Taking a break from the trending 18:9 aspect ratio, Xiaomi has today populated it smartphones range with the introduction of a new Y series of Xiaomi phones in India. Xiaomi is kicked starting the new Y series with two similar smartphones- the Xiaomi Redmi Y1 and Xiaomi Redmi Y1 lite.
Both devices are targeted at same audiences – the selfie lovers. They are virtually the same device, save for slight variation in the internal makeup. Both devices are encased in an aluminum alloy mid-frame, which it says is better suited for heat management. You can also find fingerprint sensor at the rearof devices.
The Xaiomi Redmi Y1 highlights a 16-megapixel front camera with LED Selfie-light, f/2.0 aperture and 76-degree lens which the company says can simulate effects of natural lighting to captures sharper and more vibrant self-portraits. The phone has a slightly lower-resolution 13 MP rear sensor.
On the display front, you will find a moderate size 5.5-inch HD display with Corning Gorilla glass protection and an octa-core Snapdragon 435 SoC with Adreno 505 GPU under the hood. The y1 is offered in two RAM and storage variant” 3GB RAM + 32GB storage and 4GB RAMand 64GB storage option with a dedicated microSD card slot for memory expansion.
The device is based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat with MIUI 9, comes with full connectivity options including 4G VoLTE and is powered by a 3,080mAh non-removable battery.
Xiaomi will be selling the 3GB RAM variant Redmi Y1 in India for INR8,999 ($140), while the Y1 with more RAM and storage will go for INR10,999 ($170).
The Xiaomi Y1 Lite on the other hand is a slightly watered-down version of the Y1, It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM along with 16GB of internal storage. The camera has also been toned down to include a 13-megapixel rear sensor with LED flash, PDAF as well as a 5-megapixel sensor.Other specs including design remain unchanged. The Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite comes with a lower price tag at Rs 6,999 (~$108).
Both devices will be across Mi stores in India and Amazon India on November 8.