Redmi Y1 Lite

Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite : Budget Redmi Y series phone

The Chinese mobile manufacturer, Xiaomi offers huge range of mobile phones in all types of categories ranging from budget, mid-range to high-end models to the prospective smartphone buyers. Recently the company has introduced a completely new series in India, the Redmi Y (Y apparently stands for "You"). Xiaomi's new Redmi Y1 and Redmi Y1 Lite are selfie-centric devices having impressive front facing camera and a decent set of hardware specifications. Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite is a budget device and has specifications and a price similar to that of Xiaomi Redmi 4A like 5.5-inch touchscreen display with 720p resolution, Snapdragon 425 processor paired with 2GB RAM, 13MP rear camera and the difference is that Redmi Y1 Lite has been customised specially for Indians with specialized features like text for railway bookings and calendars that depicts all major Indian holidays. Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite India price is set for Rs. 6,999 and will be available for purchase exclusively on Amazon.

The Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India).

Pros :

• Large display
• Affordable pricing
• IR blaster and microSD card support
• Gorilla Glass 3 protection

Cons :

• Non removable battery
• Average chipset
• Cannot connect phone to TV
• No fast charging

Seamless and Power Packed Performance

Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite is powered by a 64 bit quad-core Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425 Processor clocked at 1.4 GHz coupled with 2GB of RAM and Adreno 308 GPU so that the user can perform daily tasks with utmost ease and comfort. The user can effortlessly and seamlessly multitask between multiple applications and also play high-end and graphically intensive games without any lag or delay. In terms of storage, it comes with 16GB onboard storage memory which can be expanded upto 128GB via a dedicated microSD card slot. There were no visible lags or stutter while navigating between home screens and/or multitasking. The device boots on a Android Nougat 7.0 operating system customised with Xiaomi's latest skin wrapped under MIUI 9 out-of-the-box. MIUI 9 interface is loaded with system level customizations and optimizations to get the best out of phone's battery life and performance along with new exciting features like a virtual assistant, the Energy saving mode which stops the applications running in the background when the battery is low. Shop for the Redmi Y1 Lite at Amazon India and get a powerful smartphone experience within your budget.

Display and sleek design

Redmi Y1 Lite comes with all-plastic body but sports thinner, slimmer and sleek design with dimensions having 153 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm and curved edges around the corners and smooth metallic cover on the rear side. It is little heavy weighing around 150 grams but it is quite easy and comfortable to hold and grip due to its smaller size and round edges. The device comes with 5.5-inch HD display with 1280x720p resolution and 267 ppi pixel density which provides vibrant images and amazing viewing experience to the user though having FHD or FHD+ resolution would have been much better. The display is smooth to touch, durable and protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 against any scratches or any kind of accidental physical damages. The huge display is highly suitable for media consumption like watching videos, reading e-books, playing games etc. It is available in two colour options- Gold and Dark grey. It supports dual SIM functionality and both the SIMs can be used for making calls while expanding the internal data storage also. It lacks fingerprint sensor which is a major drawback in this phone.

High quality camera

This budget phone by Xiaomi comes with 13 Megapixel primary camera with LED flash and 5 Megapixel secondary front facing camera with f/2.0 aperture. The device delivers decent camera performance which can capture good quality images in right lighting conditions and ambience. The picture quality is not that great at all in low light conditions. The 13MP rear camera is perfect for point and shoot shots as they capture photos in real time. It comes with f./2.2 aperture and additional features like PDAF (Phase detection autofocus), Face detection, Touch focus, Digital zoom, Video recording, geo-tagging, Phase detection and shooting modes like Continuos Shooting, High Dynamic Range mode (HDR) and Burst mode. They have real-time Beautify feature which ensures that the user is able to capture great selfie clicks.

Outstanding battery life and great connectivity

This dual SIM device is powered by a high capacity 3080 mAH non-removable battery which enables your phone to work continously for one full day so that you can easily play games, chat with friends, click selfies, listen to music and watch movies without running out of battery. With its power optimisations, it can deliver upto 11 hours of video playback, 16 hours of gaming and 35 hours of call time. However, the battery does not come with Quick charge support. Like most Xiaomi phones, it also features an InfraRed sensor that enables you to control IR-remote based home appliances with your phone hence making your life more easy and simple. Other features include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, GLONASS and a micro USB port for charging and data transfer. It is a dual SIM (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) smartphone with both the slots being compatible with 4G and VoLTE. The various types of sensors supported on the phone include a compass magnetometer, proximity sensor, accelerometer and an ambient light sensor.

