Redmi K30 launches with a 120Hz screen, Snapdragon 765G, and 64MP Sony IMX686

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Update 1 (01/13/2020 @ 5:20 AM ET): Xiaomi has shared that the company was testing 144Hz refresh rate on the Redmi K30. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on December 10, 2019, is preserved as below.

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi entered the affordable flagship game with the Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro, launched in China in May 2019. Both the devices featured an identical design, and the main point of difference between the two was the SoC in use. The Redmi K20 Pro was the true flagship killer, featuring the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC; while the Redmi K20 balanced performance with affordability by opting for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC. Half a year later, Xiaomi is looking once again to balance affordability with performance with the new Redmi K30 that has now been launched in China.

Xiaomi has grown to embrace the fact that devices leak before launch, so the company now reveals many key details and even official product renders in the run-up to the launch event. The company itself revealed that the Redmi K30 will be its first 5G smartphone back in October 2019. Closer to launch, Redmi confirmed the quad rear camera setup with the 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor, 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charging, side fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, and multi-function NFC. Now, we have the full specification sheet of the Redmi K30 4G and Redmi K30 5G.

Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G: Specifications

Specification Redmi K30 5G / Redmi K30 4G Dimensions and Weight 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.79 mm

208g Display 6.67″ FHD+ (2400 x 1080) LCD;

120Hz high refresh rate

Punch-hole display with dual front cameras

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

HDR 10 support SoC 5G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G: 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Prime core @ 2.4GHz 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Performance core @ 2.2GHz 6x (ARM Cortex-A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz 7nm EUV process

Adreno 620 4G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G RAM and Storage 6GB LPDDR4X + 64GB UFS 2.1

6GB + 128GB

8GB + 128GB

8GB + 256GB Supports microSD card expandability Battery & Charging 4,500 mAh battery

Fast charging: 5G — 30W 4G — 27W

Rear Camera Photo: Primary: 64MP Sony IMX686 sensor, f/1.9, 1/1.7” sensor, 0.8μm pixels

64MP Sony IMX686 sensor, f/1.9, 1/1.7” sensor, 0.8μm pixels Secondary: 8MP 120° Wide-Angle Camera, f/2.2

8MP 120° Wide-Angle Camera, f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP, f/2.4, Depth Sensor

2MP, f/2.4, Depth Sensor Quaternary: 5G — 5MP, Macro, f/2.4 4G — 2MP, Macro, f/2.4

Video: 4K @ 30fps

1080p @ 60fps

Ultra wide: 1080p @ 30fps

Slow motion: 1080p @ 120fps, 720p @ 960fps Front Camera Primary: 20MP

20MP Secondary: 2MP depth sensor Other Features 3.5mm headphone jack

Multi-function NFC

IR Blaster

Side fingerprint scanner

5G: SA + NSA 5G network support

5G: Dual-frequency GPS Android Version MIUI 11 based on Android 10

One of the primary highlights of the Redmi K30 5G is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC inside, making it the first phone to be released on this platform. The Snapdragon 765G on the Redmi K30 5G features a Prime CPU core clocked at a high 2.4GHz, assisted by a Performance CPU core clocked at 2.2GHz; both of these are based on customized Kryo 475 architecture, which in turn is derived from the ARM Cortex-A76 design. There are also 6 ARM Cortex-A55-based Efficiency cores, giving the SoC a configuration of 1+1+6, against the 2+6 config on older SoCs like the Snapdragon 730. The SoC is also built on an 8mm EUV manufacturing process. You can read more about the Snapdragon 765G in our dedicated coverage from the Snapdragon Summit 2019.

The Snapdragon 765G also integrates the 5G modem on the die, resulting in lower power consumption. The Redmi K30 5G comes with dual-mode 5G, supporting both SA and NSA networks. The device also supports 5G MultiLink — essentially allowing users to concurrently be connected to 2.4GHz WiFi, a 5GHz WiFi and 5G/4G network.

The Redmi K30 5G is also the first smartphone from Xiaomi to feature a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display. As the terminology implies, a 120Hz display displays twice the number of images per second as an ordinary 60Hz display, greatly enhancing the user experience. The device dynamically adjusts frame rate between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz depending on the app and use-case to balance user experience and power consumption. The Redmi K30 5G also has a 91% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to the punch-hole cutout that is utilized for the dual front cameras.

The Redmi K30 5G is also the first smartphone to feature the new 64MP sensor from Sony, the Sony IMX686. The IMX686 comes with a large 1/1.7″ sensor and 0.8μm pixels. The sensor can output 64MP images, but the regular camera mode will utilize pixel binning to combine four pixels into one for a 16MP, 1.6μm pixel image. The 64MP primary camera is flanked by three more cameras: ultra-wide-angle camera, depth-of-field camera, and a dedicated macro camera. On the front, you get a 20MP primary camera, coupled with a secondary camera for depth sensing.

The Redmi K30 5G continues on packing more features, as it comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. 5G and the high-refresh-rate display will definitely require a lot of juice throughout the day, so having a large battery as well as a quick way to top it up will come in handy. The phone also features a fingerprint scanner integrated within the power button and also retains some classic features like the 3.5mm headphone jack and the IR Blaster.

The Redmi K30 also comes in a 4G variant, which shares a lot of the same features. The primary differences are the lack of 5G (of course), a switch over to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, a 2MP dedicated macro camera instead of a 5MP macro camera, a bump down to 27W fast charging, and a lack of dual-frequency GPS. The Redmi K30 4G thus retains the 120Hz display, the Sony IMX686, and the big 4,500 mAh battery — making it a viable device for users who are not interested in 5G for the foreseeable future.

Pricing and Availability

Both, the Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G are available in four RAM and storage variants.

Variant Redmi K30 4G Redmi K30 5G 6GB + 64GB CNY 1599 (~$227/₹16,100) CNY 1999 (~$284/₹20,100) 6GB + 128GB CNY 1699 (~$241/₹17,100) CNY 2299 (~$327/₹23,100) 8GB + 128GB CNY 1899 (~$270/₹19,100) CNY 2599 (~$370/₹26,100) 8GB + 256GB CNY 2199 (~$312/₹22,100) CNY 2899 (~$412/₹29,200)

The Redmi K30 4G will be available in Blue, Red, and Purple colors; while the 5G variant gets an additional White color variant. Both the devices will go on sale in China soon. We expect the K30 to make its way to international markets, but keep in mind that the pricing will not be the same as the Chinese pricing.

Update: Xiaomi teases 144Hz refresh rate, currently in testing on Redmi K30 5G

Since everyone is now seemingly hyping up their display and refresh rate technology, Redmi does not want to be left behind. Redmi’s General Manager Mr. Lu Weibing shared a video on Weibo, showing off the Redmi K30 5G testing a refresh rate of 144Hz.

Mr. Weibing mentions that the device is being tested with 144Hz refresh rate, but that does not necessarily mean that the technology will definitely make its way to end users. There is a possibility that the end result is not deemed worth the tradeoffs, and hence, the feature may not make its way to the final users. Nonetheless, this demo is proof that the device is capable of 144Hz. Maybe we can enable the feature on our own, just like we did with the Redmi K20?

What are your thoughts on the Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G? Let us know in the comments below!