Xiaomi serves up the big-screen experience on a shoestring

Amazing screen; good camera; fast fingerprint scanner

No NFC; no waterproofing

While there are plenty of good reasons to stick with locally-certified and available smartphones, the rise of online tech resellers in recent years has made it easier and easier - and more and more tempting - to experiment with smartphone brands that aren't usually available for Australian...

Great battery; Solid performance

Weak camera; Subject to the usual drawbacks of importing a phone

It is very good in all aspects. I am moving from IPhone to this and didn't feel any difference. In fact, the battery life is way longer than iPhone, and the price is half of the same specs iPhone. Go with it and show iPhone the doors.b

The great Redmi Note 4, now has a successor and the device is priced at Rs. 9,999 for the 3 GB/ 32 GB variant and Rs 11,999 for the 4 GB/ 64 GB variant. This means the smartphone goes in the market with very stiff competition around it.

Tall; 18:9 display; Improved camera performance; Good general performance

Dated design; Same processor as Note 4; No dual cameras

First Android phone after 5 years of Iphones. The first impression is a solid phone. The handset comes with a mounted matte display cover that gives a different feel they are shiny. It also comes with a shield in the box. Great phone for the money. Bought for just under 2000kr from NetoNet.

A big screen and a low price are paired with decent battery life, usable performance and an enhanced dual-camera in the Redmi Note 5. There are some drawbacks, such as the old Micro-USB port, lack of Quick Charge support and partly plastic build, but in other respects b udget phones don't come much...

While there are plenty of good reasons to stick with locally-certified and available smartphones, the rise of online tech resellers in recent years has made it easier and easier - and more and more tempting - to experiment with smartphone brands that aren’t usually available for Australian consumers.

Between the solid material design and build-quality, performance that swings above its price-bracket and slick software experience, the Redmi Note 5 is a smartphone that’s very easy to recommend.

Great battery; Solid performance;

Weak camera; Subject to the usual drawbacks of importing a phone;

So, no more Redmi Notes, eh Or so we thought until Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi 5 Plus in India calling it the Redmi Note 5. The Redmi 5 Plus certainly looked like a proper successor of the Redmi Note 4 so we're glad the company's lineup naming is back at making sense.

With the same internals, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is just as powerful as its predecessor, only with a brighter screen and a slightly better camera. It's the old Redmi Note 4 disguised under a taller univisium display.

Stellar battery life; Bright 18:9 display; Good camera

Recycled design; Android 7.1.2 Nougat; Recycled hardware

Xiaomi's Redmi Note series has long been our value-for-money winner. As a rule of thumb, these phones have offered exceptional performance in their class and are usually paired with an above average display and camera.