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This is Tech Brothers.
Xiaomi company is famous for its smartphones and tablets.
Also we know that all mobile devices come with MIUI user interface.
Many people love MIUI, and don’t want to change it on stock Android, or other interfaces.
It is really very pretty and useful.
You can find many features and settings that are not available on other user interfaces.
However, some people want to try Xiaomi smartphone on stock Android.
Such smartphone should run very fast and smooth, because it doesn’t have any Chinese apps
and additional settings.
The dreams come true!
Please meet, Xiaomi Mi A1!
It is the first Android One device from Xiaomi on stock Android.
We received this smartphone some days ago, and prepared unboxing and first review video.
Later, we will make performance, camera and battery tests.
Please, subscribe to our channel – Tech Brothers, not to miss new videos.
Also, you can find some information about smartphone and where to buy it cheaper in
description, under the video.
Let’s start our review with unboxing!
Most budget Xiaomi smartphones comes with
white box.
Xiaomi Mi A1 is not exception.
Here we can see smartphone image, and some inscreptions, such as MI A1 at the bottom
and Android One on top.
On the back you can find specification list.
Here is processor, RAM, model number and other detailed about smartphone.
So, let’s open it, and see what is inside.
First of all, there is smartphone itself.
I have black version.
Also, there is user manual, USB cable and power adapter inside the box.
The package looks rather modest, but you should not forget that it is a budget smartphone.
Additional accessories, such as silicone case and headphones, would make the smartphone
a little more expensive, but we don’t need it.
Xiaomi usually does a great job of designing
and building phones.
Xiaomi Mi A1 looks and feels like a phone twice the price.
But like many of Xiaomi's previous phones, this device looks very similar to Apple iPhone
7 Plus.
It has the same antenna bands across the top and bottom, the same rounded aluminum back,
the same dual cameras, and even the same color options: Black, Gold and Rose Gold.
There are some differences though.
The first is capacitive navigation keys.
Xiaomi always use capacitive navigation buttons on its smartphones.
Also, you should note, that overview/back buttons are in the wrong order compared to
Nexus/Pixel/stock Android devices.
I should say, that front panel has LED notification.
It display only white, not multicolored.
Unlike iPhone 7 Plus, new smartphone from Xiaomi has 3.5 mm audio jack at the bottom.
Also, there is primary microphone, USB Type C port and a set of drilled holes for the
speaker.
The top of the device has only IR Blaster and the secondary microphone for noise cancellation.
You can use IR blaster with Xiaomi's pre-installed Mi Remote app to control your TV, air con,
Mi Box or pretty much anything else with an IR receiver.
The left side of the phone has SIM card tray.
Like many international phones, the tray can hold either 1-2 nanoSIM cards, or one nanoSIM
and one microSD.
On the right side, you'll find the volume rocker and power button.
The power button is positioned below the volume rocker.
Now let’s look at the back panel.
As I already said, it looks similar to iPhone 7 Plus.
It's covered in an aluminium finish.
A fingerprint scanner sits at the top middle, and in my experience, it works very fast,
just like Google Pixel.
The pair of 12MP cameras is positioned above the scanner.
Next to it is dual-tone LED flash.
The front panel doesn’t have branding, but you will find a familiar Mi logo on the lower
back, along with Android One logo.
In summary, Xiaomi Mi A1 looks and feels better than any Xiaomi device we have reviewed to
date.
This is not bezelless, and it doesn't have 18:9 screen, but you have to remember that
this is a budget phone.
It has very well-built metal body and beautiful design.
Xiaomi Mi A1 comes with 5.5 inch Full HD display.
It is IPS LCD display with 401 pixel per density.
Brightness is pretty good at 450 nits at maximum on the Auto setting, and 550 nits at maximum
in Standard setting.
Contrast is also quite good for LCD display, with surprisingly deep blacks.
Overall, I don't have any problems with display.
It has great viewing angles, and contrast seemed fine.
