Redmi Introduces a Gaming-Centric Flagship
Redmi has officially launched the K90 Ultra in China after months of leaks, rumours and online speculation.
The new smartphone focuses heavily on gaming performance. It combines the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with a built-in active cooling fan and a separate D2 gaming chip.
The active cooling fan is one of the biggest highlights of the device. Redmi claims it can reduce the phone’s temperature by up to 10°C. This feature is designed to prevent performance throttling during long gaming sessions.
The separate D2 interpolation chip is also aimed at gamers. It is expected to improve frame performance and deliver a smoother gaming experience.
The phone runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. It also supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks with dual Nano-SIM support.
Display, Design and Performance Features
The Redmi K90 Ultra features a large 6.83-inch flat AMOLED display. It offers a resolution of 1280 × 2772 pixels.
The display supports a 165Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for fast gaming and smooth scrolling. It also reaches up to 3,500 nits peak brightness, which should improve visibility in bright outdoor conditions.
The phone includes full-brightness DC dimming and uses M10 luminous material. These features are designed to improve screen comfort and brightness control.
Redmi is offering the K90 Ultra in three colours: Space Silver, Shadow Black and Sky Blue.
The phone also comes with IP66, IP68 and IP69 ratings for protection against dust and water. This makes it one of Redmi’s more durable premium devices.
For audio, the device includes dual symmetrical stereo speakers tuned by Bose. Redmi has also added a rear woofer, which is expected to improve bass and gaming sound quality.
The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. It uses an octa-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU and the Adreno 830 GPU.
Buyers can choose between 12GB and 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM. Storage options include 256GB and 512GB UFS 4.1. However, the phone does not support a microSD card.
Cameras, Battery and China Pricing
The Redmi K90 Ultra has a dual rear camera setup.
It includes a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization and a 1/1.55-inch sensor. The main camera is paired with an 8MP ultrawide camera.
For selfies and video calls, the phone includes a 20MP front camera.
Battery life is another major strength of the device. The K90 Ultra packs a massive 8,550mAh battery. It supports 100W wired charging and 22.5W reverse wired charging.
The phone also supports bypass charging, which can help reduce heat during gaming while plugged in. Redmi includes a 100W GaN charger in the box.
The Redmi K90 Ultra starts at around $441 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model. A promotional offer currently gives buyers the 16GB RAM and 256GB storage version for the same price.
The 16GB and 256GB model normally costs around $470. The 12GB RAM and 512GB storage version is priced at around $515. The top model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage costs around $544.
The Redmi K90 Ultra is unlikely to launch officially outside China. However, a similar device may arrive under the Poco brand in the coming months.
