An objective review of the smartphone, advantages, disadvantages, functions and sample photos on Xiaomi Mi A2.
Recently, the Chinese company Xiaomi introduced new smartphones on pure Android One. Such devices are very popular with users, because they do not have a Chinese shell, but there is such an Android as Google developers created it. We tested the device and prepared an objective review.
Specification Xiaomi Mi A2
- Processor: Snapdragon 660 8-core (4 Kryo 260 cores up to 2.2GHz + 4 Kryo cores up to 1.8GHz), 14nm process technology.
- Video accelerator: Adreno 512.
- RAM: 4 GB, internal: 64 GB + microSD support.
- Display: 5.99 inches, IPS, Full HD +, 403 ppi, 18: 9.
- Main camera: dual, 12 + 20 MP, software, f.1 / 8, portrait mode, video recording in Full HD.
- Selfie camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, autofocus, portrait mode, facial enhancement software.
- System: pure Android One (8.1 Oreo).
- Hybrid slot for nanoSIM and microSD.
- , Bluetooth 5.0, 4G.
- Battery: 3000 mAh, non-removable, lithium-ion.
- Fingerprint scanner and face recognition technology.
- Dimensions: 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm, Weight: 166 grams.
- Official price in Russia: 23,990 rubles.
In the box with the smartphone, you can find a block (2A) and a USB Type-C cable for charging, a transparent silicone case, a paper clip to remove the SIM card tray, and an adapter from Type-C to a 3.5 mm minijack.
Design and ergonomics
In terms of design, the Chinese company decided to save time. Xiaomi Mi A2 is an almost complete copy of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 smartphone, an overview of which can be.
The device is available in gold, black and blue colors. In the first two cases, the front panel is white, in the third - black. A gadget in golden color came to us for review, although the black version certainly looks more strict and stylish.
The front panel is occupied by a widescreen 5.99-inch screen covered with a rounded 2.5D-glass Gorilla Glass 5.
At the top are the front camera and flash, earpiece, notification indicator and the necessary sensors. In the white version, these elements are striking, but in the black version they will be almost invisible. On the younger version - Mi A2 Lite - there is a cutout in the style of the iPhone X. Our smartphone does not have it, and this is already nice.
The space under the screen is empty, and the navigation buttons in the smartphone are touch-sensitive.
The back panel is made of brushed aluminum and slightly rounded at the edges, making it comfortable to hold the smartphone in your hand. At the top and bottom there are quite thick and noticeable antenna strips in the style of the iPhone 6. It does not look very neat.
In the upper left corner there is an impressive vertical dual camera module, which protrudes strongly above the general surface (more than on Redmi Note 5).
In the center is a classic fingerprint scanner, at the bottom - trade marks.
At the bottom of the smartphone there are symmetrical speaker holes, two bolts and a USB Type-C charging connector.
On the top of the device, you can find an infrared port and a noise reduction microphone.
On the right in the traditional and familiar place are the power and volume buttons. They are pressed clearly, but they make too loud a sound.
On the left side is a hybrid slot for SIM-cards and a memory card, which is removed with a paper clip.
In terms of ergonomics and convenience, Xiaomi Mi A2 has only one complaint - the dual camera module is too bulky. If you put the phone on the table, it will stagger, "play".
Otherwise, everything is fine - thanks to the rounded edges, the gadget fits comfortably in the hand, there are no protruding and sharp elements, nothing causes discomfort. The thickness of the gadget is only 7.3 mm.
There can be no questions about the build quality and materials - Xiaomi keeps the bar at a high level.
Summing up the intermediate result on the design, it is a pity that Xiaomi did not look for something new and make changes to the already slightly boring design. If it were possible to make the camera module more compact and remove the antenna strips, it would be much better.
Display
Xiaomi Mi A2 is equipped with a popular display in 2018 - a 5.99-inch IPS-matrix with Full HD + resolution (2160 by 1080 pixels), an aspect ratio of 18:9 and a pixel density of 403 ppi.
On the screens, we have never complained about Xiaomi, and Mi A2 is no exception. Engineers squeeze the most out of IPS technology: colors are contrasting and bright, color reproduction is deep and correct, viewing angles and brightness adjustment range are wide.
Of course, the black depth is inferior to OLED and AMOLED matrices, but the Xiaomi Mi A2 screen can be called high-quality and worthy without a doubt. In the case of our model, we note that the color temperature is dominated by warm tones - pink and purple. You cannot change the color settings in the settings.
