Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro Review, Pros and Cons – Not long ago, Xiaomi launched three amazing 5G smartphones in China. It is none other than the Redmi K series, in which you will see Redmi K40, K40 Pro, and K40 Pro Plus smartphones. They obtained 95% similarity between them in design and specs, while the rest of the 5% is the critical factor that distinguishes them.

Xiaomi knows how to excite its fan base with just a small teaser. With the launch of these three legendary phones, the company will gain more attention than its competitors. The best part is that there is a great chance that this formation will be revealed on the global stage. Perhaps with a different name, or it may be possible to debut under the same name in other markets.

Covering the trio at one point would be an injustice. Therefore, we reduced the review to two parts. Here, you’ll see the review of the Redmi K40 and K40 Pro phones, and in the meantime, check out the in-depth analysis of the K40 Pro Plus smartphone. With that said, let’s move towards the main features of the Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphones.

Table of Contents

Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro Review

Highlights

  1. Both models come with an AMOLED screen that guarantees a fabulous screen experience.
  2. The K40 model equips a 48 MP triple camera with a 20 MP selfie port, while the K40 Pro model comes with a 64 MP triple camera with a 20MP selfie lens.
  3. As for the battery section, you will obtain a battery of 4520 mAh with a charging block of 33W.
  4. Performance support ranged from Snapdragon 870 for K40 to Snapdragon 888 for K40 Pro.
  5. Behind the scenes, the MIUI 12 software skin matches the Android 11 OS out of the box.

Design and Display

In recent years, it has become a trend for the launch of the new Mi smartphone to impact all other smartphones. Likewise, Redmi also follows an almost similar roadmap in terms of design and structure. Now, starting with the layout, the sleek-looking design gives off premium-quality vibes, which somehow resembles the Mi 10T camera port. However, the internal specification is a little different.

In addition, there are three wonderful color shades for K40: Black, White, and Aurora, from which you can choose anyone according to your preference. The rear version and white tone are completely smooth, while the Aurora variant provides a striking and classic look. In terms of build quality, you will not be disappointed in any way. Apparently, both devices are equipped with the latest gorilla glass protection.

At the rear, recent changes in the appearance of the camera’s plate are a hot topic. On the other hand, the front screen had the efficient 6.67 inches Super AMOLED panel in hand, which was only acquired by brilliant brightness setting and prepared a better viewing angle. Although you don’t have a curved 3D screen, even if you have a flat-screen, it doesn’t matter, as the screen looks completely frameless.

Not to forget, you’ll have a 120 Hz refresh rate that renders HDR10+ clarity, so you can experience smoothing in each frame. In addition, touch sampling exceeds 360 PPI, which is quite useful for advanced-level gaming. In addition, the combination of light and thin bodies provides an immersive experience during use.

Memory and Internal

The wonderful thing about the Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphone is that they arrive with Android 11 ready to use. In short, you will receive almost three updates and a security patch. But, what makes it so unique about Redmi phones would be its personalized interface. The Xiaomi device comes with the MIUI interface cover that allows users to fully customize the settings of the phones.

In addition, both devices have the latest version of MIUI 12. The MIUI 12 UI offers better control over the smartphone and battery-saving software. For this, you can see the extent of the performance speed and the diversified energy flow for various multi-tasking, such as surfing the Internet and watching videos. In addition, with a cutting-edge refresh rate, you will have an agile user experience.

However, we expected the base model K40 to have less power compared to the K40 Pro. But, something unusual happens, the K40 is compatible with the Snapdragon 870 chipset, and this chipset is a majestic gaming beast because it received a clock speed of 3.2GHz. While the K40 Pro follows the lead of the most powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset this year.

On the one hand, this chipset comes with an amazing overall performance that guarantees better visual effects, while on the other hand, it manages everything properly. Compare to the overall strength of the Redmi K40 smartphone, which focuses only on single-core, it becomes less effective than the Redmi K40 Pro smartphone. Although, the visual difference is minimal.

In terms of variant options, both the Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphones did an excellent job, bringing almost identical storage options. You can get 6GB or 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of space. If you are looking for something else, there is also a 256 GB storage variant associated with 8GB of RAM for each model. In comparison, the Redmi K40 smartphone has prepared an additional variant of 12 GB of RAM that joins the league with 256 GB of storage.

All storage partitions receive the blessing of the UFS 3.1 memory type which increases data transfer speed. In addition, you will not find any secondary storage units here. Well, it is quite understandable, as you will have enough storage space. So there is no need to worry about that because even if you take a lot of pictures and record videos, the memory will not end anytime soon.

Camera

The camera technology used on both phones is practically the same, except that the quality of the sensor increases slightly in the K40 Pro. Without a doubt, Redmi intends to create the most effective color experience with its camera modules. They are going in the right direction while learning from the mistakes of previous models.

Unquestionably, you will receive amazing photo quality and an impressive video experience on both phones. The K40 has a standard 48 MP, while the K40 Pro comes with a 64 MP primary camera. Fortunately, the secondary cameras are identical. There is an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 5 MP macro lens, which will utilize the lens’s ability to provide a fascinating dynamic range of photography.

Color saturation and exposure to light are also not that bad, but you can see the dramatic difference in low light at some point. However, you don’t have to worry about details in low light, thanks to the dedicated night mode. In addition, the beautiful blending features are also very engaging and enhance the image quality.

After moving from the professional model to the normal mode, you will notice smoothness in the photos and, somehow, the images will lose their sharpness. On the other hand, the video recording is quite remarkable. The stability features are a little low on the Redmi K40 compared to K40 Pro. Still, you won’t have any problems with 4K video with HDR settings.

In addition, the K40 Pro comes with 8K video recording capabilities due to its advanced level chipset. Not to forget, we had a good feeling about the camera software, since the high-end chipset is supporting all processes. Therefore, you will have no careless experience when using the camera application.

At the front, you will receive a beautiful selfie camera carved in tiny 20 MP dots at the center. Like all other camera card settings within this phone, you will have excellent beauty features for taking a selfie without putting on makeup.

Battery and Others

According to the needs of the user, the company has implanted a large battery under the hood, the Xiaomi Redmi K40, and K40 Pro smartphones. You will reach the battery power of Li-Po 4520 mAh and will have a widescreen time of 7+ hours with it. However, it should be sufficient to provide excellent performance during the games. Inside the box, the 33W fast charger is something we weren’t expecting.

A 50W fast charging would have made the line a good money banger. Still, it hasn’t lost its value with just a 33W charging speed. It will take more than an hour or less to charge the battery, which seems quite apparent. The complementary Power Delivery 3.0 and Quick Charge 3+ software will further increase the charging speed and decrease the time spent.

The communication system is also well built and offers the latest in Bluetooth, GPS and NFC enabled. As they are a medium-sized device, the starting price of the Redmi K40 is around USD 463 (33,000 INR) for 6GB RAM and 128 GB storage. For the Redmi K40 Pro, the price is justified by the fact that it is the superior variant with the starting cost of USD 570 (41,000 INR) for the 8GB RAM and 128 GB storage.

Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphones

Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro Specifications Detail

Down below you can see the full specifications of the Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphone.

SpecificationsXiaomi Redmi K40 ProXiaomi Redmi K40
Network2G, 3G, 4G, 5GSame
AnnouncedFebruary 2021Same
SIMDual SIMSame
Dimensions6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 inchesSame
Weight196 gSame
Size6.67 inchesSame
DisplaySuper AMOLED
120Hz
HDR10+
1300 nits brightness
20:9 ratio
~395 ppi density
Same
ProtectionIP53, dust and splash protection
Gorilla Glass 5
Gorilla glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixelsSame
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 12Same
Chipset5nm – Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 8887nm – Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G
CPUOcta-core
1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680
3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680
4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680
Octa-core
1×3.2 GHz Kryo 585
3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585
4×1.80 GHz Kryo 585
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 650
Card slotNoSame
RAM6GB, 8GB6GB, 8GB, 12GB
Internal128GB, 256GB
UFS 3.1
Same
Camera64 MP (wide)
8 MP (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
LED flash, HDR, panorama, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
8K@30fps
48 MP (wide)
8 MP (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
LED flash, HDR, panorama, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
4K@30fps
Selfie20 MP (wide)
HDR
1080p@30fps
Same
LoudspeakerYes, with stereo speakersSame
3.5mm jackNo
24-bit/192kHz audio
Same
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band
Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Same
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LESame
GPSYes, with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
Same
NFCYesSame
Infrared portYesSame
RadioNoSame
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-GoSame
SensorsSide-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
color spectrum, barometer
Side-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
color spectrum
BatteryLi-Po 4520 mAh
Fast charging 33W
Power Delivery 3.0
Quick Charge 3+
Same
ColorsBlack, White, AuroraSame
Expected PriceUSD 570 (41,000 INR)USD 463 (33,000 INR)

Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphones Pros and Cons

Down below you can see the list of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of the Xiaomi Redmi K40 and K40 Pro smartphones.

Pros

  1. Vivid colors through Super AMOLED display.
  2. Invincible beast of performance.
  3. Support for long battery life.
  4. Latest Android 11 features.
  5. Impressive custom MIUI 12 interface.
  6. 8K video recording by K40 pro is possible.
  7. Suitable for the extreme gaming experience.
  8. Better image quality and stabilized video recording.
  9. Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
  10. IP53, dust, and splash protection for the K40 Pro.
  11. 33 W charging speed
  12. 5g support.
  13. Infrared port and NFC enabled.

Cons

  1. The secondary storage unit is missing.
  2. Bloatware is present.
  3. side-mounted fingerprint instead on display.
  4. Without wireless charging support.
  5. Without a 3.5 mm jack.

Conclusion

Redmi intrudes uniformly on the needs of each segment of users. They have everything available for each price segment and, for the mid-range, the gift of the K40 series is fabulous. The legacy will continue on the next schedule as well.

The main charm of both models of the K40 series is the raw strength of the hardware with a good combination of software tuning. You’ll get a high refresh rate, gorilla glass protection, fascinating camera features, robust battery, and more.

But for some reason, you didn’t like it in any way or the phone is not available in your area. You can consider the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G for its superior battery life and the Motorola One 5G Ace for its impressive performance as an alternative to the k40 and k 40 pro phones. However, they may not obtain the latest specifications.

If we have to choose any Redmi device, it would be none other than Redmi K40 Pro because it received a more powerful processor and an overall attractive image capture experience. Although being perfect in all fields is just a myth.

Here, you have not obtained any secondary storage units that provide more space for your images, videos, applications, and files. Not even the SD shard card slot, which is pretty sad. However, this does not affect the overall image of the k40 series.

If you’re looking for a gaming smartphone with a decent camera setup, the Redmi K40 is an impeccable choice due to its raw processing speed. On the other hand, if you focus exclusively on photography and want a robust artist, in that case, the Redmi K40 Pro is the best choice.

Sumit Pandit
Sumit Pandit is a senior news reporter for Oispice. He is an expert on smartphones, apps, gadgets, and the tech industry. He writes for different tech news and has an excellent ability to make complex matters easy to understand. Sumit can be reached on Twitter @sumitkrpandit or Email at [email protected].