Xiaomi Hongmi 2 (Redmi 2) Certified with 5.5’’ Screen and Octa-Core CPU

Chinese mobile phone maker Xiaomi has been long rumored to plan the release of a second-generation Xiaomi Hongmi (Redmi) smartphone, and the device emerged online today, as it has started to receive the necessary certification.

The phone, supposedly set to arrive on the market as Hongmi 2 or Redmi 2, as the company has changed the name of the first-gen device after launching it outside China, has been spotted in China's TENAA certification database, which suggests that it might not be too long before it arrives on shelves. The yet unannounced device is expected to land on the market with a 5.5-inch touchscreen display capable of delivering a 720p resolution, and the latest info that emerged on it confirms that, it seems. At the same time, the smartphone is said to pack an octa-core processor when brought to the market, paired with 1GB of RAM, as Engadget notes. Apparently, Xiaomi will release two versions of the device, one with a 1.4GHz processor inside, and the other with a 1.7GHz CPU, capable of offering increased performance when compared to the predecessor.

Xiaomi Redmi 2 is also set to hit the market with support for various network frequencies in China. Thus, users will be able to buy it both on China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA network, and on China Unicom’s WCDMA infrastructure. China Telecom is also expected to make the device available for its users, though it might release it at a later date, with CDMA2000 connectivity capabilities packed inside. The specifications list of the upcoming smartphone also includes a 13-megapixel camera on the back, which should be able to offer full HD video recording when coupled with the rest of handset’s specs. A 5MP front camera will also be present on the smartphone, for great video calling capabilities. Apparently, the TENAA listing also mentions an 8-megapixel front camera for the Redmi 2, and it remains to be seen which version of the phone will have it. A microSD memory card slot for expansion purposes will also be available inside the device.

The one thing that is missing from the specs list is support for 4G LTE connectivity, despite the fact that the technology has just started picking up steam in China. Rival phone makers have already adopted it, and Xiaomi might follow suit, though it remains to be seen when exactly that happens. In the meantime, however, we should wait for the vendor to make this device official to learn more on it. Rumor has it that it could be announced at Xiaomi’s "MiFan Festival" in early April, and that it might have it priced at less than $130 (€93), the same as the first-generation handset.

Xiaomi Hongmi 2 (Redmi 2)
Image credits to TENAA

Posted in: Mobile Phone, News, Preview