Redmi K30 Pro & Zoom edition introduced: Back to the Pop-Up Cam!

We have already been able to review the Redmi K30 with 120 Hz refresh rate and it has now been launched in India under the name Pocophone X2. Now, similar to the Redmi K20 (Mi 9T), a pro version is planned. The Redmi K30 Pro will be released with a pop-up camera and will also appear as the Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition.

Technical data of the Redmi K30 Pro

No flagship, but still top hardware

One thing first: It is interesting that there is generally a Pro version available after all. This was no longer assumed after the two versions of the Redmi K30, 4G and 5G. Even before this launch, the xda-developers have found out that a smartphone will be released under the code name “lmi” and the brand Redmi.

This is the now introduced Redmi K30 Pro, which is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. This is the new flagship processor, which is also found in the Xiaomi Mi 10 and 10 Pro. The Octa-Core processor offers the currently best performance of the Qualcomm chips and also supports 5G thanks to the external Snapdragon X55 modem. In order not to overheat, the Redmi K30 Pro is equipped with liquid cooling.

In addition, there is at least 6 GB LPDDR4X memory and 128 GB UFS 3.0 memory. If you take the 8/256 GB version of the K30 Pro, you even get the faster LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 mass storage. This also applies to the Zoom edition, which is only available with 8GB LPDDR5 and 128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1 memory.

One of the first leaked details was the battery. With a capacity of 4,700 mAh, it turns out to be larger than average and is thus on a par with the Xiaomi Mi 10. 33W charger is included in the scope of delivery. The noramle K30 is supplied with a 27W charger.

Camera: 64 instead of 108 Megapixels

In addition to the design, the differentiation from the own flagship is also evident in the camera. Because this smartphone, unlike the two flagships, is not equipped with the 108 megapixel sensor from Samsung. In the Redmi K30 Pro and the Zoom Edition the 64 MP Sony IMX686 sensor is integrated, which is also found in the normal K30. You can view test photos of the sensor in our review of the Redmi K30. We are happy about this decision, as the hardware can handle the smaller sensor much better.

However, there are three more camera sensors on the back. The K30 Pro offers a 13 megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and an additional 2 MP sensor for portrait shots. The K30 Pro and the Zoom Edition only differ in one sensor. In the normal Pro you get a tele-macro camera with 5 MP resolution and 50 mm focal length, in the Zoom Edition a tele camera with 30x hybrid zoom and optical image stabilisation (OIS). Like the Mi 10, the K30 Pro 8K supports video recording and a new night mode.

Connectivity

With the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro, the manufacturer is setting the stage for Bluetooth 5.1 for the first time. The range of the “Super Bluetooth” is even supposed to be over 400 m – wait and see. For this, there is MultiLink, with which the K30 Pro can dial into a 2.4 and 5 GHz WiFi and into a 4G or 5G network at the same time. NFC, GPS, GLONASS as well as a dual SIM slot, USB type C and a headphone jack are also included.

Xiaomi’s in-house MIUI 11 operating system based on Android 10 runs on the Redmi K30 Pro.

Back to the Pop-Up Camera

In fact, the tradition of the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro has been maintained and the Pro version of the Redmi K30 is equipped with a pop-up camera. This is implemented in the same way as on the Xiaomi Mi 9T (Pro) and is also positioned on the right. This is a dual front camera in the pop-up mechanism, which only moves out when the front camera is needed.

In contrast to the Redmi K30, the Redmi K30 Pro, i.e. possibly the Pocophone F2 (?), is equipped with an AMOLED display from Samsung. The normal K30 works with an IPS panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate. You really don’t get that in the Pro version. In return, there is at least an increased touch sample rate of 180 Hz, whereby inputs are implemented a bit faster. The panel also offers a brightness of 800 nit, a high contrast ratio and protection by Gorilla Glass 5.

The backside is based on the normal K30 by the circle module, but uses a square camera arrangement. Around this circle is another white circle, which accentuates the camera. The flash sits right under the module. The phone is available in four different colors: purple, white, green-blue and gray-black. As with the predecessor, there is again a red power button on the right side. The housing frame is made of metal, the front and back of gorilla glass.

Evaluation of the Redmi K30 Pro

The Redmi K30 Pro seems to be a budget flagship again. Top performance, but not quite as good as with the Xiaomi Mi 10 (Pro). This reminds us strongly of the Pocophone F1, which was very similar to the Xiaomi Mi 8 of that time, but only the camera and display were slightly weakened. Since the normal Redmi K30 appeared as Pocophone X2 (slightly attenuated series), the signs are good that this is the Pocophone F2.

But also as a potential Xiaomi Mi 10T (Pro) the K30 Pro leaves nothing to be desired. A higher frame rate would be desirable, but not absolutely necessary. In return, there is a large battery, first-class hardware, fast memory, a borderless design and a Sony main sensor on the camera, which we already liked very much in the normal K30.

In China, the phone starts in the smallest version for 2999 Yuan, which is almost $420. The Zoom Edition with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB is about $150 more expensive.

What do you think of the Redmi K30 Pro? Did you wish the Pop-Up Design back?