Xiaomi Redmi S2 Global Review
Many complain that lately Xiaomi has presented many smartphones, which are similar in terms of design and features, going to cover the individual needs of users too far, and among these devices is also the Redmi S2, on the scene from the 10 May and that the "mission" is to offer the typical characteristics of flagships, such as photos at the top, full screen display in 18: 9 and performance level, all at a very low price. Today we have the pleasure to bring on our blog the review of Xiaomi Redmi S2, thanks to the sending of the sample provided by Gearbest.com that we deeply thank.
As seen in the models belonging more or less to the same price range, the Redmi S2 packaging is well looked after, orange color (global version, red china version) in which we will find a comfortable soft transparent silicone cover from the excellent quality that in addition to protecting the smartphone helps to eliminate the small step that is created with the protrusion of the rear chamber, making the Redmi S2 more stable once it is placed on a plane. Finally the inevitable mini user guide (in English), the cable for charging and transferring data micro USB, lo needle for removing the SIM tray and wall charger with European plug and 5V – 2A output.
Xiaomi Redmi S2 looks like one cheap smartphone and does not want to hide its nature, in fact it is proposed with one shell completely made of opaque polycarbonate (in my case in the gray color) that has the fact of not retaining the fat of fingerprints at all. Beautiful design of the signal receiving antennas which are configured with delle U lines that run along the upper and lower profile of the device, reminding the distant Maori drawings. Also on the back we find the fingerprint sensor almost flush with the body that overall has always been efficient, quick in unlocking and that can be used to take photos or block third-party access to certain applications.
Finally we find the double rear camera arranged vertically and which also houses the LED flash. Scrolling on the perimeter of the Redmi S2 we can meet the main microphone, themicro USB input for charging with support for the OTG function and the mono system speaker on the bottom; volume rocker and on / off button on the right profile; according to microphone for the reduction of environmental noise, IR transmitter to control TV and other devices as well as thejack input from 3,5 mm at the top; the left profile is relegated to SIM cart that manages to accommodate well 2 SIM in nano format and a micro SD card to expand the integrated memory up to 256 GB, a solution that we hope to see in other devices and not only in those entry level proposed by the company.
Although the appearance of the device does not hide its economic nature, the construction is really well done as I have not at all recognized crunches of sorts but above all I noticed the attention to details by the company, such as for the volume and power keys made instead of metal. Even the grip and ergonomics are very appreciable, also because of the reduced weight of the Redmi S2 equal to 170 grams (160,73 x 77,26 x 8.1mm dimensions), despite the large display size.
Un IPS diplay that on Redmi S2 reaches one diagonal of 5,99 inches in 18 format: 9 that "suffers" only for the HD + resolution from 1440 x 720 pixels, 269 PPI, on which Xiaomi seems to have worked at least from an aesthetic point of view, proposing anyway frames rather small for the market range where the smartphone is located. In any case, the display managed to be appreciated anyway the color rendering has always been clear even under direct sunlight (450 nits, 1000 contrast: 1), maybe the colors are slightly off but even at strong angles they remain very stable. It is present at the software level the possibility to choose the color temperature and the contrast, but the choices are limited to the hot, normal and cold options that in fact do not bring any benefit.
Poco matter, why the Redmi S2 panel in daily use comes out with its head held high while unfortunately the touch is not optimized, which records up to 10 contact points at the same time. In particular, on the side edges when we activate the screen gestures, sometimes the command is not taken which is even more emphasized in negative if we use a protective cover. Xiaomi also has saved on the glass that protects the screen as it is perfectly smooth, in short, no 2.5D workmanship, while the protection from scratches and small bumps donated by Corning Gorilla Glass is good.
Finally, in the upper part of the display we find i proximity and brightness sensors, a small monochromatic notification LED (white color), the ear capsule and the selfie camera accompanied by an LED flash for better shots in low light conditions. On the other hand, we do not find any function keys because they are inserted on the display and that at the software level can be inverted or even hidden by exploiting them Full Screen gesture made available by the MIUI interface.
And then we talk about software that in the case of Xiaomi Redmi S2 is based on the operating system Android 8.1.0 Oreo with security patches updated to the 05 2018 March and customized interface from MIUI in 9.5.3.0 Global Stable version, then present the Italian language, the Play Store and all Google services fully functional by default.
I will not elaborate much in telling you about MIUI except by telling you that basic the general fluidity of the system is fast and lending, where you can customize aspects and permissions in the smallest details. It's possible create a Second Space, that is a real secondary system to differentiate, for example, files related to work life from private life, but it is also possible clone certain applications to have two social accounts available on a single smartphone. It is possible to insert the reading mode for the evening hours, thus reducing the amount of blue light emitted from the display but above all set themes to make the appearance of the customized system even more unique.
Themes that for some time now are usable only if we select how region of belonging, a different one from Italy, for which we recommend Hong Kong (but also Russia, Indonesia, India and Taiwan) so enable also the unlock with the face. Function that uses the front camera and therefore takes place in 2D mode but which all in all proves to be quite precise and reliable in most situations, poco illuminated.
Finally MIUI 9.5 on Redmi S2 offers us the possibility, as anticipated before, of take advantage of the screen gestures, which replace the buttons on the display giving in fact the additional space for the content to the latter. We can go back, go back to the Home or activate multitasking making the use experience even more modern.
Xiaomi Redmi S2 does not bring anything new in terms of hardware, indeed it takes the good old "processor" from the components' basket Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, which we have appreciated for a long time on Xiaomi mid range terminals, due to the good energy and performance optimization. Supplied with the octacore chipset with clock from 2.0 GHz, we find the Adreno GPU 506 e 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of expandable internal storage (there is also the 4 GB version of RAM and 64 GB archive). On balance they remain free about 1,5 / 1,6 GB of RAM, more than enough to keep open many applications that in fact translate into a more than satisfying daily use, in which apps like Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Telegram, Youtube and internet browsing they are the masters, and that on Redmi S2 are executed without any particular problem.
