We sat on the shirt and waited for the official demonstration, but we got the phone instead. Not bad anymore!

Introductory

Without any stretch, we can say that Xiaomi Mi A1 is one of the company's most successful phones. There are several reasons for this. The first is completely bare Android, which does not have the extensions of the MIUI versions, but in exchange for a long time and quickly get Android updates and even new versions. The other is a balanced and very good hardware, and the third is the back camera. The latter was perhaps the strongest argument for the purchase of the phone, and this is why we have been in this family.

At Xiaomin, it was recognized that a good deal of customers would be satisfied with a medium-strength iron in exchange for a first-rate camera. Today, compact cameras have gone out of style all the while, while everyone is using the phone to capture beautiful memories. Yes, but a lot of phones have serious shortcomings in this area. The Xiaomi A1 was, therefore, a phone that could meet the requirements of the age, but with a little stronger iron, but had a very good camera, so Xiaomi could keep its price low.

After the success of A1, everyone was expecting the successor, hoping to launch a very good value-for-sale phone to the Chinese company market, packed with an exemplary camera. The official launch of the new phone was expected by the end of summer, so we were about to wait. In this case, after the presentations, a few weeks before the phones appear in the webshops, we could expect to order the new miracle early in mid-August. To our surprise, however, we received the phone instead of the official presentation, not just one, but two versions. The Xiaomi Mi A2 also came with a Lite version, of course, with cheaper, weaker capabilities.

In this article, you will find the presentation of these two phones. According to our custom, we try to detail every part of the hardware so you can decide whether to invest in it. Let's cut it in!

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite

Processor

You may have become accustomed to starting the presentation with the central tile again, it won't be any different now! The central unit is an MSM8953, better known as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625. It’s a not-too-young, but all-more-popular chip found in a lot of branded phones. This is no wonder, as it has enough power, yet its energy hunger is subdued, and its capabilities make it suitable for building quality devices around it.

The Snapdragon 625 14 is made of nanometer strip width, with an eight-core, 64 bit processor that has been seeded into two clusters. In each of these, there are four Cortex-A53 cores that can clock up to 2 GHz depending on power requirements.

Next to the processor, you'll find an integrated video controller running on the Adreno 506 that works on 650 MHz clocks. The GPU is also supported by a H.264 and HEVC decoder, which makes it possible to play even 4K videos.

The chip has a dual channel memory controller that supports LPDDR3 memory. Of this, I have a 3 GB with a 16 GB built-in repository for Lenovo, which is naturally expandable with a memory card that can have up to 64 GB.

Image processors have also been integrated into the central chip, to which a 24-megapixel and a 13-megapixel camera can be fitted. It also includes a Cat-7 LTE modem for LTE connection and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

Surprisingly, Xiaomi was still able to get back to this tile. In the foreground, it worked in A1 so it can not be said to be ugly, though it is a fact that its capabilities and speed still make it possible to build a modern phone. That's why we can say who's making money on this phone, because of SoC, you do not have to worry about it, it will be able to serve the software for years.

Memory, mass storage

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is available in two configurations. The cheaper 3, the more expensive 4 GB the memory, the storage space next to them, or the 32 or 64 gigabytes, of course, is smaller than the smaller RAM. The kind of memory will not be a surprise, because of the capabilities of Snapdragon 625, LPDDR3, which runs on 933 MHz. The memory controller also determines the one-channel memory management. Still, the built-in storage can be expanded, so if you run out of space, you can add a memory card.

Display

Unfortunately, or not, according to someone's display, this phone has reached the notch fever, so the front panel camera and some of the sensors are located on a peninsula in the upper part of the display. From this it can be immediately realized that the IPS-based panel has a different resolution and aspect ratio than before. Let's see the numbers!

I think we can safely say that these values ​​are quite average, on the one hand IPS technology, on the other hand the notch's yields. That does not mean that this would be a bad display, in fact. Of course nobody was waiting for it, especially in a lite version to get AMOLED, so it's all right!

