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Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime Smartphone Review

Quality does not have to be expensive. With the Redmi Note 5A Prime, Xiaomi offers a robust 5.5-inch device for a low price. Aside from a 16 MP selfie camera, it comes with an infrared sensor at less than 200 Euros (~$233). In this review, we clear up which compromises had to be made due to the low MSRP.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime

Xiaomi is continuing to cement its position in the low-priced smartphone segment. By now, the Chinese manufacturer offers phones in every price range. Our current test device is aimed at customers willing to spend around 200 Euros (~$233) for a smartphone. The Redmi Note 5A Prime stands out from its competition with its 16 MP selfie camera and its infrared sensor.

With Qualcomm's Snapdragon 435 SoC and the Adreno 505 graphics unit, Xiaomi is able to keep up with the performance offerings common in this price range. Combined with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB internal eMMC flash storage, it has low mid-range specs and we have chosen its competition appropriately.

Namely, it consists of devices such as the Alcatel 3X, HTC's Desire 12 Plus, the Umidigi S2 Lite and Gigaset's GS185. Since these device's price-performance ratio is similar to that of the Redmi Note 5A Prime, they are suitable for comparison.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime (Redmi Note 12 Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 8 x 1.4 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
3 GB 
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 267 PPI, capacitive, native pen support, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 25 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 Infrared, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: microSD, up to 128 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.2, GSM (B2/3/5/8), 3G WCDMA (B1/2/5/8), 4G FDD-LTE (B1/3/4/5/7/8/20), 4G TDD-LTE (B38/40), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.7 x 153 x 76.2 ( = 0.3 x 6.02 x 3 in)
Battery
3080 mAh Lithium-Ion, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 32 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 240 h
Operating System
Android 7.1 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 16 MPix f/2.0, 1080p
Secondary Camera: 13 MPix f/2.2, LED flash, 1080p@30fps
Additional features
Speakers: 1 speaker, Keyboard: onscreen, Keyboard Light: yes, USB charger, MicroUSB cable, SIM tool, MIUI Global 9.1, 24 Months Warranty, SAR value (head): 0,504 W/kg, SAR value (body): 1,683 W/kg
Weight
153 g ( = 5.4 oz / 0.34 pounds), Power Supply: 55 g ( = 1.94 oz / 0.12 pounds)
Price
200 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime is made out of plastic

The case of the Redmi Note 5A Prime is made out of plastic and available in rose gold, gold and dark gray. There is nothing to be criticized in terms of the workmanship and both the power button and the volume control sit firmly in their respective sockets. Thanks to the rounded-off edges, the Xiaomi smartphone has good handling. Additionally, small embellishments on the back enhance the look of the device.

The single main camera is positioned in the top left on the back, preventing users from touching the lens while searching for the fingerprint sensor in the middle. Our test device matches its competition in terms of size and weight as well. At around 153 grams (~5.4 oz), it sits close to the average weight in our comparison, but it is slightly wider than other devices due to its 16:9 aspect ratio.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime

Size comparison

158.1 mm / 6.22 inch 74.6 mm / 2.94 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 186 g0.4101 lbs158.2 mm / 6.23 inch 76.6 mm / 3.02 inch 8.4 mm / 0.3307 inch 158 g0.3483 lbs153.5 mm / 6.04 inch 71.6 mm / 2.82 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 144 g0.3175 lbs153 mm / 6.02 inch 76.2 mm / 3 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 153 g0.3373 lbs147 mm / 5.79 inch 70.6 mm / 2.78 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 149 g0.3285 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Features - Xiaomi smartphone with infrared sensor


Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi Note 5A Prime with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 435 and the Adreno 505 GPU. In conjunction with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB eMMC flash storage, they offer enough performance for every task that could come up during moderate smartphone use. In order to protect your phone, a finger print sensor is available on the back. Two NanoSIM and one microSD card can be inserted into the slots to the right of the Xiaomi smartphone.

