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Xiaomi Redmi Go Smartphone Review

Is it a binGo? Xiaomi's first smartphone with Android Go is here, the Redmi Go. The expectations towards the 80-Euro (~$91) smartphone are high, since the company has so far succeeded in offering great performance for a good price over and over again. Does this also work in the absolutely cheapest price segment?
Xiaomi Redmi Go

Xiaomi's Redmi smartphones have always been winners in price-performance ratio and the attention is even bigger now when the manufacturer comes up with a smartphone with Android Go which is in the absolutely lowest price range under 100 Euros (~$113). Even though the performance offered by this price range has been too low until now, the question is whether Xiaomi will also succeed to make the entry level segment attractive for people with high demands with the Redmi Go. 

At first sight it is noticeable that Xiaomi is relying on a Qualcomm-SoC which is not commonly found in devices under 100 Euros (~$113). The screen resolution is also higher than is common in this price class. These are good signs, however we are not letting the Xiaomi Redmi Go slip so easily: The smartphone has to compete against the Nokia 1, the slightly more expensive Honor 7S, the Wiko Jerry 3 and the Blackview A20 in our comparison.

Xiaomi Redmi Go (Redmi Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917) 4 x 1.4 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
1024 MB 
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 294 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
8 GB eMMC Flash, 8 GB 
, 5 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3,5mm-Audioport, Card Reader: microSD up to 128 GB, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity sensor
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.1, 2G (850/​900/​1800/​1900), 3G (B1/​B2/​B4/​B5/​B8), 4G (B1/​B2/​B3/​B4/​B5/​B7/​B8/​B20/​B28/​B38/​B40/​B41), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.35 x 140.4 x 70.1 ( = 0.33 x 5.53 x 2.76 in)
Battery
11.4 Wh, 3000 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Android 8.1 Oreo
Camera
Primary Camera: 8 MPix f/​2.0, contrast AF, LED flash, videos @1080p/​30fps
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix f/​2.2
Additional features
Speakers: Mono speaker at the lower edge, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, Wall charger, USB cable, SIM tool, LTE Cat 4 (150Mbps/​50Mbps); SAR value: 0,579W/​kg (head), 1,497W/​kg (body); DRM Widevine: L3; ExFAT: no, fanless
Weight
137 g ( = 4.83 oz / 0.3 pounds), Power Supply: 57 g ( = 2.01 oz / 0.13 pounds)
Price
79 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case – Stable Plastic

It is not easy for modern smartphone-design features in this price class and the Xiaomi Redmi Go is also a smartphone with wide bezels at the top and the bottom of the screen. In addition, the back is rather simple, made from matt plastic which actually feels good. What is more, the chassis has a decent build quality for the price class. Applying pressure on the front affects the screen, pressing from the back, however, shows that the smartphone is quite robust. In some places such as the top right corner in portrait mode the smartphone is a bit flexible although the stability in general is more than adequate for the price.

The Redmi Go is currently available in black and blue. Those looking for exceptional colors can find them in Nokia 1 or Wiko Jerry 3. The chassis of Xiaomi smartphone cannot be opened and the battery cannot be replaced. The comparison devices have an advantage here. On the other hand, the phone is a bit slimmer and with 137 grams (~4.8 oz) also lighter than many comparison devices.

Xiaomi Redmi Go
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Xiaomi Redmi Go

Size Comparison

148 mm / 5.83 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 9.1 mm / 0.3583 inch 172 g0.3792 lbs146.7 mm / 5.78 inch 70.7 mm / 2.78 inch 9.6 mm / 0.378 inch 170 g0.3748 lbs146.5 mm / 5.77 inch 70.9 mm / 2.79 inch 8.3 mm / 0.3268 inch 142 g0.3131 lbs140.4 mm / 5.53 inch 70.1 mm / 2.76 inch 8.35 mm / 0.3287 inch 137 g0.302 lbs133.6 mm / 5.26 inch 67.8 mm / 2.67 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 131 g0.2888 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Equipment – Meager Storage in Redmi Go

1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage are common for the class, but the low data storage capacity is particularly painful. Eventually the (admittedly slim) operating system is also installed, so that the expansion with a microSD card makes perfect sense. Xiaomi even provides a separate slot, so that two SIM cards and a microSD card can be used in the smartphone.

