Alongside the flagship Mi MIX 2S, Xiaomi is also throwing a selfie-centric device into the mix – the Redmi S2. Both devices will debut in Malaysia on 1 June. Announced barely two weeks ago in China, the wallet-friendly smartphone rocks a big selfie camera, capable AI-enhanced dual-cameras and runs Android Oreo out-of-the-box.
Let’s take a look at the Redmi S2’s spec sheet. Firstly, the display. The device comes with a 5.99-inch HD+ (720×1440) Full-Screen display with an 18:9 screen ratio. Not the best from Xiaomi, but let’s not forget the price point.
The display is housed in an attractive metal body, which will remind you of the Redmi 5 or Redmi 5 Plus, except for the vertical dual-camera array. The antenna lines though seem iPhone 7-inspired, not that it matters.
Powering the device is 2016’s king of the mid-range – the octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor. A capable, power-efficient if dated chip that has been the heart of a big crop of mid-range devices in the past year or so.
This is coupled with up to 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of onboard storage. The cool thing about the Redmi S2 is that it features a dedicated microSD slot, so you can expand storage without sacrificing the secondary SIM slot.
For selfie lovers on a budget, the big 16MP f/2.0 front camera should work wonders. It uses some wizardry to combine four nearby pixels to create a larger 2-micron super-pixel for better selfies, useful in low-light conditions.
To enhance selfies further, there’s AI Beautify software that can not only detect makeup but also optimised for popular selfie expressions. The single selfie shooter has the capability to shoot “bokehlicious” portrait selfies, too.
The main shooter is a 12MP f/2.2 + 5MP dual-camera system, which is enhanced by AI. The primary sensor uses 1.25-micron pixels ensuring it captures maximum light, even in low light conditions. The secondary depth sensor acquires depth information, helping the camera system take photos with accurate and natural depth effects.
The Redmi S2 gets its juice from a 3,080mAh battery that charges via micro-USB.
The device runs MIUI 9 based on Android 8.0 Oreo.
Pricing and availability
The Redmi S2 will be available in Malaysia starting 1 June 2018 at the official Mi Store on Lazada, physical Mi Stores and authorised Mi resellers.
It is priced as follows:
- Redmi S2: 3GB RAM + 32GB storage – MYR679
- Redmi S2: 4GB RAM + 64GB storage – MYR849
It is offered in Grey and Gold, with Rose Gold coming at a later date.
The Redmi S2 is an attractive, affordable package, however, if you prefer a higher resolution screen and a larger battery, you may want to consider the Redmi 5 Plus (from MYR749) or even better, the Redmi Note 5 (from MYR799).
