The Cheapest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phone: Redmi K70 Pro

just a quick video sharing my experience with the phone. how it's like using the phone outside of China (in singapore), whether genshin is able to run at higher resolution or not, etc.
the wallpaper i used can be found here:
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[@axhng]

March 27th update on Singpass: The latest version of the app update fixed the log in issue entirely and it is now working without issue. March 8th update: tried to reset Singpass to try whether i could repeat the log in process, or maybe it would help with the signing certificate issue. back to getting the same 83-T991 error. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ so just take it as not working still. Feb 20th update: tried to log in to Singpaas again and was able to log in. But it threw up an error regarding the "signing certificate". following the prompt in the app to "apply" for the certificate shows an error. No idea what that is exactly... But the app seems to work for now. Was able to use it to sign in to other gov services as per usual... Will update again if things changes.

[@hairulnizmo7384]

I have the same error on singpass, have yours been resolve?

[@axhng]

@@hairulnizmo7384 unfortunately not. on top of that, i decided to reset the app to try if i can repeat the log in process, and the same error 83-T991 came back. so looks like being able to log in the other time might have been a glitch.

[@JustGolight]

​@@axhngi just realized the background is fischl and mona 0_0

[@brendanlee7322]

Nice !! Nowadays china phones are more value for money than global sets ..

[@camotech1314]

Been like this for a while already 😅

[@Audi80-B4]

basically, slower notifications (fixable), chinese apps already there (fixable), in chinese (fixable), no play store (fixable, and it still has basic google services), you arent missing out on anything if android auto and location history isnt important to you

[@kingSway2d]

Awesome and detailed video. Thsnks.

[@CiprianFx59]

wow this looks so smooth, goodbye oneplus 🤣

[@liezelarmada9615]

Overall would you recommend this phone like a main phone for day to day usage? does it still works like a global phone even tho its china rom?

[@axhng]

It kinda depends if any of the things I've mentioned in the video are deal breakers for you. even then, there might be apps that you need that might not play nice with OS since the phone is china only now. For me, I'm still using this as my main phone now since I don't mind not having things like google location history, Android auto, etc. It does what I need and i like the amount of performance it offers for the price. But that said, it's not a phone I will recommend to just about anyone since different folks need different apps, and some apps might not work properly. So if you haven't used China-bases HyperOS before, it's going to be a gamble. 😅

[@LongKitKat]

Hi like your review. By any chance, have you played Netflix or Amazon prime video with that phone at FHD?

[@axhng]

thanks! unfortunately I don't use neflilx or amazon prime so not sure about that. I know it has widevine l1 support, but then not sure if the phone model needs to be whitelisted by those services or not.

[@LongKitKat]

@@axhng noted, thanks for your fast reply 👍

[@Anima19879]

When will the global premiere be? India will supposedly get it in March, followed by the rest of the world.

[@axhng]

I'm not sure about it actually. there is a chance it might not even be available globally. if i recall, the K60 Pro never got a global release. Only the K60 was rebranded as Poco F5 Pro. But it would be nice if it got a global release.

[@jasonchewjason]

Hi. Thanks for the video. Will this phone received security patches，android update in Singapore? Any idea?

[@axhng]

hi there. when i was using it i did get an ota update, and it went through just fine. it's the same for other CN phones i've used too from OPPO and vivo. so it most likely will get major android updates just fine too. just that i noticed xiaomi is a bit on the slower side when it comes to security updates compared to the other 2.

[@Emanuuz]

Hi, can you tell me since it hasn't been released globally yet if it's missing something on the software side, network language or similar stuff? Thank you very much.

[@axhng]

hmm. the most obvious things I can see would be the google stuff. like it won't have Android auto, nearbyshare, google location history. network wise, you'll probably have to check the support bands anyway to make since even global phones might have varying bands that they support or don't, especially if you're using 5G plan. 4G should be pretty safe though. system language wise, not sure if it's missing any, but it does have english at least which I can switch to during first boot.

[@Emanuuz]

@@axhng ty,does it have italian language

[@axhng]

@@Emanuuz sorry, but i don't recall unfortunately, and i no longer have the phone around with me to check.

[@camotech1314]

All the issues you mentioned can be rectified by unlocking bootloader and flashing HyperOS Xiaomi EU ROM.

[@codzombiesg]

Hello it is already possible ?

[@omranmkv]

And after that you won't get updates

[@rohith9226]

Hi brother, can you please tell me what is the release date of Redmi K70 Pro in India?

[@axhng]

There is a good chance that this model wouldnt be available outside of China at all since the K60 Pro was the same. For now can only see what Xiaomi plans to do with the Poco F6 series.

