Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite: Differences and similarities, we help you choose
This year, Xiaomi's phone with pure Android came in two versions, the question is which one will you need.
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Introductory
Last year, thanks to its Android One partnership with Google, Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi Mi A1, and in 2018 it was able to sweep most sales prizes among the company’s mid-range phones. After such a wonderful start, we could be sure that the sequel would arrive, the only question was whether we would succeed in repeating the success. In the meantime, the A2 has arrived, moreover, not in one, but in two versions at once, and the two phones do not resemble any other than their name. In this article, we compare Xiaomi phones coming with the new Pure Android system to help you decide.
Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. What is A2 Lite: Specification
Let’s take a look at the specifications of Xiaomi’s two new Android One smartphones, the Xiaomi Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite.
Product name | Xiaomi Mi A2 Global Version | Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Global Version |
Display | 5,99-inch, 18: 9 display, 2160 × 1080 FHD +, 403 PPI, 1500: 1 contrast ratio | 5,84-inch 1080 × 2280 FHD +, 432PPI, 1500: 1 contrast ratio |
Central unit | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE with artificial intelligence engine | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 with 8 cores and up to 2 GHz clock |
Camera | 20 MP front camera, 12MP + 20MP rear camera | 5 MP front camera, 12 MP + 5 MP AI dual rear camera |
Battery | 3010 mAh | 4000 mAh |
RAM & ROM | 4 + 32 GB / 4 + 64 GB / 6 + 128 GB | 3 + 32 GB / 4 + 64 GB |
External memory | Not supported | It supports memory cards up to 256 GB |
SIM card slot | Dual Nano-SIM card slot | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + expandable microSD card |
Xiaomi Mi A2 vs Mi A2 Lite: key differences
Display
If you look at the two phones, you can clearly see the difference. One has a notch, the other does not. The difference, of course, is much deeper than this, all the way to the central unit.
For example, on the display, both phones are marked FHD +, but in this case they cover two different resolutions, but both are larger than the standard FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The Mi A2’s notch-free display boasts an 18: 9 aspect ratio, 5,99-inch aspect ratio and 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution, while the Mi A2 Lite boasts a 5,84-inch aspect ratio and a 2220 x 1080 pixel display. Obviously, the smaller the diagonal + higher resolution will result in a higher number of pixels in the same size area, so the image of the Mi A2 Lite will be sharper and the wrinkles of the letters and lines will be smaller. In which the two displays match the technology used. Both phones have IPS panels.
Central unit
The Mi A2 runs on the Snapdragon 660 eight-core processor (four 2 GHz Kryo 260 and four 1,8 GHz Kryo 260 cores). The Mi A2 Lite uses the Snapdragon 625, which, although the creased piece, is still not very young. The processor employs eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, the faster of which can run at up to 2 GHz. For gaming and multimedia, the Mi A2 uses the Adreno 512 and the Mi A2 Lite uses the Adreno 506.
RAM and ROM
For both phones, you can choose from several configurations depending on what you need and what your wallet allows. Clearly, the Mi A2 is a more expensive, advanced phone, so it has up to 64GB of memory combined with 128GB of built-in storage, while the Mi A2 Lite has a maximum of 4 + 64GB.
Other difference
There seems to be a growing practice that it is not necessary to put a 3,5 jack on phones. The change that was previously seen only in top phones is already appearing more and more often in the middle category, so in the case of the Mi A2 it is not worth looking for the old headphone jack either. There is a multi-purpose USB Type-C instead. In contrast, the Mi A2 Lite still got the traditional earpiece. also widespread among. That way, the Mi A2 doesn’t have a headphone jack - instead it gets a multi-purpose USB-C port and Bluetooth connectivity. In contrast, the Mi A2 Lite held the headphone jack.
Now let's look at the two phones separately!
Xiaomi Mi A2: high performance cheap
Of the two phones, the Mi A2 has a more traditional design. There is a slightly thicker frame both below and above our usual rabbit display, the sensors and front-facing cameras are located in the usual place, at the top.
As you may have read above, the Mi A2 has a very good display. IPS technology is mature, has good brightness and brilliant contrast, excellent color fidelity and very good viewing angles. FHD or FHD + resolution is already an expected requirement for today's mid-range phones. Above the display is a rounded 2,5 Ds glass at the edges, which makes it easier to use due to the rounding.
