Newly released Redmi K80 goes global for as low as $429, but only via import

The Redmi K80 series was fully unveiled in China on November 27, and this new affordable flagship lineup initially introduced two phones. Among the two, the Pro was already offered by Giztop for import right after the launch, and now, the storefront has made the regular model available to the global market.

This current affordable variant of the Redmi K80 series is available on Giztop for as low as $429. For reference, Xiaomi introduced the non-Pro device with a starting price of CNY 2,499, which converts to around $345. Given that the phone is yet to be announced for the global market, this slightly higher price than in China is quite expected.

Now, even with this higher price tag, the Redmi K80 from Giztop stands as one of the most affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones (12/256 GB RedMagic 9S Pro curr. $636.65 on Amazon). However, as with any Chinese phone that is only available to other regions via import, there are some caveats that you should consider.

One of them is the Chinese firmware. While the Redmi K80 runs on HyperOS 2.0, which has support for English, it won't have out-of-the-box support for things like the Android Auto. Giztop, however, says that the phone will ship with Google Mobile Service pre-installed, so installing apps won't be an issue.

Another point of consideration is the network bands, as Chinese phones are not generally widely compatible with the networks outside China. Moreover, you won't get the official regional warranty, and to claim it, as per Giztop's policy, the device needs to be sent back, which is an extra step.

But then again, for the specs that the Redmi K80 brings, the starting price of $429 on Giztop is good. Worth noting that Xiaomi is expected to bring it outside China as the Poco F7 Pro, and if it becomes available in your region officially, the concerns mentioned above won't be an issue. Check out our launch coverage if you want to learn more about this new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship phone.