Otherwise the equipment is the absolute minimum for a smartphone, nevertheless there is no need to give up on the light sensor. In the Blackview A20 for example, such sensor is not available.

Left: microSD + SIM slot, SIM slot
Left: microSD + SIM slot, SIM slot
Right: power button, volume rocker
Right: power button, volume rocker
Top: 3,5mm port, microphone
Top: 3,5mm port, microphone
Bottom: speaker, USB port, microphone
Bottom: speaker, USB port, microphone

Software – Android Go and Mint Launcher

Android 8.1 Go is installed on the inexpensive Xiaomi smartphone and hence the name Redmi Go. In Android Go some Apps are simply links to the respective websites, so that they occupy almost no space in the internal memory and this is good for the RAM too.

Xiaomi, however, installs its proprietary launcher called Mint that for example also includes a proprietary browser app. Some third-party apps such as the light version of Facebook Messenger are also installed. This somehow contradicts the Android Go philosophy, namely to offer a system as slim as possible. One can still uninstall the Facebook Lite app unlike the Mint browser and the pre-installed Mi Drop which inevitably occupy some memory.

The security patches are from January 2019 and are therefore up-to-date to some extent as of the time of testing. The smartphone has no DRM Widevine certification, so that watching HD streams on most of the streaming portals is not possible. In this respect this is not so bad with the Xiaomi Redmi Go since the screen resolution is not so high, but is still annoying.

Software Xiaomi Redmi Go
Software Xiaomi Redmi Go
Software Xiaomi Redmi Go
Software Xiaomi Redmi Go

Communication and GPS – Many LTE Frequences

In terms of WLAN the Xiaomi Redmi Go is compliant with 802.11 b/g/n standards which is basically common for devices in this price range. In this respect, the Redmi smartphone reaches decent transfer rates which can almost keep up with the more expensive Honor 7S. The other low-priced devices stay overall a bit behind, the Wiko Jerry 3 slips in the WLAN test with very slow speeds.

LTE is also possible with the Redmi Go. Although not obvious, the Blackview A20 for example offers only UMTS. With LTE Cat. 4 the Redmi Go also provides acceptable speeds and even some LTE bands, so that with our European version it is possible to use the LTE network of some carriers in USA. The reception is decent even in urban built-up areas since the plastic casing helps with the signal reception.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Honor 7S
PowerVR GE8100, MT6739, 16 GB eMMC Flash
59.9 MBit/s +6%
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Adreno 308, 425, 8 GB eMMC Flash
56.6 (48min - 61max) MBit/s
Nokia 1
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 8 GB eMMC Flash
51.2 MBit/s -10%
Blackview A20
Mali-400 MP2, MT6580M, 8 GB eMMC Flash
46 MBit/s -19%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mali-400 MP2, MT6580M, 16 GB eMMC Flash
14.6 MBit/s -74%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +579%
Honor 7S
PowerVR GE8100, MT6739, 16 GB eMMC Flash
58.2 MBit/s +5%
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Adreno 308, 425, 8 GB eMMC Flash
55.4 (46min - 58max) MBit/s
Nokia 1
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 8 GB eMMC Flash
49.1 MBit/s -11%
Blackview A20
Mali-400 MP2, MT6580M, 8 GB eMMC Flash
44.4 MBit/s -20%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mali-400 MP2, MT6580M, 16 GB eMMC Flash
12.5 MBit/s -77%
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi Go; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø55 (46-58)
Xiaomi Redmi Go; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø56.6 (48-61)
GPS indoors
GPS indoors
GPS at the window
GPS at the window
GPS outdoors
GPS outdoors

The smartphone cannot locate us inside buildings, even at the window the reception is too poor for that. Outdoors it does not take long before our position is determined with a 4-meter (~13 ft) accuracy. The precise location in Google Maps Go takes some time and due to the lack of a compass sensor one cannot see the viewing direction.

