Xiaomi has shifted its strong attention towards young smartphone users. This is well indicated by the latest Y series launched by the Chinese smartphone maker. In June 2018, Xiaomi launched the Redmi Y2, the successor to the Redmi Y1. Redmi Y2 is highly similar to the Redmi S2 launched in China. The price of this device has been kept at ₹9,999 for the Indian audience. The device is available in Rose Gold, Elegant Gold and Dark Grey colour options.
Here’s my Redmi Y2 review.
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Specifications
The device is a dual SIM smartphone that accepts Nano-SIM in both slots. The phone features a 5.99-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 X 1440 pixels. The handset weighs 170 gm and measures 160.73 x 77.26 x 8.10 mm.
Also read: Redmi Y1 Review
The Redmi Y2 is powered by a 2GHz octa-core processor, paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via a microSD card. The device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo and is fuelled by a 3080mAh non-removable battery.
The smartphone sports a 16MP front camera and a 12MP primary camera on the rear. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, Infrared, 3G and 4G, while the sensors on board are the compass/magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor and gyroscope.
Related: Best mobile phones in India
Technical Features
Display Size: 5.99-inch touchscreen
Screen Resolution: 720 X 1440 pixels
Processor: 2GHz octa-core processor
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Front Camera: 16MP
Back Camera: 12MP
Battery: 3080mAh
Display and Looks
At first glance, the Redmi Y2 seems to share some similarities with the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the MiA1. A marginal upgrade from the Redmi Y1, Redmi Y2 comes with a 5.99-inch display with an HD+ resolution of 720×1440 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. Thanks to the 18:9 aspect ratio, the device is narrow and tall, which I really liked. But I didn’t like how I couldn’t reach the top of the elongated display without shuffling the smartphone in my palm. What further makes this sturdy device difficult to operate with one hand is its 170gm weight.
Talking of the build, the device is entirely made of plastic, which doesn’t make the phone look premium at all. This is something that could be a turn-off for buyers, as compared to the Redmi Note series, which is primarily made of metal.
To give a comfortable grip to the user, Xiaomi has given rounded corners to the display, as well as curved sides. You’ll find this in other smartphones launched by the Chinese brand of late.
The device gives an acceptable colour output and decent viewing angles. However, the outdoor legibility of the Redmi Y2 is poor and the screen gets slightly reflective in sunlight.
Performance and Battery
The Redmi Y2 is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 625 SoC, clocked at 2.0GHz. The device is available in two RAM/ROM variants, one with 3GB RAM/32GB of storage, and the other with 4GB RAM/64GB storage. However, both models come with a dedicated microSD card slot, using which you can expand the device’s storage capacity up to 256GB. The specifications were good enough to impress me. I found the phone’s day-to-day performance pretty good and hiccup-free too.
The Redmi Y2 runs Xiaomi’s custom UI, MIUI 9.5, on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. In comparison with custom skins on other smartphones, MIUI is a properly furnished and bloat-free interface. The device comes with Dual Apps, Second Space and theme support, and all Xiaomi’s UI customization. It is rumoured that Xiaomi will roll out MIUI 10 for Redmi Y2 soon. In the current Y2, the user has the option to use gesture navigation instead of navigation buttons, which has received a few tweaks too.
Redmi Y2 is powered by a 3080mAh battery that stays charged for almost the entire day. However, if you are an aggressive user like me, do not expect the battery to last the whole day. In the box, you’ll find a 10W charger, which doesn’t support fast charging. Apart from this, you’ll find a micro-USB cable and a case in the box.
Camera and Apps
Xiaomi knows that a good camera setup is a major requirement for a smartphone choice. It is for this reason that the Redmi Y2 focuses on providing great selfies. For the selfie camera, Xiaomi has opted for a 16MP sensor, with a diffused selfie light. The selfie light doesn’t hurt the eyes and works well to help capture some pretty decent photos in low lights or indoors. I really liked how the phone made the necessary beautification enhancements after recognizing faces in the shot.
The device features a dual camera setup on the rear, consisting of a primary camera of 12MP and a 5MP secondary camera. The device features an auto HDR mode. In most situations, the HDR worked well but failed to capture details in low light.
There is a conveniently placed fingerprint scanner on the Redmi Y2 too. To unlock the phone, the Chinese phone maker has also added face recognition in this model. After setting and using the face unlock, I found it too slow and it lacked accuracy in comparison with other smartphones. Lately, many reviewers have reported that they managed to unlock the phone using their photos.
Redmi Y2 Price
The 3GB RAM variant of the Redmi Y2 is priced at ₹9,999, while the 4GB variant is priced at ₹12,999. Both smartphones are available on Amazon India and Mi.com. The devices are also available offline at the Mi Home stores.
Reasons Why I Like This Phone
- Solid build
- Excellent front camera
- Affordable
Reasons Why I Hate This Phone
- Slightly heavy
- Debatable face recognition
- Average battery life
In terms of the price, Redmi Y2 is similar to Redmi Note 5, with similar hardware. However, if you are looking for a smartphone with superior camera quality, Redmi Y1 is undoubtedly the winner.
