A year after Xiaomi released their first Android One smartphone – the Mi A1, they released the Xiaomi Mi A2 together with a lower-end Mi A2 Lite model How does it fare, in light of new rivals like the Realme 2 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018? Let’s find out in our Xiaomi Mi A2 in-depth review!
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Tech Briefing
The new Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) is an Android One device with a traditional rectangular 18:9 display. Powered by the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, it comes with at least 4 GB of memory but lacks a microSD card slot. Here is an early Xiaomi Mi A2 tech briefing by Allen An.
The lower-end Mi A2 Lite, on the other hand, has a wider 19:9 display with a notch, and is powered by the rather dated Qualcomm Snapdragon 625. It comes with at least 3 GB of memory, and a microSD card slot.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Colour Options
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) will come in three colours, at least initially – Blue, Black and Gold. Here is a look at all three colours!
Xiaomi Mi A2 Price + Availability
Here is the Xiaomi Mi A2 launch price comparison for a few countries. Please note that the Indian pricing is not yet confirmed, because they have not yet been launched in India.
| Model | RAM + Storage | US | Europe | China | India | Malaysia |
| Mi A2 | 4 GB + 32 GB | $290 | €249 | – | Rs 20,000 | – |
| 4 GB + 64 GB | $325 | €279 | RMB 1,599 | Rs 22,500 | RM 999 | |
| 6 GB + 128 GB | $410 | €349 | RMB 1,999 | Rs 28,100 | RM 1,199 |
Here are some direct purchase links in Malaysia :
[adrotate group=”2″]Here are some direct purchase links in the US :
Here are some direct purchase links in the US :
Unboxing The Xiaomi Mi A2
Let’s unbox the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY), and see what we find inside its white box!
Once you fully unbox the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY), you will find the following items :
- One Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphone
- One Xiaomi Mi A2 TPU bumper case
- One Xiaomi Mi A2 User Guide
- One 10 watt Xiaomi USB power adaptor
- One USB Type C charging and data cable
- One USB-C to 3.5 mm audio adaptor
- One SIM tray extractor pin
Next Page > Xiaomi Mi A2 Up Close + Specifications
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The Xiaomi Mi A2 Up Close!
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has a 5.99-inch IPS display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels and a 18:9 aspect ratio. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, while the metal body has a matte finish that is resistant to fingerprint smears.
It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 – a mid-range SoC with four Qualcomm Kryo 260 Gold high-speed cores running at 2.2 GHz, and four Qualcomm Kryo 260 Silver low-power cores running at 1.8 GHz. It also comes with the fast Qualcomm Adreno 512 GPU.
The Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) comes with either 4 GB or 6 GB of memory and 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage. Our review sample is the mid-range model with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. It has a longish model name of M180402SG.
All that is powered by a 3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery, in a thin metal chassis that is only 7.3 mm thick, and weighs just 166 grams. We are glad to report that it has the new USB Type C port, and comes with a 10 watt USB charger.
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Xiaomi Mi A2 Specifications
Here are the specifications of the Xiaomi Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite compared!
| Specifications | Xiaomi Mi A2 | Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.99-inch IPS display - 1080 x 2160 pixels (403 ppi) | 5.84-inch IPS display - 1080 x 2280 pixels (432 ppi) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown |
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 8.1 Oreo |
| System Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 |
| Processor | 4 x Kryo 260 Gold (2.2 GHz) 4 x Kryo 260 Silver (1.8 GHz) | 8 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 2.0 GHz) |
| Graphics Processor | Qualcomm Adreno 512 | Qualcomm Adreno 506 |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4X SDRAM | 3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM |
| Storage | 64 GB internal storage No microSD card slot | 32 GB internal storage microSD card slot |
| Front Camera | 20 MP IMX376 sensor with f/1.75 lens - single LED flash - 1080p @ 30 fps video | 5 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens - 1080p @ 30 fps video |
| Rear Camera | Dual Lens Camera Main Camera : 12 MP Sony IMX486 sensor with f/1.75 lens Low-Light Camera : 20 MP IMX376 sensor with f/1.75 lens - PDAF capability - Dual-tone LED flash - 2160p @ 30 fps video | 12 MP Sony IMX486 sensor with f/1.8 lens and PDAF capability 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens - Dual-tone LED flash - 2160p @ 30 fps video |
| Connectivity | WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band) Bluetooth : BT 5.0 USB : USB 2.0 Type C | WiFi : 802.11/b/g/n (dual band) Bluetooth : BT 4.2 USB : microUSB 2.0 |
| Radio | No | No |
| GPS | With A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | With A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou |
| Infra-red Emitter | Yes | Yes |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, Rear Mounted | Yes, Rear Mounted |
| Other Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh lithium-ion | 4,000 mAh lithium-ion |
| Dimensions | 75.4 mm wide 158.7 mm tall 7.3 mm thick | 71.6 mm wide 149.3 mm tall 8.7 mm thick |
| Weight | 166 g | 178 g |
| Available Colours | Black, Gold, Blue, Red, Rose Gold | Black, Gold, Lake Blue |
Next Page > Xiaomi Mi A2 Key Features
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Launched in May 2017, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is a powerful mid-range mobile SoC. It combines eight Qualcomm Kryo 260 processor cores, with an Adreno 512 GPU, a Snapdragon X12 modem, a Spectra 160 camera ISP and a Hexagon 680 DSP.
