Let's start with a big premise: lo Xiaomi Mi A1 is a smartphone very important for the company's history. Not so much for the specifics, respectable, but for the context. We are talking about the first Xiaomi phone completely designed to be used internationally as part of the program Android One.
Although the company is also spread from other parts of the globe, the core business remains that in China. But here is that this smartphone comes with software (almost) entirely Android Stock and with a lot of 20 band. But will this make it a real best buy in the category? Discover it in ours Full review.
Review Xiaomi Mi A1: almost an absolute best buy
Unboxing
Inside the packaging of the Xiaomi Mi A1 we find the following equipment:
- Xiaomi Mi A1;
- USB / USB Type-C cable;
- EU charger from 5V 2A;
- pin for the SIM slot;
- manuals.
Design and construction quality
As you already know, the Xiaomi Mi A1 others is not that Xiaomi Mi 5Xtherefore all the judgments we expressed are valid in the trial phase of the latter. A smartphone that sure, not surprising for originality, but that offers a 'excellent construction. With dimensions of 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm for 165 g is not a particularly compact solution, in addition to being a bit slippery, but still in line with current standards.
The discrete bands for the antennas that follow the frame profile are more than appreciable. Not to mention the door USB Type-C, a must of these times. And fortunately we must not do without even the entrance mini-jack, accompanied by always useful IR sensor. Posteriorly we find a reliable fingerprint reader, enriched by gestures as the lowering of the notification curtain. On the other hand, on the other hand, we find the backlit capacitive keys, in addition to the monochromatic notification LED.
Display
This also applies to the considerations we made for Mi 5X. We are facing an IPS panel from 5.5 inches with resolution Full HD, density of 403 PPI and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Good brightness, if not for the sensor not perfectly calibrated, but the visual angles sin a little. As for the color rendering, it is certainly not one of the best displays seen by Xiaomi. THE colors are poco vivid, though fairly faithful, and a greater contrast would have been appreciated. In addition, the border around the screen continue to make us turn up their noses, but they are details.
Performances
To drive it Xiaomi Mi A1 there is still it Snapdragon 625 Qualcomm, chipset that is now a guarantee and one of the most convincing in recent years. And obviously the presence of such lean software can only help, guaranteeing good performance without heating and go in thermal throttling. Obviously they also help i 4 GB of RAM, complete with split screen, only LPDDR3 but still efficient. The memory from 64 GB it is spacious, as well as being expandable through microSD, but it is not lightning. The day that the UFS standard will arrive in the medium / low range there will be a real breakthrough.
Benchmark
Photo / video quality
Speaking of photographic quality, it is Xiaomi Mi A1 presents the same sensors of the Mi 5X, or a pair from 12 mega-pixel and an opening f/ 2.2-2.6. Since the second sensor is from 50 mm, you can take advantage of features like this zoom 2x and the mode Portrait. In fact, even the software is the same as the Mi 5X: not Google Camera but theCamera app area of MIUI.
The photos taken present one good general quality but without excelling. Even if we are not talking about a camera phone, even just the possibility of having the aforementioned options through the second sensor is a plus not to be poco. The definition of the subjects is good, both during the day and in the evening. But the same cannot be said about the front camera from 5 mega-pixels, able to return more shots that can be used in the social phase but nothing more. Ah, and let's not forget to take advantage of Google Photos for the unlimited backup of their photos. Speaking of videos, these can be recorded up in 4K or in Full HD to 30 fps. Also present in the slow-motion a 720p 120fps. The quality of the videos is average, especially due to the lack of stabilization.
Audio quality
One of perhaps the most underrated points of the Xiaomi Mi A1 it is the audio offered by the device. Starting from the speaker, from very sustained volume and from above average quality. But it is in the headphones through the mini-jack input that the phone gives the best of itself, holding on to much more noble competitors. Thanks to the presence of a dedicated chipset, the sound output is high and with few distortions. Slightly below the audio in the capsule, but still respectable.
Connectivity
And here we are at one of the most important parts for Xiaomi Mi A1, or the presence of the longed-for 20 band. This allows a correct reception even with our own operators. However, reception is good but record, but fortunately it no longer offers the side to those areas entirely based on the frequency to 800 MHz dual SIM slot, even if software management is not the best. No problem with the rest of the sector, including Wi-Fi ac Dual Band, Bluetooth 4.2, IR sensor and GPS. Absent, However, NFC e FM radio.
Software
If the implementation of the 20 band is an important novelty, the same can be said for the software the Xiaomi Mi A1. Beyond Camera app and for the IR sensor, everything is based on Android Stock. In fact, this device is part of Android One, a program initially designed for developing countries but which is taking place almost everywhere.
If you expect the feelings conveyed by MIUI, you will probably be disappointed. But if you like a simple but accurate interface, clean but not anonymous, you're in the right place. In addition to the presence of the recent Android 7.1.2 Nougat, the future update for will also arrive Android 8 Oreo. And even the security patches (currently those of September) should keep up with the times. The launcher Is that in Pixel style, with drawer recallable from below, and it turns out obviously very fluid as expected from such an interface. Also present the option Ambient Display.
Autonomy
We conclude with one of the most positive aspects of Xiaomi Mi A1, or consumption. Although the battery is a modest unit from 3080 mAh, is the right hardware / software compromise to guarantee more than satisfactory results. Even with a medium / intense use you can reach without too many worries 6 / 7 hours of display, bringing almost always in the evening except for intense use. With the supplied charger, the recharge takes approx 110 minutes for a full charge.
Xiaomi Mi A1 Review - Conclusions
If the 5X Mi had not convinced us all the way, this Xiaomi Mi A1 fully represents the definition of best buy in this price range. Well done, solid, lending, responsive, good photos, lean software and above average autonomy. The only flaw, negligible but still present, remains that of the warranty. As far as the project is concerned Android One it concerns many countries outside of China, even in Europe, Italy is not one of them.
Lo Xiaomi Mi A1 It is available for purchase through the online store GearBest at a current price of 230,94 €. We remind you of ours guide on how to buy from GearBest, with all the information on shipping, customs and warranty.
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