Is Redmi K30 A Worthy Upgrade Over Redmi K20?

Xiaomi recently launched its affordable 5G smartphone -- the Redmi K30 5G along with a 4G edition. The main difference between the two is the processor, the 5G variant is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G, whereas, the 4G model uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G.

It is speculated that the Redmi K30 4G might launch in India in the next few months. How big of an upgrade it is over the Redmi K20? Here is an in-depth comparison of the same.

Design – Good Looking Phones

Although both phones have a premium all-glass design, they do look a lot different due to the design choice. The Redmi K30 has a quad-camera setup at the back, whereas the Redmi K20 has a triple camera setup. Both phones have a USB Type-C port with support for fast charging and also retain the 3.5mm headphone jack.

I personally like the Redmi K30's back panel design but the Redmi K20's back panel is not bad either.

Display – AMOLED Vs IPS

The Redmi K20 has a 6.39-inch AMOLED display with a near bezel-less design that includes an in-display fingerprint sensor. The Redmi K30, on the other hand, has a slightly bigger 6.67-inch IPS LCD screen with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.

Though the Redmi K30 has a display with a higher refresh rate, I would pick the AMOLED display on the Redmi K20 on any day over an IPS LCD screen due to the punchier color and contrast. Also, an AMOLED display is also much efficient over an IPS panel. Even with the best IPS panel, it cannot match a contrast ratio of an AMOLED screen due to the native properties.

Processor – Almost The Same

The Redmi K30 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, whereas, the Redmi K20 is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC. The latter is a bit faster in terms of GPU performance. However, both chipsets are capable of handling almost any task without any hiccups.

As per the benchmark results, the overall performance of the Snapdragon 730G is 10-15 percent better than the Snapdragon 730. And one might not notice it unless they are being compared hand-on-hand. So, both smartphones will serve you well for normal day-to-day usage.

Camera – Quad Vs Triple

The Redmi K30 has a quad-camera setup with a 64MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. Whereas, the Redmi K30 has a triple camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor, 13MP ultra-wide angle lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens.

Redmi K30 being a quad-camera phone does not include a telephoto lens but the Redmi K20 has one. The camera setup on the Redmi K20 is similar to premium flagship smartphones, whereas the Redmi K30's camera setup is similar to a mid-tier device.

Battery – Bigger Battery, Faster Charging

The Redmi K30 has a 4,500 mAh battery, while the Redmi K20 has a 4,000 mAh battery. Given the bigger screen size and higher refresh rate, both smartphones are expected to offer a similar battery life. Plus, the Redmi K30 charges at a slightly faster rate (27W) whereas, the Redmi K20 only supports 18W fast charging.

Verdict – Minimal Upgrade

It is almost evident that the Redmi K30 does improve in some aspects. It has a higher resolution primary camera, higher refresh rate display, bigger battery, and supports fast charging. Similarly, the Redmi K20 is equipped with better sensors and it uses a screen that offers better colors and contrast ratio. The upgrade in the processor is not that significant.

So, either of these smartphones will make a great device. I would recommend the Redmi K20 over the Redmi K30 as it feels more advanced with respect to the display technology and also houses a more practical camera setup.