Android Redmi K20 Pro blew me away with the DAC/ amp capabilities!!

red dragon

Justiceforall
Skilled
Needed a second phone for the online students' queries, so was looking for a cheap phone ( Note 10 lite is my primary phone and it's perfectly fine for me)
Redmi phones are difficult to find here, but the friendly mobile shop owner in a local mall managed to source a Redmi k20 Pro.
I'm using the phone for close 2 weeks now but never listened to any audio with the headphone out. And the speakers are bad.
Yesterday before going out for morning run, discovered my DAP and primary phone's batteries were about to die and took the redmi with BL03.
Even while running, could feel the amp is pretty powerful. Came back and spent the entire day with the few headphones I still have. HD598, M40X sounded absolutely fantastic. Bl03 scales very well with good source and it was just brilliant.
Everyone knows about the very good audio output of LG phones, but no one really talks about this little gem. I don't have a LG phone to compare, but this thing is pretty close to M3 pro.
I never used a Xiaomi phone before, do all of them have such audio output?
But other than audio, this phone comes with a lot of bloat and don't really like the general UI.
 
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Needed a second phone for the online students' queries, so was looking for a cheap phone ( Note 10 lite is my primary phone and it's perfectly fine for me)
Redmi phones are difficult to find here, but the friendly mobile shop owner in a local mall managed to source a Redmi k20 Pro.
I'm using the phone for close 2 weeks now but never listened to any audio with the headphone out. And the speakers are bad.
Yesterday before going out for morning run, discovered my DAP and primary phone's batteries were about to die and took the redmi with BL03.
Even while running, could feel the amp is pretty powerful. Came back and spent the entire day with the few headphones I still have. HD598, M40X sounded absolutely fantastic. Bl03 scales very well with good source and it was just brilliant.
Everyone knows about the very good audio output of LG phones, but no one really talk about this little gem. I don't have a LG phone to compare, but this thing is pretty close to M3 pro.
I never used a Xiaomi phone before, do all of them have such audio output?
But other than audio, this phone comes with a lot of bloat and don't really like the general UI.
Yes it has HD audio via HiFi DAC . Not sure if its a Snapdragon 855 feature or special in k20pro. I had read this in a review before getting the k20pro. This is a phone that just keeps on giving. Few people know it has a Laser Autofocus too.

Which budget headphone sounds the best with this phone? I dont mind 2-3k or lesser.
 
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Needed a second phone for the online students' queries, so was looking for a cheap phone ( Note 10 lite is my primary phone and it's perfectly fine for me)
Redmi phones are difficult to find here, but the friendly mobile shop owner in a local mall managed to source a Redmi k20 Pro.
I'm using the phone for close 2 weeks now but never listened to any audio with the headphone out. And the speakers are bad.
Yesterday before going out for morning run, discovered my DAP and primary phone's batteries were about to die and took the redmi with BL03.
Even while running, could feel the amp is pretty powerful. Came back and spent the entire day with the few headphones I still have. HD598, M40X sounded absolutely fantastic. Bl03 scales very well with good source and it was just brilliant.
Everyone knows about the very good audio output of LG phones, but no one really talk about this little gem. I don't have a LG phone to compare, but this thing is pretty close to M3 pro.
I never used a Xiaomi phone before, do all of them have such audio output?
But other than audio, this phone comes with a lot of bloat and don't really like the general UI.
Consider flashing a cusotm rom preferably stock pixel one and enjoy vanilla pure google exp just like any pixel phone.
You can anytime re-flash stock rom and Xiaomi honors warranty for unlocked bootloaders (they have their official tool) and etc. so no need to worry on that part.
 
I've not rooted a phone for a long time, but this phone needs it.
If I just unlock the bootloader, install TWRP and a ROM without rooting, will the banking apps work?
Not been to XDA for a long time..kind of intimidating..do the popular ROMs have all necessary hardware drivers? Specially the audio HW drives.
I'm pretty sure it's not SD 855's default DAC...OnePlus 7 pro with a passive dongle sounds significantly worse.
How's the battery life with custom ROMs? They used to be worse than stock 3/4 years back.
Not worried about warranty at all, this phone was probably not released here, and very few people here knows about Xiaomi.
Loving the audio out!!
I'm using a very cheap IEM ( BLON bl03) which costs less than 30 EUR!!
 