The phone's processor, the Snapdragon 660, is a true Best Buy solution, powerful yet unaffordable and state-of-the-art, with artificial intelligence acceleration, handling the latest mobile data connection standards, high-resolution displays and cameras
The phone is powered by a 3010 mAh battery. Of course there is ac standard wifi, Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Type-C for fast and efficient communication with other devices. The cameras aren’t bad either, the Mi A2 uses a pair of 12 and a 20 megapixel camera on the back, and a 20 megapixel on the front, for which we also get a portrait mode supported by artificial intelligence.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite: the redesigned Mi A1
The hardware of the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite may be familiar from other phones, including its immediate predecessor, the Mi A1. Since the CPU is the same, the processor and the graphics accelerator must be the same, and of course everything else that is integrated into the SoC. Although the newer version of the Snapdragon 625 is no longer a child of today, it still holds its place, we think it is quite enough for a mid-range, and even a little overperforming, to get into a lower-middle-end phone.
On the other hand, the cameras have changed compared to their predecessor, as there was a double 12-megapixel solution on the back, while the A2 Lite carries a 12 + 5-megapixel combo.
What is immediately noticeable, however, is the difference in the display. The Mi A1 used the old-school traditional FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, while the Mi A2 Lite received a panel with a resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels with a notch in line with the latest trend. The display diagonal increased, the A1 got a 5,5-inch display, the A2 Lite got a 5,8-inch display, but this only resulted in a higher but not wider panel due to the modified aspect ratio. This means that one-handed use hasn’t gotten harder, though I wouldn’t dare say it’s easy that way.
Another interesting, or rather incomprehensible, fact is that while the Mi A1 got a USB Type-C connector and also retained the good old 3,5 jack, in the case of the Mi A2 Lite, the company went back to the microUSB connector. The thing is really incomprehensible, but the change is not unbearable.
Why buy an Android One?
Android One is an Android version specifically designed to deliver great performance on cost-effective phones as well. This is achieved in several ways. First, it's a very simple version of Android - so there aren't many unnecessary features built in, which makes devices faster, more energy efficient, and runs smoothly even on weaker hardware. Second, because the system is entirely conceived by Google’s designers and is not compromised by a third party, such as the phone manufacturer, we can enjoy the Android experience provided by Google without interruption. The fact that the system will be on the phones without drafts also has the advantage that all the fixes will arrive almost immediately, and we are expected to get the latest version of Android for quite a few years.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite and Mi A2 are two completely different phones. While A2 Lite is a rethink of its predecessor, A2 is a whole new development.
In the case of the Xiaomi Mi A1, in addition to the pure Android version, the other big positive was the quality of the cameras. At that price, there wasn’t much better alternative then, which I can confirm from my own experience, we still use such a phone at home to this day, and great photos are taken with it.
Before the release of the offspring, the main question was whether the new phone in the field of cameras would meet the expectations, and now we know phones. The answer is not entirely clear. In the case of the Mi A2, we can say that the cameras are good, but they don’t stand out from the field as much as their predecessor with its double 12-megapixel solution. The A2 Lite’s cameras aren’t bad either, but they are by no means extra or outstanding, they’re just average for what Xiaomi has to offer.
Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite also have more memorable solutions. The A2 Lite’s display - although notch is not our favorite - is better than its more expensive sibling due to its smaller diagonal and higher resolution. This is also the case with the battery, as the cheaper phone has a larger capacity piece. True, the processor is older, it probably needs a little more power, but the A2’s 3000mAh battery really isn’t very steely.
On the other hand, A2 has a more advanced and much more powerful CPU, and since essentially every hardware component is integrated into it, almost every component of the hardware is stronger, better, more modern, more advanced than the one in Mi A2 Lite. The Mi A2’s cameras are also better, much more reflective of the predecessor’s concept.
As you can see, the choice is not easy, as there are gaps and positives on both sides. For our part, we feel the look of the Mi A2 Lite is a bit redundant, the only argument in favor of it being that we can buy an Android One even in the cheaper category. At the same time, we would have been happier with a phone that combines the virtues of the Mi A2 and Lite versions into one device.
If you want to buy one of the phones, be sure to choose a Global version device that knows the B20 800 MHz LTE band used in Hungary and, of course, also speaks Hungarian. Choose the EU Priority Line or Priority Line delivery method so that you do not have to incur additional costs, customs duties or VAT! Keep an eye on our site because we often get a special offer on these phones.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite versions can be found here: Xiaomi A2 Lite comes in several configurations
You can find the Xiaomi Mi A2 versions here: Xiaomi Mi A2 comes in several designs