The USB 2.0 port can be used for wired data communication and a 3.5 mm audio jack can be used to connect wired headsets or speakers.

Additionally, the installed infrared sensor allows for remote controlling stereos, tvs or similar devices.

Software - Redmi Note 5A Prime with Android Nougat

The Redmi Note 5A Prime comes with Android 7.1.2 with security updates from November 1st 2017. Xiaomi uses their custom user interface MIUI Global 9.1. At first glance, it barely differs from a stock Android system, but it does come with a few extra apps, icons and a different menu layout.

Xiaomi shows restraint when it comes to installing 3rd party apps, however the existing programs cannot be uninstalled, only deactivated. On top of that, app data cannot be transferred to the SD card, which can only hold user data. There is no option for using multiple user accounts on the device either.

Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Software Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime

Communication and GPS - Redmi smartphone with good GPS

Users of the Redmi Note 5A Prime have access to numerous mobile networks, from GSM to 3G to LTE. LTE Cat. 4 facilitates download speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s and upload speeds of up to 50 Mbit/s. For close proximity networking, Bluetooth 4.2 or Wi-Fi can be used. The latter only supports the slower standards b, g and n however.

Despite the lower standards, Wi-Fi performance is around average for its class. The 2.4 GHz band is supported exclusively and, due to the single antenna inside the Xiaomi smartphone, only low speeds are possible. Even though the data transfer rates that we measured place the Redmi Note 5A Prime at the lower end of our list, a comparison shows that the differences are minor.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Umidigi S2 Lite
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 32 GB eMMC Flash
57.6 MBit/s +3%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Adreno 505, 435, 32 GB eMMC Flash
55.9 MBit/s
Alcatel 3X
PowerVR GE8100, MT6739, 32 GB eMMC Flash
55.1 MBit/s -1%
Gigaset GS185
Adreno 308, 425, 16 GB eMMC Flash
53.7 MBit/s -4%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
Adreno 506, SD 450, 32 GB eMMC Flash
46.8 MBit/s -16%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +599%
Umidigi S2 Lite
Mali-T860 MP2, MT6750, 32 GB eMMC Flash
56.5 MBit/s +5%
Alcatel 3X
PowerVR GE8100, MT6739, 32 GB eMMC Flash
54.7 MBit/s +2%
Gigaset GS185
Adreno 308, 425, 16 GB eMMC Flash
54.7 MBit/s +2%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Adreno 505, 435, 32 GB eMMC Flash
53.8 MBit/s
HTC Desire 12 Plus
Adreno 506, SD 450, 32 GB eMMC Flash
45 MBit/s -16%
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors

With the app "GPS-Test", we examine how accurately the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime is able to determine your location. Outdoors, it is able to pinpoint the location with an accuracy of within 3 meters (~10 ft). Even indoors, the satellite link does not break and still allows locating with an accuracy of within 16 meters (~52 ft).

The GPS of the Redmi Note 5A Prime also does a good job of plotting the course of the road during our compulsory bike ride. When compared to our reference device Garmin Edge 520 however, it becomes apparent that the Xiaomi smartphone deviates from the exact route by up to 3 meters (~10 ft). Due to this, the marker is often beside the route. The Redmi 5A Prime is not very accurate when it comes to the course of tight curves either.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520

Telephony and Call Quality - Redmi 5A Prime with good call quality

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime telephony
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime telephony

Xiaomi provides users with their own telephony app. While it can be used with a similar degree of comfort as the default Android app, it omits the places tab. The first tab of the app automatically displays the number pad, which can be used to enter phone numbers as well as search through your contact list. The second tab shows the full contact list and detailed information about the stored data.

The Redmi Note 5A Prime's voice call quality is good, but it could be slightly louder for our taste. The microphone does a good job of filtering out ambient noise, which makes sure the person on the other end enjoys good voice call quality as well.

