Xiaomi Mi A2 128GB

• Pros
• • Excellent cameras
  • Solid performer
  • Assured Android updates for the next two years
• Cons
• • No headphone jack
  • Battery life is average
  • Pronounced camera bump

• Verdict

The Xiaomi Mi A2 retails for Rs 16,999 and faces stiff competition from mainly three smartphones currently available in India – the 6GB RAM variant of the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 (review), the company`s own Redmi Note 5 Pro (review) and the recently-launched Honor Play (first impressions). Now, the Mi A2 is backed by a superior processor than both the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 and therefore, it should fare better in the longer run. That said, performance-hungry users might be ... Read Full Verdict  

The Xiaomi Mi A2 retails for Rs 16,999 and faces stiff competition from mainly three smartphones currently available in India – the 6GB RAM variant of the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 (review), the company`s own Redmi Note 5 Pro (review) and the recently-launched Honor Play (first impressions). Now, the Mi A2 is backed by a superior processor than both the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 and therefore, it should fare better in the longer run. That said, performance-hungry users might be better off with the Honor Play, which ships with Huawei`s flagship Kirin 970 SoC.On the software side of things, the Mi A2 regains its lead as the smartphone is a certified Android One device, which means that the handset will get guaranteed updates for the next two years, including the latest Android 9.0 Pie. Camera-wise, you could pick up either of the four smartphones and be content with your decision. However, I felt that the images I clicked with the Mi A2 were a tad bit better than what the competition had to offer.That being said, the Mi A2`s battery life left me wanting for more and I wasn`t thrilled with the company`s decision to axe the headphone jack either. Lest I forget, the smartphone`s camera bump is aesthetically unappealing too.Now, if you can look past these quibbles, then Xiaomi`s Mi A2 comes out on top when compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1. However, the Honor Play makes things difficult for the new smartphone, as it seemingly offers better performance, expandable storage and a more powerful battery. That said, we`re yet to review the Honor Play and a clearer picture will only emerge after we`re done with that. The Mi A2`s camera capabilities, stock Android and the promise of timely platform updates are clear winners for sure, and if these aspects appeal to you, you can go ahead and pick up the latest from Xiaomi — it won`t disappoint you.