Performance and memory
A strong bond is responsible for the power of the smartphone - the current 14-nm Snapdragon 660 processor and the Adreno 512 video accelerator. The chipset consists of 4 Kryo 260 cores with a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz and 4 Kryo 260 cores with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz. The smartphone has support for Bluetooth 5.0 and fast charging Quick Charge 3.0. The Snapdragon 660 left the most positive impressions - it seems that you are using a flagship chipset.
The performance of Xiaomi Mi A2 is the strength of the smartphone. The device works very quickly under any load, including instant messengers, social networks, browsers and even games.
As for the interface, everything is perfect - it “flies” stably and quickly, no micro-lags and freezes were found in two weeks of testing. Applications start and close quickly, they are not immediately unloaded from RAM.
4 GB of RAM is more than enough to handle any task in 2018. The amount of built-in storage is 64 GB, free after the first launch is about 50 GB + there is space for a memory card. There will be no problems with this.
Xiaomi Mi A2 in benchmarks
Testing Xiaomi Mi A2 with a Snapdragon 660 processor in the AnTuTu benchmark shows a result in the region of 130 thousand points. The result in Geekbench is about 1600 and 4600 points in single-core and multi-core runs. The numbers are high and worthy, which is clearly seen in the performance of the gadget in real life.
Cameras and photos on Xiaomi Mi A2
The gadget is equipped with a dual camera with modules of 12 MP (f / 1.8) and 20 MP (f / 1.8) - a similar module is used on, which we praised for high-quality photos. Xiaomi Mi A2 takes excellent pictures for its price category - clear, detailed and realistic.
During the day, difficulties should not arise in principle - the camera takes pictures quickly and rarely allows blurring of the frame. Optical stabilization has a huge positive impact here.
In conditions of insufficient artificial lighting and in the evening, a decrease in clarity and detail can only be noticed when the pictures are zoomed in.
The flash fires correctly, does not allow light and color distortion.
Traditionally for all smartphones, when shooting at night, the quality of photos decreases - you can already see minor noises, but you can’t criticize the camera for this.
The selfie camera takes high-quality shots, supports portrait mode and the function of hiding imperfections in appearance.
From this link you can download and view other photos on Xiaomi Mi A2 in original quality.
Interface and Functions
A fast and affordable Xiaomi smartphone on pure Android without Chinese services and the proprietary MIUI shell is the golden mean. In general, the idea of releasing such smartphones is very interesting and successful, because many users prefer pure Android, the way Google “sees” it.
Xiaomi Mi A2 runs on a current and fresh version of the system, which should be updated to Android Pie (9.0) in the coming months. We have already said that the platform works stably and quickly. For clarity, we provide screenshots.
The first Mi MIX, introduced last year, was a kind of "unicorn" - Xiaomi's attempt not just to make an inexpensive smartphone with cool features, but to create something special. And even though this “special” was very reminiscent of similar experiments with the absence of frames by the Japanese company Sharp, in the absence of Sharp smartphones on the world market, this was perceived at least freshly. A smartphone with a 6.4-inch display in a relatively compact body, and even with an unusual design, sounded good. But Xiaomi did not bother to make it really convenient and raised the price very much, as if declaring that dumping is not the only way this company fights for the first positions in the sales rankings. As a result, the experiment turned out to be rather unsuccessful, and it might seem that there would be no second Mi MIX.
Well, one should rejoice at the perseverance of the Chinese. The second Mi MIX came out exactly a year later - and Xiaomi's mood did not become less serious. Yes, the novelty has become much more “standard” in proportions, having received a fashionable 18:9 display reduced to 5.99 inches, but the “frameless” concept and the ceramic back panel have remained in place. As well as the extremely relevant (adjusted for the past year) stuffing. Did Xiaomi manage to punch the “real” Korean and American flagships on the second attempt? And are there any prospects for the Xiaomi smartphone, which will be sold for 40 thousand rubles?
