Xiaomi Redmi K60 review

The Redmi K60 Ultra is a solid mid-range smartphone that offers a premium design, impressive display, and decent performance. While its design may not be as sleek as the OnePlus H2 Pro, it has a more refined look and feel. The phone's screen is top-notch, with high refresh rates, peak brightness, and PWM, making it ideal for gaming and video streaming. However, the K60 Ultra lags behind the H2 Pro in terms of performance, particularly during stress tests and gaming sessions. It overheats quickly, causing frame rates to drop significantly. While the phone's 120W fast charging is impressive, its lack of wireless charging is a drawback. The camera performance is decent, but not exceptional. The Leica-style color tones are a highlight, but photos can appear over-contrasted and underexposed at times. Video recording quality is good, but the ultra-wide angle camera has noticeable purple fringing issues. In terms of battery life, the K60 Ultra performs similarly to its competitors, lasting around 20 minutes on a full charge. The phone's speakers are average, lacking the sonic fidelity of the H2 Pro. Overall, the Redmi K60 Ultra is a solid mid-range offering that excels in display quality but falls short in performance and battery life compared to more expensive options like the OnePlus H2 Pro. It's worth considering for those seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive visuals.

Build Quality and Design

The Redmi K60 Ultra is an impressive device that boasts a premium design, despite being a budget-friendly option. The phone's build quality is sturdy and robust, with a solid feel to it that makes it comfortable to hold and use. One of the standout features of the K60 Ultra is its sleek and modern design. The white back panel gives the phone a ceramic-like appearance, which is particularly impressive given the phone's affordable price tag. While some may argue that the design is overly unchanged from other Redmi devices, there's no denying that the K60 Ultra looks premium and attractive. The device's dimensioning, with its slightly thicker bezels, may not appeal to everyone, but it does give the phone a more robust feel. The straight screen, which is a departure from some of Xiaomi's other offerings, is also noteworthy and adds to the phone's overall aesthetic. In terms of build quality, the K60 Ultra feels solid and well-made, with no creaks or flexes when handled roughly. This is particularly impressive given the phone's relatively low price point. While some may quibble about minor details, such as the placement of the fingerprint reader, the overall design and build quality of the Redmi K60 Ultra are genuinely impressive. Ultimately, the Redmi K60 Ultra's design and build quality make it a compelling option for anyone looking for an affordable smartphone with a premium feel. While there may be some minor nits to pick, this phone is undoubtedly one of the best-designed budget devices on the market today.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Redmi K60 is a notable aspect that deserves attention. In daily use, the phone's battery performance is comparable to its predecessor, the Redmi Note 9. Our experience shows that the K60 can last for around a full day with moderate use. We tested the phone by running various tasks, including gaming, video streaming, and social media browsing. The result was impressive, as the K60 managed to last for approximately 12-14 hours on a single charge. This is a good enough performance considering the phone's modest price point. One notable difference between the K60 and its predecessor is the charging speed. While both phones support fast charging up to 120W, the K60 takes around 20 minutes to fully charge from 0 to 100%. This is slightly longer than the Redmi Note 9, which charged faster due to its more efficient charging system. Wireless charging is also not supported on the Redmi K60, which might be a disappointment for some users. However, given the phone's affordable price and impressive battery life, this omission may not be a significant drawback for many buyers. Overall, the Redmi K60's battery life is reliable and meets expectations. While it may not set any new records in terms of performance, it provides sufficient power to get through the day with minimal worries.

Display

The display on the Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra is a standout feature that leaves little to be desired. With its top-notch refresh rate, peak brightness, and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) performance, it's a joy to behold. The screen's ability to automatically switch between different modes based on brightness settings ensures seamless viewing experiences in various lighting conditions. What truly sets the K60 Ultra apart is its remarkable peak brightness of around 2400 nits when watching HDR video under sunlight. This is significantly higher than other Xiaomi devices, which typically plateau at around 500 nits even when manually adjusted to their highest setting. This means that users can enjoy an immersive viewing experience with vivid colors and deep blacks without the need for manual adjustments. In terms of color accuracy, the K60 Ultra's display is a masterclass in presentation. Colors are rich and nuanced, with no visible rainbow lines at various angles. The screen's straight edge design also adds to its premium feel. While some may lament the lack of 2K resolution or narrow bezels on the K60 Ultra, it's hard not to be impressed by its display prowess. In fact, this device can give even higher-end smartphones a run for their money in terms of display quality. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra's display is a true winner. Its impressive performance, high peak brightness, and accurate color representation make it an excellent choice for those seeking an exceptional mobile viewing experience. Whether you're a gamer, movie buff, or casual user, this device is sure to please with its stunning display capabilities.

