Overview Redmi S2 - the most controversial smartphone Xiaomi
Devices / / December 19, 2019
Table of contents
- Specifications
- Packaging and appearance
- Display and Audio
- Performance
- autonomy
- Camera
- Software
- results
Typically, Xiaomi company produces a very balanced products, all parameters are perfectly suited to each other. Xiaomi Redmi S2 - a rare exception to this rule. This device is full of contradictions, but it's good for him even to benefit.
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Specifications
housing | Plastic |
Display | 5.99 inches, HD + (1440 × 720 pixels), IPS |
Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 625, video processor 506 Adreno |
RAM | 3 or 4 GB |
Built-in memory | 32 or 64 GB, possibility of installing a memory card of up to 256 GB |
camera | Summary - 5 12 + Mn; Front - 16 MP |
link | Two slots nanoSIM and a separate slot for microSD;
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Wireless interfaces | IrDA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS, A-GPS |
expansion slots | microUSB, 3,5-mm audio jack, microSD (up to 128 GB) |
sensors | Accelerometer, fingerprint, geomagnetic sensor, gyro, proximity sensors, light |
operating system | MIUI 9.5 based on Android 8.1 Oreo |
Battery | 3080 mAh (nonremovable) fast charge |
Dimensions | 161.0 × 77.0 × 8.0 mm |
Weight | 170 g |
Xiaomi Redmi S2 became the first representative of the new S-Series, which was presented in May this year. Unlike other models of the company's presentation of S2 has passed without much hype, so for many this smartphone still remains a dark horse, it is not clear where and what appeared.
The smartphone uses a Snapdragon 625 - is becoming outdated, but still very popular solution. This chip has a processor with eight cores Cortex-A53, which operate at the maximum clock frequency up to 2 GHz. Small screen resolution allows to give a good performance, which makes Redmi S2 suitable for all modern games.
Smartphone available in two versions differing in volume installed RAM and permanent memory. In our editorial had this device with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM, so multitasking during the test no problems have been identified. However, reviews of the internet we can say that the junior model provides at least a comfortable fit. So the choice of the model in this case depends only on whether you want to have a small reserve for the future.
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Packaging and appearance
The smartphone comes in a standard red box, which the company uses for all Xiaomi Redmi series devices. About the complete set of anything interesting to tell not work: a charger, connecting cable and a simple transparent silicone case. Budgetary felt throughout.
Design Redmi S2 can not be called spectacular. Laconic lopatofon with the proportions of 18: 9 and a plastic cap with silver color. It looks like a metal, and even has a special slot at the top and the bottom, which is usually made for antennas. But no, it's plastic.
Someone can be attributed this fact to the obvious disadvantages of the phone, but do not rush. Through the use of plastic S2 was more light and thin. He is not so hot in the summer and winter frostbitten hands. And still most people are immediately put on a smartphone silicone case, so that there is a difference from what it made it back?
A dual chamber located on the rear side in the upper left corner. fingerprint Scanner is located in the center, it is easy to find the index finger and instantly activated.
On the right side is traditionally placed power button and volume rocker. On the opposite side - slot two simok and memory card. He has three cells, that allows you to use two cards from operators and microSD.
The upper face contains headphone jack, a microphone and an infrared port to control home appliances. On the lower socket housed microUSB, Elementary microphone and an external speaker. The last hidden behind a hole in the hull, arranged symmetrically on either side of the connector.
Front side Redmi S2 is a large screen with a diagonal of 5.99 inches. It is completely flat, it will appreciate the fans glued protection foils and glass. The display is surrounded by a pretty thick by today's standards framework, which at the sides reaches a thickness of 3.5 mm, and the top and bottom - 12 mm. Screen corners are rounded.
In general appearance Redmi S2 is fully consistent with fashionable mobile trends, although devoid of any originality. However, waiting for nothing does not come from the budget unit.
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Display and Audio
Screen Redmi S2 - is another reason for the dispute. On the one hand, it can not boast outstanding characteristics. Its resolution is 720 × 1440 pixels, with 5.99 inch diagonal seems quite insufficient.
However, the theoretical conclusions have some discrepancy with what we see with our own eyes. The picture looks quite decent. saturated colors, contrast is good, the white balance is not swamped.
See, for example, this image, wherein the display depicts Redmi S2 and Redmi Plus 5 with FHD-resolution. Yes, the fonts and fine detail, if well look, you can find differences. But who will do it in real life?