In our practical test, a bicycle tour accompanied by the Garmin Edge 520 professional navigation, the Xiaomi Redmi Go turns out to be a solid navigator. Admittedly, it does not function as accurately as the professional navigation and the narrow old-town streets in particular are a problem. In any case the performance for such an inexpensive smartphone is remarkable and those who are not reliant on an absolute precision can use the Redmi Go for navigation without any problems.

GPS Garmin Edge 520 – overview
GPS Garmin Edge 520 – overview
GPS Garmin Edge 520 – roundabout
GPS Garmin Edge 520 – roundabout
GPS Garmin Edge 520 – bridge
GPS Garmin Edge 520 – bridge
GPS Xiaomi Redmi Go – overview
GPS Xiaomi Redmi Go – overview
GPS Xiaomi Redmi Go – roundabout
GPS Xiaomi Redmi Go – roundabout
GPS Xiaomi Redmi Go – bridge
GPS Xiaomi Redmi Go – bridge

Telephony and Call Quality – Clear Calls

The phone app matches the Android original and has also been offering dark mode for some time. Xiaomi supports VoLTE, however it may have to be turned on in the phone app by entering the *#*#86583#*#* code. VoWiFi is currently not supported by Xiaomi.

In terms of call quality, the Xiaomi Redmi Go was a positive surprise: Despite the slight noise which can be heard by the call counterpart at maximum volume, the voice is transferred very clearly and distinctly. Our voice over the built-in microphone is also received clearly by the other party. When on speaker, our call partner is also quite audible. Here the microphone is rather poor in terms of noise cancellation, although the call quality is still decent.

Cameras – Xiaomi Redmi Go with Decent Cameras

Front-facing camera sample photo
Front-facing camera sample photo

8 megapixels at the back and 5 megapixels at the front are actually nice features for a smartphone under 100 Euros (~$113). The image quality of the main camera is also quite decent and quite suitable for snapshots. The camera is of course not as sharp in the details as the more premium smartphone cameras and often offers muddy surfaces. Moreover, a blue cast is noticeable on the images. The fill flash in low-light situations is indeed acceptable, but the resulting images are blurry. 

Videos can in fact be recorded in full HD quality which is also uncommon for such a low-priced phone as the Redmi Go. The gradual changes in the exposure are clearly visible, the subtle transition, however, is just acceptable. There is a visible image noise in dim surroundings and as a result the video recorder is just suitable for lower demands.

The front-facing camera is taking reasonable shots as well but the image noise is almost unavoidable.

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

In laboratory tests with predefined light conditions the main camera of the Xiaomi Redmi Go has difficulties with the sharpness. Moreover, object edges seem quite dirty. The color representation is a bit too bright in many tones.

Test chart
Test chart
Test chart (details)
Test chart (details)
ColorChecker colors; reference color in the bottom half of each square.
ColorChecker colors; reference color in the bottom half of each square.

Accessories and Warranty – It Depends on the Country

The box contains only a 5W wall charger, a USB cable and a SIM tool.

In terms of warranty the latter is strongly dependant on the country the Redmi Go is purchased in. While the warranty offered by Xiaomi in Italy and Spain is meanwhile 24 months, in Germany and Austria one is still directed to the retailer. The choice of the right point of purchase is thus very important here, in case of doubt one should ask the retailer about the services offered in addition to a regular warranty scenario. Should you purchase the Redmi Go as imported device, the situation is even more complicated under certain circumstances. In regard to that, you should read our tips in the respective article.

Input Devices and Handling – No Fingerprint Sensor in the Redmi Go

The Xiaomi Redmi Go test device offers separate buttons for navigating the menu of Android Go which, thanks to the wide bezels, are situated under the screen. These are non-illuminated touch buttons. One should therefore guess their location and to make matters worse for western users, the "Back" button is on the right, so that one should first re-adapt from other Android devices. Once the habit is there, the handling is nice and smooth.

Navigating on the touch screen is largely smooth, thanks to the snappy SoC and the slim system. One can notice some glitches here and there when a heavy app runs in the background, but this is rather exceptional. In addition, the touchscreen functions very precisely and can also be easily operated in the edge areas.