⇡ Specifications
| Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 | |||||
| Display | 5.99" IPS 2040 × 1080 dots, 403 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
6.4" IPS 2040 × 1080 dots, 363 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
5.15 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 428 ppi, capacitive multi-touch | 5.7 inches, IPS, 2880 × 1440 pixels (18:9 aspect ratio), 564 ppi, capacitive multi-touch | 5.8 inches, AMOLED, 2960 × 1440 pixels, 570 ppi, capacitive multi-touch, |
| Protective glass | Yes, manufacturer unknown | Yes, manufacturer unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3; Gorilla Glass 5 on the back | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8996 (Quad Kryo 2.45GHz + Quad Kryo 1.9GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 (Dual Kryo Cores @ 2.35GHz + Dual Kryo Cores @ 1.36GHz) | Samsung Exynos 8895: eight cores (4 × M1, 2.5GHz + 4 × Cortex-A53, 1.69GHz) | ||
| Graphics controller | Adreno 540, 710 MHz | Adreno 530, 624 MHz | Adreno 540, 710 MHz | Adreno 530, 624 MHz | Mali-G71 MP20, 850 MHz |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 4/6 GB | 6 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Flash memory | 64/128/256 GB | 128/256 GB | 64/128 GB | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Memory card support | Not | Not | Not | There is | There is |
| Connectors | USB Type-C | USB Type-C, mini jack 3.5 mm | USB Type-C | USB Type-C, mini jack 3.5 mm | USB Type-C, mini jack 3.5 mm |
| SIM cards | Two nano-SIMs | Two nano-SIMs | Two nano-SIMs | Two nano-SIMs | One nano-SIM / two nano-SIMs |
| Cellular 2G | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz CDMA 800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz | |
| Cellular 3G | HSDPA 800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 | HSDPA 800/900/1700/2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz |
| Cellular 4G | LTE Cat. 12 (up to 600 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 12 (up to 600 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 16 (1000/150 Mbps): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 12 (up to 600 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 | LTE Cat. 16 (1024Mbps, 150Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28 |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 5 |
| NFC | There is | There is | There is | There is | There is |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |
| Sensors | Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer | Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, IR sensor | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), hall sensor | |
| The fingerprint scanner | There is | There is | There is | There is | There is |
| Main camera | 12 MP, ƒ/2.0, phase detection autofocus, OIS, dual LED flash | 16 MP, ƒ/2.0, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash | Dual module, 12 MP: 27 mm, ƒ/1.8 + 52 mm, ƒ/2.6 (2x zoom); optical stabilizer operates at a wide angle; phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash | Dual camera: 13 MP, ƒ/1.8 + 13 MP, ƒ/2.4, phase detection autofocus, optical stabilization | 12 MP, ƒ/1.7, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash |
| Front-camera | 5 MP, fixed focus | 5 MP, fixed focus | 8 MP, fixed focus | 5 MP, autofocus | 8 MP, autofocus |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery: 12.92 Wh (3400 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 16.7 Wh (4400 mAh, 3.8 V) | 12.73 Wh non-removable battery (3350 mAh, 3.8 V) | 12.54 Wh non-removable battery (3300 mAh, 3.8 V) | 11.4 Wh non-removable battery (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) |
| The size | 151.8×75.5×7.7mm | 158.8×81.9×7.9mm | 145.2 x 70.5 x 7.45mm | 148.9×71.9×7.9mm | 148.9×68.1×8mm |
| Weight | 185 grams | 209 grams | 168/182 grams (regular version / ceramic) | 163 grams | 155 grams |
| Hull protection | Splash proof (IP54) | Not | Splash protection | Yes, IP68 | Yes, IP68 |
| Operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, MIUI skin | Android 7.1.1 Nougat, MIUI shell | Android 7.0 Nougat, LG UX skin | Android 7.0 Nougat, custom shell | |
| Current price | In China at the time of publication: from 29 thousand rubles to 42 thousand rubles | 30-40 000 rubles | 26-30 000 rubles | 39 990 rubles | 55 000 rubles |
⇡ Design, ergonomics and software
On its way to something more familiar than the completely unformatted first Mi MIX, Xiaomi followed the already beaten path: an 18:9 (2:1) format display that follows the contours of the front panel as much as possible, a minimum of space on the sides, top and bottom. But the Chinese did not manage to completely get rid of the frames - the smartphone is most similar to the LG G6 and the iPhone X, released a day later. The only two truly frameless smartphones are the Note 8 with their curved AMOLED displays. Xiaomi Mi MIX 2, unfortunately, has a good old LCD display that cannot be “wrapped” on the edges.
