Xiaomi recently launched the Mi 6X phone in China. The Mi 6X looks like a love child of the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Mi 5X which was re-branded and later launched in India as the Mi A1. The USP of the Mi 6X, according to Xiaomi is its “picture perfect dual camera” consisting of one 12-megapixel sensor and another 20-megapixel sensor. Further, the Mi 6X will also ship with a 20-megapixel front camera capable of shooting software-based portrait selfies much line with the company’s popular Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Clearly, the Mi 6X has a lot in common with the Redmi Note 5 Pro, and yet when you look closely, you’ll find it’s a whole new ball-game altogether. The Mi 6X is particularly interesting with regards to India since its predecessor, the Mi 5X, became the Mi A1 for this market. The Mi 6X, likewise, may end up becoming the Mi A2 for all we know. In that case, going by its pricing, the Mi 6X/Mi A2 would stand toe-to-toe with the Redmi Note 5 Pro on arrival. Here’s a closer at Xiaomi’s Mi 6X and Redmi Note 5 Pro.

1.In terms of design, the Mi 6X looks a lot like the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Mi 5X had a baby. The front is big and bezel-less while the dual camera module on the back is reminiscent to how things are on-board the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The antenna placement is more in line with how things were on the Mi 5X which means that the Mi 6X is also a metal unibody phone with its antennas located at the extreme ends of the device so you’re more likely to not notice them. In the case of the Redmi Note 5 Pro, these are placed right where you can see them, and also these result in the top and bottom ends being plastic. The Mi 6X, much like the Redmi Note 5 Pro, also comes with an always-on fingerprint scanner on the rear. While its current breed of devices max out at 4, the Mi 6X will come in as many as 5 colour options. The Mi 6X will be available in Cherry Blossom Pink, Fiery Red, Quicksand Gold, Glacier Blue, and Black. That’s the most for any Xiaomi phone to date.

2.Much like the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the Mi 6X also comes with a 5.99-inch ‘full-screen’ FHD+ display with a 2160x1080p resolution and 403ppi pixel density. Because Xiaomi has shaved off much of the bezels on the top and bottom and also on the sides, the Mi 6X should feel much smaller than regular 6-inch phones. Also, it supports an unusual aspect ratio of 18:9, as against the more traditional 16:9.

3.In terms of core hardware, the Mi 6X is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is a big upgrade to the Snapdragon 625 that was found on the Mi 5X. It is in fact a big upgrade to the Snapdragon 636 that is found on the Redmi Note 5 Pro as well. Should Xiaomi launch this phone in India, at around the same price as its China pricing, the Mi 6X would be the most powerful phone in that segment. Xiaomi already sells the Snapdragon 636-based Redmi Note 5 Pro in India, but, ever since Asus launched the ZenFone Max Pro M1 in India, with the same chipset and lower price, the Chinese brand got some serious company. In India, the only phone to be powered by the Snapdragon 660 right now, is the Nokia 7 Plus and that phone costs almost Rs 26,000.

4.The Mi 6X will be available in three versions: 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is available in two versions: 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Both the phones support expandable storage.

5.The Mi 6X runs Android Oreo-based MIUI 9 while the Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with Android 7.1.1 Nougat-based MIUI 9 out-of-the-box.

6.The Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with a dual camera system on the rear consisting of one 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and another 5-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture. Both are RGB. While the primary sensor has a 1.25um size to capture more light, the secondary sensor assists in portrait shots or photos with shallow depth of field. The dual camera system, in the Redmi Note 5 Pro, further comes with phase detection autofocus and a dual-LED (dual-tone) flash. There’s EIS for videos but videos are capped to 1080p at 30fps. The dual camera module on the back of the Mi 6X comes with one 12-megapixel sensor (Sony IMX 486 sensor) and another 20-megapixels sensor (Sony IMX 376 sensor). Both the sensors have an f/1.75 aperture. The dual camera is further assisted by a dual-LED (dual-tone) flash. And, it comes with lots and lots of artificial intelligence. The Mi 6X, like Xiaomi’s Mi Mix 2S can detect scenes and then accordingly it can optimise contrast and saturation in photos.

7.Both the phones sport a 20-megapixel camera on the front with LED flash and support for face unlock.

8.The Mi 6X is backed by a 3,010mAh battery, and charges over USB Type-C with support for fast charging (Quick Charge 3.0) packed in. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is backed by a 4,000mAh battery but doesn’t support fast charging. Also, it charges over standard micro-USB.

9.The Xiaomi Mi 6X will start at 1,599 RMB (roughly Rs 16,904) for the base 4GB RAM and 64GB storage version, while the top-end version with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage will cost buyers 1,999 RMB (roughly Rs 21,138). The Mi 6X will also be available in 6GB RAM and 64GB storage option for 1,799 RMB (roughly Rs 19,023). The Redmi Note 5 Pro starts at Rs 13,999 for the base 4GB RAM and 64GB storage version while the top-end version with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage is available for buying for Rs 16,999.