There are two processor clusters – a high-performance cluster of four Kryo 260 Gold cores running at 2.2 GHz, and a low-power cluster of four Kryo 260 Silver cores running at 1.84 GHz. The Kryo 260 Gold is a semi-custom version of the Cortex-A73, while the Kryo 260 Silver is a semi-custom version of the Cortex A53.
Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 660 is up to 20% faster in processor performance than the previous year’s Snapdragon 653, and up to 30% faster in graphics performance.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Cameras
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) boasts a very high-resolution front camera, with a 20 MP Sony IMX376 image sensor. Its very bright f/1.75 lens lets you take great selfies even in less-than-ideal conditions. And when it gets very dark, it even has a dedicated LED flash to make sure you can capture a selfie!
At the back, the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has a dual camera system. Its main camera has a 12 MP Sony IMX486 PDAF sensor, with a f/1.75 lens. It also has a low-light camera that pairs a 20 MP Sony IMX376 sensor with f/1.75 lens. They are supported by a dual-tone LED flash.
The pairing of a high-resolution 12 MP main camera, with a higher-resolution 20 MP low light camera, is a curious choice. Let’s take a look at this comparison of three figurines in very low-light conditions :
Despite having the same f/1.75 apertures, and smaller pixels, the 20 MP low light camera does indeed have superior low light performance./
Unfortunately, the low-light camera must be activated manually using the Manual option. It doesn’t automatically get selected when you use the other camera options. And there does not seem to be an option to use it to record low-light videos.
Fingerprint Sensor
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) uses the FPC 102x fingerprint sensor located at the back. In our tests, it is very fast and accurate, supporting 360-degree recognition.
Surprisingly, the Mi A2 does not support face recognition login, only Swipe, Pattern, PIN code and password. So the fingerprint sensor is going to be really handy for fast logins.
Next Page > What’s Missing? How To Setup, Free Memory + Storage
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No 3.5 mm Audio Port
Although it is physically possible to squeeze in a 3.5 mm audio port into the Mi A2’s thin 7.3 mm chassis, Xiaomi chose to limited the 3.5 mm port.
Instead, they included a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio port adaptor. This allows you to continue plugging in your earphones and hands-free kit. You just cannot use them while charging your Mi A2 at the same time.
No MicroSD Card Slot
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby support, with a SIM tray that accepts two nano SIM cards. However, they chose to eliminate the microSD card slot. They did not even make SIM2 a hybrid SIM slot, that could double as a microSD card slot.
That means you must rely solely on the internal flash storage – there is no way to expand storage in the Mi A2. This is something iPhone users will be familiar with, but not Android users.
So unless you don’t intend to take many photos or videos, or install many apps or games, you should opt for the higher storage capacities of 64 GB or 128 GB.
Setting Up The Xiaomi Mi A2
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) comes with Android 8.1 Oreo installed. The setup process is pretty easy, as we demonstrate in this video. You can also see how easy it is to train the fingerprint sensor.
Available Memory & Storage
Xiaomi offers the Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) with either 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM. Our review sample came with 4 GB of RAM. MIUI does not allow us to check the amount of free memory, except through the hidden Developer Options.