Cameras - Xiaomi smartphone for selfies

Front camera picture
Front camera picture

Xiaomi has fitted the Redmi Note 5A Prime with a single 13 MP main camera. It features an f/2.2 aperture and an LED flash. The priority of the Chinese manufacturer is on the selfie camera however. It comes with a 16 MP sensor and an f/2.0 aperture. With it, indoor pictures turn out well and even though they lack a little sharpness in the background, they represent people in focus with great detail. Various "Beauty modes" ensure a certain amount of artistic individuality in every photo.

The marginally weaker main camera is suitable for snapshots every now and then, even though it is slightly lacking in image brightness. Furthermore, our panorama test picture shows a lack of color distinction in low light areas. The image quality in general is decent however. While details remain recognizable in close-up shots, they lack brightness and colors appear somewhat pale. Low light conditions, on the other hand, are something the camera of the Redmi Prime 5A Note handles slightly better. While objects in the picture lack sharpness, they are at least captured instead of disappearing in the dark.

For users who like to tinker with manual settings in order to improve image quality, the camera app does not offer a lot of options. Aside from preset filter and scene options, the only adjustable settings are color balance and ISO value. While video recordings share many of the same restrictions photographs do, they are kept blur-free thanks to a good image stabilizer.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images
ColorChecker Passport Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
ColorChecker Passport

With ColorChecker Passport, we determine the color accuracy of the Redmi Note 5A Prime. The test shows mixed results. Bright colors tend to be represented too brightly and dark colors appear too dark. Shades of yellow and black are represented most accurately.

Under controlled lighting conditions, the Xiaomi smartphone's camera captures our test chart well. Details and fine structures remain distinguishable, and only slightly lack sharpness towards the edges. The colors also appear slightly pale.

Test chart Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Test chart (detail) Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime

Accessories and Warranty - Few accessories for the Redmi Note 5A Prime

The only things included with the Redmi Note 5A Prime are a USB charger with a suitable Micro USB cable and a tool used to open the SIM/SD card slot. While the manufacturer offers smartphone accessories, they are not Note 5A Prime specific. Further accessories can be obtained from third party manufacturers.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime's warranty information is slightly ambiguous. Since Xiaomi is not represented in every country, it is possible that the devices have to be transported across borders for repairs. In any case, vendor warranty applies. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices & Handling - Redmi smartphone with finger print sensor

For users of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime, Google's GBoard is available as the onscreen keyboard. It ensures that even long text inputs can be made without issues. The touchscreen is very responsive, but the resistance to drag and drop movements is slightly too high. The gyroscope's response is slightly delayed, which causes movements of the device to be represented in a delayed manner on the display as well.

Aside from PIN or pattern, the Xiaomi smartphone can be unlocked with a fingerprint sensor. It reacts with a slight delay, but is still faster than, for example, entering a pattern. It should be noted that the finger has to land directly on the sensor, since even small deviations are enough to prevent an an unlock.

Display - Basic display from Xiaomi

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi Note 5A Prime with a 5.5-inch IPS panel. It has a native resolution of 1,280-x720 pixels and an average brightness of about 463 cd/m². Although comparable competing smartphones offer a slightly higher resolution, the Redmi smartphone is able to claim second place in our comparison in terms of display brightness.