Kamerák

Well, in this regard, the A2 Lite does not excel. Of course, everything is only a matter of comparison, but if we expect that we will get outstanding capabilities from this phone, then we are very wrong. We get nothing outstanding, "just" good. I strongly suspect that the rear camera pair is the same as the unit found in the Xiaomi Redmi S2. In practice, this means that we get a 12+5 megapixel combo, which uses the Sony IMX486 Exmor RS sensor for the higher resolution camera. The optics located above the sensor have an aperture value of f/2.2, which is also an average value. Even your predecessor was better than this with its two 12-megapixel sensors.

On the front, the camera is no longer a Redmi S2 solution, because while it has an 20 megapixel unit, the A2 Lite has only received a 5 megapixel camera using the Omnivision OV5675 chipset. Optics for this camera can be f / 2.0 aperture. So this is just the category you're going to.

There are no bugs in software capabilities, autofocus, shotgun, digital zoom, digital image stabilization, face detection, and ISO settings are available but I do not think they are anymore extras in this price range.

Other skills

Like so much else, the capabilities of the radios are determined by the central chip, the SoC, since everything is embedded in it. As you can read the Snapdragon 625 is not the latest development, it also shows that although the wifi dual channel, that is, it supports the 5 GHz, it is far behind the speeds in the speed range. This is because it only supports the n standard, 802.11ac has not yet been installed. On board, 4.2 is available from Bluetooth, GPS systems, GLONASS and BeiDou satellites can be used.

There is enough sensors, at least the most important ones, so the gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, proximity sensor and of course the fingerprint sensor are part of the system. We did not even mention the battery that has an 4000 mAh capacity and is charged through the traditional Micro USB port. The lack of USB Type-C also means that this phone has a jack for the headset.

Summary

Anyone who has had the patience to read so far can feel that I am not completely satisfied with this phone. It's not because it's bad, it's a normal craft job, it's in the midst of scaled-down items that match in price and performance. Simply simplifying the formula, we got a new Redmi S2 with another higher resolution display, a larger battery and a dimmed front panel camera. In this regard, it is important that the Xiaomi MI A2 Lite is also at the Redmi S2 height so you can choose what's important, the higher resolution screen or the right front camera.

Which makes the taste of the song a bit bad, it seems that with this phone, Xiaomi just wants to peel off another skin just from the name A2, because it's in the field of cameras, where we expect something outstanding for any A2. Or at least nothing outstanding, just just completely average hardware.

Overall, this phone does not spin, and if you look at the price it's a good value for money, but do not expect to get A2 capability for your money because you'll be disappointed.

If you would like this phone for yourself, you can expect that the first 2000 customer in the introductory action is surprised by the gift shop Xiaomi Mi Band 3 bracelet!

Different versions of Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite are here: Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite

Xiaomi Mi A2

If you've just run through this article, I suggest you read it right now because the Xiaomi A2 has been a good phone. Very good!

Processor

Again, we are launching the central unit where Xiaomi did not spare a nice, tricky tile in their cellphone. This is nothing other than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 that we've met this year with more phones, such as the more expensive Elephone U, Pro, but it also drives the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 tablet!

Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 MSM8976 Plus processes eight cores in the processor, but they are not ARMs but Kyro cores. With Snapdragon 660 you need to know that Qualcomm is in the mid-range phones, but it's worth knowing that thanks to the improvements, the Snapdragon 835 comes close to the peak of the previous year, with the 10-15 percent!

Snapdragon 660 has eight seeds, which are also divided into two groups. In the lower, slower cluster, four 1,84 GHz and four 2,2 GHz maximum Kyro 260 core work in the second fastest group. This chip is made in 14 nanometer strip width, also 64 bit, and the supported instruction set is ARMv8. In the central chip, the integrated graphics accelerator beside the processor is an Adreno 650 on 512 MHz for this phone.

Nowadays, centralized manufacturing companies place great emphasis on the raw power of developing multimedia capabilities. That's why a mid-range chip like Snapdragon 660 can not miss advanced camera support. At this unit, the phones built on it when using a backplane camera can even make 24 pixel sensors under the optics, but if there are two cameras, they can even mount up to 16 megapixels, of course, per camera. Cameras support features such as Zero Shutter Lag, ie pressing the shutter release button, no delay, instant image capture, hybrid autofocus, and optical zoom, of course if the phone manufacturer uses them in the Snapdragon chip potential opportunities.