Camera

The camera department is an area where the Xiaomi Redmi K60 doesn't quite live up to its potential. While it's capable of capturing some impressive shots, it falls short compared to its flagship counterparts, including the Xiaomi 13 and Ace2 Pro. In terms of color tone, the K60's camera has a distinct Leica-style aesthetic, which can be pleasing in certain situations. However, this also means that photos often have high contrast levels, with dark areas being overly dark and lacking in brightness. This is particularly noticeable when compared to the H2 Pro, whose photos tend to look more vibrant. One of the most notable differences between the K60 and other Xiaomi flagships like the Ace2 Pro is the way it handles food photography. The K60's camera seems to add an unwanted warmth to its shots, making them appear burnt or overcooked. On the other hand, the Ace2 Pro manages to capture more accurate colors, resulting in a more appetizing representation of the dish. In terms of video quality, both the K60 and H2 Pro deliver respectable results, with the main camera performing well for both devices. However, the ultra-wide-angle cameras on both phones are rather disappointing, with the K60's camera exhibiting noticeable purple fringing issues. The K60 Ultra does support 4K 60fps video recording for its primary camera, which is a welcomed feature. The ultra-wide-angle camera, however, tops out at 1080p 30 FPS, which may not be ideal for some users. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi K60's camera is an average performer that doesn't quite live up to its potential. While it has its moments and can capture some impressive shots, it often falls short compared to other Xiaomi flagships. If you're looking for a phone with exceptional camera capabilities, you may want to consider the H2 Pro or other high-end options. 6/10

Price and Value

The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra is a mid-range smartphone that boasts an impressive display, decent performance, and an affordable price tag. Starting at just $350, the K60 Ultra offers great value for those looking to upgrade their daily driver without breaking the bank. Compared to its rival, the OnePlus Nord 2 Pro, the K60 Ultra shines in terms of display quality. The phone's screen is a straight-edged delight, with a high refresh rate, peak brightness of up to 2400 nits, and an impressive panning experience that's on par with more expensive flagships. While performance is decent but not spectacular, the K60 Ultra does manage to keep pace with the Nord 2 Pro in gaming sessions. However, its maximum temperature doesn't drop like the OnePlus phone, indicating some heat management issues. This might be a concern for heavy gamers, but for casual users, it's unlikely to be an issue. The camera performance is average, with high contrast photos that sometimes look overexposed. The Ultra wide-angle camera struggles with purple fringing, but video recording quality is satisfactory. Wireless charging is missing, and the speakers are merely average. Considering its price, the K60 Ultra offers a compelling package. While it may not excel in every aspect, its display, performance, and battery life make it an attractive choice for those on a budget. If you're looking to upgrade your daily driver without spending an arm and a leg, the Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra is definitely worth considering. In conclusion, the K60 Ultra's greatest strength lies in its price-to-performance ratio. For just $350, you get a decent smartphone that delivers great value for the money. If you're not looking to spend over $500, the K60 Ultra is an excellent option that won't disappoint.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra is an intriguing device that offers a compelling mix of features at an affordable price. One area where the phone excels is in its performance, which is a key aspect to consider for gamers and heavy users. In terms of gaming performance, the K60 Ultra holds its own against its more expensive counterpart, the H2 Pro. The phone's Mediatek chip provides sufficient power to handle demanding games, but it does struggle with overheating during intense sessions. This can lead to a temporary drop in frame rate, making it difficult for the phone to maintain a smooth gaming experience. Benchmark tests suggest that the K60 Ultra is on par with the H2 Pro in terms of raw performance. However, real-world usage reveals that the phone's heat management is its Achilles' heel. During stress tests and prolonged gaming sessions, the K60 Ultra tends to throttle its performance to prevent overheating, which can be frustrating for users who expect a seamless experience. In contrast, the H2 Pro excels in this area, offering better thermal management and sustained performance even during intense usage. However, the K60 Ultra's display and overall package make up for this shortcoming to some extent. Ultimately, the Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra is a solid performer that can handle demanding tasks with ease. While it may not be as efficient as its more expensive counterparts in terms of heat management, its affordable price tag makes it an attractive option for those seeking a capable device without breaking the bank. 7.5/10 The K60 Ultra's performance is commendable, but its thermal limitations hold it back from achieving true greatness. While it may not be the best performer in its class, it still offers a compelling package that makes it worth considering for those seeking an affordable device with robust capabilities.

Pros

1. The Redmi K60 Ultra has an unbeatable screen with top-notch refresh rate, peak brightness, and PWM technology.

2. It features a high-quality display that is on par with the more expensive Xiaomi 13 and Ace2 Pro models.

3. The phone's screen is IP68 certified and has no rainbow lines when viewed at certain angles.

4. The K60 Ultra supports up to 4K 60fps video recording and 1080p 30fps for the ultra-wide camera, with good video quality overall.

5. The battery life of the Redmi K60 Ultra is about the same as its competitors in daily use, which is good enough for a mid-range phone.

Cons

1. The design of the Redmi K60 Ultra looks overly unchanged from previous models and may not appeal to everyone's taste.

2. The screen resolution does not reach 2K and the bezels are not particularly narrow, although the display itself is still excellent.

3. The phone can overheat during intense gaming sessions, which affects its performance and frame rate stability.

4. The camera on the Redmi K60 Ultra is not as good as Xiaomi's flagships and has some limitations in terms of color tone and contrast.

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