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But other than audio, this phone comes with a lot of bloat and don't really like the general UI.

 
I've not rooted a phone for a long time, but this phone needs it.
If I just unlock the bootloader, install TWRP and a ROM without rooting, do the banking apps work?
Not been to XDA for a long time..kind of intimidating..do the popular ROMs have all necessary hardware drivers? Specially the audio HW drives.
I'm pretty sure it's not SD 855's default DAC...OnePlus 7 pro with a passive dongle sounds significantly worse.
How's the battery life with custom ROMs? They used to be worse than stock 3/4 years back.
Not worried about warranty at all, this phone was probably not released here, and very few people here knows about Xiaomi.
Loving the audio out!!
I'm using a very cheap IEM ( BLON bl03) which costs less than 30 EUR!!
Just debloat the phone and it gets rid of a lot of crap. Rest of the stuff you can block notifications.
Or you can flash a custom rom based on EU miui rom. Those are great too. I wouldnt go with a non-stock rom. Its just too much trouble with little issues all around.

TE group on Whatsapp has like 5-10 people with K20pro (including me)
 
I've not rooted a phone for a long time, but this phone needs it.
If I just unlock the bootloader, install TWRP and a ROM without rooting, do the banking apps work?
Not been to XDA for a long time..kind of intimidating..do the popular ROMs have all necessary hardware drivers? Specially the audio HW drives.
I'm pretty sure it's not SD 855's default DAC...OnePlus 7 pro with a passive dongle sounds significantly worse.
How's the battery life with custom ROMs? They used to be worse than stock 3/4 years back.
Not worried about warranty at all, this phone was probably not released here, and very few people here knows about Xiaomi.
Loving the audio out!!
I'm using a very cheap IEM ( BLON bl03) which costs less than 30 EUR!!
You dont need to root at all. Just install twrp or the recommended recovery by the dev and simply flash the rom and you are done. No bloatware and shit.
Rooting is only required if you happen to have root access for running xposed mods etc. which imo is all buggy these days coupled with the safetynet bricking causing your banking apps not to work which actually renders the phone mostly useless except for calls and social media.
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I've not rooted a phone for a long time, but this phone needs it.
If I just unlock the bootloader, install TWRP and a ROM without rooting, do the banking apps work?
Not been to XDA for a long time..kind of intimidating..do the popular ROMs have all necessary hardware drivers? Specially the audio HW drives.
I'm pretty sure it's not SD 855's default DAC...OnePlus 7 pro with a passive dongle sounds significantly worse.
How's the battery life with custom ROMs? They used to be worse than stock 3/4 years back.
Not worried about warranty at all, this phone was probably not released here, and very few people here knows about Xiaomi.
Loving the audio out!!
I'm using a very cheap IEM ( BLON bl03) which costs less than 30 EUR!!
You dont need to root at all. Just install twrp or the recommended recovery by the dev and simply flash the rom and you are done. No bloatware and shit.
Rooting is only required if you happen to have root access for running xposed mods etc. which imo is all buggy these days coupled with the safetynet bricking causing your banking apps not to work which actually renders the phone mostly useless except for calls and social media.
 
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Curious about one thing...I believe this phone is widely available in India with a price tag of 23-24k ( I paid about 10 EUR extra) while Nord starts starts at the same price.
With a very price conscious market, how's OnePlus countering this?
I know nothing about smartphone SoC etc. but isn't SD 855 is better than what's used in Nord?
A bloat free miui 12 isn't too bad..
I've not used the Nord of course, but the K20 pro's primary camera is not bad at all for a sub 400 EUR phone, and it seems slightly faster than the Note 10 lite in day to day use.
Is there any successor to K20?
The guy who sold me this phone for some reason loves Xiaomi phone. He also had another Xiaomi with a curved display ( forgot the model). Don't know how is he importing stuff to Prague from China and India!!
 
