Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Lenovo K5 Note (2018): Who’s the Low-End Segment King?

In 2018, you can get a relatively powerful device even if you are looking to spend less than 150 bucks! In my personal opinion, Xiaomi Redmi 5 and the new Lenovo K5 Note (2018) are among the best alternatives you can get in the price range just above $100. Today, we will compare Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Lenovo K5 Note (2018) as the K5 Note has just been announced and it may cannibalize the sales of the Redmi 5 which is currently one of the best-selling devices under $150.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Lenovo K5 Note (2018)

Design

Their designs are pretty good for $150. Both feature a full metal unibody design which is not the most original one, but grants a solid build quality and a sleek body. Xiaomi Redmi 5 is the more compact device, while the K5 Note is the one with a wider display which is more suitable for productivity. Aesthetically, the K5 Note reminds of the latest Honor mid-rangers due to its dual camera setup positioned near the top right corner, while Redmi 5 is a bit more original because of its design and the available color variants.

Display

Both the devices come with a tall 18:9 display, but as said above, Lenovo K5 Note has a bigger panel. The resolution is the same (HD+), so you will get a slightly higher detail on the Redmi 5 due to its higher pixel density. The HD+ resolution is not the max on a 6-inch display, but the wider panel makes it more comfortable to use with complex apps. We will not choose a winner on the display side, it is up to you to decide if you want a bigger but less detailed display or a smaller but more detailed one.

Hardware/Software

We got exactly the same SoC on these devices: the Snapdragon 450. It is an octa-core chipset for the low-end sector, but it is not the most entry-level Qualcomm’s chipset. Indeed, it is the best one from the 4xx series, so you will get a pretty decent performance if you choose one of these devices. Further, you can get up to 4 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB on the K5 Note (4/32 GB for the Redmi 5), that is a high-end memory configuration which is very good in multi-tasking. In my opinion, the MIUI found on the Redmi 5 is definitely a better user interface than the one of K5 Note. It has tons of additional features and stunning performance, so I would pick the Redmi 5 for the software. Note that K5 Note has a micro SD dedicated slot (you can use the dual SIM slot and the micro SD one at the same time).

Camera

Photos shot from the Xiaomi Redmi 5 did not surprise us too much and we believe that Lenovo K5 Note will be able to do better. Xiaomi Redmi 5 shoots detailed photos in good light conditions, but not impressive ones, and a lot of digital noise starts appearing with low light. Lenovo K5 Note has an interesting dual camera with a 16MP resolution capable of calculating depth for an excellent bokeh effect. We are yet to see the first camera samples, but it seems better on the paper.

Battery

The battery side is another victory for Lenovo K5 Note. It features a massive 3760 mAh unit. Paired with very efficient components such as the Snapdragon 450 SoC and the HD+ display, we believe it will provide a full day of battery life even with a stressed use. Xiaomi Redmi 5 still has a satisfying battery life, but it isn’t as good as its opponent.

Price

The best thing is that both Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Lenovo K5 Note are sold at the same and very affordable price tag. In their 3/32 GB variant, both start from 799 Yuan in China (roughly $124/€106). Xiaomi is always the king of quality-price ratio, but this time it has a very good competition. According to us, Lenovo K5 Note wins the comparison thanks to its bigger battery and potentially better camera department.

What’s your pick?

Xiaomi Redmi 5 vs Lenovo K5 Note (2018): PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi 5

PRO

• Compact size
• Low price
• Good hardware
• Advanced software

CONS

• Average camera

Lenovo K5 Note 2018

PRO

• Big battery
• Wide display
• Nice hardware
• Interesting cameras

CONS

• Limited availability