Xiaomi Redmi A2 review
The Xiaomi Redmi A2 is an affordable smartphone that offers impressive battery life, with a massive 5,000mAh capacity that can last up to 5 days on a single charge. The device also features a large display, making it ideal for watching videos and browsing the internet. However, its performance is limited, struggling with demanding tasks such as gaming. The phone's processor struggles to handle more complex tasks, resulting in laggy gameplay and choppy frame rates. Games like Asphalt 9 Legends and Shadowgun Legends were unplayable on this device, while simpler games like Candy Crush and Subway Surfers ran smoothly. The Redmi A2 also features a single speaker, which isn't the best for listening to music or watching videos. The phone's design is sleek and well-put-together, but its Micro USB port is outdated and doesn't support faster charging standards, making it take almost 3 hours to fully charge. Despite these limitations, the Redmi A2 remains a great option for those looking for an affordable smartphone with long battery life and a large display. It's perfect for basic tasks like making calls, sending messages, and browsing the internet. However, if you're a serious gamer or need more features, there are better options available. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi A2 is an okay budget-friendly smartphone that gets the job done, but it's not without its flaws. It's available for purchase on Amazon and AliExpress, making it a great option for those who want a reliable phone without breaking the bank.
Build Quality and Design
The Xiaomi Redmi A2 is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises to deliver a lot for its price. One area where the phone excels is in build quality and design. Upon holding the device, it's clear that the Redmi A2 has a solid build quality. The phone feels sturdy and well-built, with no creaks or flexes when pressed. The plastic back and metal frame give the phone a premium feel, despite its affordable price tag. The design of the Redmi A2 is also noteworthy. The phone features a large 5,000mAh battery that will easily last for days on a single charge, making it perfect for heavy users or those who need a reliable phone for daily tasks. The massive battery does come with some caveats, such as slow charging times and heat issues when charged. The phone's display is also a highlight, featuring a large screen size that's great for watching videos or browsing the web. While not as vibrant or sharp as more expensive smartphones, the display still gets the job done and provides a pleasant viewing experience. One area where the Redmi A2 excels is in its ergonomic design. The phone fits comfortably in the hand, with a contoured body that makes it easy to hold for extended periods of time. The buttons are also well-placed and responsive, making it easy to navigate the phone's interface. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi A2 delivers on build quality and design, offering a solid and reliable device that's perfect for everyday use. While not without its flaws, the phone's sturdy construction and pleasant design make it a great option for those looking for an affordable smartphone with a lot of features. 4/5 stars If you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone with a large display and reliable battery life, the Xiaomi Redmi A2 is definitely worth considering. Just be aware that it may not handle more demanding tasks like gaming as smoothly as other smartphones.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Redmi A2 is its massive 5,000mAh battery. This powerhouse of a battery ensures that you get an incredible amount of usage time before needing to recharge. In my testing, I found that the phone was able to last for an astonishing 5 days on a single charge. Yes, you read that right - 5 days! This is made all the more impressive given the phone's budget-friendly price tag. While it's true that heavy users may still manage to drain the battery in 4 days, this is still an exceptional feat of endurance. However, there are some caveats to be aware of. The Redmi A2 uses a Micro-USB port for charging, which means you won't be able to take advantage of faster charging speeds or use a single cable with your other devices. This can make charging the phone feel slower than it needs to be, taking around 3 hours to reach 98% capacity. Despite these limitations, the Redmi A2's battery life is still a major plus in its favor. Whether you're a casual user who only checks their phone occasionally or someone who uses their device for work or gaming, this phone's battery will likely last longer than you expect. Just be aware of the potential drawbacks when charging and consider these limitations if you're in the market for a new smartphone.
Display
The Xiaomi Redmi A2 boasts an impressive display, making it a great option for those seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with a large screen. The device features a 6.52-inch HD+ display, providing a generous viewing experience. The resolution is not the highest at 720 x 1600 pixels, but it still offers crisp and clear visuals. The display's size and resolution make it perfect for watching videos, browsing the internet, or reading e-books. The color accuracy of the Redmi A2's display is decent, but not outstanding. While colors are vibrant and well-represented, they can appear slightly washed out at times. This is a common trait among budget smartphones, but it doesn't detract from the overall user experience. The display's brightness is adequate for everyday use, even in sunny conditions. However, when viewed from extreme angles, the screen can appear dimmer than expected. This is not uncommon, especially at this price point. In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi A2's display is a highlight of the device. While it may not be perfect, it offers an enjoyable viewing experience for casual users. The large size and decent resolution make it ideal for everyday use, including watching videos or browsing the internet. However, those seeking more advanced display features might want to consider other options. The Redmi A2's display is a solid offering in its price segment. While it may not be the best, it provides an enjoyable experience for users who don't require cutting-edge display technology.