[@mediocritycentral]

how is its main camera compared to the K60 Pro? how about compared to a Xiaomi 13? I'm buying one for a family member and they seem to like the photos coming from teh X13 so I was wondering if its photos and videos are any good? Thanks

[@axhng]

I'm not sure about the K60 Pro, but I've used the Poco F5 Pro, which is like the K60, and the K70 Pro has better camera performance for sure. not just hardware, but also the image processing looks noticeably better to me. against the Xiaomi 13 i still slightly prefer the more natural image processing from the leica authentic mode, but the k70 pro is not too bad too in its own way (a bit more saturation and sharpening which some may prefer), and shots at night i think are comparable. but the telephoto camera is more usable and fun to shoot with on the 13 for sure. video seems slightly better on the 13 to me as well with slightly less twitchy looking stabilisation. my guess is better OIS hardware since they likely want to cut some cost on the K series device.

[@mediocritycentral]

@@axhng Thank you for the very detailed reply. I appreciate it, very insightful. At the same price point, are there other phones you would recommend instead of the K70 Pro? Preferably one with better cameras? But still has an 8 gen 3 or an equivalent SoC

[@vladimirdobrinkov1761]

Hi, is the camwra better than the Xiaomi 13T pro? Also does it overheat a lot

[@axhng]

i haven't tested the 13T Pro before, but i think it's not as good as the regular Xiaomi 13. but only slightly. aside from gaming, heavy camera usage, or outdoor high brightness usage, the phone doesn't really heat up much. it's noticeably better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 devices I've tried so far.

[@dcu21]

This is quite confusing, there's no Ip rating whatsoever but they market that the screen will work when it's wet. I checked their chinese product page

[@axhng]

indeed. it's kinda like the oneplus ace 3 too which has this feature but seemingly no IP rating. but most phones these are probably have some measures against water ingress, like having a rubber gasket around the usb-c port, mics, etc. might not but as good as full IP68, but should be fine against wet hands or a small drizzle. my guess is that that's what this feature is for rather than full on using the phone underwater or whatnot. For most more budget oriented devices, my guess is that it's just not worth paying the money to get it certified. 😅

[@bleauxshade3843]

As long as it is able to be in a custom ROM, it's a good phone for me.

[@pudinichigo91]

you will need to pay for around $80-$100 to unlock the bootloader and for me that not really worth it

[@bleauxshade3843]

@@pudinichigo91 it's free for Xiaomi. I know how to do it myself. :)

[@pudinichigo91]

@@bleauxshade3843 yes for global but not for china set phone that come with HyperOS preinstalled out of the box

[@nakedeye44]

when it comes to chinese phones, I'm always skeptical

[@camotech1314]

You shouldn't be. They are way better value for money than overspending on Samsung and OnePlus 😂😂😂

[@centntn]

@@camotech1314oneplus is a Chinese company lmao

[@0chances]

Hi nice review.. where did you get yours? link site

[@axhng]

thanks! this one was from taobao since some of their sellers do ship to SG. but more commonly it would be through importers. here in Singapore, lazada or shopee would have a few sellers doing the importing.

[@0chances]

@@axhng what about the screen? is it gorilla glass or something?

[@axhng]

@@0chances there is no mention of the glass, so my guess it's just using their own version of strengthened glass.

[@archonttube]

​@@axhngdeco glass

[@kirazukigamedesu7973]

How many years did Xiaomi give a Android update for this model?

[@axhng]

iirc, for their more recent global models like the xiaomi 13T series, they are offering 4 android updates and 5 years security patches. for their china only model and the chinese version of HyperOS... i have no idea actually. but i'm guess it won't be as long 😅

[@kirazukigamedesu7973]

@@axhng hmm. Global version released take longer time. When they officially released another new model has been introduced after 2 or 3 months after that. Lol 🤦

[@FLOWERISAPBUTOW1KO]

Thank you for this video where do you advise me to buy this phone ?

[@axhng]

It kinda depends on where you live. In general, just get from a reputable importer or online shopping platforms so that at least you have some recourse if the phone has issues out of the box. Some better seller might even offer their own warranty, but just have to keep in mind to not count on that too much since it will be completely up to their discretion. For me in Singapore, shopping platforms like shopee and Lazada is usually the first place I'll look at since if there's anything wrong with the phone, those platform can help make the return/refund process a bit easier than dealing with direct sellers. Taobao too would be another option. Just have to compare prices and find the best deal.

[@FLOWERISAPBUTOW1KO]

@@axhng Thank You so much for your prompt reply. I love all the videos you've made here.

[@axhng]

@@FLOWERISAPBUTOW1KO thanks!!!

[@lance5056]

Question can this phone download any Google apps like chrome or email and also google play, plus does it work on games that needs to use google account to log in?😅

[@axhng]

I don't play any games that uses google account to log in, but my guess is that it shouldn't be an issue since even the China version of HyperOS has basic google services as mentioned. i can sign in to my google account to sync contacts, calendar too. i'm using apps like gmail, google keep, books, youtube, drive, docs, maps on the phone and they can use the same google account sign in just like any regular android phone. play store can be installed from the built in app store like shown in the video, and after that can install apps from the play store as usual.

[@lance5056]

@@axhng Thank you so much!

[@LongKitKat]

Hi Alex, another thing that I wish to find out more is, can this phone play KZbin video in 1080p and 4K quality?