474
cd/m²
480
cd/m²
469
cd/m²
471
cd/m²
469
cd/m²
459
cd/m²
455
cd/m²
440
cd/m²
455
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 480 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 463.6 cd/m² Minimum: 1.67 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 469 cd/m²
Contrast: 782:1 (Black: 0.6 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.31 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
91.8% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.155
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
IPS, 1280x720, 5.50
Alcatel 3X
IPS, 1440x720, 5.70
HTC Desire 12 Plus
IPS, 1440x720, 6.00
Umidigi S2 Lite
IPS, 1440x720, 6.00
Gigaset GS185
IPS, 1440x720, 5.50
Screen
18%
-26%
1%
-43%
Brightness middle
469
429
-9%
418
-11%
701
49%
426
-9%
Brightness
464
421
-9%
414
-11%
720
55%
412
-11%
Brightness Distribution
92
84
-9%
93
1%
87
-5%
86
-7%
Black Level *
0.6
0.13
78%
0.7
-17%
0.5
17%
0.7
-17%
Contrast
782
3300
322%
597
-24%
1402
79%
609
-22%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.31
4.86
-47%
4.2
-27%
4.97
-50%
5.3
-60%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.68
8.83
-32%
8.3
-24%
13.31
-99%
10.2
-53%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.4
6
-150%
4.7
-96%
3.3
-38%
6.3
-163%
Gamma
2.155 102%
2.231 99%
2.27 97%
2.2 100%
2.4 92%
CCT
6626 98%
8103 80%
7394 88%
8056 81%
8073 81%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Our measurements show that the display of the Redmi Note 5A Prime has an average contrast ratio of 782:1 and an increased black value of 0.6. These values express themselves in a lack of color distinction and a gray tint, which seems to stretch itself across the entire screen. On top of that, black tones lack depth and saturation. The CalMAN analysis also shows that the display has a distinct blue tint.

CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color space
CalMAN - color space
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - grayscales
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
22 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11 ms rise
↘ 11 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 42 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
46 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 21 ms rise
↘ 25 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 75 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Outdoors, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is well-suited for use in the shade. The brightness of the display is sufficient for the displayed screen contents to be recognizable. In direct sunlight however, reading the screen becomes far more difficult and reflections of the surroundings further exacerbate the display's visibility.

Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - outdoor use
Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - outdoor use
Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - outdoor use
Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - outdoor use

The IPS panel of the Redmi Note 5A Prime has very good viewing angles. Screen contents can be viewed from almost every angle without being warped or distorted in terms of color. As long as reflections of the surroundings do not obstruct the view of the display, the Xiaomi smartphone can be used from unusual positions.

Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - viewing angles
Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - viewing angles
Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - viewing angles
Xiaomo Redmi Note 5A Prime - viewing angles

Performance - Redmi Note 5A Prime has good performance

Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi Note 5A Prime with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 435Adreno 508 graphics unit, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB eMMC flash storage. This hardware is appropriate for a lower mid-range smartphone and offers sufficient performance for a smooth running system.

