Since the launch of Mi 6X last week in China, the internet and YouTube is filled with reports such as Mi A2 coming soon. Given that Xiaomi launched the Mi 5X as Mi A1 in international markets, this isn't a surprise. However, there is no update from Xiaomi at the moment, that's mostly because the Chinese company is not yet looking at launching the Mi A2. But a new report has now confirmed that Xiaomi is indeed working on the Mi A2 smartphone along with a budget Redmi Android One device. Sounds interesting, right? That's what the new report. Even Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, in his recent trip to India, confirmed to Indian media that the firm is looking to introduce Android One devices under Redmi branding. The reason behind this is the Indian consumers love for stock Android. The entry-level Redmi Android One device will arrive with Snapdragon 625 SoC under the hood.
This report comes from xda-developers as they managed to get hold of the firmware files of both these upcoming devices. The Xiaomi Mi A1 arrived with a codename of “tissot_sprout”. Basically, “sprout” is the codename of the first generation Android One devices and the firmware file has a codename of mysterious Android One device dubbed as “jasmine_sprout.” There's also another Android One device codename with “daisy_sprout.”
Digging inside the firmware files, the “jasmine_sprout” device is confirmed to arrive with Snapdragon 660 SoC. So going by the chipset, we can term this device as the Mi A2 because the Mi A1 arrived with a Snapdragon 625 SoC under the hood. Next up, the report revealed camera information of the Mi A2, and there are no surprises, the EXIF model clearly shows the “Wayne” codename, which for the unaware is the codename of Wayne. So expect the Mi A2 to arrive with the same camera specifications as the Mi 6X.
The Mi 6X features dual cameras at the back- a 12MP primary sensor and a 20MP secondary sensor. There's a 20MP selfie shooter as well. Like last year, Xiaomi will be keeping the cameras untouched between the Mi 6X and Mi A2. These are the only details revealed in this leak, but most likely, the entire spec-sheet of the Mi 6X and Mi A2 will be similar.
Moving onto the “daisy_sprout” mysterious Xiaomi Android One device, it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC. There's one upcoming Xiaomi device with Snapdragon 625 SoC, and that's the Redmi S2 which was leaked in its full glory yesterday. So the Xiaomi Redmi S2 might end as an affordable Redmi Android One device in the Indian market very soon. Rest of the details are a mystery at the moment.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 makes complete sense, but Xiaomi's decision to launch an affordable Android One device will hurt themselves badly. Because we all know the love of Indian consumers towards stock Android and an Android One device under Rs 10,000 will hurt the sales of Redmi 5 and other MIUI running devices.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 will end up in the Indian market close to the Rs 20,000 barrier because the company is selling the Snapdragon 636-powered Redmi Note 5 Pro at Rs 16,999. The Redmi S2, as per the rumoured specifications could be priced below Rs 10,000. Both the devices might be launched in India next month.