The main feature of Xiaomi Mi A1 is stock
Android system.
Out from the box, the smartphone runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat.
The manufacturer promises update to Android 8.0 Oreo as soon as it is available.
Also, Xiaomi tells that Mi A1 will be one of the first phones to get Android 9.0 P.
As for the software experience, if you already used Google Pixel or Nexus, then it is the
same.
All interface elements are from stock Android.
You swipe up on the display to access the app drawer, and you can find Google Now to
the left of the home screen.
You can double press the power button to launch the camera app, just like Pixel smartphone.
Also, you can use other features of Android 7.0, such as split-screen multitasking, in-line
notification replies, app shortcuts, granular controls for Do Not Disturb, and more.
I recommend you to install Xiaomi Mi remote application to control home things, such as
TV, air con and other with IR Blaster.
It is interesting, that Xiaomi Mi A1 comes with its own camera app, which supports dual
camera functionality.
Also, you should note that smartphone does not have NFC.
That means Xiaomi Mi A1 isn't compatible with Android Pay or any other cashless payment app.
Xiaomi Mi A1 is powered by Snapdragon 625.
If you're not familiar with mobile chipsets, then this chipset is very good.
Redmi Note 4 works on the same processor, so performance is similar.
Also, Adreno 506 graphics does well for most intensive games.
Thanks to 4GB of RAM, apps are quick to open, and multi-tasking works great.
Mi A1 comes with 64GB of internal memory.
Later, we will make video with performance test and gaming of smartphone.
Please, check out description under the video, there you can find the link to performance
test.
Now, I want to show you Antutu Test.
As you can see, Xiaomi Mi A1 has about 63 thousand in AnTuTu.
It is good result for budget smartphone.
Xiaomi company says that Mi A1 comes with
flagship dual camera.
However, Xiaomi actual flagship dual camera configuration on Mi 6 is quite different.
It offers faster aperture and optical image stabilization on the primary wide-angle lens.
Nevetherless, Xiaomi Mi A1 camera looks very promising.
It has two 12-megapixel cameras on its rear, and 5-megapixel front camera.
As I said, stock Android camera app doesn’t support dual cameras, so Xiaomi had to MIUI
camera application on Mi A1.
If you already use Xiaomi smartphone, then you will have the same settings and modes
on Mi A1.
And again, we are planning to make special video with camera review of Xiaomi Mi A1.
We will make sample photos and videos, and look at camera app in details.
Please, check out description, maybe the video is already here.
As I said, Xiaomi Mi A1 is budget smartphone,
but it comes with some great audio features.
First of them if dedicated headphone amplifier.
It can drive high-impedance headphones of up to 600 ohms.
The smartphone has single speaker, but it still impressive.
It features a dedicated 10V smart power amplifier and Dirac HD Sound algorithm for higher sound
quality.
I can’t say that it is the best sound quality that I have heard, but there's plenty of volume
and the bass is surprisingly deep.
I immediately liked Xiaomi Mi A1 because of
its battery.
It comes with 3000mAh battery, and it is not particulary large, but when combined with
Snapdragon 625, you get a phone that can easily last a day or two - even with heavy use.
Once again, we have not time to test the battery, but later we will publish video on our YouTube
channel – Tech Brothers.
As usual, we play Full HD video on YouTube on full brightness and look how long the smartphone
works.
Also, find out how much time is needed to full charge.
Xiaomi Mi A1 is really good smartphone.
It is the first device of Chinese manufacturer on stock Android.
It is great news for those, who don’t like MIUI, but really want to use Xiaomi phones.
The main features of smartphone is excellent software experience, a promise of quick updates,
good camera and metal body.
We have to make detailed performance, camera and battery test to tell the final words,
however right now Xiaomi Mi A1 looks one of the best mid-range smartphones on the market.
By the way, its price is about $230.
In description you can find links where to buy smartphone cheaper.
Thanks for watching!
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