The keyboard app is Google's GBoard, which is really good and fast for typing.

The smartphone offers no fingerprint sensor or face recognition, one should thus content oneself with the traditional PIN code or patterns as security precautions.

Keyboard in portrait mode
Keyboard in portrait mode
Keyboard in landscape mode
Keyboard in landscape mode

Display – Quite High-Resolution but Dark

Subpixel structure
Subpixel structure

In terms of display resolution the Xiaomi Redmi Go can keep up with the Honor 7S which is still 40 to 50 Euros (~$45 - ~$57) more expensive.

On the other hand, the brightness of the screen is overall poor and unevenly distributed: If the phone is hold in portrait mode the backlight in the middle is considerably brighter than on the right and on the left sides of the screen.

301
cd/m²
346
cd/m²
267
cd/m²
292
cd/m²
340
cd/m²
305
cd/m²
289
cd/m²
329
cd/m²
313
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 346 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 309.1 cd/m² Minimum: 5.07 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 77 %
Center on Battery: 340 cd/m²
Contrast: 1214:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.53 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
94% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.275
Xiaomi Redmi Go
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Nokia 1
IPS, 854x480, 4.50
Wiko Jerry 3
IPS, 960x480, 5.45
Honor 7S
IPS, 1440x720, 5.45
Blackview A20
IPS, 960x480, 5.50
Screen
15%
-24%
8%
-53%
Brightness middle
340
256
-25%
370
9%
422
24%
364
7%
Brightness
309
251
-19%
367
19%
417
35%
375
21%
Brightness Distribution
77
89
16%
90
17%
96
25%
90
17%
Black Level *
0.28
0.12
57%
0.4
-43%
0.58
-107%
0.71
-154%
Contrast
1214
2133
76%
925
-24%
728
-40%
513
-58%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.53
4.82
13%
8.58
-55%
3.29
41%
10.12
-83%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.87
11.75
-19%
16.5
-67%
6.91
30%
19.63
-99%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.4
5.2
19%
9.3
-45%
3.1
52%
11.1
-73%
Gamma
2.275 97%
2.3 96%
2.083 106%
2.219 99%
2.722 81%
CCT
8198 79%
7107 91%
9315 70%
6873 95%
10121 64%

* ... 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 detected 100 Hz ≤ 30 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 100 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 30 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 100 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18100 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

At 30% and below brightness, a flickering at 100 Hz occurs which could be problematic for the more sensitive users. The black value of the display is with 0.28 cd/m² on a good level, so that the resulting contrast ratio is also decent.

A strong blue cast is visible in our tests with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software, the accuracy of color tones and grayscale is on a good level for the price class.

CalMAN grayscale
CalMAN grayscale
CalMAN color accuracy
CalMAN color accuracy
CalMAN color space
CalMAN color space
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
16 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 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. » 31 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 23 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. » 33 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

When looked at from the left and from the right, the image shows a slight distortion, otherwise no changes are observable, the image is still recognizable when seen from very flat angles.

When outdoors on cloudy days, the smartphone has difficulties  providing enough brightness for display contents to be clearly readable. On sunny days one should rather look for a shadow.

Outdoors - brightness sensor
Outdoors - brightness sensor
Outdoors - maximum brightness
Outdoors - maximum brightness
Outdoors - medium brightness
Outdoors - medium brightness
Outdoors - minimum brightness
Outdoors - minimum brightness
Viewing angles
Viewing angles
 
 
 

Performance – A Lot of Power in the Redmi Phone

The Xiaomi Redmi Go costs under 100 Euros (~$113)  and is nevertheless equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 as SoC. This is remarkable in this respect since most of the other devices with this processor (maybe except the Motorola Moto E5 Play) cost well over 100 Euros (~$113). Devices in the price range of the Xiaomi phone are mostly equipped with the lower-priced MediaTek processors and this is also noticeable in the performance comparison: The Redmi Go scores much better than its opponents, even the considerably more expensive Honor 7S cannot always keep up.