And everything would be fine if Xiaomi did not try to splurge with their renders shown at the presentation and published on the official website - on them Mi MIX 2 looks like a gadget whose front panel is completely covered by the screen, without any compromises. When the smartphone is in hand, the frames can be seen without the slightest difficulty. Why such a petty scam is needed is generally incomprehensible. But the number of false clicks, unlike the first Mi MIX, has dropped to almost zero.
One way or another, Mi MIX 2 looks no longer strange, like its predecessor, and very relevant. Another thing is that with this relevance, freshness is lost - but this is a completely appropriate sacrifice for convenience. It is much more convenient to hold the novelty in your hand and reach the corners of its reduced display (5.99 inches instead of the previous 6.4). It feels like a typical modern smartphone with a screen diagonal of about five and a half inches, where another half an inch goes as a bonus for framelessness. Slightly confuses only the weight of the device - 185 grams. The thing is very heavy. I would not say, however, that these extra 20-30 grams compared to competitors somehow affect the user experience.
On sale there will be two different versions of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2, as in the case of Mi6 - “normal”, with a ceramic back and metal edges, and completely ceramic. It is slightly different in size, two grams heavier, and is also available in two colors: black and white (the usual one is only black). Well, more expensive, of course. The ceramic surface looks expensive and rich, it does not differ here from what we saw in the first Mi MIX. She collects prints just as willingly - however, it is not difficult to erase them.
The front panel is covered with tempered (in theory) glass. It should not (in theory) be scratched under standard conditions, but already in a week of use I managed to “plant” a couple of small scratches on it.
Xiaomi Mi A2 is the result of the work of two top companies at once. From Xiaomi, the smartphone received excellent hardware and the most adequate price tag. From Google, the device got pure Android. And it seems that the union of such strong companies should give birth to a top-end device for their money. But, unfortunately, this is not the case.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 review is dedicated to those who lick their lips at, but the controversial MIUI stops them from buying. Our device is devoid of this "flaw", so looking ahead, I say right away - Xiaomi Mi A2 is worth its money. You can buy right now, without waiting for the increase in VAT and other joys of life in Russia.
But to be more picky, there are a bunch of unpleasant nuances that I can't help but talk about. Go!
Design
Do you know what , Mi A2, and other latest gadgets of the company have in common? Of course, design. The same, boring, copied from the iPhone.
From here we take the archive with all the original photos for a detailed study on our computer.
Front-camera
In terms of detail and quality in general, it is not bad. Even the background blurs decently.
However, if you shoot yourself against the background of a contrasting object (the sky, a white wall, and so on), then the background will definitely be overexposed. The built-in HDR mode does not save the situation at all.
Video recording
The video quality is excellent. The smartphone shoots in 4K and does it well. Even the sound track pleased - stereo recording, adequate noise reduction and all that.
Moreover, the device pleases even with night video recording.
Soft
The default is Android 8.1.0 with all the latest updates and security patches from Google. In this current state, the smartphone will be for another couple of years.
However, you should not expect Mi A2 owners to receive updates to the latest OS as quickly as the Pixel series. For example, to Android 9 Pie, the smartphone will be updated before the end of this year at best. And yet it's still faster than devices from other manufacturers that work on their own shells.
By and large, there are no complaints about the system. After all, this is bare Android, everything works great here. Besides!
The first is a huge strip at the bottom of the screen, reserved for the navigation keys. There are no system control gestures, so you can’t remove this awkward strip.
The second is the stability of the proximity sensor. During a conversation over the Web or through some messenger, the sensor turns on the screen and you accidentally press your ear on any button on the display. No matter how tightly you press the phone to your ear, the display still turns on after five seconds and then goes out. After another 5 seconds, the scenario repeats itself. Accordingly, it is difficult to talk on such a device. I hope this is a software glitch and will be fixed in the next OS update.
Sound
There is only one external speaker here - it is located at the bottom, next to the USB C port. The speaker pleased with simply unreal volume. I naturally shuddered every time a notification came to my smartphone and, moreover, someone called me.
Speaker quality is average. There are no volumes, lows and a hint of them, and there are no crimes like whistling and creaking either.
In headphones, the sound is good, no worse and no better than the rest of the 95% of smartphones on the market. True, we do not forget, do not lose and do not complain about the adapter for 3.5 mm. This is the only way to connect your favorite wired “ears” to the device.
autonomy
It is reckless to expect a lot from a 3,000-mach battery. With my scenario, the device could work for one or two days. It all depends on what software you work with and how you use your smartphone in general.
