Xiaomi aka Mi launched the Redmi 4A, its entry-level smartphone a few days back in India which will be available exclusively on Amazon.in starting tomorrow at 12 noon. This dual SIM 4G VoLTE phone costs just Rs. 5,999, but is it the right phone for your needs? Let’s find out.
The very first thought that came into my mind after going through the features and the price tag of phone was to recommend it to all those who want to buy a budget phone. But not everyone wants to buy a phone in the price bracket of Rs. 5,000 to 7,000. For some, the definition of a budget phone extends up to Rs. 10,000.
In this quick review we will explore all the features of the phone and will find out if it is the right smartphone for your needs or not.
Now let’s go through the hardware specifications of the phone to get a clear idea about its value-for-money proposition.
Mi Redmi 4A: Specifications
- Chipset : Snapdragon 425
- CPU: 1.4 GHz quad-core
- GPU: Adreno 308
- RAM: 2 GB
- OS: 6.0.1 Marshmallow
- Display: 5 inch IPS LCD, 1280×720 pixels
- Camera: Primary-13 MP AF f/2.2 with LED Flash; Secondary- 5 MP FF f/2.2
- Memory: Internal- 16 GB; External- up to 128 GB (hybrid slot)
- Battery: 3120 mAh Li-ion (non- removable)
- Connectivity: 4G VoLTE, Dual SIM (hybrid slot), GPS, OTG, Bluetooth 4.1, EDGE, HSPA, Wi-Fi with hotspot.
Design
The Redmi 4A has a unibody plastic body and looks similar to the Redmi Note 3. The phone has good ergonomics and fits into the hands pretty well.
Display
The Redmi 4A packs a 5-inch IPS HD display with no protective layer. The display is sharp, has good viewing angles, and offers good contrast even under direct sunlight. You would also find the size just right enough for one-handed use.
Performance
The phone runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chip. It is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core Cortex A-53 processor coupled with Adreno 308 GPU for taking care of graphics intensive tasks. You can perform basic tasks on it without any trouble. Games like Asphalt 8 run very smooth on it, but at medium graphics settings. Priced at Rs. 5,999, the phone is not meant for heavy gaming, but you can enjoy almost all games when the graphics quality is set to medium.
The phone also packs 2 GB RAM which not only helps in multi-tasking, but also runs the feature-rich MIUI 8 (based on Android Marshmallow) buttery smooth. Out of this 2 GB RAM, about 1 GB is available to the user (on first boot) which is more than enough for normal users.
Talking about storage, the phone has an internal memory of 16 GB (10 GB available to the user) which can be expanded by another 128 GB via a micro SD card.
Note: The phone supports hybrid slot. This means that you can use it for installing either SIM 2 or microSD card.
Camera
Xiaomi phones always have a leading camera in their price brackets. The Mi 4A is no exception. It packs a 13 MP rear camera supporting PDAF and an LED flash. The camera is not one of the best on a smartphone priced under Rs. 10,000, but it clicks decent looking photos (good amount of details and at the right white balance) under bright sunlight, and struggles under low-light conditions. We cannot complain about this as no budget phone can click good shots under low lighting.
You also get a 5 MP front camera for taking some sharp selfies. Both the cameras have f/2.2 aperture which is more than enough for taking good indoor shots even in dim lighting.
Battery
Xiaomi boasts about the Redmi 4A regarding its “beyond all day battery life”. A non-removable 3120 mAh Li-ion battery that is capable of offering enough runtime to last you more than a day on light-medium usage powers the phone.
However, on regular usage involving hours of internet surfing on 4G data you would only get a day of usage.
Verdict
The Mi Redmi 4A is an ideal phone for those who do not want to spend a lot but still want a decent smartphone for enjoying all the benefits of Android. While the phone excels in most of the department, given its price tag, I see a lot of scope for improvement in terms of looks. It would have also been nice if the phone came with some kind of screen protection.
However, if you are looking for a value-for-money phone and are not expecting much from it, except a good battery backup, then you must consider buying the Redmi 4A.
