Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro: release date, features and why it became a cult

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro is one of those models that, despite the budget price category, managed to win the love of millions of users around the world. This smartphone became a real bestseller of 2018, offering balanced specs, modern design and brand quality build Xiaomi at an affordable price. But when exactly did its official release? And why is the release date of this model still of interest to collectors and fans of retro equipment?

In this article, we will not only answer the question of the exact date of the presentation of the Redmi 6 Pro, but also dive into the context of its appearance: what technologies it brought to the market, how it was positioned among competitors and why it still remains relevant for certain categories of users.

The official release date of Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro was announced on June 25, 2018 at a special event in China, one of the presentations the company has been holding as part of its strategy to quickly update the lines — on the same day, other models of the Redmi 6 series were presented.

Fun fact: Although the announcement took place in June, the first sales in China started only on July 2, 2018, and the global release (including Russia and CIS countries) began later in August-September of the same year, such a delay was due to the need to adapt firmware to different regions and certification of the device.

Xiaomi was actively expanding its presence in international markets at the time, and the Redmi 6 Pro was one of the first smartphones to officially go on sale in Europe through partner networks.

Technical specifications at the time of release

For 2018, the Redmi 6 Pro offered an impressive set of specs for its price segment.

• 📱 Display: 5.84-inch IPS-resolution-screen 2280×1080 (Full HD+) side-relation 19:9 — rarity for public sector workers of that time.
• 🔋 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (14 nm) with clock speeds up to 2.0 GHz – the time-tested “heart” of many mid-budget smartphones.
• 📸 Cameras: dual main (12 MP) + 5 MP) with phase autofocus and 5MP front with support AI-portraiture.
• 🗄️ Memory: options 3/32 GB 4/64 GB (depending on region), with the ability to expand via microSD to 256 GB.
• 🔄 Operating system: MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 Oreo (with subsequent update to the MIUI 11).

The design deserves special attention: the Redmi 6 Pro was one of Xiaomi’s first smartphones with a “bang” (neckout in the screen), which was a fashion trend in 2018.

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If you’re looking for a Redmi 6 Pro in the aftermarket, look for the box labeling: the original models have a hologram with the Xiaomi logo and a serial number matching the IMEI on the sticker under the battery.

How the Redmi 6 Pro Positioned in the Market in 2018

When the Redmi 6 Pro was released, it was a unique niche: it was cheaper than the flagship models of the time (such as the Xiaomi Mi 8 or POCO F1), but offered many of their features, the company positioned it as a “budget smartphone without compromise”, emphasizing:

• 🎯 Screen quality: Full HD+ permission in the segment where competitors offered HD+.
• 📈 Performance: The Snapdragon 625 provided smooth performance even in heavy gaming (e.g., the Snapdragon 625, PUBG Mobile on Medium Settings).
• 🔍 Dual camera: a rarity for public sector, allowing you to take photos with the effect of bokeh.
• 🔋 Battery: 4,000 mAh capacity is one of the best in the class.

Compare it to the main competitors at the time of release:

As you can see from the table, the Redmi 6 Pro offered better price-performance, especially in terms of screen and processor, which allowed it to quickly gain popularity in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

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The Redmi 6 Pro’s main competitive advantage is the balance between price and specifications, which still makes it relevant in the secondary market.

Regional features of the release and prices

Although the global announcement took place in June 2018, sales dates and prices varied significantly by region.

• 🇨🇳 China: First sales — 2 July 2018. The price started from 1099 renminbi (~11 000 ₽ at the time of the year) for the version 3/32 GB.
• 🇮🇳 India: August 2018 release priced from Rs 10,999 (~10 500 ₽), What made it one of the most affordable smartphones with Full HD-screen.
• 🇷🇺 Russia: official sales began in September 2018 through partners (for example, Svyaznoy and M.Video). ₽.
• 🇪🇺 Europe: Launched in October 2018 as Redmi 6 Pro Global with support LTE-range B20 (important for European operators).

Interestingly, in some countries (e.g. Indonesia), the Redmi 6 Pro was sold under a different name, the Redmi 6 Plus, although technically it was the same model, a marketing ploy that was typical of Xiaomi’s time in the market.

⚠️ Warning: When buying Redmi 6 Pro in the secondary market, check the firmware region. Chinese versions (without Google services) are often cheaper, but require manual installation GMS.

Updates and support: how many years has the smartphone lasted

One of the key questions that would be of concern to potential buyers of used smartphones is how many years the device has received updates. For the Redmi 6 Pro, the support story looks like this:

• 📅 First Update: Security patch and camera optimization came out in September 2018.
• 🔄 Major update: in early 2019, the model received MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie.
• 🛑 Last update: MIUI 11 (Android 9) in 2020.Official support has since ended.

Thus, Redmi 6 Pro received updates about 2 years since the release — the standard term for budget models Xiaomi. However, even after the end of official support, enthusiasts continued to produce custom firmware (for example, based on LineageOS), which extended the life of the device.

It is worth noting that despite the lack of new updates, the smartphone is still able to cope with basic tasks: social networks, instant messengers, watching videos and even some modern games (while reducing graphical settings).

Why Redmi 6 Pro is still relevant in 2026

6 years after the release of the Redmi 6 Pro continues to be in demand in the secondary market.

1. Reliability: The Snapdragon 625 is known for its stability and low power consumption, and many of the devices on the chipset run smoothly even after years of use.
2. Repairability: Parts (screens, batteries, cameras) are still widely available and are cheap to replace.
3. Support for custom firmware: an active community of developers offers alternative OS that can “rejuvenate” the smartphone.
4. Price: on the secondary market, the device can be found for 3000-5000 ₽ (depending on the condition, which makes it an ideal option for a backup phone or a first smartphone for a child.

Redmi 6 Pro is also often used for:

• 🔧 Renovation Masters – as a Parts Donor for Other Xiaomi Models.
• 🎮 Gamers - for streaming games from PC (as a secondary device).
• 📦 Collectors as an example of a successful budget smartphone of the era of 2018.

⚠️ Warning: When buying a used Redmi 6 Pro, be sure to check the battery status. After 6 years of operation, its capacity could fall to 60-70% of the original, which will affect battery life.

Correction of all buttons (on, volume)

Screen state (no broken pixels and yellowness)

The operation of both camera modules (main and auxiliary)

Battery capacity (via AccuBattery app)

The presence of original charging in the set-->

How to distinguish the original Redmi 6 Pro from a fake

The popularity of the model has led to the emergence of many clones and counterfeits, especially in the markets of Asia and Africa.

An additional way to verify is by using the service IMEI.info. Enter the IMEI of your device: if the model is identified as Redmi 6 Pro (cereus), it is the original. You can also check the serial number through the official Xiaomi website (Authentication section).

If you doubt the authenticity, pay attention to the details:

• 🔊 Sound: The original has a characteristic "click" when connecting the charging.
• 🔋 Charging: The original adapter has a marking MDY-08-EQ (5V/2A).
• 📦 Package: the box must have documentation in Chinese/English, paper clip for the tray SIM clear-case.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro