Lenovo K8 Note vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 – A ‘Note’worthy Fight

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Lenovo’s latest addition to its K series of smartphones, the K8 Note handset, was launched in the country yesterday, and, being priced at an aggressive 13,999INR, it stands directly against the current market leader, as far as the mid-range segment is considered, – the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4.

We decide to put them on the scales together and find out which side they tilt in the favor of. On paper, this is how the two of them stack up.

Also Read: Lenovo K8 Note Quick Review

Lenovo K8 Note vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Specs Comparison

Model Lenovo K8 Note Redmi Note 4
Display 5.5-Inch, Full HD IPS LCD display 5.5-Inch, IPS LCD  full HD display
Processor Mediatek Helios X23 processor Snapdragon 625 processor with Adreno 506 GPU
RAM 4GB 2GB/3GB/4GB
Internal Storage 64GB, expandable up to 256GB 32GB/64GB expandable up to 256GB
Software Android Nougat 7.1.1 Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) based MIUI 8
Primary Camera 13MP + 5MP rear cameras 13MP sensor, dual-tone LED Flash, PDAF
Secondary Camera 13MP selfie camera 5MP Front-Facing Camera
Battery 4000mAh battery, Turbo Charging 4100mAh battery
Others 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, microUSB 2.0, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG, Dedicated SIM slot, Hybrid SIM slot, 4G VoLTE,  Fingerprint Sensor, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audiojack, Infrared port, microUSB 2.0, USB OTG,
Price Rs. 12,999/Rs. 13,999 Rs.9,999/10,999/12,999

Now, we’d like to share our findings with you.

Design and Display

Design-wise, both the smartphones strictly follow the same template, that has become pretty common these days – a metal unibody topped by a 2.5D curved glass, and rounded corners.

Both have similar physical features and come in with almost exact dimensions. The K8 Note has an additional Corning Gorilla Glass 3 covering on the top which is something the Note 4 lacks. Other than that, the former also has a dedicated key for music playback, which again isn’t there in the latter.

Overall, it is a tie for us in terms of design, as there is nothing revolutionary or worth standing out in either of them.

Talking about the pair’s similarities, they show up in their display too, with each of them having a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, with a common Full HD (1080x1920p) resolution.

The two have exactly similar ppi density (near about 401) and almost the same screen to body ratio (K8 Note’s 71.1% to the Note 4’s 72.7%). So, we better call it even stevens here.

However, upon personal usage we found the K8 Note’s display to be just a little bit better than the Note 4’s, we have to admit.

Also Read: Top 10 Smartphones Expected To Launch In August 2017

Software

Software is something where the difference between the two begins to show, and to a large extent at that. While one offers a stock Android experience to the users, the other employs a heavily customized skin on the top.

With the K8 Note, Lenovo has tried to transition to a near vanilla Android OS instead of putting inside its own skin (earlier Vibe UI, then Pure UI), that used to be the case earlier in its smartphones before, as it comes running on the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

The Redmi Note 4, on the other hand, has its MIUI 8.5 (9 coming soon) over a relatively older Android Marshmallow (it can be updated to Nougat though). As a result, you get a heavy skin on the top which is a bit too cluttered to out liking (however, it sure has a few nifty features up its sleeve).

So, if you have an affinity towards a light and easily customisable Android OS (like we do), you would be better off with the K8 Note, but if you are someone who has got accustomed to the MIUI, you would surely feel something amiss here, and should opt for the Note 4 in this case.

Camera and Battery

Optics is one department where the K8 Note slightly overshadows the Note 4, courtesy its dual camera unit at the back, and a detailed selfie snapper up front.

Lenovo’s newest kid on the block has a 13MP camera with a PureCell sensor teamed up with a 5MP one having a Samsung BSI sensor (to be used for depth sensing purposes) on it back, which, when you put in additional features like f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus, and dual tone LED flash scores well and good over the Note 4’s solitary 13MP snapper that has an f/2.0 aperture and similar features.

Also Read: Lenovo K8 Note To Run Stock Android Nougat Out Of The Box

Up front, the K8 Note is ahead on paper with its 13MP selfie snapper, with the Note 4’s 5MP one, regardless of the fact that they both have the same aperture. The real world performance on the two isn’t vastly different, though.

There’s little to compare in terms of the duo’s battery, as the similarity persists there, too (the K8 Note has a 4,000mAh one, while the Redmi Note 4 has a 4,100mAH power unit fitted inside).

Here too, the K8 Note holds a slight edge, courtesy its support for Turbo Charging and the 15W Turbo Charger it comes bundled with.

Also Read: Best Dual Camera Smartphones Under 20,000 INR

Who Should Buy The Lenovo K8 Note?

All those who are looking for a mid-ranger with stock Android OS, fast charging, a dedicated microSD card slot.

Who Should Buy The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4?

Those who prefer a device which has a Snapdragon powering unit, and are, in fact, fine with Xiaomi’s feature rich MIUI lain on the top.

Anurag SharmaAnurag Sharma
Passionate Storyteller, Occasional Writer. \m/ Journalism Undergrad. Trying to win at life one sentence at a time. Why so serious? Let's put a smile on that face. 8)

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