For our smartphone, this is the ceiling.
Fast charging is not supported. A capacity of 3,000 matches is filled in 2 hours. If anything, I tried both from the complete power supply (5V and 2A), and from the adapter from the kit with QS 3.0 support.
Outcome
Xiaomi Mi A2 is a cool smartphone. If he had an audio output and an NFC module for contactless payment, then the device could be called ideal. True, there are other nuances. Already not so critical, more likely even, vkusovschina.
Despite the vertical and fiercely protruding camera, Mi A2 still looks good and feels great in the hand. Under the hood is beautiful and modern hardware, and camera modules will help you get a great shot in almost any light.
Fortunately, the price of Xiaomi Mi A2 pleases. Now officially in Russia you can buy a smartphone for 24 thousand rubles. Expensive. On the other hand, there is an excellent processor, pure Android and nice cameras. All this together cannot cost three kopecks.
Already on sale Price: 23 990 rubles
What you need to know about Xiaomi Mi A2? The trouble with autonomy, a dim and poorly calibrated screen, but good speed and a cool 12 MP + 20 MP camera.
Sales of the smartphone Mi A2 started a long time ago. The optimal, in our opinion, Xiaomi Mi A2 4/64 GB package costs about 8,000 hryvnias in Ukraine, and around 24,000 rubles in Russia. The price tag seems normal, especially considering that the computing center is built on the Snapdragon 660 processor, which was considered almost the ultimate dream for mid-range phones last year.
But that was last year, today the situation has changed. Firstly, Snapdragon 710 became the reference chip for the mid-range segment. Or its slightly simplified version - Snapdragon 670. Secondly, the recently announced Snapdragon 845 brings to the middle class, which makes it almost useless to compete with it, at least if All you need from your phone is a powerful processor. By the way, the battery in the Poco F1 is also in order - 4000 mAh.
In such a situation, other characteristics should become the competitive advantage of the Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphone. For example, a good screen or camera. The question is, is the phone so good in these aspects that the scales tilt in its favor, and you have an irresistible desire to become the owner of this Xiaomi smartphone, having paid the amount announced above for it?
But the introduction to the review of Xiaomi Mi A2 was a little delayed. Let's move on to tests that will quickly answer the question asked.
Xiaomi Mi A2: battery review and autonomy tests
In the material devoted to the presentation of the novelty, we suggested that fans of stand-alone devices (read, with a good battery) the Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphone could be very disappointing. Battery 3000 mAh- far from the ultimate dream, especially if he needs to feed the powerful and voracious 14 nm Snapdragon 660 processor. And so it happened.
In terms of battery life, Xiaomi Mi A2 lost even to its predecessor, which has to be charged every evening. With the screen active, the phone drains the battery in about 9 hours. If you plan to play games, the battery will run out faster. Even Mi A1, which is far from record-breaking autonomy, lasts longer on a single charge with the screen on.
| Xiaomi Mi A2 | Xiaomi Mi A1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 3010 mAh | 3080 mAh |
| Autonomy rating | 73 hours | 87 hours |
| 3G calls | 21:58 | 20:11 |
| Internet | 09:35 | 13:20 |
| Video | 09:02 | 11:00 |
Xiaomi Mi A2 supports fast charging, but the phone comes with a standard 10 watt adapter (5 volts, 2 amps). In half an hour, he replenishes the charge from zero to 35%. It takes 1:55 minutes to fully charge the battery; not too good, given the small capacity of the power system.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Review: Battery Verdict. If the autonomy of a smartphone is a priority for you, Xiaomi Mi A2 is better not to buy.
Xiaomi Mi A2: features overview and screen tests
Xiaomi Mi A2 received a screen with a diagonal of 5.99 inches on an IPS matrix. The resolution is classic - 1080 by 2160 pixels, there is no cutout for the front camera in the upper part, which can be written as an advantage. Another advantage is that the black color is deep enough for an IPS LCD. Brightness? Good, although the maximum performance is lower than that of the Mi A1. Below and maximum contrast.
| Black, cd/m2 | Brightness, cd/m2 | Contrast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi A2 | 0.277 | 420 | 1516 |
| Xiaomi Mi A1 | 0.351 | 551 | 1570 |
| Xiaomi Redmi S2 | 0.47 | 504 | 1072 |
| Xiaomi Mi Max 3 | 0.339 | 496 | 1462 |
| Redmi Note 5 | 0.28 | 530 | 1893 |
| Redmi 5 Plus | 0.355 | 508 | 1431 |
| Pocophone F1 | 0.314 | 461 | 1468 |
The problem is that the Chinese company does not indulge buyers with high-quality IPS matrices. Almost all the brand's smartphones for the budget and middle price class are equipped with dim screens that are hard to read in the sun. Xiaomi Mi A2 is no exception. Moreover, the manufacturer managed to put in it the worst sensor of those that we saw in Xiaomi phones of 2018 release!