In our benchmarks, the Xiaomi smartphone outdoes its competition in many rspects, even if it comes in second to the HTC Desire 12 Plus sometimes. In graphics and memory intensive benchmarks, our test device often only achieves average results compared to the competing devices in our list. For a device of its price range, the Redmi Note 5A offers very solid system performance.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
45762 Points
Alcatel 3X
31718 Points -31%
Umidigi S2 Lite
43125 Points -6%
Gigaset GS185
37339 Points -18%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (42643 - 46814, n=11)
44884 Points -2%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
57683 Points
Alcatel 3X
42032 Points -27%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
56497 Points -2%
Umidigi S2 Lite
56639 Points -2%
Gigaset GS185
45092 Points -22%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (56672 - 59326, n=4)
57644 Points 0%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
Points
Alcatel 3X
4711 Points
HTC Desire 12 Plus
5393 Points
Umidigi S2 Lite
4371 Points
Gigaset GS185
3961 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (4316 - 5438, n=10)
4876 Points
Average of class Smartphone (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
3702 Points
Alcatel 3X
3210 Points -13%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
4759 Points +29%
Umidigi S2 Lite
3348 Points -10%
Gigaset GS185
3229 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (3538 - 3928, n=11)
3737 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +194%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
948 Points
Alcatel 3X
206 Points -78%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
1158 Points +22%
Umidigi S2 Lite
886 Points -7%
Gigaset GS185
676 Points -29%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (282 - 1072, n=9)
792 Points -16%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +502%
System (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
1774 Points
Alcatel 3X
1302 Points -27%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
2898 Points +63%
Umidigi S2 Lite
1870 Points +5%
Gigaset GS185
1217 Points -31%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (1489 - 1980, n=9)
1734 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +442%
Memory (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
791 Points
Alcatel 3X
982 Points +24%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
849 Points +7%
Umidigi S2 Lite
840 Points +6%
Gigaset GS185
617 Points -22%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (557 - 1224, n=9)
831 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +688%
Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
788 Points
Alcatel 3X
150 Points -81%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
965 Points +22%
Umidigi S2 Lite
645 Points -18%
Gigaset GS185
440 Points -44%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (591 - 789, n=9)
759 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +1664%
Web (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
729 Points
Alcatel 3X
9 Points -99%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
756 Points +4%
Umidigi S2 Lite
607 Points -17%
Gigaset GS185
632 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (10 - 744, n=9)
543 Points -26%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +104%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
678 Points
Alcatel 3X
Points -100%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
741 Points +9%
Umidigi S2 Lite
624 Points -8%
Gigaset GS185
683 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (637 - 691, n=10)
663 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +647%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
2576 Points
Alcatel 3X
Points -100%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
3272 Points +27%
Umidigi S2 Lite
2671 Points +4%
Gigaset GS185
1871 Points -27%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (2210 - 2889, n=10)
2610 Points +1%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +426%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
2204 Points
Alcatel 3X
Points -100%
Umidigi S2 Lite
1762 Points -20%
Gigaset GS185
1460 Points -34%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (1782 - 2512, n=8)
2115 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +380%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
9915 Points
Alcatel 3X
3418 Points -66%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
12604 Points +27%
Umidigi S2 Lite
9774 Points -1%
Gigaset GS185
6125 Points -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (8137 - 9961, n=10)
9688 Points -2%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
10202 Points
Alcatel 3X
2898 Points -72%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
12347 Points +21%
Umidigi S2 Lite
9716 Points -5%
Gigaset GS185
5474 Points -46%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (7924 - 10302, n=10)
9970 Points -2%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
9027 Points
Alcatel 3X
9188 Points +2%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
13596 Points +51%
Umidigi S2 Lite
9984 Points +11%
Gigaset GS185
10496 Points +16%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (7095 - 9345, n=10)
8887 Points -2%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
602 Points
Alcatel 3X
151 Points -75%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
810 Points +35%
Umidigi S2 Lite
547 Points -9%
Gigaset GS185
68 Points -89%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (465 - 635, n=11)
599 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points +481%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
533 Points
Alcatel 3X
125 Points -77%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
716 Points +34%
Umidigi S2 Lite
477 Points -11%
Gigaset GS185
54 Points -90%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (404 - 566, n=11)
525 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points +621%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
1107 Points
Alcatel 3X
538 Points -51%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
1504 Points +36%
Umidigi S2 Lite
1127 Points +2%
Gigaset GS185
867 Points -22%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (995 - 1360, n=11)
1188 Points +7%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points +170%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
320 Points
Alcatel 3X
94 Points -71%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
441 Points +38%
Umidigi S2 Lite
378 Points +18%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (230 - 341, n=11)
313 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points +733%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
265 Points
Alcatel 3X
76 Points -71%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
367 Points +38%
Umidigi S2 Lite
317 Points +20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (188 - 281, n=11)
258 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points +902%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
1148 Points
Alcatel 3X
546 Points -52%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
1521 Points +32%
Umidigi S2 Lite
1170 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (1016 - 1340, n=11)
1192 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points +172%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
20 fps
Alcatel 3X
9 fps -55%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
34 fps +70%
Umidigi S2 Lite
25 fps +25%
Gigaset GS185
13 fps -35%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (9.7 - 28, n=11)
20.2 fps +1%
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps +315%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
17 fps
Alcatel 3X
4.9 fps -71%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
21 fps +24%
Umidigi S2 Lite
17 fps 0%
Gigaset GS185
7.6 fps -55%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (11 - 25, n=11)
17 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +1335%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
15 fps
Alcatel 3X
5 fps -67%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
18 fps +20%
Umidigi S2 Lite
13 fps -13%
Gigaset GS185
5.6 fps -63%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (4.5 - 16, n=11)
11.1 fps -26%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +373%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
7.6 fps
Alcatel 3X
2.2 fps -71%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
9.2 fps +21%
Umidigi S2 Lite
6.9 fps -9%
Gigaset GS185
2.8 fps -63%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (4.6 - 15, n=11)
7.51 fps -1%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +1716%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
11 fps
Alcatel 3X
3.1 fps -72%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
13 fps +18%
Umidigi S2 Lite
9.9 fps -10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (3.5 - 12, n=11)
8.68 fps -21%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +445%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
4.9 fps
Alcatel 3X
1.3 fps -73%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
6 fps +22%
Umidigi S2 Lite
4.6 fps -6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (2.3 - 5, n=11)
4.11 fps -16%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +1873%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
5.6 fps
Alcatel 3X
1.6 fps -71%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
7 fps +25%
Umidigi S2 Lite
4.8 fps -14%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (2.1 - 5.9, n=11)
4.21 fps -25%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +666%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
2.7 fps
Alcatel 3X
0.77 fps -71%
HTC Desire 12 Plus
3.4 fps +26%
Umidigi S2 Lite
2.4 fps -11%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (2.1 - 2.8, n=11)
2.55 fps -6%
Average of class Smartphone (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +2070%