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In india this phone not sold much, If I remember correctly this was priced much higher back then and Mi India try to sabotage the sale of current One Plus generation of that time by distributing calculator / note pad / Pen in gift bag to the media people outside the One Plus Launch Event Venue etc and said calculate yourself which is the flagship, In the mean time people thought this is the successor of the POCO F1 and expecting price must be near 19-20k but it was not - Then there is K20 with 7 series processor was available more than 25K+ price or something I think...many people pre book and get very angry when they see the price and it shattered their expectation which all derived from the POCO F1 vfm ness...On top of that within 3 Months China discontinue this phone from the mainland china...which also back slash the phone sale.

By giving a very impressive 48MP camera setup many people still looking forward to it but then I think Realme came with 64MP number game etc, then Xiaomi Also indulge themselves in 64MP game and this the time Quad Cam (2MP Useless Macro and Depth) Era begin....Most people forget this phone comes with Sony IMX sensor

Anyhow this phone didn’t receive the expected sale in the Indian market....

By looking upon this Manu Jain got extremely cautious when he bring Mi 10 - 108 MP version by tweeting lot about price / Hardware / Import Duty etc, but I think that one also failed due to it‘s heating issue warning.
 
Congos OP. This is a true flagship killer right now lol. Try using the navigation too. It might blow you mind how accurate it is. Dual GPS. MI phones are generally very balanced I have noticed. Try NOVA Launcher : Rs. 100 for life. Read/watch a tutorial. You can really customize your phone almost exactly the way you want it. Uninstall apps you don't need. MI android is not that great but it is stable. PFA SS of my home screen. Enable dev options and disable the options in red or change it to .5. By default it is x1.
mi.jpg
DEV.jpg
 
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Curious about one thing...I believe this phone is widely available in India with a price tag of 23-24k ( I paid about 10 EUR extra) while Nord starts starts at the same price.
With a very price conscious market, how's OnePlus countering this?
I know nothing about smartphone SoC etc. but isn't SD 855 is better than what's used in Nord?
A bloat free miui 12 isn't too bad..
I've not used the Nord of course, but the K20 pro's primary camera is not bad at all for a sub 400 EUR phone, and it seems slightly faster than the Note 10 lite in day to day use.
Is there any successor to K20?
The guy who sold me this phone for some reason loves Xiaomi phone. He also had another Xiaomi with a curved display ( forgot the model). Don't know how is he importing stuff to Prague from China and India!!

Lol, that's why we have a 6-page thread asking the same question.


Oneplus have lost the plot...
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In india this phone not sold much, If I remember correctly this was priced much higher back then and Mi India try to sabotage the sale of current One Plus generation of that time by distributing calculator / note pad / Pen in gift bag to the media people outside the One Plus Launch Event Venue etc and said calculate yourself which is the flagship, In the mean time people thought this is the successor of the POCO F1 and expecting price must be near 19-20k but it was not - Then there is K20 with 7 series processor was available more than 25K+ price or something I think...many people pre book and get very angry when they see the price and it shattered their expectation which all derived from the POCO F1 vfm ness...On top of that within 3 Months China discontinue this phone from the mainland china...which also back slash the phone sale.

By giving a very impressive 48MP camera setup many people still looking forward to it but then I think Realme came with 64MP number game etc, then Xiaomi Also indulge themselves in 64MP game and this the time Quad Cam (2MP Useless Macro and Depth) Era begin....Most people forget this phone comes with Sony IMX sensor

Anyhow this phone didn’t receive the expected sale in the Indian market....

By looking upon this Manu Jain got extremely cautious when he bring Mi 10 - 108 MP version by tweeting lot about price / Hardware / Import Duty etc, but I think that one also failed due to it‘s heating issue warning.

Yep, the launch price was kinda high IIRC, and it's only now with reduced pricing that it's an amazing vfm flagship option.
 
I've not rooted a phone for a long time, but this phone needs it.
If I just unlock the bootloader, install TWRP and a ROM without rooting, do the banking apps work?

- No need to root.
- unlock bootloader
- flash twrp
- flash custom rom
- flash gapps (if not already bundled)
- done

I'd recommend Lineage OS. Very stable and you get regular updates.

