Redmi K30 Pro: what we know so far
Towards the end of 2019, the Xiaomi Redmi sub-brand launched the Redmi K30. The 4G version of the device hit stores shortly after, while the 5G variant entered for pre-order in early January. Now, all eyes are on the next iteration of the series: the Redmi K30 Pro.
As with last year's K20 series, we expect the Redmi K30 Pro to look a lot like K30 vanilla, but with some tightened specs and a few new features. We also expect the price to be higher, but we don't expect it to reach "normal" flagship territory as far as it goes.
Below you will find our summary of the rumors for the Redmi K30 Pro with all the reliable information that we have found so far. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we will often update it with news and leaks as we get closer to the imminent launch of the device.
Redmi K30 Pro: name and release date
Since Redmi has already launched the Redmi K30 and Redmi K30 5G, it's pretty much a given that the upcoming new variant will be called Redmi K30 Pro. however, Samsung recently made a difference by renaming the Samsung Galaxy S11 series to the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, then who knows more? We're willing to bet that the K30 Pro is the official name, although we don't have confirmation of that yet.
Related: Redmi K20 Pro Review: Is it the best affordable flagship?
However, we do have some information on the release date. Tipster Sudhashu Ambhore tweeted than the K30 Pro will be launched in March 2020. There was no more specific date than this, but it is not too far away, so we should have a solid date soon.
Redmi K30 Pro: Design
If you have a Redmi K20 in one hand and a Redmi K20 Pro in the other, you probably won't be able to tell the difference between them. Both devices have pop-up selfie cameras, the same size body, the same size screen and even the same display resolution.
Like the K20 Pro and the K20, we don't expect the K30 Pro to be too different from the K30.
With that in mind, we don't expect the Redmi K30 and Redmi K30 Pro to be very different from each other. The Redmi K30 has abandoned the pop-up selfie camera for a display cutout design, so the K30 Pro should follow suit. The four vertically aligned camera system on the back of the K30 should also be transferred to the K30 Pro, including the design of the circular mirror that surrounds it.
Each device in the Redmi K range presented really fun colors, so we expect the K30 Pro to be available in fun colors as well. The K30 came in blue, red and purple, so it's not unreasonable to assume that the Redmi K30 Pro will come in some or all of these colors.
Redmi K30 Pro: specifications and features
The K20 and K20 Pro weren't much different from each other. Under the hood, however, they were very different. The K20 Pro has significant spec bumps with its internal components, so we expect the Redmi K30 Pro to also see internal improvements over the K30.
It is fundamentally certain that the K30 Pro will be delivered with the latest and largest smartphone processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. The K20 Pro came with the latest Snapdragon 855 in 2019, it is therefore logical for the follow-up to see the 2020 version. For the record, the vanilla K30 has a Snapdragon 730G, a slightly improved version of the Snapdragon 730 of the K20.
Interestingly, the K20 and K20 Pro had Super AMOLED screens, while the K30 had a downgraded IPS LCD screen. It is possible that the K30 Pro has an OLED panel instead of an LCD panel, but we are not sure. The Redmi K30 has a display refresh rate of 120 Hz, which would probably not appear on a device like the K30 Pro if it has an OLED panel, simply because of the low price we expect from the device. However, it is entirely possible that the K30 Pro join the OnePlus 8 by offering an OLED panel with a display refresh rate of 120 Hz.
If history has told us anything, it's that the big differences between the K30 and the K30 Pro will be the internal specifications.
Another feature of the K30 saw has been degraded compared to the K20 series: the fingerprint sensor. The K30 has a side fingerprint sensor while the K20 and K20 Pro have built-in fingerprint sensors. It is very likely that the Redmi K30 Pro will see the sensor return to the screen.
It's also likely that the K30 Pro will include some camera upgrades compared to the K30. This Snapdragon 865 processor, if it lands in the K30 Pro, will make a big difference. However, since the K30 already has four very good lenses, we don't know how much the K30 Pro could improve without significantly increasing the price.
Speaking of processor, the Snapdragon 865 comes with an integrated 5G modem. This strongly suggests that there will be no 4G and 5G versions of the K30 Pro. Instead, there should be only one version supporting 5G and no 4G version at all.
Ultimately, we believe that Redmi has downgraded some major aspects of the Redmi K30 in order to ensure that there is more difference between it and the Redmi K30 Pro. It was probably a problem with the K20 series because the vanilla and Pro variants of this family were so similar.
Redmi K30 Pro: Price and availability
The entry-level version of the Redmi K30 costs around $ 227, so the Pro variant can only be so expensive before it looks too much like a different device from the K30.
For comparison, here are the Indian K20 and K20 Pro prices:
- K20: 6 GB RAM, 64 GB ROM – Rs. 21,999 (~ $ 310)
- K20: 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM – Rs. 23,999 (~ $ 340)
- K20 Pro: 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM – 27,999 rupees (~ $ 406)
- K20 Pro: 8 GB RAM, 256 GB ROM – 30,999 rupees (~ $ 450)
In addition, here are the prices of the Redmi K30 and K30 5G:
- K30: 6 GB RAM, 64 GB ROM – 1,599 Chinese yuan (~ $ 227)
- K30: 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM – 1,699 Chinese yuan (~ $ 241)
- K30: 8 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM – 1,899 Chinese yuan (~ $ 269)
- K30: 8 GB RAM, 256 GB ROM – 2,199 Chinese yuan (~ $ 312)
- K30 5G: 6 GB RAM, 64 GB ROM – 1999 Chinese yuan (~ $ 284)
- K30 5G: 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM – 2299 Chinese Yuan (~ $ 327)
- K30 5G: 8 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM – 2,599 Chinese yuan (~ $ 370)
- K30 5G: 8 GB RAM, 256 GB ROM – 2,899 Chinese yuan (~ $ 412)
We expect the price of the K30 Pro to fall somewhere above the K20 Pro and the price of the K30 5G due to the improved chipset, 5G support and other valuable bumps.
As far as availability is concerned, the device will likely be available in China and India. It is possible that it can also land in Europe, but it would probably be renamed as a Xiaomi Mi device, since the K20 Pro has been renamed as Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro.
That's all the information we have so far for the next Redmi K30 Pro. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we will constantly update it as we approach the launch of the device!