Xiaomi is on a roll. Besides opening stores left and right in different countries, it is now listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, too. Here in the Philippines, it’s opening the third Mi Authorized Store at SM North EDSA in Quezon City. And just today, it has launched the Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A, successors to the Redmi 5 and 5A.

Dubbed by Xiaomi as “the new entry-level smartphone kings,” the Redmi 6 and 6A are priced at only P7,490 (roughly $140, 6: 3GB RAM/32GB ROM), P8,990 ($168, 6: 4GB RAM/64GB ROM), P5,290 ($99, 6A: 2GB RAM/16GB ROM), and P5,990 ($112, 6A: 2GB RAM/32GB ROM), respectively. They will go on sale starting July 23.

READ ALSO: Xiaomi Mi 8 is cheapest Snapdragon 845 phone in the Philippines

When viewed from the front, you won’t be able to tell the two devices apart; they have the same chassis and 5.45-inch, 1,440 x 720 screen with 18:9 aspect ratio. You can only do so when you check the rear panels. The Xiaomi Redmi 6 gets a fingerprint sensor and two cameras with 12- and 5-megapixel resolutions. The Xiaomi Redmi 6A? None. No rear-mounted fingerprint reader. No dual cameras, just one — a 13-megapixel unit.

When viewed from the front, you won’t be able to tell the Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A apart.

Underneath the hood are two different processors as well, but both from MediaTek. The Helio P22 — whose performance we found to be similar to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 and 450 — powers the Redmi 6. It’s the same chip in the P9,999 ($187) Vivo Y81. The Redmi 6A, on the other hand, uses the Helio A22, which we haven’t tested yet.

However, we’d like to share that we’re impressed with all the new Helio processors we’ve encountered thus far. Also, take note that the Helio P22 and A22 are fabricated using the 12nm manufacturing process, hence the expected superior performance with lower power demands.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro (Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite?) unboxing and 1st impressions

Anyhow, the rest of the two phones’ specs are the same. We’re talking about the 5-megapixel selfie camera, 3,000mAh battery, and Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI.

We’ve been using the Xiaomi Redmi 6 since last week. Our review of the phone should be up no later than tomorrow, July 19. In the meantime, we leave you with our (portrait) selfie captured on the Redmi 6. :p

Sample selfie taken with the Xiaomi Redmi 6

Xiaomi Redmi 6 specs

• 5.45-inch LCD display, 1,440 x 720 resolution (18:9)
• Octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor
• 3GB/4GB RAM
• 32GB/64GB expandable storage
• Dual 12-megapixel and 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• Fingerprint reader (rear-mounted)
• 3,000mAh battery
• Android 8.1 Oreo

Xiaomi Redmi 6A specs

• 5.45-inch LCD display, 1,440 x 720 resolution (18:9)
• Octa-core MediaTek Helio A22 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB/32GB expandable storage
• 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 3,000mAh battery
• Android 8.1 Oreo

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Alora Uy Guerrero

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Editor-in-chief: Alora Uy Guerrero has 22 years of experience as an editor for print and digital publications such as Yahoo. She took time off journalism to manage OPPO’s digital-marketing campaigns. When not busy with her babies, she’s working on Revü, a passion project — or probably traveling or obsessing over her favorite bands, movies, TV shows, and basketball teams.