From what we can see, about half of the memory is used at all times by MIUI and background apps, leaving you about 2 GB of free memory to use. That is good enough for a few memory guzzling apps to use.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has storage options of 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB. We highly recommend you opt for 64 GB or 128 GB, because it does not come with a microSD card slot, so you can’t add more storage. Our review sample came with 64 GB of storage, of which just over 48 GB is available to use.
This is enough space to store about 12,000 photos, or 5 hours of 1080p videos, or 2.5 hours of 4K videos. If that’s not enough, then you should opt for the 128 GB storage option. Remember – there is no microSD card expansion option.
Next Page > Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Performance – Photo Samples
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Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Performance – Photo Samples
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has a very capable 12 MP main camera, with the new Sony IMX486 PDAF image sensor and a very bright f/1.75 lens.
The maximum 12 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4000 x 3000 pixels, and a file size of between 4 MB and 7 MB.
Here are six high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The resolution of the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) is really amazing. It managed to capture the intricate details of the broccoli florets, the grape stems, and even the texture of the tiny white pepper seeds. The colours are also very nice – vivid but not excessive to the point they become unrealistic.
The wide f/1.75 aperture naturally creates a very narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But you have to be more careful in framing the shot, because the subject may end up out-of-focus.
Here are additional Mi A2 photo samples taken by Xiaomi’s Allen An using its 12 MP main camera.
And here are two more Mi A2 photo samples taken using its 20 MP low-light camera with Super Pixel capability.
Next Page > Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Performance – Video Samples
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Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Performance – Video Samples
We are glad to report that Xiaomi did not cripple the Mi A2’s awesome main camera in any way, allowing it to record up to 4K videos at 30 fps. However, they do not allow you to use the low-light camera in the back to record any video, and they limit the high-resolution 20 MP front camera to recording only 1080p videos.
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano Performance (1080p)
Look at the detail captured by the Sony IMX486 sensor in this video. Even at 1080p, it’s amazing how much detail you can see in the video. The camera does not support optical image stabilisation (OIS), but its electronic image stabilisation (EIS) capability works great.
We, however, want to point out some focus and exposure issues which detracts from an excellent camera performance. In addition, Xiaomi went overboard with their noise cancellation – the audio range is unnaturally thin and overly bright.
Video Recording Test #2 : Piano Performance (4K)
The resolution is really incredible at 4K, but notice how theXiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) loses its electronic image stabilisation capability. This is a shame, because the Snapdragon 660 should be fast enough to handle electronic image stabilisation…
Video Recording Test #3 : Street Market (1080p)
As this video shows, the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has very good electronic image stabilisation, when you are recording 1080p videos. Noise cancellation is very good, although the resulting audio range is too bright and lacks bass.
Video Recording Test #4 : Street Market (4K)
Once you switch to 4K video recording, the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) loses its electronic image stabilisation capabilities. The video is noticeably jerkier…
Next Page > Xiaomi Mi A2 Performance – Work, Gaming, Battery + Recharging Speed
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Xiaomi Mi A2’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
| Work 2.0 | Xiaomi Mi A2 | Realme 2 Pro | Honor Play | Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 |
| Performance Score (Average) |
8233 | 7842 | 7361 | 5379 |
| Web Browsing | 8543 | 7863 | 7695 | 5278 |
| Video Editing | 6356 | 6756 | 5499 | 4413 |
| Writing | 7471 | 6498 | 6649 | 5056 |
| Photo Editing | 15999 | 16030 | 13326 | 7427 |
| Data Manipulation | 5828 | 5359 | 5764 | 5147 |
| Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Despite using the same SoC as the Realme 2 Pro, the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) is 5% faster in the Work 2.0 benchmark. It is also 12% faster than the flagship-class Kirin 970 used in the Honor Play, and a whopping 53% faster than the Samsung Exynos 7885 used in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018.
