India’s biggest smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi, recently launched the successor to its popular Mi A1 in the country, offering the unadulterated Android One experience with some great hardware. Priced at Rs. 16,999, the Mi A2 is one of the best smartphones in its price range as it features a Snapdragon 660 SoC, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. However, the smartphone is not perfect and its smaller battery, lack of a headphone jack and the absence of a microSD expansion slot might lead users to look for alternatives. As some people prefer a customized Android skin like MIUI, they might also not like the Mi A2’s stock Android experience, which is why we’ve curated a list of 6 Mi A2 alternatives that offer a variety of different features that might appeal to more users. Let’s jump right into the list and take a look at the Mi A2 alternatives that you can consider if you don’t like something about the device:
The Best Xiaomi Mi A2 Alternatives
1. Pocophone Poco F1
Taking the top spot on the list is the Poco F1 from Xiaomi’s new subsidiary Pocophone. The smartphone has completely uprooted the smartphone industry in India, and quite possibly around the world, by offering top-of-the-line hardware at a very reasonable price. The Poco F1 packs in Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 845 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for just Rs. 20,999. Compared to other flagship smartphones with the same specifications, the Poco F1 is really affordable and while the smartphone does cut corners to keep the cost low, it will offer the absolute best performance at this price range.
In comparison with the Xiaomi Mi A2, the Poco F1 offers significantly better performance, a larger battery, a headphone jack and even a microSD card slot for expansion. In the display department, the devices features a larger 6.18-inch FHD+ LCD display which is backed by a substantial 4,000mAh battery and features a 12MP+5MP dual camera setup on the back and a 20MP front-facing camera. Once again, if you’re willing to spend the amount, you wouldn’t find a better deal in the market right now, making the Poco F1 the best Mi A2 alternative at the moment.
Buy from Flipkart (starts at Rs. 20,999)
2. Honor Play
Up next we have the Honor Play, another great affordable smartphone offering top-of-the-line hardware from Huawei’s budget-centric subsidiary Honor. Priced at Rs. 19,999, the Honor Play packs in Huawei’s flagship HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The smartphone is geared towards a more gaming-focused audience who’re looking for a smartphone that can play even the most demanding mobile games without breaking a sweat and as such, the smartphone performs incredibly well. In comparison with the Mi A2, the Honor Play offers a larger battery, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot for expansion.
The Honor Play also features a larger 6.3-inch FHD+ IPS LCD which is backed by a decent 3,750mAh battery. In the camera department, the smartphone features a decent 16MP+2MP dual camera setup on the back, along with a single 16MP selfie shooter up front. While the smartphone is a great option, in case you’re willing to spend enough to buy an Honor Play, I would strongly suggest that you go for the Poco F1, unless you have some bias against Xiaomi devices or MIUI.
Buy from Amazon (starts at Rs. 19,999)
3. Huawei P20 Lite
Next up, we have another smartphone from Huawei – the Honor P20 Lite – which is a trimmed down version of the company’s flagship P20 Pro. The smartphone packs in Huawei’s mid-range HiSilicon Kirin 659 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for a price of Rs. 19,999. While its mid-range specifications don’t stand a chance against the Honor Play or the Poco F1 in terms of performance, its premium design, camera performance and small form-factor might be appealing for a lot of users. In comparison with the Mi A2, the P20 Lite brings a headphone jack and a microSD card slot to the table, but it also has a small 3,000mAh battery. However, since it has a smaller display, the P20 Lite will easily be able to outperform the Mi A2 when it comes to battery life. As mentioned earlier, the Huawei P20 Lite has a smaller 5.84-inch FHD+ IPS LCD, which gives it a smaller footprint than most modern smartphones, making it desirable for those who are looking for a small smartphone in a world of phablets. For imaging, the camera packs in a decent 16MP+2MP dual camera sensors on the back, along with a 24MP selfie shooter up front.
