Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi has revealed the K90 Pro Max, a brand new mid-range smartphone with a built-in subwoofer and ridiculously highly effective inner {hardware}.
The Redmi K90 Pro Max comes with a 6.9-inch OLED show, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a triple digital camera system with three 50MP sensors and a 5x periscope lens, an enormous 7,560mAh battery with 100W (100W!) wired charging and 50W wired charging and, as talked about, a 2.1 speaker system with two linear stereo audio system, a rear-firing subwoofer, and Bose sound tuning. It additionally is available in a blue denim design choice.
With a denim again panel and a devoted subwoofer, I can solely reward Redmi for going as bizarre as doable.
As TechRadar’s cell computing author and one of many staff’s many resident music nerds, that final characteristic has actually caught my consideration. This is the primary telephone I’ve seen with a subwoofer; While different units have tried to make use of audio-focused {hardware}, I’ve by no means seen a separate subwoofer earlier than.
Although we have not examined the K90 Pro Max, this standalone subwoofer ought to, in idea, permit for richer, fuller bass, whereas taking strain off the principle audio system and permitting extra particulars to come back by way of. The K90 Pro Max will not be launching within the US, however I’d wish to attempt it out for myself if it involves Europe underneath the Poco model (like Android Authority speculate).
In truth, the seeming strangeness of a telephone with a subwoofer (or any type of extra speaker) makes me marvel why there are so few smartphones with any type of specialised audio {hardware}.
Phone audio system are important
I beforehand wrote that I used to be impressed by the iPhone 15’s speaker system, however over time I’ve develop into much less enamored with the telephone’s audio system total.
You in all probability use your telephone’s audio system each day. Whether you are watching movies, listening to voicemails, enjoying video games, or streaming music, some kind of audio possible reaches your ears out of your telephone each day. I’m streaming Spotify by way of my telephone as I write this.
However, it is truly very uncommon that you simply see a telephone producer make any type of noise (get it?) about their telephone’s audio capabilities. During the common telephone keynote, you may get a cursory point out of an improve to a brand new model of Bluetooth or assist for increased high quality streaming, however by no means the audio system themselves.
It’s unusual, actually. Phone makers are keen to spotlight their shows, touting even minor upgrades as causes to purchase an entire new telephone, however they do not do the identical with the audio expertise, which is commonly the other aspect of the identical coin.
I’m not saying there aren’t causes for this; The telephone’s audio system need to be fairly small to suit inside a compact body, which, due to these pesky legal guidelines of physics, places a fairly low bar on element, readability, and bass response.
While I used to be beforehand impressed with Apple’s efforts on the iPhone 15’s speaker system, it might nonetheless wrestle to maintain up with the devoted audio system due to their small drivers. Some telephone producers could also be silent about their telephone audio system acknowledging the truth that they may by no means match devoted audio system.
And then there’s the advertising and marketing side: how do you promote higher sound high quality? It’s simple sufficient to indicate off a pleasant new display on a billboard or TV advert, however audio high quality is one thing rather more summary and far tougher to imply.
Still, I believe it is about time telephone makers began paying a bit extra consideration to audio high quality – a characteristic that the majority of us use each day deserves to be greater than an afterthought.
Giving ‘speaker’ an entire new which means
The AGM H5 Pro launched in 2022 with a ridiculously loud 109 dB speaker on the rear panel
Although it might appear onerous to imagine, the Redmi K90 Pro Max will not be the primary speaker-focused telephone to catch TechRadar’s consideration.
In 2022, we publish our evaluation of the AGM H5 Pro, a rugged telephone with a ridiculous 109 dB speaker mounted on the again panel. For reference, it is greater than twice as loud as a bike engine, and our evaluation discovered it principally a nuisance.
Then in 2024, we coated the ZTE Nubia Music, a finances telephone with two headphone jacks and one other enormous speaker on the again, however because the evaluations got here in, it turned clear that the standard of this enormous, vinyl-inspired speaker wasn’t all that nice.
I’m hoping that the Redmi K90 Pro Max, ought to it hit Western cabinets, can function a type of ambassador for speaker telephones by being, properly, actually good. The Bose branding on the again provides me some hope (Bose is the model behind most of the finest sound bars and headphones), however we’ll have to attend and see (wait and pay attention?) for ourselves.
In any case, the K90 Pro Max could possibly be very moderately priced. In its residence market of China, the telephone begins at CNY 3,999, which works out to round $560 / £420 / AU$860 – fairly spectacular for a telephone with such highly effective {hardware}. Let us know what you consider this bass-boosted telephone within the feedback beneath – we’re all ears.