In day-to-day usage the handling and the navigation through the menus is mostly smooth, glitches can be noticed only in high-load scenarios. The meager RAM of only 1 GB is a restriction though: Benchmarks often crash and even heavy websites cannot be properly loaded in Chrome due to lack of memory. Modern graphical interfaces are missing too since this is still an entry-level smartphone. However, those who use their smartphone for simple tasks will be satisfied with the Redmi Go.

Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
631 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
492 Points -22%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
431 Points -32%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
644 Points +2%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
427 Points -32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (541 - 692, n=18)
654 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +702%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
1634 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
1252 Points -23%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
1136 Points -30%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
1748 Points +7%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
1160 Points -29%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (883 - 1939, n=18)
1761 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +729%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
1394 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
943 Points -32%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
875 Points -37%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
1172 Points -16%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
858 Points -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (1113 - 1460, n=16)
1345 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +660%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
4050 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
3054 Points -25%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
2528 Points -38%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
Points -100%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
2696 Points -33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (3681 - 5253, n=17)
4389 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +273%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
3192 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
2335 Points -27%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
0 Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
2467 Points -23%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (2829 - 3831, n=18)
3299 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +241%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
6021 Points
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
2915 Points -52%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
4203 Points -30%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
2924 Points -51%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (2951 - 6526, n=18)
5908 Points -2%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
5391 Points
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
2465 Points -54%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
4346 Points -19%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
2470 Points -54%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (2546 - 5778, n=18)
5330 Points -1%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
10188 Points
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
8065 Points -21%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
8269 Points -19%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
8200 Points -20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (3958 - 11927, n=18)
9933 Points -3%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
55 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
76 Points +38%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
152 Points +176%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (39 - 350, n=18)
86 Points +56%
Average of class Smartphone
  (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3548 Points +6351%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
43 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
61 Points +42%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
125 Points +191%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (31 - 297, n=18)
69.7 Points +62%
Average of class Smartphone
  (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3905 Points +8981%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
878 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
663 Points -24%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
620 Points -29%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (622 - 944, n=18)
869 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
3005 Points +242%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
294 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
129 Points -56%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
194 Points -34%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (145 - 354, n=17)
288 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (704 - 23024, n=115, last 2 years)
9038 Points +2974%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
248 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
105 Points -58%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
162 Points -35%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (118 - 301, n=17)
244 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (607 - 45492, n=114, last 2 years)
15757 Points +6254%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
853 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
614 Points -28%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
629 Points -26%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (375 - 916, n=17)
843 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1075 - 8749, n=114, last 2 years)
4335 Points +408%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
13 fps
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
14 fps +8%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
12 fps -8%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
10 fps -23%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
10 fps -23%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (6.4 - 20, n=18)
13.4 fps +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 165, n=177, last 2 years)
83.6 fps +543%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
7.6 fps
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
5.1 fps -33%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
4.4 fps -42%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
6.1 fps -20%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
4.4 fps -42%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (3.4 - 7.8, n=18)
7.42 fps -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (19 - 791, n=177, last 2 years)
243 fps +3097%
GFXBench 3.0 - on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
5.6 fps
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
8 fps +43%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
fps -100%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
5.7 fps +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (3.7 - 11, n=18)
5.97 fps +7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.8 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
71.3 fps +1173%
AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
37218 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
Points -100%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
23916 Points -36%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
24802 Points -33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (29054 - 39106, n=17)
36278 Points -3%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
207 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
457 Points +121%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
150 Points -28%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
217 Points +5%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
418 Points +102%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (207 - 891, n=17)
642 Points +210%
Average of class Smartphone
  (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +2656%
System (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
1210 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
859 Points -29%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
963 Points -20%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
1341 Points +11%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
969 Points -20%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (1043 - 1477, n=17)
1274 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +695%
Memory (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
363 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
505 Points +39%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
373 Points +3%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
920 Points +153%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
376 Points +4%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (363 - 1372, n=17)
678 Points +87%
Average of class Smartphone
  (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +1616%
Graphics (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
426 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
176 Points -59%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
145 Points -66%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
187 Points -56%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
145 Points -66%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (418 - 447, n=17)
437 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +3163%
Web (sort by value)
Xiaomi Redmi Go
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917), Adreno 308, 1024
10 Points
Nokia 1
Mediatek MT6737, Mali-T720 MP2, 1024
571 Points +5610%
Wiko Jerry 3
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
10 Points 0%
Honor 7S
Mediatek MT6739, PowerVR GE8100, 2048
10 Points 0%
Blackview A20
Mediatek MT6580M, Mali-400 MP2, 1024
580 Points +5700%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
  (10 - 802, n=17)
611 Points +6010%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +14770%

