Smartron's Tendulkar branded phone vs Redmi Note 4: Which one is better?

Taking things forward is another Indian startup that has started making smartphones. The IOT Company founded in Hyderabad got cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as one of the key investors and it was only a matter of time that a smartphone with his branding as the fuel is launched in the market.

Though Smartron has launched a couple of smartphones earlier, it’s only with the Sachin phone that it got the pricing right and hence competes well with the likes of Xiaomi. The Redmi Note 4 from chinese phone maker is an aggressively priced beast with which Xiaomi has left no aspect of the smartphone unattended. But the srt.phone also has some surprising qualities.

1. Stock Android Nougat

No Android skin, however feature rich, can give an experience better than the pure, stock interface. Srt.phone runs the latest Android 7.0 Nougat OS with native interface, similar to what you find on phones like OnePlus 3T, Google Nexus and Google Pixel phones.

Despite a comparable hardware, the Redmi Note 4 feels sluggish when it comes to multitasking or app launching. It also feels over crowded with apps and customization options that most users find no use of.

2. A better display

Believe it or not, srt.phone has a better display. It is much more crisp and bright than the Redmi Note 4.

Both phones house IPS LCD displays with Full HD 1080p resolution. But while the srt.phone has more natural-looking colour reproduction, it is also less reflective than the Note 4. To add to the strength and smoothness of touch, it also has a Corning Gorilla Glass, which the Xiaomi phone doesn’t.

3. A gaming beast

Though this may also come as a surprise to you, but the spec sheet says it all. The srt.phone packs powerful hardware and it offers a much better prospect of gaming. It comes with a snapdragon 652 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and handles graphic-intensive games like a big boy.

The only problem with this chipset and the reason Xiaomi steered away from it is that it’s not very battery efficient and you end up with almost two-third reduction in the run time.

4. Type-C fast charging

Xiaomi, like running previous generation OS, is also running previous generation data and power transfer interface. Srt.phone uses the Type C fast charging port and makes up for its average battery backup with Qualcomm Quick Charge. The phone battery recharges 80% within one hour. Redmi Note 4, owing to bigger battery and a slower chargingmechanism via the micro USB port needs more time.

5. Dual-band Wi-Fi and other features

Though it may not make a big impact, the srt.phone has a few up market features that are usually not found in this price segment. There’s NFC on board and dual band Wi-Fi that increases connection stability and speeds. While the soft keys are backlit (Xiaomi should start doing this on its budget phones), you also get official Sachin Tendulkar Signature back covers. It’s a fan’s treat.

But not everything is great about the Sachin phone. It has its own fair share of compromises that, when weighed with its pros, might not tip the scales enough to persuade a buyer.

1. Mediocre cameras

In its price range, Redmi Note 4 has the best camera, both in rear and front. So it obviously races ahead of the srt.phone. But the phone from China defeats it in every sense. Srt.phone’s camera doesn’t captures details as good as the Note 4, and its auto focus struggles in low light. The resolution of photos falters badly at more complex landscape or outdoor shots.

2. Poor battery life

Owing to its chipset, the Sachin phone demonstrates a low battery backup. Moreover the OS needs optimization to prevent battery drain during standby or light usage. On the other hand, Xiaomi is more efficient and also houses a bigger 4100mAh battery.

3. Polycarbonate built feels non premium

Srt.phone has a unibody design and its battery is not removable. But it is not made out of metal, like Redmi Note 4. This means it won’t heat up much outdoors when sun is burning bright, but feels premium in the least. It also misses out on a curved 2.5D glass on the display.

The Sachin phone is, no doubt, one of the best phones produced by an Indian company ever that gets the software, hardware and price right. It may not be enough to compete the best in the market, it surely demonstrates that Indian companies have upped their game.