Redmi K30 might trump Google, OnePlus in refresh rate stakes

Xiaomi has issued a few Redmi K30 details in recent weeks, ranging from its 5G support to a dual camera punch-hole cutout. Now, those sleuths over at XDA-Developers may have found more details.

XDA member kacskrz dug through the MIUI 11 source code and found references to a device with the so-called “phoenix” code-name. It’s suspected that this is the Redmi K30 due to an image in MIUI 11, showing a phone with a dual camera punch-hole cutout and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Check it out below:

Xiaomi doesn’t have a commercially available phone with a punch-hole cutout, let alone a dual-camera cutout. It’s also on the right-hand side of the phone, much like the K30 shown off by Xiaomi in the featured image at the top of this page. Aside from the image itself, the MIUI 11 code references a side-mounted fingerprint scanner on the “phoenix” device as well as on a “picasso” model.

The “picasso” code-name means we’ve got two upcoming Xiaomi phones with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. We don’t know if “picasso” is another Redmi K30 series device or something entirely different.

Xiaomi to adopt high refresh rate?

The XDA member also uncovered evidence in MIUI 11 that the “phoenix” device will support a 120Hz refresh rate. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Xiaomi adopting 120Hz screens, but it now seems like the Redmi K30 could be among the first to support it.

A higher refresh rate allows for a smoother experience when navigating through system menus, while scrolling, and when playing supported games. The likes of Google and OnePlus support a 90Hz refresh rate (still above the standard 60Hz setting), but the ASUS ROG Phone 2, Sharp Aquos flagships, and Razer Phone series are among the only phones to support the even smoother 120Hz option.

The 120Hz screen tech first appeared on the LCD-toting Razer Phone range, but this year’s ASUS ROG Phone 2 marks the first time we’ve seen the tech on an OLED display. It’s possible Xiaomi is skipping the in-display fingerprint sensor and using a side-mounted scanner because it’s sticking to an LCD screen too, or because it’s using an OLED screen and needs to reduce costs elsewhere.

The final major feature spotted by XDA was confirmation that the so-called “phoenix” device supports Sony’s IMX686 camera sensor. The Japanese giant previously teased a sample from the IMX686, and it’s believed this is either a 60MP or 64MP sensor. If true, this sensor can likely output 15MP or 16MP pixel-binned images, as opposed to 12MP images from a 48MP camera.

We’ll need to wait until either next month or early 2020 for an official Redmi K30 unveiling, but it’s certainly looking like an interesting smartphone right now. Do you take refresh rate into account when buying a phone though? Let us know in the comments.