[@axhng]

hi there. no issues in that regard. HDR works too. 👍 i.imgur.com/jRIgUjo.jpeg

[@CiprianFx59]

Given the fact that I uninstall android auto and turn google location history off, these 2 are features for me with this phone 🤣

[@axhng]

🤣yeah, i don't care much for those features too and will normally disable android auto if I can. being able to uninstall almost all the extra stuff, is a nice bonus for me. the global version of HyperOS on the other hand has more things that can't be uninstalled or disabled.

[@ultimateultra2419]

how about android auto? supported on this device or not?

[@axhng]

no support for android auto on all phones with CN firmware as far as i know.

[@FLOWERISAPBUTOW1KO]

Hi does this phone support Snapdragon sound ?

[@axhng]

it does. www.aptx.com/products/xiaomi-redmi-k70-pro

[@cherryvallestero8591]

You think the k70 ultra is better then this?

[@axhng]

on paper at least, performance and battery life should be better. plus it has IP68 too. but k70 pro does still seem to have better camera hardware, and screen is higher resolution too. ultimately i think they're pretty similar so whichever is cheaper would be the better deal imo.

[@jasonchewjason]

Now i am interested to get K70. Anybody has experience buying direct from taobao. Any shipping issues to sg? Possible to ship by air or must by sea?

[@axhng]

I've not tried getting a phone from taobao yet, but the process should be straightforward. I've seen some sellers offer the option for direct air shipping too. the price for direct air shipping usually includes GST, service charge and all that too. Though unless there is a particularly good promo, perhaps the new K70 Ultra could be an option too. I saw earlier on taobao from the official store "小米官方旗舰店“ that k70 ultra is around 540SGD, whereas if it's K70 during non promo period i only slightly cheaper...

[@jasonchewjason]

​@@axhngThanks for the tips.

[@allaboutlush8846]

Redmi k70 or honor 200?

[@axhng]

i've not tried the honor 200 so can't really comment too much, but at least looking at the processor, the K70 has better specs than the honor 200. so if you want better performance, or you game on your phone, then K70 would be the one to go for.

[@jasonminato6660]

Does tv out work?

[@axhng]

i didn't try myself, but pretty sure it doesn't, especially since it's using just usb2.0.

[@jpanan329]

Does this phone support mobile legend bang bang 120fps plz reply

[@axhng]

i think i saw the Ultra refresh rate option when i was testing it back then, but i recall that when i use the built-in FPS monitoring option, it's only 60FPS. not sure how it is now though since i don't play the game.😅

[@jpanan329]

@@axhng please chack it again I want to bye it for gaming

[@jasonminato6660]

Does any one know if you can connect your phone to a tv with hdmi?

[@axhng]

i haven't tried, but pretty sure I've seen somewhere that it doesn't support HDMI out. the USB port is just USB 2.0 too.

[@NathanDreamsBig]

Is the screen bezel slim like Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G?

[@axhng]

I've not seen that phone in person so can't really say. But based on the stock images from GSMArena, it doesn't seem to be as slim..

[@genesisyt9662]

Please, tell us about iqoo 12 Chinese rom.

[@axhng]

i've not tried the iQOO 12 CN ROM, only have a short experience with the Neo9 Pro. In the time I had with it, it seems quite nice to use for the most part. Nice UI and animations, useful features built in, i like their gestures for floating window mode for example. Their desktop app for MacOS integration works rather well too and i can even mirror and control the phone on my Mac desktop. Also like HyperOS, it does have basic google services built in too so account sync (contacts, calendar, etc) works fine, and Play Store can be installed easily from the built-in app store too. Same caveats applies though with no Android Auto, no Google Location History, and notifications will have delay unless you change some app settings and lock the app to prevent them from being frozen. Another unfortunate thing is that their gaming upscaling and frame interpolation features doesn't work for global version of games like Genshin. only works for the chinese game client, which is a bit disappointing.

[@genesisyt9662]

@@axhng really helpful, thanks alot. I want to get an SD gen 3 phone, and so far, iqoo 12 is in my top list. Realme gt 5 pro was my top but I don't like curved screen. But realme ui Chinese rom is really usable. Unlike redmi Chinese rom, it can be very restrictive from my past experience. Wanted to know if fun touch is usable like realme when you get the Chinese rom variant.

[@axhng]

@@genesisyt9662 no problem. though for iQOO 12, since it's available in more countries outside of china, if you can get the global version, might be better to just go for that. I don't like their global FunTouchOS as much, but it should have less issues when using outside of China. 😅 and if you're not in a hurry, there are rumours that vivo X100s might have a flat screen too, and there might be a X100 Pro+ or Ultra, and iQOO 12s too perhaps looking at their previous release cycles.

[@genesisyt9662]

@@axhng okay, thanks, lemme wait a little and see.. curved screens should be banned. The aesthetic is no more interesting.

[@yottubeContint]

IP Rating?

[@axhng]

if i'm not wrong it's just IP54

[@hassanalmushaimea1559]

Hi may you test it on social media apps example Instagram, Snapchat to see the camera and how it works with it ?