Redmi K40 Gaming Edition phone launches in China

Xiaomi regularly launches its gaming phones under the Black Shark brand. Today the company is launching the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition in China.

Unlike Black Shark devices, subdued would be a surprising way to describe the Redmi phone. There are subtle vertical lines and other style accents on the back, including a lightning bolt shaped camera flash. “Fighting” is strangely emblazoned in the middle of the phone’s back panel, but it’s nothing over the top.

RGB on the Redmi K40 gaming phone is mainly limited to two semicircles around the camera module. By sliding a switch on the right side, the phone is switched to game mode and then the LEDs light up. Interestingly, these LEDs aren’t just for show either. They also have practical advantages in alerting users to notifications or incoming calls. Yes, a gaming phone was required to reintroduce the notification LEDs.

The Redmi K40 Gaming Edition has protection class IP53 and an 8.3 mm thick housing. It also weighs 205 grams.

Redmi K40 Gaming Phone: What Else Do You Get?

The Redmi K40 gaming phone also has a number of notable features. As with the Black Shark 4, retractable magnetic shoulder buttons are activated when the phone is in game mode.

We’re also looking at a 120 Hz OLED screen with a 480 Hz touch sample rate and HDR10 Plus support. Oddly enough, Redmi was unable to specify the dimensions of the display. The K40 Gaming Edition also includes stereo speakers tuned by JBL with support for Dolby Atmos. However, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack.

A MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC powers the gaming phone – a remarkable departure from the other Redmi K40 variants with Snapdragon. The chipset is cooled by Redmi’s heat dissipation system. The gaming model also has a larger 5065 mAh battery with support for 67 W charging. In terms of connectivity, 5G Smarts, NFC and Wi-Fi 6 are also available. The imaging is done thanks to a triple camera setup on the back, guided by a 64 megapixel camera.

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Prices and availability

The Redmi K40 Gaming Edition is limited to China, at least for the time being. Prices for the 8GB / 128GB model start at 1,999 yuan (~ $ 308). The flagship 12GB / 256GB model is priced at 2,699 yuan (~ $ 416).

How does that compare to other gaming phones? The main competitor of the Redmi K40 probably comes from its own family. The Black Shark 4 starts at 2,499 yuan (~ $ 385) and comes with a Snapdragon 870 SoC and a faster 120W charge. The Realme GT with Snapdragon 888 also costs 2,799 yuan (~ $ 431).

There’s no word on global availability, but a more restrained gaming phone could prove popular with users outside of China as well. A Bruce Lee-inspired version with a black and yellow colorway is also available for those who want something a little more eye-catching.

But what do you think of the Redmi K40 gaming phone? Let us know in the comments below or vote in our poll above!