a solid smartphone with a lot going for it. For buyers looking for a new smartphone in the vicinity of ₹20,000, this has a plenty to offer with very few equals. Among rivals, Motorola One Vision comes close with its punch hole display design that looks better than notch or teardrop cutouts. It is also a lot handy- weighing just 180 grams, offers 128GB internal storage and offers stock Android interface. However, it runs on a slightly inferior Exynos processor. If you are more into gaming, we would recommend the K20 Pro or the Asus 6Z over the K20 for their faster processor.
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