Buy from Amazon (Rs. 19,999)
4. Redmi Note 5 Pro
In case you’re not a fan of stock Android and would prefer MIUI, then you should definitely consider getting Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 5 Pro. The smartphone features a Snapdragon 636 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, offering great performance for an affordable price of Rs. 16,999. The specifications closely match those of the Mi A2, however, the newer device naturally has a better processor. So, while the Mi A2 might offer slightly better performance than the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the latter’s inclusion of a headphone jack, a larger battery and a microSD card slot give it a significant edge over the former.
The Redmi Note 5 Pro packs in a similar sized 5.99-inch FHD+ LCD display, which is backed by a 4,000mAh battery, resulting in better battery life. In the imaging department it packs in a 12MP+5MP dual camera setup on the back, along with a 20MP front-facing camera. As I mentioned earlier, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a great option for fans of MIUI, who’re looking for a bunch of customizations in their OS and don’t prefer the barebones Android One experience.
Buy from Flipkart (starts at Rs. 14,999)
5. Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1
One of Redmi Note 5 Pro’s main competitors, the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1, is also a fairly decent alternative to the Mi A2. Much like the Mi A2, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 offers a near-stock Android experience, but what sets the two devices apart is the ZenFone Max Pro M1’s insane battery life. For Rs. 14,999, you’ll receive a smartphone running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC, along with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The device has a similar-sized 5.99-inch FHD+ display and a 16MP+5MP dual camera setup on the back. For selfies, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 features a single 16MP front facing sensor.
However, the smartphone’s standout feature is its 5,000mAh battery which delivers the best battery performance in this price category. On top of that, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 is quite a bit cheaper than the other devices on the list, so it will be a great option for those on a tight budget. In comparison with the Mi A2, the ZenFone Max Pro M1’s inclusion of a headphone jack, a larger battery and a dedicated microSD card slot might make it a bit more desirable than the Mi A2. On top of that, it also offers a near-stock Android experience, so you won’t be missing out on much on that front.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 14,999)
6. Nokia 6.1 Plus
Rounding off the list is the all new Nokia 6.1 Plus, which also features the Snapdragon 636 processor, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device has a 5.8-inch FHD+ display, which gives it a smaller form factor than the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the ZenFone Max Pro M1, and it’s backed by a pretty average 3,060mAh battery. The Nokia 6.1 Plus, which is priced at Rs. 15,999, also offers the same Android One experience that you’ll find on the Mi A2, however, its 16MP+5MP dual camera setup isn’t as great as the one found on its competitor. Even the 16MP front facing camera is quite mediocre, so you shouldn’t consider the Nokia 6.1 Plus for its photography chops.
The fact that the Nokia 6.1 Plus features a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot for expansion, really contribute towards the device’s inclusion on this list. So, if you’re not satisfied with what the Mi A2 has to offer, you can choose the Nokia 6.1 Plus and receive a smartphone that has a great build quality, a compact form factor, and a promise for timely Android updates, along with the additional features.
Buy from Flipkart (Rs. 15,999)
SEE ALSO: Mi A2 vs Mi A1: Specs Comparison of Xiaomi’s Android One Mid-Rangers
Check Out These Xiaomi Mi A2 Alternatives
That brings an end to our list of 6 Xiaomi Mi A2 alternatives that you can buy right now. Each of the aforementioned smartphones have their own unique strengths that give them an edge over the Mi A2, while some of their shortcomings make the Mi A2 a more compelling buy. Since pretty much no smartphone is absolutely perfect, you’ll have to set your priorities straight and choose a smartphone that fulfills all your needs. For example, if you’re looking for a smartphone that offers the best performance, you just can go wrong with the Poco F1, however, if you prefer a stock Android experience over any skinned version of Android, you’ll have to stick with either the Mi A2, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 or perhaps the Nokia 6.1 Plus. Do let us know which smartphone is your personal favorite among the lot in the comments section below.