Even in games we do not find particular problems, but what I did not appreciate and maybe one poor processor optimization probably attributable to the MIUI version. In fact I could find one general slowness of the system, as in the loading of photos in the gallery, or for example in the delay with which the system receives the command to start a video recording. Nothing dramatic and resolvable with the future release of MIUI 10, which will make the user experience really smooth and fast, but at the moment you will have to deal with this little annoyance.
And I continue on the negative notes talking about the battery that in the case of Redmi S2 is a unit from 3080 mAh that combined with the good energy savings offered by the Snapdragon 625 and the low resolution of the display it should give exaggerated durations. Anything else I only managed to get poco more than 5 hours and 30 minutes of active screen. This does not mean that we will not be able to arrive in the evening, on the contrary, it depends a lot on the actual use of the smartphone, so I'm not mistaken in stating that all types of users will arrive at the end of the day without having to recharge it first, which requires about 2 hours and 20 minutes with the included charger, while fast charging is not supported.
Fortunately we also have excellent news, like the full support for the 4G LTE also on 20 to 800 MHz band in fact making the Redmi S2 usable without problems with every mobile operator. Excellent reception and no difficulty in changing the cell. The sound is clear and clean during phone calls for both us and our interlocutor. Even if we use the speakerphone the audio quality is not bad as listening to music and / or multimedia content is definitely of good quality, rather powerful volume that never distorts even if it is lacking in the bass frequency ranges.
Positive considerations for reception too GPS (GPS / AGPS / GLONASS / Beidou) which allows us to locate the smartphone with an accuracy of about 3 meters. Excellent working with Google Maps both by car and on foot. To this we also associate a form Bluetooth 4.2 with stable reception up to 10 flow meters and a module Single band b / g / n WiFi at 2,4 Ghz, also with more than decent reception and with support for WiFi Direct.
Finally we talk about the queen of the features of Xiaomi Redmi S2 or the camera that in the back is composed of a double vertical module with Sony IMX486 primary sensor from 12 megapixel and opening ffinal match. (1.25 pixel surface nm) while the second sensor comes into play only in portrait mode and turns out to be the Samsung S5K5E8 from 5 megapixel also with aperture f/ 2.2.
In the light of day the shots given away by this camera are definitely very beautiful and rich in details with one good fidelity of the captured colors. PDAF auto focus works quickly and reliably with shutter speeds decidedly lightning. The difference between entry level devices and more expensive models is becoming more and more thin and this is also demonstrated by the portrait mode that in most cases manages to divide the subject from the background so certosino, blurring the latter in a professional manner. We also find further confirmations in the videos that can be recorded with maximum resolution in Full HD to 30 fps supported by electronic image stabilizer that in practice works great. Besides this we have the possibility to carry out slow motion and time lapse but also the function Automatic HDR.
The "S" of Redmi S2 not only announced a new Redmi series but refers in particular to the Selfie function. In fact, frontally we find a lens with sensor Samsung S5K3P8SP from 16 megapixel and opening ffinal match. (1,2 nm pixel surface) that allows us to get it too shots in portrait mode with blurred background, through AI software that above all in conditions of good luminosity it carries out its job very well. Unfortunately, the high number of megapixels does not do justice, in fact the photos often seem "battered" and with problems in the white balance returning photos with "burned" details.
Xiaomi also at the software level also provides the Beauty function, much appreciated in the East, but that in my opinion even worse the final rendering of a photo making in fact almost fake the photographed subject. Also in this case we can record videos in Full HD format to 30 fps but without stabilization while the automatic HDR is present. At the level of nocturnal photographic yield, both for the front and rear cameras, the presence of noise is inevitable, also due to the focal aperture decidedly "low", but in any case Redmi S2 is one of the best performing smartphones in low light conditions, always in comparison with the price of the smartphone.
Conclusions
Xiaomi Redmi S2 showed some "uncertainties" that surely (as happened for Redmi Note 5) will come resolved with the MIUI 10 update, because the device in question falls into the list of devices that will benefit from the upgrade. With a price in line with that of Redmi 5 Plus, which has a better build quality and a more defined display, it becomes difficult to recommend this model, or better depends on the real needs, If you focus more on the construction quality then the choice is undeniable of Redmi 5 Plus or even if you have a higher budget absolutely the balance needle hangs instead on Redmi Note 5. But if the budget is limited but you do not want to give up reliability and photographic performance then Xiaomi Redmi S2 is certainly a more than just choice, in fact at this price you will not find any rival that offers the same performance. Also it should be considered that Redmi S2 is complete throughout, in the equipment of sensors, support for the 20 LTE band, dual SIM and memory expansion without renouncing the functionality of Dual SIM Dual Standby and much more ... As always if you are convinced of this deal you can contact the store Gearbest.com always ready to offer the best news from the tech scene by Xiaomi.
[...] Xiaomi Redmi S2 [...]
Hi, thanks for the review, it's very interesting and they made me decide to buy. Please, I would like information on the type of shipment, I do not want to pay customs duties. When choosing the shipping options I am faced with these options:
EU priority Line € 1.79 13-15 business days
Priority Line
Italy Express € 0.41 7-15 business days
EU priority Line € 1.79 13-15 business days
Expedited Shipping
DHL € 7.24 7-10 business days
DHL (HK) € 7.62 3-8 business days
Which shipping should I select to avoid paying extra taxes in particular to avoid customs duties? Thank you
Sorry for the delay in replying. Choose Priotity Line - Italy Express
Ok, thanks anyway, I already did