Readability in the sun
Color accuracy does not improve the situation: the average color deviation coefficient reaches 5.9, the maximum rises to 11. In principle, such results could be forgiven for a state employee, but we have the right to demand a better picture from a smartphone costing 250 euros (or something like that).
Xiaomi Mi A2 review: screen verdict. The screen is disappointing. If you plan to use your smartphone to watch videos, it is better to look at another option. On the other hand, there are no bangs. This moment can be written Xiaomi Mi A2 as a plus.
Xiaomi Mi A2: camera review
Our site has a material devoted to a fairly detailed review of the Xiaomi Mi A2 camera with examples of photos taken in bright daylight and at night. We will not duplicate information, we will limit ourselves to the main points.
The main Xiaomi Mi A2 dual camera module is equipped with a good sensor Sony IMX376. Permission 12 MP, sensor size 1/2.8 inch, point size - 1.25 µm. The additional module is equipped with a Sony IMX486 sensor with a resolution of 20 megapixels. Here, the dot size is smaller (1 micron), but due to Quad Bayer technology, four pixels are combined into one in low light. This allows you to increase the size of one dot and, accordingly, capture more light.
The aperture in both modules is the same - F / 1.75. Let's note this point with a plus sign, since not all phones of the middle price class have “bright” optics. With a minus sign, we highlight the absence of optical or electronic stabilization. The example shows that it's time to install OIS in mid-range smartphones. Autofocus is implemented using standard phase technology, there is no laser or dual pixel here.
Photo quality. In good light, Xiaomi Mi A2 takes classy photos. The exposure is correct. The colors are natural and saturated, the white balance is neutral. Dynamic range is average. Detailing is high, digital noise is almost imperceptible.
Xiaomi developers usually set up frame processing algorithms for active noise reduction. This is not always in favor of detail, because detail and noise are interrelated things, but in the case of Xiaomi Mi A2, the balance is in order. There are enough small details on the frames, there is practically no luminance noise in daylight.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Review: Camera Verdict. In the middle class, it's hard to find a better camera. During the day, Mi A2 takes gorgeous photos for the class, at night it also does its job well. Of course, there is a portrait mode, the bokeh effect is implemented correctly: the background is blurred smoothly, the main subject of the frame is in focus, the detail is good. If the camera is in the first place for you, and the budget does not allow you to purchase, you should definitely take a closer look at the Xiaomi Mi A2.
Xiaomi Mi A2 review: sound quality
A small part of the Xiaomi Mi A2 review is devoted to the capabilities of the smartphone's audio system. To begin with, there is only one speaker and there is no 3.5 mm audio output. The kit comes with an adapter from Type-C to 3.5 mm, but we know that extra pins degrade the linearity of the audio system.
When connected to an external amplifier, Xiaomi Mi A2 sounds good, but intermodulation distortion is more pronounced than we would like. However, it is difficult to distinguish them with the ear. When headphones are connected, intermodulation distortion is amplified. The stereo balance is broken. The volume is average or below average.