Snapdragon 660 also has a maximum 2560 x 1200 pixel display, and the video recording option can be 4K 30 FPS or 1080p up to 120 FPS. These are serious skills, especially if we know that we are still "only" talking about a mid-range tile.

Memory, mass storage

The gigabytes are the same, they are also tied to the central chip because, for example, it depends on the type of memory that can be built into the machine depending on the integrated memory controller. The Xiaomi Mi A2 will be available in three versions. In cheaper copies, 4 GB RAM, 32 or 64 GB storage, and more expensive 6 GB RAM, we get 128 GB storage. Memory is a fast two-channel LPDDR1866X running on 4MHz clock, which is no wonder, since Sapdragon 660 is not an old chip, so it is expected that it will not have to pack DDR3 memory. We are not surprised to find that thanks to the integrated memory controller, we already have dual channel operation. The size of the mass storage device is the standard eMMC 5.1 solution regardless of size.

Display

It is a surprise to be guaranteed, but as long as the Lite version has a notch-skinned display, this phone has a completely standard FHD + resolution 2160 x 1080 pixel IPS panel that Xiaomi has launched. This is suspected to be the same as the Xiaomi MIX 2 and MIX 2S solution, at least in terms of the diagonal, physical dimensions of the panel. For me, I do not really care about the lack of the notch, nor the fact that we can enjoy a little less pixels. Let's see the exact data!

Kamerák

We've come to the point everyone was waiting for. Well, I have to say no!

We know that Xiaomi puts the best camera in the flagship phone, at least so far, but now that the A2 is better than the Mi 8, other than physical data. Waiting for more detailed tests is worthwhile, but in fact, the Xiaomi Mi A2 camera, and more specifically all three cameras, has become very powerful in terms of capabilities!

The most important rear panel unit is a double 12 + 20 megapixel pair. Of this, the 12 megapixel uses a Sony IMX486 Exmor RS chip, and above it a f / 1.75 aperture lens. This is already a hint, as Mi 8 has only two 12 megapixel cameras and f / 1.8 lenses. The A2 uses the 12 megapixel camera with a 20 megapixel camera, based on Sony's IMX376 Exmor RS and a f / 1.75 aperture lens. While the smaller resolution unit works with a standard zoom lens, the 20 megapixel is a telephony solution that enables the phone to real-time hardware hardware depth and, of course, hardware, that is, optical zoom.

In order not to be good enough, Xiaomi did not spare the front panel camera either. They used the same Sony IMX376 Exmor RS sensor on the back of the telephoto camera, but here, of course, comes with a standard lens. Due to the different lens, the aperture here is slightly worse, f / 2.0.

For cameras, it's important to note that although hardware seems to be very good, spice will also be the artificial intelligence that is being used in other high-end phones, capable of distinguishing hundreds of themes from the camera and choosing the right and best settings !

Other skills

The Xiaomi phone comes with a two-channel, 2 × 2 MIMO, 802.11ac standard interface, which guarantees that you will be surfing at a pleasant speed with a good quality router. We also get Bluetooth from radios, plus the 5.0 standard, and we can also use navigation programs because there is no GPS, Glonass and BeiDou support left. There is also everything you need from sensors, so the gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, proximity sensor and of course the fingerprint sensor are also part of the system. The battery in this phone has a capacity of 3010 mAh (see Redmi S2), but the connector is already Type-C, which comes with it so that we can forget about the normal jack socket.

Summary

If I said that the Mi A2 Lite was a bit of a disappointment, then I can say that the A2 is perfect. This phone faithfully follows the traditions of its predecessor, as it is built around a modern, but "only" mid-range central unit, with adequate memory and storage, and an average, but rather good, display. And the cameras exceed all expectations. This phone will be again because of its cameras, more precisely, it was a very good buy. It's not cheap, but the price-performance ratio is also excellent here, so if you've been waiting for it, wanted it, then the time has come, you can buy it, you won't be disappointed with it!

As with Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, you can get a free Xiaomi Mi Band 3 smartphone for this phone when we're fast enough.

Different versions of Xiaomi Mi A2 can be found here: Xiaomi Mi A2