Xiaomi Mi A1. Best 'Small' Phone for under $400? Advice and General Discussion

datzed on 04/04/2018 - 15:50
Last edited 04/04/2018 - 16:18 by 1 other user

This phone (in 64GB) is ~$230. Anyone care to mention why this isn't the best bang for buck phone under $400 that is 5.5inch or less?

I acknowledge that there is no NFC, but in reality, most people could probably live without this pretty easily.
Band28 is also missing, which admittedly is a draw back.

The competition?

Xiaomi Mi5? Only has 3GB Ram :( Is the Mi5 worse than this phone purely for this reason alone?
Moto G5 Plus? Hardly available nowerdays (or at least, at discounted prices)
LG V20? Quite a bit more expensive and larger in size
LG G6? I'm starting to think this phone won't be offered in the 'below $400' price bracket anymore.
SHARP Z2 Global Version 5.5? This is a worthy competitor I reckon. But its also significantly cheaper. Whats wrong with it?

Anyone care to comment? Even general discussion on this phone? I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on this phone and am wondering why I shouldn't.

Mobile Mobile Phone Xiaomi Android

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 04/04/2018 - 16:08
    +7

    The Xiaomi Mi5 is a 'flagship' phone running Snapdragon 820. Also has a optical image stabilisation lens. It is however an 'old' flagship and it's somewhat comparable to a Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC 10 or other devices that came out in early 2016.

    The Mi A1 is one of the "redmi" series, which is basically the budget category. They usually have mid-end processors and also mid-end cameras, so has fewer hardware features overall.

    The Mi A1 is basically the Xiaomi Mi 5x, it was just made for the international market because it runs Android One as opposed to Xiaomi's usual operating system. The Mi 5X was the initial release of the device and runs MIUI.

    You can use GSM arena to find and compare phones.. You can also use Flickr camera finder to also compare photos taken by different phone cameras.

    • datzed on 05/04/2018 - 10:18

      Thanks for this great response!

  • scotty on 04/04/2018 - 16:27
    +1

    If you look at our What Should I Buy page, it is indeed the Best Android Budget Phone under $250 at the moment, voted by our community. My wife's Nexus 5x recently bootlooped and replaced with Mi A1, and I am surprised by how well made it is. QSD 625 is not fast but fast enough as daily driver. It's mostly pure Android with 2 or 3 Xiaomi apps. Due to popularity there are also lots of accessories on eBay (case for example).

  • [Deactivated] on 04/04/2018 - 16:33
    +3

    I have a the Xiaomi A1, after having all the Nexus phones, Pixel XL and Pixel 2 XL…
    Frankly, it's fine.

    Coming from a Pixel 2 XL, the camera is severely lacking. Other than that it's a great little phone.

    • mooney on 04/04/2018 - 16:44
      +2

      How did you move from Pixel 2 XL to Xiaomi A1?

      • [Deactivated] on 04/04/2018 - 20:36
        +1

        Broke it. Stupidly expensive in Asia if I can even find one.

        Will buy Pixel again when I'm in Australia later in the month.

    • bathuu on 04/04/2018 - 20:50

      Agree. Good phone with great software support if you dont care of nfc and camera.

  • kiwijunglist on 04/04/2018 - 17:04

    Note 5 plus. Was on special recently for 180usd odd. It's great but 6".

  • mickeyjuiceman on 04/04/2018 - 17:12

    Xiaomi Mi5? Only has 3GB Ram :( Is the Mi5 worse than this phone purely for this reason alone?

    That seems extraordinarily unlikely. 2GB is not really enough, but I've had several phones with 3GB, and they've been fine.

    • datzed on 04/04/2018 - 18:03

      But there are other phones with 4GB Ram in the same price bracket.

      • mickeyjuiceman on 04/04/2018 - 18:14

        Are they better because of that?

        • datzed on 04/04/2018 - 18:15

          Probably depends on a host of other factors.

        • mickeyjuiceman on 04/04/2018 - 18:16

          Yup, so we're back in "the bigger number is obviously better because it's bigger (and more expensive)" territory.

  • waterbottled on 04/04/2018 - 18:44

    Nubia z11 is better. 5.5 inch screen, snapdragon 820, 4 or 6 gb ram for better multitasking, vastly better camera quality (one of the best), has nfc, but doesn't have band 28. Available for under 400 aud on AliExpress.

    • mickeyjuiceman on 04/04/2018 - 20:42
      +1

      So it's nearly twice the price, and doesn't run Android One (in fact, it's running a very old Android according to reviews). Very similar, yeah.

      • mckennal on 04/04/2018 - 22:34
        +3

        It fits the description in the title, so I think it's relevant. I'd also put the Mi Note 3 in this category as under $400 (with the right discount) and has faster processor and significantly better camera.

      • waterbottled on 05/04/2018 - 01:51
        +2

        Fits the description. Thanks

  • railspider on 04/04/2018 - 22:34
    +2

    Waiting for the A1 refresh due this year - a phone running pure Android is a big selling point for me

  • AlienC on 05/04/2018 - 00:56

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/326339

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/leeco-letv-le-max-2-pro

    These phones always caught my eye but I could never figure out why they were so looked down upon.. I think bad security or poor os or something..

  • datzed on 06/04/2018 - 09:19

    I have to say, there is very little in the way of deals when it comes to good mid range phones at the moment. And its been like this for some time now.

    • mickeyjuiceman on 06/04/2018 - 09:36

      There's a large number of excellent midrange phones out there these days.

      • datzed on 09/04/2018 - 09:29

        The market for 5-5.5" android that are decent value (i.e. on special) has been fairly limited from the searching I've done.

        • mickeyjuiceman on 09/04/2018 - 13:12

          that are decent value (i.e. on special)

          Those are two completely different things.

  • fatall on 07/04/2018 - 00:00

    I bought a Mi A1 and I liked it, but I was swapping the sim card and the Mi A1 slipped off the couch onto the floor so about 500mm and when I picked it up, the volume rocker switch broke. I can put it back in, but it is very easy to fall out now. I've put it into a case to keep the volume switch in place, but I notice the volume up is a bit off.

    I'm a bit annoyed at a slide of the couch has turned a good phone into something I am worried about using long term.

    • mickeyjuiceman on 07/04/2018 - 05:33

      Half a metre is a solid drop for a piece of sophisticated electronics.

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