Xiaomi announces budget-friendly Android One successors to the Mi A1
Following on from the excellent budget Mi A1 handset, Xiaomi has announced a pair of successors, the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite.
These are both budget phones (so set your expectations appropriately), but they look promising on paper.
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The nicest detail is that both will run Android One. Originally meant as a lightweight version of Google’s OS for budget phones, Android One has since morphed into a guaranteed stock Android experience, which makes it a pretty great feature.
No UK release has yet been announced (although they’re coming to a variety of European markets including France, Spain and Italy later this month), and pricewise, the Mi A2 starts at €249 (around £221) while the Mi A2 Lite can be had for as low as €179 (around £160).
Xiaomi Mi A2 vs Mi A2 Lite Specs
Considering the price difference, you’ll be unsurprised to hear that there are a number of key differences between the two phones.
For one thing they have differently sized screens, with the Mi A2 Lite featuring a smaller 5.84-inch 18:9 1080p screen compared to the 5.99-inch display on the A2. That said, the A2 Lite features a more contemporary notched display, which may (or may not) appeal more to some people.
The A2 Lite’s advantages don’t stop there, as it actually features a larger 4000mAh battery compared with the A2’s 3000mAh battery.
The A2 (pictured) has a beefier processor and bigger screen, but has a smaller battery than the A2 Lite (header)
That said, the A2 is packed with more powerful hardware. It’s got a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor while the Lite has an 625, and has between 4GB and 6GB of RAM compared to the Lite’s 3GB or 4GB. It also has a higher maximum internal storage at 128GB rather than 64GB.
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Finally, the A2 has a 20/12-megapixel dual camera on the back and a 20-megapixel selfie camera while the Lite has a 12/5-megapixel dual rear camera and 5-megapixel sensor for selfies. It’s nice to see both models equipped with dual cameras though.
Both phones look promising, but it sounds like customers might have some hard decisions to make. Do you go for the more powerful phone with more storage, RAM and a bigger screen or the smaller, more modern looking device with a bigger battery?
Which handset do you prefer? Get in touch with us on Twitter or Facebook @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.