Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi just launched Mi A1 smartphone in collaboration with Google. It revives the Android One Program that Google launched a few years ago. Android One is a low cost line of consumer electronics devices that run the Android operating system. It is a hardware and software standard created by Google for Android systems and customers especially in the developing world. While the cost of the device is more than twice the first Android One Device, it offers bang for the buck with respect to the specifications it provides.
Xiaomi Mi A1 Specifications
- Display: 5.5-inch (13.9 cms) Full HD | 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass
- Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 625 up to 2.0 GHz | 14nm FinFET technology | Adreno 506 GPU
- RAM: 4 GB
- Internal Storage: 64 GB; expandable with microSD card
- Rear Camera: 12 MP wide-angle + 12 MP telephoto | 2x optical zoom | 1.25μm pixel size
- Front Camera: 5 MP
- Battery: 3,080 mAh
- Dimensions: 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm
- Weight: 165g
Display
The Mi A1 has a 5.5-inch Full HD display with a 2.5D curved glass, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top for protection. You can easily use the device in direct sunlight and the viewing angles are great as well.
Hardware
The Mi A1 houses the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It offers a good balance of power and performance. Multitasking with several apps in the background is a breeze. There’s no noticeable lag or stuttering, and the smartphone is quite responsive in everyday usage. The phone has a hybrid tray that can house two SIM cards or one SIM card and one microSD card. The Mi A1 has a 3,080 mAh Battery under the hood, and the USB Type-C port. Like always, there’s an infrared blaster as well.
Software
The most interesting aspect of the Mi A1 is its software. It is powered by stock Android, and comes with Android 7.1.2 out of the box. It plans to offer pure Android experience along with a guarantee of Android Oreo update before the end of 2017. MIUI and its bloatware are nowhere to be found on this device. The Mi A1 uses Xiaomi’s own camera app, because apparently the default Android camera does not support dual camera setup yet.
Camera
The dual camera setup of the Mi A1 is similar to that of the iPhone 7 Plus and the One Plus 5 with one wide angle lens and one telephoto lens. The cameras are of 12MP each and can provide a depth-of-field effect, popularly known as bokeh. The telephoto lens features a 2X optical zoom. The front facing camera is a 5 MP one.
Summary
With a mid range budget and an impressive spec sheet, the Mi A1 offers a very good price to feature value. Being an Android One phone, it gives you the stock Android experience and regular software updates.
What do you think of the Xiaomi Mi A1 and the revival of Android One? Lets us know in the comments below!
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