Redmi recently unveiled its newest flagship smartphone, the K80 Pro. The K-series has carved a niche for itself by offering high-end specs at a competitive price point. This year’s K80 Pro promises to be even more compelling due to a strategic shift by Redmi.
Redmi is elevating the K-series to become its premium offering, effectively bridging the gap between Xiaomi’s top-of-the-line numbered series, like the Xiaomi 15. The shift makes the K80 Pro a more premium device than its predecessors.
With these changes in mind, let’s delve into a detailed comparison of the Redmi K80 Pro and its predecessor, the Redmi K70 Pro, to see how they stack up.
1. Design and Display
Both phones boast a large, 6.67-inch OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. While both offer 2K resolution display, the K80 Pro includes Longjing Glass 2 for added front protection, whereas the K70 Pro lacks any hardened glass protection.
However, the K70 Pro takes the edge in terms of peak brightness, 4000 nits compared to the K80 Pro’s 3200 nits. The difference is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use.
The K80 Pro also features the next-generation ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display, while the K70 Pro utilizes a more traditional optical sensor.
The design language across the two generations remains fairly similar. Both phones are relatively bulky, with the K80 Pro weighing slightly more at 212g compared to the K70 Pro’s 209g. The extra weight likely comes from the K80 Pro’s larger battery.
An interesting change is the K80 Pro has IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance rating, which the K70 Pro lacked. This means the K80 Pro can survive a dunk in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.
2. Performance
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two phones lies in the heart of the device – the processor. The K80 Pro comes with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), while the K70 Pro features the still-powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm).
The new chip can reach a clock speed of a staggering 4.32GHz and is claimed to deliver a 45% improvement in multi-core performance while consuming 52% less power.
Additionally, the K80 Pro features an in-house D1 chip, which handles super-resolution, frame generation, and “super HDR” for games. The chip helps boost frame rates in demanding games and reduces the load on the Snapdragon, resulting in lower power consumption.
Both phones include effective cooling systems to manage heat. The K70 Pro uses a 5000 mm² heat-dispersing area with a vapor chamber, while the K80 Pro is equipped with a new 3D dual-loop vapor chamber, which is said to lower temperatures by up to 3°C.
3. Camera Systems
Both phones sport triple-lens rear camera systems with a 50MP main sensor. However, the K70 Pro’s telephoto lens lacks OIS (optical image stabilization) compared to the K80 Pro, which might result in slightly shakier zoomed-in photos.
The K70 Pro also has a lower resolution (12MP) ultrawide sensor compared to the K80 Pro’s 32MP offering. The selfie cameras differ slightly as well, with the K80 Pro sporting a higher resolution 20MP sensor compared to the K70 Pro’s 16MP option.
4. Battery Life and Charging
The K80 Pro comes with a larger 6000mAh battery, compared to the K70 Pro’s 5000mAh capacity. Both phones support 120W wired fast charging, but the K70 Pro charges fully in just 18 minutes due to its smaller battery. In contrast, the K80 Pro takes 28 minutes to reach 100%. Additionally, the K80 Pro includes 50W wireless charging which is missing from the K70 Pro.
5. The Verdict
The Redmi K80 Pro is a clear evolution over the K70 Pro. It offers a more powerful processor, better battery life, faster charging, and camera upgrades.
However, these upgrades come with a price increase. The K80 Pro starts at 3,700 yuan for the base 12/256GB model, which is 400 yuan more than the K70 Pro’s launch price. Even so, it remains more affordable than many other Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones, making it an excellent choice for those seeking latest tech without spending that much.