Camera
The camera on the Xiaomi Redmi A2 is a notable aspect of this budget-friendly smartphone. While it may not be the most impressive feature in its class, it delivers decent results that are suitable for casual use. In good lighting conditions, the camera captures clear and detailed images with good color accuracy. However, in low-light situations, the camera struggles to produce well-lit photos, often resulting in visible noise and graininess. One of the standout features of the camera is its ability to take decent portraits, especially when using the bokeh mode. The background blur effect is pleasing, and the subject's face remains sharp and clear. However, the selfie camera is a different story altogether. It lacks the same level of detail as the rear camera and often produces soft or blurry images. The camera also features various modes such as night mode, portrait mode, and more, which can be accessed from the settings menu. While they may not offer significant improvements over the standard camera app, they do provide some flexibility for users to experiment with different effects and styles. In terms of video recording, the Redmi A2 can capture 1080p footage at 30fps, which is a decent resolution for its price point. However, it's worth noting that the video quality can be quite shaky, especially when moving or walking. Overall, while the camera on the Xiaomi Redmi A2 may not be the most impressive feature in its class, it delivers decent results that are suitable for casual use. It's not the best option for serious photographers or videographers, but for those who want a reliable and easy-to-use camera, the Redmi A2 should suffice. One area where the camera excels is in taking quick snapshots. The camera app loads quickly, and the shutter lag is minimal, making it perfect for capturing unexpected moments or situations. However, when trying to take more composed shots, such as portraits or landscapes, the camera's limitations become apparent. In summary, while the Xiaomi Redmi A2's camera may not be the most impressive feature in its class, it delivers decent results that are suitable for casual use. It's a good option for those who want a reliable and easy-to-use camera without breaking the bank.
Price and Value
The Redmi A2 is one of the most affordable smartphones in the market today, priced around $150-$200. For this price point, it offers a lot of value, but also some compromises. Firstly, the phone's massive 5000mAh battery is a major selling point. With this capacity, you can expect to get up to 5 days of battery life on a single charge, which is impressive considering the phone's price. This makes it an ideal option for those who want a reliable phone that won't die on them after just one day. However, the phone's performance is where things start to get a bit choppy. With only a single speaker, the sound quality is not great, and you might find yourself struggling to enjoy music or videos on this device. Additionally, the phone struggles with demanding tasks like gaming, which means that if you're an avid gamer, you'll want to look elsewhere. In terms of design, the Redmi A2 is a good-looking phone for its price point. It has a large display, which makes it perfect for watching videos or browsing the internet. The camera is also decent, taking quick photos and not much more. The micro USB port on this device is another thing that might raise some eyebrows. With most modern smartphones moving to USB-C ports, having a micro USB port on this phone feels like a step backward. This means that you won't be able to use faster chargers or take advantage of features like QuickCharge 3.0. Despite its flaws, the Redmi A2 is still an excellent option for those who want a basic smartphone without breaking the bank. It's perfect for making calls, sending texts, browsing the internet, and taking photos. Just don't expect too much in terms of performance or design. Overall, the Redmi A2 offers great value for its price, but it's not without its limitations. If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that will get the job done without breaking the bank, this might be the phone for you.
Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi A2's performance is a mixed bag, veering between adequate for basic tasks to underwhelming when faced with more demanding ones. In everyday use, the phone handles basic tasks such as making calls, sending texts, browsing the internet, and taking quick photos without any issues. However, things start to fall apart when you push the phone's limits. Gaming is where the Redmi A2 struggles the most. While it can play 2D games like Candy Crush and Subway Surfers smoothly, more demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends are a different story altogether. These games result in choppy performance, laggy frames, and an overall unplayable experience. The phone's processor, while decent for basic tasks, is simply not powerful enough to handle more demanding applications. This is evident when trying to install Asphalt 9 Legends, which refused to install due to insufficient power. However, it's worth noting that the Redmi A2 can handle more resource-intensive tasks like video playback and social media browsing without any issues. The phone's battery life, on the other hand, is a redeeming quality. With a massive 5,000mAh battery, you can easily get five days of use on a single charge, even with heavy usage. Overall, while the Redmi A2's performance is not spectacular, it's still an acceptable option for those who only need to perform basic tasks. However, if you're looking for a phone that can handle more demanding activities, you might want to consider a different option.
Pros
1. Long battery life (up to 5 days on a single charge)
2. Large display for watching videos or browsing the internet
3. Great for basic tasks such as making phone calls and sending text messages
4. Good design with a large storage capacity
5. 5 days of battery life even for heavy users
6. Large storage capacity for storing photos, videos, and apps
Cons
1. Slow charging speed (almost 3 hours to fully charge)
2. Limited performance with more demanding tasks such as gaming
3. Only one speaker for mediocre sound quality