Redmi K80 Ultra: Newly released affordable flagship phone goes global via import

The Redmi K80 Ultra launched in China as an affordable flagship phone powered by a top-performing MediaTek SoC. This new phone has yet to make an official global debut, but it's already available to international buyers via import. On Giztop, the base configuration is going for $459.

For reference, the same config with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage has a launch price of CNY 2,599 in China, which is around $362. Giztop is also offering other configurations of the K80 Ultra, with the top-end option featuring 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage costing $699 in the store. Its launch Chinese price, in comparison, is CNY 3,799, about $530.

So, the price difference for the import is around $100 to $170 more on Giztop, which isn't half-bad for those who are interested in getting the Redmi K80 Ultra early. However, there are some caveats that you should consider before importing a smartphone from China.

For example, the imported Redmi K80 Ultra will come with the Chinese version of HyperOS. While there's support for multi-language in the OS, it will have some China-specific bloatware. Another thing to note is that some features available on global phones, such as Android Auto, will not be available on it.

Fortunately, Giztop assures that the affordable flagship phone will come with Google Mobile Services pre-installed. Warranty is another concern, and even though the storefront appears to have a good policy regarding it, the experience won't be the same as claiming an official warranty.

As for the phone itself, the Redmi K80 Ultra is powered by the Dimensity 9400+, which is paired with UFS 4.1 storage and LPDDR5X RAM. The affordable flagship sports a 50 MP primary camera on the back and features a large 7,410 mAh battery with support for 100 W fast charging (25K Anker 100 W power bank curr. $109.98 on Amazon). You can learn more about the device from our launch coverage.