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You have been anticipating our Redmi Note 7 review for a while now. Trust me: this is a good read (even if I say so myself). What we have here is an interesting device that offers so much value for money that we wholeheartedly recommend it.
Redmi Note 7 Review: Quick Specs
- Display : 6.3″ HD+, IPS display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
- Selfie camera : 13 MP
- Rear camera : 48 MP + 5 MP dual camera with LED flash
- Software : Android 9 Pie + MIUI 10
- Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core, with Adreno 512 GPU
- RAM : 3 GB of RAM
- Memory : 32 GB storage.
- Battery : 4000 mAh with fast charging
Redmi Note 7 Review: Quick Pros And Cons
Before we dive into the review proper, starting with the major pros and cons of this device.
- With Gorilla Glass 5 protection front and back, the Redmi Note 7 is tough to break.
- Great battery life.
- Fast battery charging.
- Very good dual camera.
- Does not support Glo 4G band
- the body is a fingerprint magnet.
Redmi Note 7 Review: In the box
- the phone itself
- transparent silicone case
- user guide
- warranty notice
- USB Type-C cable
- 5V/2A power adapter
There is no 3.5mm audio cable in the box, though the Redmi Note 7 has a port for it.
This is a very beautifully designed smartphone. It feels light in the hand too. However you look at the Redmi Note 7, you will like it. Because it has glass on both front and back, you will naturally worry about it falling and getting damaged. But the glass is Gorilla Glass 5, and it is hard to break. In the first few days of being with us, the Redmi Note 7 fell to the hard tiled floor twice and got no scratches or cracks.
We have already shared a video I recorded of the Note 7 taking a beating at the launch event. Just in case you missed it, here it is again:
We also later put it through a drop test, in which we dropped it a number of times. We wanted to see what would happen in the most common scenario that users experience – their smartphone falling to the floor. How did it perform? Here is our drop test video:
As you can see, the Redmi Note 7 still came up intact and without a scratch or break, even after dropping it twice. We added a concrete floor drop test too. Did it break this time? Have a look:
As such, after a while, our fear of it being delicate disappeared, and I must say that it feels good to carry a phone around without the fear that the screen will crack or shatter should it drop. This Redmi phone is built to survive the daily beatings that damage many other smartphones.
Redmi Note 7 Review: Software
Redmi Note 7 runs MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie, and it is a light and breezy experience. User navigation is iPhone-style, though, which is something Xiaomi has been known for. There is no app drawer. Swipe horizontally to access all your apps. That’s it.
There is an aspect of the software that I do not like. Even though I was not signed in to a Mi Account (Xiaomi’s software ecosystem), Mi Message keeps nagging me to turn it on, like this:
Redmi Note 7 review: Mi Message nags you on and on.
No; I do not want to turn Mi Message on. Every time I respond by tapping “Ignore”, it is only a little while later before the nag message shows up again. Irritating. Perhaps there is a way to block this nagging off permanently.
Redmi Note 7 Review: Network And Telephony
Telephone calls are solid on this mid-ranger. There is also 3G and 4G Internet connectivity available. However, Glo 4G users will be disappointed, as there is no support for that network’s LTE band 28. If you want to use a Glo SIM card with the Redmi Note 7, the most you will be able to use is a 3G connection. But if you put in two compatible 4G SIM cards, you can set both to have active 4G connections at the same time.
Redmi Note 7 Review: Display And Multimedia
We love the FHD+ display of the Note 7. It is clear and bright and works well for reading, viewing photos, as well as watching video content.
However, as is the norm with mid-rangers, audio playback on the loudspeakers has a shortage of bass. It isn’t disappointing: the best loudspeakers on smartphones are found among premium devices. The Redmi Note 7 is a mid-ranger. But plug in a decent pair of earphones or a decent Bluetooth loudspeaker, and the Note 7 delivers very good audio. Which is what most people will do anyway.
Redmi Note 7 Review: Photography
Xiaomi is very excited about the 48 MP dual camera at the back of the Redmi Note 7. So, we took this 48 MP camera phone for a walk in the park and returned with some pictures for you to examine.
And below, we cropped into the above picture to show what levels of details the Redmi Note 7’s 48 MP camera can capture. Look at the distance involved. What do you think?
And here is a portrait shot…
A daylight selfie in portrait mode…
And some night photos…
A few minutes after I took the above photo, “ Up NEPA!!!! ” People living in Nigeria will understand.
And a nightfie from the front-facing camera…
What do you think of the Redmi Note 7’s cameras?
Redmi Note 7 Review: Multitasking And Performance
With 3 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 660 processor, the Redmi Note 7 is a breeze in usage. It isn’t the snappiest of smartphones around, but it is as snappy as you would expect a device in its class to be.
Redmi Note 7 Review: Battery life
Topping up the Redmi Note 7’s battery is fast, thanks to QuickCharge 4.0. Note that the included charger is a 10W (QuickCharge 1) unit. If you want to experience the full fast charging capabilities of the Redmi Note 4, you need to buy a QuickCharge 4 charger for use with it.
So, how long does it take to charge? Using the included charger, it takes a little over 2 hours to fill up the 4000 mAh battery. It goes from 0 to 30% in 30 minutes though, which is the fastest phase of the charging session. We tried two other Quick Charge 3 (18W) fast chargers and it didn’t charge any faster than that.
And once topped up though, this is one of those smartphones you do not have to worry about running out of power in a few hours. Heavy users can squeeze out a work day from it. Light users will easilly get two days out of it.
Final Words: Is Redmi Note 7 a good phone?
The Redmi Note 7 is a well-rounded smartphone that stands out in a number of ways, including durability, battery life, and camera. Of this phone, we say that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
And to top it off, it comes at a very good price. At ₦58,000 (for the 3 GB / 32 GB variant), you will be hard-pressed to find better value for your money. This is a remarkable smartphone for anyone hunting for a mid-range phone. And with that, we have come to the end of our Redmi Note 7 review.
Other Redmi Note 7 Resources
Redmi Note 7 Specs .
Redmi Note 7 unboxing and hands-on .
If you want to buy Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Go for LTE band 28(700) support, read this first .
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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Being able to buy a smartphone and pay in installments has obvious benefits. The most glaring is that it helps you purchase the latest phones without stretching your cash flow thin. In other words, you do not have to empty your pocket or bank account in order not to miss out on new devices.
It is a way of making phones affordable for more people. The flip side is that you have to pay an interest on the selling price of the phone, so you end up paying more at the end of the day. However, it is a win-win for both buyer and seller.
Buying a smartphone on an installment plan is becoming more essential as the prices of smartphones go up. Manufacturers are improving on their products and adding more cutting edge features to them. The consequence of this is that prices also go up. The current crop of 2020 premium flagship smartphones, for example, are hitting the range of $1,000.
What is an installment plan?
Paying in installments means splitting up the payment for a device from one bulk sum to smaller multiple amounts. So, a 2-month instalment plan means that the payment is spread across two months, while a 6-month installment plan means that the payment is spread across 6 months. An installment plan is a credit-based transaction.
This is called financing in some countries, e.g., the US. You will find it called “pay small small” in Nigeria, Ghana, and other countries in Africa.
What is an example of an Installment Plan?
For example, instead of paying the full price for an iPhone 13 Pro Max one time, you can get it on a contract or installment plan and pay as little as $100 monthly for between several months. Depending on the details of the financing or credit scheme, the monthly payments can be spread over as many as 24 months.
- Don’t miss our reviews .
- Follow our news on Google News .
- Join our WhatsApp Group , to be notified of the most important articles and deals,
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
