While the Mi A1 has been around for a while as the company’s first stock Android device, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with an all new design. Since the two devices are priced similarly and come with a dual camera setup, we are comparing the two devices to help you decide between them.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Mi A1 Specifications
Build and Design
6GB – Rs. 16,999 The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Xiaomi Mi A1 feature similar build quality. However, since the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a newer device, it comes with a more premium overall design. The vertically aligned dual cameras also add to the looks of the phone. For the Mi A1, the slim design and dual cameras placed at the top left side give the phone a distinct look. The antenna bands add to the overall good looks of the device. So, in there respective segments, both smartphones are good in terms of design.
Display
Clearly, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the winner in this segment. It features a bigger Full HD+ panel with 18:9 resolution. While the Mi A1 also comes with a good, an 18:9 aspect ratio marks the difference between both the devices.
The Xiaomi Mi A1 as well as the Redmi Note 5 Pro can be easily used under bright sunlight and dim lit conditions too. While there was a slight stickiness to the panel of the MI A1, we found a smoother panel on the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
Cameras
While the Mi A1 has been polished over time with software updates, the Redmi Note 5 Pro still needs some work on the bokeh effect. There are certain issues with edging on the latter too, but Xiaomi usually fixes these with updates.
Overall, the imaging quality and colour retention looks more vibrant on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. For the front camera too, the Redmi Note 5 Pro wins it with its 20MP sensor and a dedicated selfie flash. Both the phones have a different camera user interface but both do their jobs just as well.
Hardware
In terms of hardware, the Xiaomi Mi A1 comes with a Snapdragon 625 processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. While these are good specifications for a mid-range device, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro surpasses the Mi A1 here. The Redmi Note 5 Pro is powered a Snapdragon 636 processor coupled with 4GB / 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. With these specifications, the Redmi Note 5 Pro seems to be clearly winning on the hardware front.
Performance
When it comes to performance, we found both phones equally fluid to use. However, the Xiaomi Mi A1 is an Android One device, which is why it has updated to Android 8.0 Oreo. Apart from faster updates, the device as part of the Android One program comes with a stock Android experience. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro runs on the older Android 7.1 Nougat based MIUI 9. MIUI is Xiaomi’s optimised user interface which gets additional features from the company. In terms of software, the Mi A1 is the clear winner.
