HMD Global’s phones have stuck to the Android One certification for quite some time now. However, Xiaomi did not include the Android One certification device in its line-up before the introduction of the Xiaomi Mi A1. The Finnish up-start company, HMD Global has only released phones which come with stock Android and Android One certification only. Xiaomi, on the other hand, has furthered its line-up of phones which come with stock Android with the introduction of the Xiaomi Mi A2. The new phone by HMD Global, which is the Nokia 7.1 goes against the likes of Xiaomi Mi A2 in the market, and it is scheduled to go for sale live on December 7. Here is a comparison between both the phones.
Design and Display
The Xiaomi Mi A2 sticks to a more traditional build and has been made out of a unibody metal slab and features a conventional 18:9 display, with thick bezels on the top and bottom edges. The Nokia 7.1 on the other hand, fashions a little more advanced aesthetics and offers a premium feel. The phone comes packed between glass on front and rear and has been designed from 6000 aluminium frame, which lends durability to the handset. Another feather on the cap for Nokia 7.1 is that it comes with the notch, thus providing more screen to body ratio and modern design.
Talking about the display, the Nokia 7.1 screen measures 5.84-inches and renders Full HD+ resolution on a 19:9 aspect ratio screen. This one is also the first phone by Nokia in this price range to come with the PureDisplay panel which supports HDR10. Even SDR videos will be able to offer a better dynamic range on this screen. In contrast, the Xiaomi Mi A2 features a 5.99-inch full HD+ display on an 18:9 aspect ratio screen.
Hardware and Software
The Xiaomi Mi A2 boots Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, however, recently the phone has received the Android 9 Pie update. On the other hand, the Nokia 7.1 boots Android 9 Pie out of the box. Being under the same banner, both the phones promise three years of monthly security updates from Google along with two major Android updates.
On the hardware front, the Xiaomi Mi A2 and Nokia 7.1, both are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 600-series chipsets. The device by Xiaomi sports the Snapdragon 660 processor, while the Nokia 7.1 sticks to the Snapdragon 636 as its core. This configuration, in the Nokia 7.1 is paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB native storage, whereas the Mi A2 offers two options of 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and with this, the Xiaomi Mi A2 definitely takes the top spot when it comes to performance.
Camera and Imaging
There is also no doubt about the shooting prowess of the Xiaomi Mi A2. The smartphone flaunts a 12MP primary shooter and a 20MP secondary shooter. On the front, there is a 20MP front snapper. The Nokia 7.1 also offers a dual-camera rear camera setup, but this one comes with a 12MP and 5MP pair with ZEISS branding. The front camera on this device is only an 8MP shooter. Again, in this department, the Xiaomi Mi A2 gains the upper hand.
When it comes to battery and stamina, the Nokia 7.1 has been revealed to pack a 3060mAh unit, while the Mi A2 packs a 3010mAh cell. The Mi A2 comes with support for Quick Charge 4+ fast charging technology, making it is the first device in the country to do so.
Verdict
The Xiaomi Mi A2 retails with a price tag of Rs 15,999 and Rs 18,999 for its 4GB and 6GB RAM variants. However, with a price tag of Rs 19,999, the Nokia 7.1 seems to be a costly affair given its specifications. With decent performance and an excellent camera, the Xiaomi Mi A2 proves to be a fantastic choice for the midrange buyers. Although if you wish to buy a phone with impressive aesthetics and an amazing display, the Nokia 7.1 will also prove to be a good buy. The Nokia 7.1 is an offline-only smartphone, while the Mi A2 is available at Rs 16,499 and Rs 19,499 in the offline market.
