Redmi K90 Pro Max First Look: Is Game-Changing Audio the Key to Success?
In recent years, smartphone "homogenization" has become the norm. This has pushed brands to focus on software, ecosystems, or collaborate with chip manufacturers to create unique selling points. But has hardware innovation truly hit a wall? The answer is a clear no.
The newly released REDMI K90 Pro Max is a prime example that smartphone innovation is far from over.
Design That Balances a Large Screen with Comfort
The REDMI K90 Pro Max features a mainstream aluminum alloy middle frame. Its 6.9-inch M10 OLED screen brings the phone's width to 77.82mm and its weight to 218g, which might be a handful for users with smaller hands. However, the large R-angle corners and smooth transitions between the frame and panels provide an excellent grip, preventing the flat frame from feeling sharp. The screen, with a peak brightness of 3500 nits, delivers an outstanding visual experience: the display is clear with great anti-reflection capabilities, making it easy to view outdoors. Brightness also goes down to an extremely low 1 nit, which is gentle on the eyes in dark environments, complemented by the flagship-standard Circular Polarization 2.0 full-range DC dimming.
On the back, the K90 Pro Max moves away from the circular camera layout of the K80 Ultra, adopting this year's popular square, full-width camera module. Inside, three 50MP cameras cover 0.7x, 1x, and 5x zoom levels (18mm, 23mm, and 115mm equivalents). To the right of the cameras lies the core selling point: the BOSE triple-speaker system, jointly developed by REDMI and BOSE. We'll dive into its performance after covering the phone's hardware.
Top-Tier Performance
Performance has always been REDMI's forte. The K90 Pro Max is equipped with the 5th Gen Snapdragon 8 Supreme Edition mobile platform, and our review unit is the top-spec 16GB+1TB version. In addition, REDMI has included a D2 dedicated display chip. This chip, built on a 12nm process with its own hardware AI module, handles AI super-resolution and dynamic frame interpolation. By offloading these tasks from the main SoC during high-load scenarios like gaming and media consumption, the D2 chip enhances the overall experience and reduces reliance on the main processor.
In benchmark tests, the REDMI K90 Pro Max scored 4.02 million on AnTuTu, placing it firmly in the top tier of Android flagships. In Geekbench 6, it achieved a single-core score of 2512 and a multi-core score of 10893. To manage the heat from the powerful chipset, REDMI has implemented its "strongest ever" 3D ice-sealed circulation cooling pump, with a massive 6700mm² area. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, the device maintained a stability of 81.7%, and it held a steady 60fps in a 15-minute Genshin Impact test.
Camera and Battery
The main camera on the K90 Pro Max uses a 50MP Light Hunter 950 sensor with a large 1/1.31-inch size and a 13.5EV dynamic range. In practice, both the main and telephoto lenses deliver excellent sharpness and a pleasing sense of depth with natural bokeh. However, the camera is not perfect. Likely due to AI scene recognition, the images have a strong tendency towards oversaturation, which can sometimes lead to a loss of detail. While the vibrant colors are eye-catching, they can lack a sense of texture. For battery, the K90 Pro Max is equipped with a 7560mAh Xiaomi Jinshajiang battery, which easily lasts two days with normal use. It also supports 100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging.
Bringing True 2.1 Sound to a Smartphone
Now for the main event: the BOSE 2.1 triple-speaker system co-engineered by REDMI and BOSE. Unlike typical stereo setups, the K90 Pro Max uses a system-level approach. It features three independent speakers: two 1115F super-linear speakers placed symmetrically at the top and bottom for true, high-quality stereo sound. The ".1" in "2.1" comes from a 2016 dual-voice-coil speaker on the back, which acts as a dedicated subwoofer to significantly improve low-frequency performance. REDMI also designed a specialized digital crossover system to ensure all three speakers work in harmony. With additional tuning from BOSE, offering "BOSE Classic" and "BOSE Balanced" sound profiles, the audio experience is nothing short of stunning. The sound is clean and powerful with an expansive soundstage, and the bass has a depth and punch comparable to a portable Bluetooth speaker.
Conclusion: A Case Study in Successful Diversification
To sum up the REDMI K90 Pro Max:
Pros:
1. Excellent display quality.
2. Top-tier hardware performance.
3. A unique and outstanding audio experience.
Cons:
1. The camera's processing style is overly aggressive.
Overall, the REDMI K90 Pro Max is a phone with both impressive overall performance and a distinct personality. While its performance DNA secures its place among Android flagships, the 2.1 triple-speaker system, created in partnership with BOSE, carves out a unique identity in a market saturated with "performance flagships" and "camera flagships." By exploring a different path—focusing on audio, a crucial part of the media experience—REDMI has shown that innovation can thrive by providing value in new and exciting ways, earning applause from consumers.