Key Specifications at a glance

1. The phone is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425 Processor paired with 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage memory and Adreno 308 graphics.
2. It sports 5.5-inch HD display with 1280x720p resolution and 267 ppi pixel density.
3. It features 13MP rear camera and 5MP front facing selfie camera.
4. It runs on Android 7.1 Nougat operating system customised with latest MIUI 9 interface.
5. The battery capacity is 3080 mAH which is sufficient for a day's uninterrupted usage.
6. Both the SIMs support 4G and VoLTE network connectivity.
7. Sensors on the phone include Compass Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor and Gyroscope.

What are the drawbacks of buying this phone?

1. Average processor : This phone features an entry level chipset configuration. It should have been better
2. No Fingerprint sensor : Fingerprint scanner is a basic feature which almost all budget and mid-range phones have. The sensor offers extra security to the device by locking the phone
3. Plastic body : The phone comes with all-plastic body which is a let down as most of the phones these days have attractive metallic unibody design.

Redmi Y1 vs Redmi Y1 Lite specifications and features

Unlike other budget phones, Redmi Y1 has an amazing 16MP front camera which is the main USP of the phone with f/2.0 aperture, 76.4-degree wide-angle lens and selfie LED flash. The front shooter comes with 36 pre-installed smart beautify profiles and the user can use the beautification feature in real time while doing video calls. On the contrary, Redmi Y1 Lite sports 5MP camera without the front LED flash or the wide-angle lens. The software features like facial recognition, real-time beautification and selfie countdown are present in both the models. Both the devices feature a 13-megapixel rear camera sensor with f/2.2 aperture and phase-detection autofocus, and real-time filters and also sport similar design and look with very minor difference like Lite variant weighs 150 grams and has 7.55mm thickness, while the Redmi Y1 weighs 150 grams and is 7.7mm thick. As for display panel, they feature 5.5-inch HD (1280x720p) display with curved edges around the corners and smooth metallic cover on the rear panel. In terms of specifications and features, Redmi Y1 scores over Redmi Y1 Lite. Unlike Redmi Y1 Lite, Redmi Y1 flaunts 16MP front shooter with dedicated LED flash, fingerprint scanner on the rear panel and its front display is protected by 2.5D curved glass. On the other hand, Y1 Lite sports a less superior 5MP camera and lacks LED flash support, fingerprint sensor and 2.5D glass protection. Redmi Y1 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 octa-core chipset with 3GB/4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB storage variants. Whereas Redmi Y1 Lite is packed with less superior configuration which is quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset backed by 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Redmi Y1 series also comes with a dedicated microSD slot for 128GB internal storage along with two Nano-SIM slots unlike other Xiaomi phones which come with hybrid SIM slot. Both of them will run the MIUI 9 beta build based on Android Nougat operating system. Both the Redmi Y1 and the Y1 Lite come with non-removable 3,080mAh battery.

Final Verdict :

If you are looking to buy a feature-rich, low cost efficient device which provides excellent value for money, then Xiaomi Redmi Y1 Lite is a superb choice. The sleek design along with Snapdragon 435 processor offers ultimate experience to the smartphone user. Buy your selected model online by checking the best offers available.

About Xiaomi brand

Xiaomi is a privately owned company based in China which designs, develops and sells smartphones, an Android-based OS and other consumer electronics. Xiaomi also makes fitness trackers, TVs, air purifiers, and tablets. It has a skin for its Android phones and tablets – MIUI. The company largely sells its phones at reputed online portals via flash sales in India.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ans : Yes, it supports dual SIM and a memory card simultaneously.

Ans : Yes, it supports Jio SIM.

Ans : Yes, the phone is protected by Gorilla glass against scratches or any kind of minor accidental physical damages.

Ans : Yes, it supports OTG.

Ans : Both its SIMs are compatible with VoLTE connectivity.

Ans : The onboard storage of the phone can be expanded upto 128GB via a dedicated memory card slot.

Ans : Yes, this phone comes with LED notification light to indicate messages and other alerts.

Ans : No, the phone has all plastic body with metallic cover at the back.

Ans : The advanced and most recent MIUI 9 user interface comes with new features like a virtual assistant, the Energy saving mode which optimises the battery life and performance of the device making it more efficient.

Ans : The phone comes with non-removable 3080 mAH battery to offer continous working for a day.

Ans : Redmi Y1 Lite is better as it sports bigger 5.5-inch screen size and more advanced Android 7.0 operating system.

Ans : Yes, this phone is equipped with USB OTG feature for easy and fast data transfer.

Ans : No, the phone lacks a fingerprint sensor which is a major disadvantage as this is the most basic feature which every phone has these days.

Ans : No, this phone is not dust and water resistant.

Ans : Besides the handset, the box also contains other items like battery, charger, data cable, USB adapter, headsets, protective case and manual guide.