In the browser benchmarks the Redmi Go reaches good values for such an inexpensive smartphone. Nonetheless, it cannot compete with mid-range and not at all with high-end devices: Websites load slowly, one should often wait for the pictures, but the waiting times are actually not so tediously long as in other entry-level smartphones.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 104.3, n=2, last 2 years)
85.2 Points +427%
Honor 7S (Chrome 67)
17.54 Points +9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917) (15.5 - 18.7, n=16)
17.5 Points +8%
Xiaomi Redmi Go (Chrome 72)
16.16 Points
Nokia 1 (Chrome 66)
11.55 Points -29%
Blackview A20 (Chrome 67)
11.35 Points -30%
Wiko Jerry 3 (Chrome 67)
10.83 Points -33%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33355 Points +1283%
Honor 7S (Chrome 67)
3132 Points +30%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917) (2411 - 3374, n=17)
2952 Points +22%
Xiaomi Redmi Go (Chrome 72)
2411 Points
Nokia 1 (Chrome 66)
1907 Points -21%
Blackview A20 (Chrome 67)
1769 Points -27%
Wiko Jerry 3 (Chrome 67)
1645 Points -32%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Wiko Jerry 3 (Chrome 67)
19458 ms * -40%
Blackview A20 (Chrome 67)
19213 ms * -38%
Nokia 1 (Chrome 66)
18927 ms * -36%
Honor 7S (Chrome 67)
17852 ms * -28%
Xiaomi Redmi Go (Chrome 72)
13899 ms *
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917) (10742 - 16192, n=17)
13125 ms * +6%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1658 ms * +88%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=118, last 2 years)
130.7 Points +445%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917) (24 - 28, n=5)
26 Points +8%
Xiaomi Redmi Go (Chrome 72)
24 Points
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Xiaomi Redmi Go (Chrome 72)
74 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917) (62 - 79, n=8)
71.3 Points -4%

* ... smaller is better

The 8 GB eMMC flash memory found in the Redmi Go could easily be a bit bigger, the speed of the internal memory, however, is faster than in all other comparison devices.

In the test with our Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 reference microSD card, the Redmi Go shows good transfer rates as well.

Xiaomi Redmi GoNokia 1Wiko Jerry 3Honor 7SBlackview A20Average 8 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-25%
-48%
-1%
-76%
-56%
1211%
Sequential Read 256KB
289.3
208.3
-28%
117.1
-60%
237.6
-18%
90.2
-69%
128.8 ?(38.1 - 289, n=51)
-55%
1468 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
407%
Sequential Write 256KB
54.8
51.8
-5%
50.8
-7%
67.1
22%
8
-85%
22.1 ?(6.22 - 54.8, n=51)
-60%
1078 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
1867%
Random Read 4KB
45.4
25.7
-43%
24.18
-47%
39.69
-13%
11.3
-75%
18.1 ?(8 - 50.5, n=51)
-60%
242 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
433%
Random Write 4KB
11.9
9.1
-24%
11.23
-6%
13.24
11%
3.4
-71%
5.35 ?(1.08 - 14, n=51)
-55%
266 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
2135%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
84.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
16 ?(Kingston 32GB)
-81%
80.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-5%
20.6 ?(Kingston 32GB)
-76%
43.1 ?(16.3 - 84.2, n=21)
-49%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
63.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
7.4 ?(Kingston 32GB)
-88%
61.9 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-2%
11.2 ?(Kingston 32GB)
-82%
29.1 ?(11.2 - 63.4, n=21)
-54%

Games – Yes, but...

Basically, one can play games on the Xiaomi Redmi Go. Most games run on the device, some current and demanding games such as “Asphalt 9” are, however, cannot even to be found in Play Store due to restrictions set by the developers.