I use Google Pay, HDFC bank and Yono app and they work.

Many people also tend to debloat, though it improves the performance but I used to experience stutters in MIUI here and there. Now on LOS, the experience is smooth af.

Though you need to check lineage thread for audio drivers.

PS - I have a Poco F1 and I am thinking of trading in my Poco for K20 Pro hoping it sells for <20k in next month sale.
 
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OnePlus is not doing anything. MI is not a fav amongst folks who want high-end phones. OnePlus knows they have a solid market in India and MI is no threat to them. Their phones specially their android is truly good but they are no longer the killers they were. I really wanted to get the K20 pro but could not stand the on-screen finger thing. So got Note 8 Pro in a hurry.
PS: This are my assumptions lol .
Curious about one thing...I believe this phone is widely available in India with a price tag of 23-24k ( I paid about 10 EUR extra) while Nord starts starts at the same price.
With a very price conscious market, how's OnePlus countering this?
I know nothing about smartphone SoC etc. but isn't SD 855 is better than what's used in Nord?
A bloat free miui 12 isn't too bad..
I've not used the Nord of course, but the K20 pro's primary camera is not bad at all for a sub 400 EUR phone, and it seems slightly faster than the Note 10 lite in day to day use.
Is there any successor to K20?
The guy who sold me this phone for some reason loves Xiaomi phone. He also had another Xiaomi with a curved display ( forgot the model). Don't know how is he importing stuff to Prague from China and India!!
 
Now I am thoroughly confused. Please pardon my ignorance.
1. Poco is also Xiaomi ( like redmi)? I thought it's a different company which makes extremely VFM phone for China and India only ( I know people here were dying for Poco phone couple of years back after Lew made a video on it)
2. Realme is different from redmi? Is it also Chinese?
Here we only have Xiaomi/ few oppo, even fewer Vivo. Rest is overpriced Samsung, Apple, occasional Motorola.
I bought this phone accidentally, was planning to buy another note 10 lite, asked the guy if he has something cheaper, he literally whispered in my ears about his Indian/ Chinese imports ( as if selling drugs) took me to a small room behind the counter and showed his impressive imported collection ( one phone had insane optical/ hybrid zoom, forgot the name)
India is truly having a smartphone revolution with so many options!! We practically don't have anything beside Samsung/ Apple.
My mother in law was forced to buy an iPhone XR, as in Bratislava, options are even more limited...she only uses her phone for calls and photographs of her garden!!
You guys are awesome...so much knowledge about phones!!
 
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Now I am thoroughly confused. Please pardon my ignorance.
1. Poco is also Xiaomi ( like redmi)? I thought it's a different company which makes extremely VFM phone for China and India only ( I know people here were dying for Poco phone couple of years back after Lew made a video on it)
2. Realme is different from redmi? Is it also Chinese?
Here we only have Xiaomi/ few oppo, even fewer Vivo. Rest is overpriced Samsung, Apple, occasional Motorola.
I bought this phone accidentally, was planning to buy another note 10 lite, asked the guy if he has something cheaper, he literally whispered in my ears about his Indian/ Chinese imports ( as if selling drugs) took me to a small room behind the counter and showed his impressive imported collection ( one phone had insane optical/ hybrid zoom, forgot the name)
India is truly having a smartphone revolution with so many options!! We practically don't have anything beside Samsung/ Apple.
My mother in law was forced to buy an iPhone XR, as in Bratislava, options are even more limited...she only uses her phone for calls and photographs of her garden!!
You guys are awesome...so much knowledge about phones!!

1. POCO is sub brand of Xiaomi and born in India and brilliant people of that company with HIgh Resource rewrite the defination of flagship phone - Historical Device POCO F1
(Now it become Some kind of Grave Yard or Morgue because it ruining the Xiaomi’s Product Line, So it’s wing got clipped)

2. Realme is the counter missile of BBK Electronics (aka owner of Oppo, Vivo and One Plus) to neutralize the threat / wave that Xiaomi Created in the smartphone market.
 
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