So we blame Redmi S2 display will not. The owners of this smartphone, likely will not feel any discomfort during use. Moreover, the low resolution makes it possible to slightly increase the performance and autonomy of the device. For many people, this will be sufficient to stop worry about the picture on the screen.
The audio subsystem Xiaomi phones, as always, at height. Sound external speaker is loud, clear and expressive. With it you can listen to not only ring tones, but also music and podcasts. When you connect good headphones listening pleasure increases. And if you are missing any frequency, look at the advanced options, where with the help of built-in equalizer, you can adjust the sound to your taste.
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Performance
Redmi S2 is based on Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 625 which is used in a variety of other Xiaomi smartphones. Chip is good all the familiar and favorite for the excellent price-performance ratio.
In synthetic tests S2 shows quite a decent result. An additional factor that has a positive effect on performance is, as we mentioned earlier, a small screen resolution. So that the device can please even the fans of mobile gaming: World of Tanks, Mortal Combat and PUBG work without problems.
As for the real everyday use, there are no performance issues arose. Applications run fast switching between programs is almost instantaneous, lags and freezes absent. This has the merit of not only a fast CPU and memory, but also a well-functioning software.
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autonomy
The smartphone Redmi S2 mounted battery capacity of 3080 mA · hr. It seems somehow not enough.
But let us not forget that the SoC Snapdragon 625 has a good energy efficiency and HD-screen consumes the battery is slightly less than the high-resolution display. Plus runs all this economy MIUI 9.5 based on Android 8.1 Oreo, in which various energy-saving technologies are applied.
The result is that with such a modest smartphone battery shows a good autonomy. With the average level of the unit load can be used for one and a half days, and if you exclude from the list of game tasks and viewing the video, the S2 will be charged once every two days.
The only negative - the absence of fast charging and advanced connector USB Type-C. However, their presence in the budget smartphone yet rare, so this is not surprising.
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Camera
Manufacturer Redmi S2 set in the main chamber with two modules. the first resolution is 12 M, and the second used to estimate the depth of portrait shooting scene, - 5 Mn. Portrait mode, by the way, works fine. Unlike most of the low-cost Chinese smartphones, where the second sensor is present merely for show, Redmi S2 really knows how to blur the background around the objects.
Regarding the quality of the photos in normal mode, it is we liked. We tried to shoot different objects in different conditions and almost always allow the camera to get a good result.
Do not think that we urge you to immediately sell their flagships and run to get this smartphone. Of course, its imagery lose recognized authority in this region. But if you compare with competitors in the same price category, the Redmi S2 looks at their background just handsome.
But the work of the front camera we are not very impressed. Maybe, the reason became too high expectations. Still, S2 is positioned as selfifon, but the quality of the images seemed to us an average.
Although the front sensor 16 MP lets you take pictures with a high resolution, software algorithms improving the portraits are so addicted to his work, that the output is a kind of plastic nonsense. Hopefully, this situation will be corrected in an update.
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Software
Redmi S2 smartphone running MIUI 9,5, which is based - Android 8.1. They sent us a smart phone that is specifically designed for the European market, - Global Version. As it is already pre-installed Google services, and has the support of all relevant languages, so just have to enter your credentials and install the necessary software. However, the online store offers and the Chinese version, in which it is not present. Be careful when buying.
MIUI operating system can be described in a very long time, since it is only a short list of all the remaining space will take its main chips. Therefore, we will mention only the new gesture control system that eliminates the need for the lower panel with navigation buttons. You get used to just a few minutes, and then not know how to do without this handy chips before.
Xiaomi company programmers are constantly working on the improvement of the operating system. For smartphone testing time, he received a few updates, error correcting and enhancing device stability. Furthermore, full swing development MIUI 10 Redmi S2 which receives one of the first.
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results
Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi S2 is full of contradictions.
The device is equipped with a plastic housing, but it boasts a small weight and thickness. Its screen has a low resolution, but thanks to this smartphone demonstrates good performance and autonomy. Xiaomi emphasis in advertising on the front of the camera, but actually it is not much different from the competition. But the main job camera pleases.
Therefore, we will not unequivocally recommend the Xiaomi Redmi S2 to purchase. This phone is suitable not for everyone.
If you need a cheap smartphone with good performance, decent camera and you do not have anything against the shell MIUI, it is better not to find Redmi S2. If you want a metal housing, a screen with Full HD and great selfie, you should give preference to the other machine.
At the time of this writing, the cost of the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi S2 is 10 319 rubles for the version with 3 GB of RAM and 32GB ROM, or 11 996 rubles for the version with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM.
The author expresses his gratitude to the company GearBest for providing the test device.