[ad_1]
Xiaomi introduced three Redmi K40 phones earlier this week. Or did he? If you look only at the screen and the camera, there is only one phone. If you look at the chipset, there are two phones. And if you look at the cameras, there are three phones.
That may seem like a magic trick, but a quick review of the specs should clear things up.
Redmi K40 series highlights features and differences in infographic form
All three K40 phones use the same 6.67 ”Super AMOLED display (one E4 panel). It impresses with a 360Hz touch sample rate (one of the fastest we’ve seen so far) and a 120Hz refresh rate (not the fastest, but still great).
And it boasts HDR10 + and a maximum brightness of 1,300 nits along with a perfect A + score from Display Mate. The 1080p + resolution and the relatively old Gorilla Glass 5 aren’t that impressive, but are those deciding factors for you?
E4 AMOLED panel with DCI-P3 and HDR10 + • S870 for the K40 • S888 for the two professionals
All three models use the same 4,520 mAh battery, which can be fully charged with the supplied 33 W charger in 52 minutes. That’s pretty fast, almost as fast as some 65W chargers based on Xiaomi’s testing.
Now things start to diverge. The two Pro versions are powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset, the vanilla K40 gets the Snapdragon 870 (an overclocked 865).
Where the Redmi K40 Pro + really shines is the 108MP main camera, a 1 / 1.52 ”Samsung HM2 sensor with 9-in-1 array for 2.1 µm pixels. The K40 Pro is in the middle with a 64MP 1 / 1.7 ”sensor with 1.6 µm pixels after 4-in-1 binning. The Vanilla K40 is at the bottom with a 48MP sensor.
Main camera comparison: K40 Pro + with 108MP, K40 Pro with 64MP and K40 with 48MP
The rest of the camera modules are the same, including the 8MP 119º ultra-wide camera, the 5MP telephoto macro, and a 5MP selfie camera. Yes, all three are very similar, so it all comes down to the chipset and the main camera.
And the price, of course, this is what each phone will cost. They will be available in China from March 4 and could go global under the Poco brand.
| 6/128 GB | 8/128 GB | 8/256 GB | 12/256 GB | |
| Redmi K40 Pro + | – | – | – | 3,700 CNY |
| Redmi K40 Pro | 2,800 CNY | 3,000 CNY | 3,300 CNY | – |
| Redmi k40 | 2,000 CNY | 2,200 CNY | 2,500 CNY | 2,500 CNY * |
| * special edition (pre-order only) | ||||
Let’s take a quick look at the potential competition. If you are looking for a Snapdragon 888 and a 108MP camera, most of the alternatives are Xiaomis or high-end Samsung phones.
The Mi 11 (4,000 CNY for 8/128 GB), for example, boasts a higher resolution 1440p + screen and slightly faster charging: 55W fills the 4,600 mAh battery in 45 minutes. Not much of a difference to the K40’s 33W charger, is it? The upcoming Realme GT (March 4) is said to bring a Snapdragon 888 chipset priced at CNY 3,000, so it can provide tougher competition.
Xiaomi Mi 11 • Realme X7 Pro • Motorola Edge S • Realme GT 5G
What if you’re willing to settle for a lower resolution main camera? Well then you will find that most devices under $ 600 / € 500 use Snapdragon 700 series chips and their displays usually max out at 90Hz.
Something like the Realme X7 Pro (CNY 2,200 for 6/128 GB) could split the difference between the K40 and the K40 Pro. It has a 120Hz screen and a 64MP camera, plus its 65W charger is considerably faster ( 35 minutes at 100%). However, the Dimensity 1000+ is not on the same level as the Snapdragon 870, much less the 888.
The Moto Edge S is another option. This one has a Snapdragon 870, but the screen refresh rate drops to 90Hz (and it’s an LCD screen). Still not bad for a 2000 CNY (6/128 GB) phone.
With no 1440p + displays, telephoto cameras, or 5G mmWave, the K40 trio isn’t a flagship. But they cost half as much as a flagship (or even less). As for the premium mid-range segment, the K40 doesn’t have much competition. Did Xiaomi win the segment or do you have better options in mind?