Arena of Valor” is undemanding, but one cannot set it to full details, the same goes for “Shadow Fight 3”. The frame rate there fluctuates severely even when set to minimum details and in a good fighting game this leads to a considerable loss of the gaming pleasure.

However, those who can be happy with less-demanding games get a clean control by the position sensor and the touchscreen offered by the device.

Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor
Shadow Fight 3
Shadow Fight 3
Temple Run 2
Temple Run 2
Arena of Valor
051015202530Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi Go; min; 1.27.1.2: Ø31 (23-32)
Xiaomi Redmi Go; high HD; 1.27.1.2: Ø30.9 (23-32)
Shadow Fight 3
05101520253035404550Tooltip
Xiaomi Redmi Go; minimal; 1.17.0: Ø43.4 (20-53)
Xiaomi Redmi Go; high; 1.17.0: Ø34.2 (20-44)

Emissions – Redmi Phone Gets Warm

Temperature

GFXBench battery test
GFXBench battery test

The Xiaomi Redmi Go gets quite warm under load, especially at the front: 42.5 °C (~108 °F) might not be a critical value, but it is quite noticeable and on hot summer days the smartphone could feel unpleasant in the pocket after prolonged usage.

In contrast, the smartphone gets barely warm when the load is low and restricted to the bottom of the front side.

It is delightful that under prolonged high load the SoC throttles only minimally, so that no performance losses are to be expected.

Max. Load
 42.5 °C
109 F
38.7 °C
102 F
39.9 °C
104 F
 
 41.3 °C
106 F
38.4 °C
101 F
40.9 °C
106 F
 
 40.3 °C
105 F
38.4 °C
101 F
39.8 °C
104 F
 
Maximum: 42.5 °C = 109 F
Average: 40 °C = 104 F
35.5 °C
96 F
37 °C
99 F
40.6 °C
105 F
34.9 °C
95 F
37 °C
99 F
40.6 °C
105 F
34.3 °C
94 F
37.3 °C
99 F
39.4 °C
103 F
Maximum: 40.6 °C = 105 F
Average: 37.4 °C = 99 F
Power Supply (max.)  39.6 °C = 103 F | Room Temperature 21.5 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 40 °C / 104 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 42.5 °C / 109 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 40.6 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 33 °C / 91 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heatmap rear
Heatmap rear
Heatmap front
Heatmap front

Speakers

Pink Noise
Pink Noise

The small mono speaker at the bottom edge sounds thin with high treble. Listening to music is hardly fun. Voices are still reproduced quite clear.

At the top edge, a 3.5mm port can be found and after plugging in headphones it takes a second before the sound reaches the two earcups. Other than that, the sound is good. When using Bluetooth, the connection is fast and smooth and the sound is decent.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2045.346.12549.352.93137.839.24037.539.55042.143.26335.336.48028.72910025.930.512529.128.816026.830.820023.438.525022.745.831522.151.940020.756.650020.965.363019.270.980018.672100019.970.3125018.371.3160018.674.6200017.975.8250017.975.5315017.572.2400017.561.8500017.463.1630017.368.9800017.569.81000017.567.71250017.659.41600017.652SPL68.830.883.7N22.41.554.9median 18.6median 63.1median 69.3Delta4.114.914.43039.631.643.7324234.947.140.355.928.85328.149.82741.522.54021.438.521.232.420.133.618.440.118.146.519.950.416.36116.56615.969.8166915.569.215.370.315.16814.966.915.168.715.164.415.163.915.167.815.265.115.258.915.255.77328.179.428.61.143.1median 16median 61median 61.24.713.918.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseXiaomi Redmi GoNokia 1
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Xiaomi Redmi Go audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 69.3% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 69.3% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 69.3% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (128.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 97% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 99% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Nokia 1 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 61.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 61.2% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 61.2% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (127.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 97% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 99% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life – Long