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the Xiaomi Mi A2’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
| Ice Storm Unlimited | Honor Play | Xiaomi Mi A2 | Realme 2 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 |
| Gaming Score | 31622 | 26731 | 24812 | 15354 |
| Graphics | 37351 | 29302 | 26455 | 15788 |
| Physics | 20576 | 20452 | 20383 | 14005 |
| Graphics Test 1 | 208.9 fps | 162.9 fps | 147.4 fps | 136.5 fps |
| Graphics Test 2 | 132.8 fps | 104.6 fps | 94.3 fps | 45.8 fps |
| Physics Test | 65.3 fps | 64.9 fps | 64.7 fps | 44.5 fps |
| Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) has 8% faster gaming performance than the Realme 2 Pro, despite being powered by the same SoC. This makes it just 15.5% slower than the flagship-class Kirin 970 used in the Honor Play, and 74% faster than the Exynos 7885 used in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018.
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the Xiaomi Mi A2’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
| Work 2.0 | Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 |
Honor Play | Realme 2 Pro | Xiaomi Mi A2 |
| Battery Life | 10 hours 25 mins | 9 hours 56 mins | 6 hours 58 mins | 5 hours 39 mins |
| | Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Battery life is a sore point for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It is powerful, but it is a 14 nm chip that guzzles power compared to newer chips built on the 10 nm or 12 nm process technology.
Hence, we are not surprised to see the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) last just over 5.5 hours in our stress test. Let’s remember that it only has a 3,000 mAh battery, while the Realme 2 Pro, which uses the same Snapdragon 660 SoC, comes with a larger 3,500 mAh battery.
Battery Recharging Performance
The Xiaomi Mi A2 comes with a 10 watt fast charger. Let’s take a look at how fast it recharges the 3,000 mAh battery.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) took just under 108.5 minutes (1 hour 48.5 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. That’s an average performance, considering it’s using a 10 watt charger.
That is a battery life : recharging ratio of 3:1. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, charge it for 20 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 90% level. This took just 71 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 37.5 minutes to top up the remaining 10%.
Next Page > Our Verdict, Where To Buy, Recommended Reading
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Our Verdict
The Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) continues the Xiaomi DNA of delivering an excellent set of features at a very compelling price point. It combines a powerful Snapdragon 660 platform, with a large Full HD+ display, and three high-resolution cameras. All for less than RM 1,200 / US$ 420.
Their cameras bear special mention, because Xiaomi seemed to pay special attention to them. The main 12 MP camera uses the latest Sony IMX486 PDAF image sensor, while the secondary rear camera and the front camera both use the higher-resolution 20 MP Sony IMX376 image sensor!
Believe it or not, all three cameras are paired with very bright f/1.75 lens. This means they will work very well in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. This puts these cameras on par with those used in many flagship-class smartphones.
And if that’s not enough, the secondary 20 MP rear camera is actually a special low-light camera which actually delivers on its promise of capturing better low-light photos with less noise than is possible with the main 12 MP camera (even though it has larger pixels).
However, we have to wonder if users will really find the low-light camera all that useful. Particularly when it can only be activated in the Manual mode, and cannot be used to record low-light videos. Unless you are into night photography, it is likely that most users will find a telephoto or wide-angle camera far more useful.
We also have to question Xiaomi’s decision to do away with a microSD card slot. Having the option to add a microSD card is more than just saving some money, or the flexibility of adding more storage. It allows users to record their photos and videos directly into a microSD card, preventing them from being lost should they drop the phone into water or physically damage it.
The lack of the 3.5 mm audio port is not really that big a deal, especially when they threw in a free USB-C adaptor. What concerns us most is the relatively small battery. Yes, it allows the Mi A2 to be thinner and lighter, you will have to live with a relatively short battery life.
Still, the Xiaomi Mi A2 (US | UK | MY) offers a great package for its price point. There are very, VERY few smartphones that offer such high performance, with flagship-class front and rear cameras, at such price points.
Where To Buy The Xiaomi Mi A2?
Here are some direct purchase links in Malaysia :
Here are some direct purchase links in the US :
Here are some direct purchase links in the US :
Recommended Reading
- Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Price + Specifications Revealed!
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 “Camera Beast” Hands-On Preview
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Price, Availability + Specifications
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (helio X20) Phablet Review
- The Top 5 Reasons Why The Honor 10 Is Awesome!
- The Honor 10 AI Camera Smartphone Reviewed!
- ASUS ZenFone 5 (ZE620KL) In-Depth Review
- ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) In-Depth Review
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