| Cho | Signal/Noise | DD | OIG | KII | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi A2 (amplifier) | +0.02, -0.06 | -91.6 | 91.6 | 0.0018 | 0.014 |
| Xiaomi Mi A2 (with headphones) | +0.08, -0.12 | -92.6 | 92.6 | 0.0028 | 0.120 |
| Xiaomi Mi A1 (amplifier) | +0.11, -0.08 | -90.1 | 91.2 | 0.0017 | 0.0088 |
| Xiaomi Mi A1 (with headphones) | +0.12, -0.08 | -90.0 | 91.1 | 0.038 | 0.042 |
| Xiaomi Mi Max 3 (amplifier) | +0.02, -0.06 | -93.7 | 93.8 | 0.0014 | 0.0069 |
| Xiaomi Mi Max 3 (with headphones) | +0.06, -0.02 | -93.8 | 93.7 | 0.0014 | 0.041 |
| Redmi 5 Plus (amplifier) | +1.55, -0.61 | -29.7 | 76.6 | 0.0017 | 12.493 |
| Redmi 5 Plus (earphones) | +0.06, -0.02 | -92.4 | 92.3 | 0.0023 | 0.026 |
| Xiaomi Pocophone F1 | +0.01, -0.02 | -93.6 | 93.6 | 0.00106 | 0.0069 |
| Xiaomi Pocophone F1 (Headphones) | +0.65, -0.08 | -91.2 | 92.5 | 0.0082 | 0.359 |
| Xiaomi Mi 8 SE (amplifier) | +0.06, -0.02 | -96.0 | 96.0 | 3.266 | 0.98 |
| Xiaomi Mi 8 SE (earphones) | +0.30, -0.32 | -95.4 | 95.3 | 0.016 | 0.473 |
Xiaomi Mi A2 review: sound verdict. The lack of a 3.5 mm jack is a bad move from a marketing point of view. Adapters won't fix this. Should this factor be taken into account when making a purchase decision? If you often hear music, you need to take it into account, if rarely, you can ignore it.
Xiaomi Mi A2: performance
The last section of the Xiaomi Mi A2 review focuses on the hardware, one of the phone's strong points. It is built on the Snapdragon 660, as already mentioned. The buyer is free to choose between three configurations: 4/32 GB, 4/64 GB and 6/128 GB. Please note that there is no memory card slot in the Xiaomi Mi A2 phone, not even a hybrid one.
In July 2018, the new Mi A2 smartphone, developed by the Chinese Xiaomi corporation based on the already well-known Mi A1, was officially launched for sale. The main quality taken from the predecessor was the pure Android One format operating system without the usual proprietary MIUI shell, while on the hardware side, the greatest similarity can be traced to the popular flagship Mi 6X. The rich appearance of the novelty, a thin metal case and high performance, combined with an affordable price for most users, are a fairly weighty reason for the projected success of the gadget among Russian buyers.
cameras
The stylish novelty has received solid characteristics of cameras with a matrix from the famous Sony company, which are among the main advantages of a multifunctional gadget. Unlike its predecessor with a horizontal position, in Mi A2 the rear dual module 20 + 12 MP is located vertically with a powerful flash placed between the sensors. The front camera has not changed its location, it is equipped with the same 20 MP Sony sensor and its own flash for high quality pictures in low light. When switching between the front and rear cameras, portrait mode is activated by default, to change the settings you need to enter the manual format and press the switch at the bottom of the screen.
Display
The phablet differs from its "ancestor" in an enlarged frameless screen with a 5.99-inch diagonal and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The matrix shows the following updates:
- Full HD+ resolution at 403 ppi;
- lack of capacitive keys at the bottom of the display;
- support for Adreno 512 graphics chip;
- closing the front panel with 2.5D Gorilla Glass 5 glass with a smooth transition to a metal case.
Performance
The widescreen gadget has a modern Snapdragon 660 processor, which, together with a graphics coprocessor, provides a great pastime for fans of heavy, resource-intensive games. Pre-installed memory of 4/6 GB RAM and 32/64/128 GB ROM allows users to choose the model according to their preferences, however, do not ignore the lack of support for removable microSD in Mi A2, although the dual Nano-SIM system is present. Pure Android from Google regularly receives updates "over the air" and is simple to "minimalism", although it may seem unusual for fans of the convenient proprietary MIUI.
autonomy
Following the example of the autonomy of the flagship model Mi 6X, the new A2 received a Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 3010 mAh, which can somewhat upset users who are used to greater independence from the power supply. To connect to the network, a USB Type-C port is provided with active support for the Quick Charge type 3.0 function, which significantly reduces the time it takes to be “attached” to a power outlet.
Connection
The new phablet is fully adapted to the Russian conditions of mobile operators and provides reliable uninterrupted communication of the following standards:
- Internet access at 2-3-4G speed;
- LTE communication, connection with Band 20 trackers;
- Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0.
In the configuration of the model there is an infrared sensor, although the software to use it as a remote control must be downloaded from the Play Market. A relative minus can be considered the absence of an NFC module.
From this page of the Rumik website, a new powerful smartphone Mi A2 from Xiaomi of the selected color and with the required amount of RAM and ROM can be bought with delivery.
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