Legend

 
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, Qualcomm Adreno 505, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Alcatel 3X Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
HTC Desire 12 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, Qualcomm Adreno 506, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Umidigi S2 Lite Mediatek MT6750, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Gigaset GS185 Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Qualcomm Adreno 308, 16 GB eMMC Flash

The Redmi Note 5A Prime achieves slightly above average results in the browser benchmarks compared to the devices in our comparison. In day-to-day use, web pages and multimedia content are loaded quickly.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +1011%
HTC Desire 12 Plus (Chrome 67)
22.16 Points +26%
Umidigi S2 Lite (Chrome 67)
19.18 Points +9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (16.5 - 20.6, n=11)
18.2 Points +4%
Gigaset GS185 (Chrome 66)
17.76 Points +1%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime (Chrome 67)
17.55 Points
Alcatel 3X (Chrome 67)
15.41 Points -12%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +918%
HTC Desire 12 Plus (Chrome 67)
3993 Points +21%
Umidigi S2 Lite (Chrome 67)
3506 Points +6%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime (Chrome 67)
3293 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (2689 - 3314, n=11)
3112 Points -5%
Gigaset GS185 (Chrome 66)
3084 Points -6%
Alcatel 3X (Chrome 67)
2838 Points -14%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Alcatel 3X (Chrome 67)
17275 ms * -27%
Gigaset GS185 (Chrome 66)
13666 ms * -1%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime (Chrome 67)
13586 ms *
Umidigi S2 Lite (Chrome 67)
13114 ms * +3%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (11007 - 13586, n=11)
12667 ms * +7%
HTC Desire 12 Plus (Chrome 67)
11572 ms * +15%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +88%

* ... smaller is better

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime offers users 32 GB of internal storage. Of that, about 25 GB is available for user data and apps. In our storage benchmark, the eMMC flash storage achieves convincing read and write speeds that are above average and highly competitive when compared to the other devices in the comparison.

