Xiaomi finally launched the much-awaited Android One smartphone– the Mi A2. After the massive success of the Mi A1, Xiaomi has hyped this phone very much and has touted some impressive camera and hardware upgrades on this device. The screen gets bigger, and the camera gets better on the Mi A2 when compared to its predecessor. The phone presents a very viable choice for someone looking towards an excellent camera oriented device in the sub-Rs 20,000 price category. Read further to see how the Mi A2 performs and looks off-paper.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Hands-On: Design and Display
The Xiaomi Mi A2 comes with an Aluminium body meaning that the device sports premium looks. There are four colour variants to this device which all give out the similar shine on the rear side. The fingerprint sensor finds its place on the back side of the phone, while the dual rear camera setup has been vertically oriented on the upper left side of the device. Also, the phone has a curved back which means that it will provide a more comfortable hold for the users. The incredibly slim form factor with a 7.3mm thickness further ups the score of this phone in terms of aesthetics.
As for the display, the device sports a 5.99-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2160 pixels) display which is an upgrade from the Mi A1 which used to come with a 5.5-inch screen. The aspect ratio of the device is also more modern with an 18:9 screen instead of the dated 16:9 one. The front side comes covered in 2.5D curved glass and Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. Colour tones on the phone look impressive, and the display is also of decent quality. However, we feel that the brightness can be notched up a little bit more as it gets hard to see things onscreen when the phone is under direct sunlight.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Hands-On: Hardware and Software
The device fares as a decent performer for its price point, given that it sports an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC there is no shortage of potential in this phone. The four cores out of the eight come with extra power packed in them and clock a little bit of increased frequency for resource-intensive tasks like gaming. This setup comes paired with an Adreno 512 GPU for graphics.
On the software front, the phone boots Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The highlight of this new device is that it comes with Android One certifications which means that users will be eligible for monthly security updates and patches. Not only that, but the phone will also be one of the first one in Xiaomi’s portfolio to receive the Android P and Android Q upgrade owing to this tag.
The battery of 3000mAh gives enough juice to last a day. However, we noticed that even while using Wi-Fi the phone went down to 5% and then to 0% pretty fast. This issue might get resolved as the phone receives optimisations in the future updates. The QuickCharge 4.0+ also helps speed up the charging. Another striking thing about the new Mi A2 is that it does not come with a headphone jack. Instead, the company makes up for this by providing a USB Type-C to headphone jack adapter in the box. Xiaomi is also shipping a silicone cover with this phone.
Connectivity options on the Xiaomi Mi A2 include 4G LTE, Bluetooth v5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Miracast, an IR emitter, and USB Type-C. Sensors include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, and proximity sensor.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Hands-On: Camera
The camera on the Mi A2 is the prodigy which Xiaomi has boasted about, and we won't deny that the Mi A2 qualifies as a total bang for the buck camera device. The device provides the best camera in this price point undoubtedly as it appears from the images. There are AI supported additions on the camera which further notch up the quality of the photos, with the AI scene detection being the most prominent of them all.
The primary shooter on the rear is a 12MP Sony IMX486 with f/1.75 aperture and 1.25-micron pixels, and the secondary shooter is a 20MP Sony IMX376 sensor with f/1.75 aperture and a 2-micron 4-in-1 Super Pixel size. The camera setup comes equipped with dual-tone LED flash and PDAF, and on the front, there is a 20MP Sony IMX376 selfie camera with f/1.75 aperture, fixed focal length, and a soft-LED flash.
The portrait mode on this phone performs well as the edges are clearly visible on most photos. Although on the selfie camera sometimes the phone struggles to get the edges right. The macro shots on the camera are also impressive. Apart from that, the colour range is dynamic, and the images are true-to-life. The low light photography is also a delight on this phone thanks to the dual camera in which both the sensors come with a large aperture.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Hands-On: Conclusion
Xiaomi has launched the Mi A2 64GB+4GB variant in India now with a price tag of Rs 16,999. The company has said that it would also unveil a 6GB+128GB option in the future. Instead of the standard flash sale method, this device from Xiaomi will also be up for pre-orders on Amazon where it will sell as an Amazon exclusive device.
On the whole, the Mi A2 looks like an excellent option in the Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 price point. The phone is not quite a looker but gets the job done. It's not as powerful as the Honor Play but keeps up with the price tag. As you can see from the camera samples, the Mi A2 may well be the best camera smartphone under Rs 20,000 in India. Stay tuned for our full review of the smartphone.
