Redmi A1 in the test: Xiaomi’s 100-euro cell phone can do that

The Xiaomi Redmi A1 has been available in German stores since autumn 2022. Although the smartphone appeared at the same time as the premium model Xiaomi 12T Pro, it still attracted some attention – for two reasons:

With an introductory price of 99.99 euros, the Redmi A1 is currently the cheapest model in the Chinese manufacturer’s current portfolio, and it also appears without MIUI. Xiaomi’s in-house user interface is often criticized for its penchant for advertising and bloatware.

1. design and processing

2. screen

3. processor and memory

4. camera

5. battery pack

6. software

7. alternatives

8. Conclusion

In the following, we want to clarify whether the user experience of the Redmi A1 is increased by doing without MIUI. But first, let’s take a look at the smartphone itself.

design and processing

Despite the low price, the Redmi A1 has a clean finish. However, the case is made entirely of plastic, which is slightly roughened, at least in the green color variant we have (called Light Green by Xiaomi). This not only ensures a good grip, but also ensures that fingerprints hardly stick to the device. The phone is also available in black and light blue. According to press photos, these color variants also have a matte back with structure instead of a glossy back.

Xiaomi Redmi A1 in pictures

The Redmi A1 in detail.

With dimensions of 164.9 x 76.8, the cell phone is not exactly small, but in the hand it is more reminiscent of top models such as the Galaxy S22 Ultra or the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It can be operated with one hand so probably not. On the other hand, it is pleasantly thin at 9.1 millimeters, which makes it easier to grip safely. The cell phone weighs almost 200 grams. However, the weight is well balanced, so that the Redmi A1 doesn’t seem that heavy to us. The Redmi A1 does not have an IP protection class. It is therefore better to avoid contact with water.

If we turn on the mobile phone, we experience a first setback. With a diagonal of 6.52 inches, the screen is anything but small, but it is surrounded by wide edges. So it would have been possible to build the case more compact. The front camera is also integrated in a teardrop-shaped notch in the middle of the top edge of the screen. A rather old-fashioned solution, but one that is still the order of the day in this price range.

screen

Xiaomi has noticeably cut back on the screen. As you would expect at this price point, it is an LCD and not an OLED. Nevertheless, the color representation is pleasing and looks anything but powerless. However, the resolution is rather low at 1600×720 pixels despite the impressive screen size. Individual pixels are clearly visible, which sometimes makes the image look a bit grainy.

More disturbing in everyday life, however, is the fact that the screen with a maximum brightness of 400 nits looks pretty dark in comparison. Unfortunately, it is also very reflective, which should cause problems with outdoor readability – especially in summer. There is also no automatic brightness control due to the lack of an ambient light sensor. You may have to increase the brightness manually via the notification bar.

processor and memory

A MediaTek chip acts as the processor in the Redmi A1. To be more precise, the Helio A22. The quad-core processor dates back to 2018. By today’s standards, it has a comparatively small main memory of 2 gigabytes. The performance also turns out accordingly. Whether you start an app or want to go to a website, you have to give the Redmi A1 a few moments to think about it.

“Instantly” the cell phone does nothing. If several apps are running in parallel, it quickly becomes tricky, so you should better avoid this and concentrate on one task instead of multitasking. Mini games like the Tetris-like “Block Blast Adventures” or the jump and run “Subway Surfers” can still be played on the Redmi A1 without any problems. More complex titles like “PUBG Mobile” also run, but only with major cutbacks in graphics. The device memory is also only 32 gigabytes in size and therefore does not offer much space for games and apps. It can be expanded later using a microSD card.

However, not only the weak performance of the Redmi A1 limits the possible uses, but also the overall rather meager equipment. For example, an NFC chip for mobile payment and a fingerprint sensor for conveniently unlocking the device are missing. There is a headphone jack and the option to listen to FM radio with headphones connected. A rarity nowadays in the mobile phone sector.

camera

For photo and video recordings, the Redmi A1 provides you with an 8 megapixel camera on the back, which also has a QVGA depth sensor. This is used, among other things, for portrait photos for various effects. However, you won’t be able to take really great pictures with the camera of the Redmi A1. The sensor is not particularly bright, so that on a foggy day in Hamburg, many details are lost in a pixel mush when taking a photo of the town hall tower. So maybe you should take a real camera with you on vacation.

The 5-megapixel camera on the front, on the other hand, takes usable selfies. But they could be a bit sharper. Both cameras can record videos in maximum Full HD.

battery pack

The battery of the Redmi A1 is permanently installed and cannot be changed. It offers a capacity of 5,000 mAh. Depending on the intensity of use, you should be able to get by with one battery charge for up to three days. However, the loading process takes several hours. The smartphone is charged the old-fashioned way via microUSB.

software

As mentioned at the beginning, the operating system is Android 12 without MIUI superstructure. It is the Go edition of the Android OS specially developed for cheaper devices. Despite the missing MIUI superstructure, the cell phone is not entirely free of bloatware. For example, there are pre-installed apps from Audible or LinkedIn. What we like: Xiaomi keeps the cell phone up to date in terms of security. We received the security patch for January 2023 during the test period.

alternatives

Doesn’t the Redmi A1 appeal to you? Then take a look at our comparison of 100 euro cell phones. Here we can recommend the Motorola Moto E20, for example. In comparison, it offers a faster processor and, among other things, a fingerprint sensor. An alternative from Xiaomi, on the other hand, is the Redmi Note 11 model.

Xiaomi Redmi A1

editorial rating 4.8 reader rating

No ratings yet

design and processing

6.0

equipment and service

4.0

camera and media

4.0

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Don’t you agree? Are you looking for suitable alternatives? We have an extensive list of Xiaomi Redmi A1 alternatives ready for you in our smartphone overview.

Xiaomi Redmi A1: data sheet

Here you can find the technical data for Xiaomi Redmi A1. You can easily compare size, weight and other properties with other products.

processor	MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761)
GPU	PowerVR GE8300
R.A.M.	2.3GB
battery capacity	5000mAh
fast charging	✘ no
Interchangeable	✘ no
wireless charging	✘ no
reverse charging	✘ no
device memory	32GB
Expandable Storage	microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC
Main camera (rear)	8MP
Main Camera Resolution	3264×2448 pixels
video recording	1920×1080 pixels
Second image sensor	0MP
autofocus	✔ Yes
digital zoom	✔ Yes
flashlight	LEDs
Height	164.9mm
Broad	76.75mm
depth	9.09mm
Weight	192g
Display resolution	720×1600 pixels
display diagonal	6.52 inches
display pixel density	269 ​​ppi
display type	IP
SIM / memory card format, number of slots	Nano SIM (4FF – Fourth Form Factor card, since 2012, 12.30 x 8.80 x 0.67 mm)
Dual SIM	✔ Yes
Bluetooth	5.0
WiFi	WiFi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct
LTE	LTE FDD 850 (B5), LTE FDD 900 (B8), LTE FDD 1800 (B3), LTE FDD 2100 (B1), 2300 (B40), 2500 (B41) MHz
5G	✘ no
GPRS	✔ Yes
HSDPA	✘ no
HSUPA	✘ no
EDGE	✔ Yes
GSM	850(B5), 900(B8), 1800(B3), 1900(B2)MHz
IrDA	✔ Yes
USB	MicroUSB
headphone jack	✔ Yes
Fingerprint scanner	✘ no
NFC	✘ no
GPS	✔ Yes
Glonass	✔ Yes
BeiDou	✔ Yes
compass	✘ no
radio	✔ Yes
accelerometer	✔ Yes
proximity sensor	✘ no
ambient light sensor	✘ no

Show all technical data❯

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