The internal storage of the Xiaomi smartphone can be expanded with a microSD card of up to 128 GB, should it prove to be insufficient. The SD card can only be used for general files. App data cannot be transferred to it and the external storage cannot be formatted as internal storage either. With our reference memory card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501, the SD card reader achieves data transfer rates that surpass those of competing devices.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A PrimeAlcatel 3XHTC Desire 12 PlusUmidigi S2 LiteGigaset GS185Average 32 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-19%
-2%
-19%
-25%
-6%
764%
Sequential Read 256KB
287.1
260.5
-9%
252.8
-12%
271
-6%
275.7
-4%
242 ?(25.8 - 452, n=247)
-16%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
411%
Sequential Write 256KB
120.3
127.7
6%
135.6
13%
75
-38%
45.54
-62%
100.5 ?(14.8 - 196, n=247)
-16%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
795%
Random Read 4KB
47.87
26.05
-46%
65.7
37%
36.4
-24%
31.71
-34%
43.2 ?(3.59 - 117.2, n=247)
-10%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
403%
Random Write 4KB
17.15
9.62
-44%
9.16
-47%
11.6
-32%
9.05
-47%
22.4 ?(0.75 - 91, n=247)
31%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
1445%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
84.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
79.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-6%
83.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
77.5
-8%
84.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
71.8 ?(8.2 - 96.5, n=178)
-15%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
60.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
51.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-14%
59.9 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
56.5
-6%
59.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
52.9 ?(3.4 - 87.1, n=178)
-12%

Games - Casual games for Android

The Qualcomm Adreno 508 GPU inside of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime provides the required performance to smoothly display 3D content. Older games and simple 3D applications in particular run smoothly. Newer games or games that are demanding in terms of graphics have long loading times or they can only be played at lower graphics settings.

While the touchscreen controls have a nice feel, the surface has a little too much resistance to be comfortable for a prolonged time. The gyroscope also responds with a slight delay, which is something that should be considered for games that rely on it.

Temple Run 2
Temple Run 2
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2

Emissions - Redmi Note 5A Prime barely heats up

Temperature

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime barely heats up at all during use. During idle, the temperatures always stay below 30 degrees Celsius (~86 degrees Fahrenheit), they can rise to above 42 °C (~108 °F) under load however. The device then feels warm, but never hot. Limitations due to high temperatures are not to be expected with the Redmi 5A Prime.

Max. Load
 42.3 °C
108 F
38.7 °C
102 F
38.8 °C
102 F
 
 40.9 °C
106 F
37.5 °C
100 F
40.6 °C
105 F
 
 39.9 °C
104 F
37.8 °C
100 F
38.8 °C
102 F
 
Maximum: 42.3 °C = 108 F
Average: 39.5 °C = 103 F
34.9 °C
95 F
39.4 °C
103 F
42.6 °C
109 F
35.8 °C
96 F
38.9 °C
102 F
40 °C
104 F
35.9 °C
97 F
38.9 °C
102 F
39.5 °C
103 F
Maximum: 42.6 °C = 109 F
Average: 38.4 °C = 101 F
Power Supply (max.)  40.1 °C = 104 F | Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42.3 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42.6 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.1 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Thermal image - front
Thermal image - front
Thermal image - back
Thermal image - back

Speaker

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

The speaker of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime offers a mediocre maximum volume level and a slightly unbalanced sound. The lower mids and high tones fall off relatively strongly, whereas the range in between is slightly overrepresented. While the sound profile is well-suited for speech, headphones or external speakers should be used for listening to music and other media.

There is a 3.5 mm audio jack for wired audio devices. Appropriate plugs are locked in firmly and the port seems overall solid. The port does not impair the sound quality of external audio devices and our test device did not exhibit any issues during Bluetooth audio playback either.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs202728.52525.938.53129.535.34031.441.65032.640.36324.124.98023.122.810024.123.312517.21916016.619.620016.830.425016.436.431514.138.340013.853.250013.657.763012.161.280011.563.8100011.566.7125011.267.8160011.266.7200011.268.4250011.271.2315011.169.3400011.269.6500011.269.3630011.466.3800011.464.41000011.360.21250011.449.51600011.432.6SPL66.757.96023.979.6N19.310.913.70.542.5median 11.5median 60.2median 36.8median 12.2median 61.1Delta4.615.623.111.718.542.643.938.437.734.228.337.330.93030.826.627.523.223.721.223.72123.916.326.416.630.115.833.113.539.412.246.81249.711.755.110.560.49.661.29.560958.18.558.28.561.58.364.48.268.48.167.78.1618.161.38.259.78.344.68.233.951.721.959.974.97.10.31231.5median 9.5median 55.1median 36median 53.24.5142421.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseXiaomi Redmi Note 5A PrimeUmidigi S2 Lite
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 61.1% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 61.1% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 61.1% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (116.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 9% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Umidigi S2 Lite audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (32.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 79% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 89% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 9% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life - Redmi Note 5A Prime has solid battery life