Power Consumption

The Xiaomi Redmi Go is not the battery saver champion among the absolute entry-level phones and on average shows quite a high consumption while idling. The consumption under maximal load on the other hand is reasonable.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.2 / 1.9 / 2.5 Watt
Load midlight 4.5 / 5.5 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 Go
3000 mAh
Nokia 1
2150 mAh
Wiko Jerry 3
2500 mAh
Honor 7S
3020 mAh
Blackview A20
3000 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 (MSM8917)
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
22%
4%
-48%
2%
-1%
2%
Idle Minimum *
1.2
0.9
25%
1
17%
2.5
-108%
1.1
8%
1.113 ?(0.54 - 4.02, n=17)
7%
0.894 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
25%
Idle Average *
1.9
1.5
21%
1.5
21%
3
-58%
1.5
21%
2.19 ?(1.2 - 6, n=17)
-15%
1.452 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
24%
Idle Maximum *
2.5
2
20%
2.3
8%
3.8
-52%
2.3
8%
2.55 ?(1.62 - 6.64, n=17)
-2%
1.632 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
35%
Load Average *
4.5
3.5
22%
5
-11%
5.4
-20%
4.8
-7%
4.32 ?(2.9 - 9.6, n=17)
4%
5.55 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-23%
Load Maximum *
5.5
4.3
22%
6.3
-15%
5.7
-4%
6.5
-18%
5.5 ?(4.3 - 7.34, n=17)
-0%
8.23 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-50%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

A significant difference between the Redmi Go and many other low-priced smartphones is the lack of a replaceable battery. Because of that, one should rely on the performance capability of the built-in battery which, however, has a good capacity of 3.000 mAh. With 12:29 hours in our battery-life test, the Redmi Go scores positively, a working day is easily achievable with the device. Used sparingly, it can last for 2 days.

The Redmi Go does not offer a fast charging function, one should allow 2:30 hours for a complete charge.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
26h 04min
WiFi Websurfing
12h 29min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
15h 16min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 33min
Xiaomi Redmi Go
3000 mAh
Nokia 1
2150 mAh
Wiko Jerry 3
2500 mAh
Honor 7S
3020 mAh
Blackview A20
3000 mAh
Battery Runtime
-26%
-47%
12%
-26%
Reader / Idle
1564
H.264
916
WiFi v1.3
749
552
-26%
394
-47%
840
12%
556
-26%
Load
213

Pros

+ great price-performance ratio
+ good battery life
+ nice memory for the class
+ comparatively many LTE bands
+ dedicated microSD slot
+ decent voice quality

Cons

- scarce internal memory
- manufacturer-bloated Android Go
- no manufacturer warranty in some countries
- quite dark screen

Verdict – Inexpensive without Being Cheap

In Review: Xiaomi Redmi Go. Review unit courtesy of Xiaomi Austria.
In Review: Xiaomi Redmi Go. Review unit courtesy of Xiaomi Austria.

The Xiaomi Redmi Go surprises again: For a very low price one gets much more than expected. These include a higher performance, more LTE bands and a better camera than otherwise typical for the class. Furthermore, the chassis is quite stable and the battery life decent. There is, however, no exchangeable battery as in many low-priced smartphones. 

It is a pity that Xiaomi had to bloat Google's slim Android Go with additional Launcher and pre-installed Apps: With only 8 GB of internal memory, every usable MB counts. However, one can still expand the memory comfortably with a microSD card which even gets a nice response. In addition, one can use two SIM cards simultaneously.

The Xiaomi Redmi Go feels considerably more valuable and faster than its price would suggest.

To answer our initial question: Yes, it is a bingo - or is it just called bingo? In any case, the Xiaomi Redmi Go sets standards again even among the lowest-priced smartphones. Those without high demands and with willingness to embrace the somewhat unclear warranty situation in some countries get a lot of performance for the money.

Xiaomi Redmi Go - 03/14/2019 v6(old)
Florian Schmitt

Chassis
68%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 87%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
35 / 60 → 58%
Weight
93%
Battery
96%
Display
82%
Games Performance
6 / 63 → 9%
Application Performance
31 / 70 → 44%
Temperature
87%
Noise
100%
Audio
55 / 91 → 60%
Camera
59%
Average
67%
79%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Florian Schmitt, 2019-03-14 (Update: 2019-03-22)