Energy consumption

The energy consumption of the Redmi Note 5A Prime matches the average value of comparable devices with the Snapdragon 435 SoC almost exactly. At just below 2 watts during idle and 6.3 watts under load, it is slightly ahead of the middle field in our comparison. The included 10-watt charger is designed to provide enough power for the device to charge the battery even under heavy load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.5 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.8 / 2.4 / 2.9 Watt
Load midlight 4 / 6.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
3080 mAh
Alcatel 3X
3000 mAh
HTC Desire 12 Plus
2965 mAh
Umidigi S2 Lite
5100 mAh
Gigaset GS185
4000 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 435
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
-11%
31%
10%
35%
3%
13%
Idle Minimum *
1.8
2
-11%
0.68
62%
0.8
56%
0.54
70%
1.369 ?(0.57 - 4.02, n=11)
24%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
50%
Idle Average *
2.4
2.5
-4%
2.05
15%
1.6
33%
1.74
27%
2.55 ?(1.4 - 6, n=11)
-6%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
40%
Idle Maximum *
2.9
3.2
-10%
2.12
27%
3.5
-21%
1.78
39%
2.86 ?(1.62 - 6.64, n=11)
1%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
44%
Load Average *
4
5.2
-30%
3
25%
4.6
-15%
3.55
11%
4.38 ?(2.89 - 7.34, n=11)
-10%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-39%
Load Maximum *
6.3
6.3
-0%
4.57
27%
6.5
-3%
4.66
26%
5.95 ?(4 - 9.6, n=11)
6%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-31%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Equipped with a 3.080 mAh battery, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime is able to run our Wi-Fi test, which aims to simulate real-world use, for almost 11 hours. Thus, its battery life is appropriate for a smartphone in this price range. Most of the competing devices manage only marginally longer battery run times, which means that our test device is able to compete. The included 10-watt charger is able to fully charge the battery in around 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
10h 47min
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime
3080 mAh
Alcatel 3X
3000 mAh
HTC Desire 12 Plus
2965 mAh
Umidigi S2 Lite
5100 mAh
Gigaset GS185
4000 mAh
Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3
647
675
4%
545
-16%
645
0%
658
2%

Pros

+ solid battery life
+ good price-performance ratio
+ infrared sensor

Cons

- low contrast ratio display
- no USB type-C

Verdict - Well-rounded smartphone package for selfie fans

Review: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime. Test device supplied by:
Review: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime. Test device supplied by:

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime offers a solid smartphone package for users who attach great importance to a good front camera. In most benchmarks, the Xiaomi smartphone surpasses devices in the same price range in terms of system performance; only graphically demanding applications run slightly slower on the Redmi phone.

Potential buyers can expect a smartphone with good battery life, a 5.5-inch display and a decent camera. The Redmi Note 5A Prime is more than capable of handling occasional snapshots, simple applications and less demanding games.

Xiaomi's Redmi Note 5A Prime is a good smartphone for casual users and shines with its good price-performance ratio.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime - 07/15/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
74%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 87%
Pointing Device
79%
Connectivity
41 / 60 → 68%
Weight
92%
Battery
93%
Display
88%
Games Performance
21 / 63 → 33%
Application Performance
29 / 70 → 41%
Temperature
89%
Noise
100%
Audio
88 / 91 → 97%
Camera
75%
Average
72%
81%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime Smartphone Review
Mike Wobker, 2018-07-18 (Update: 2019-03- 9)