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In the past couple of years, the smartphone landscape has changed drastically ever since the release of phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the iPhone X.
The existence of these devices has signaled the arrival of a new breed of smartphone. Consumers now have the option of purchasing phones with very, very powerful hardware, gigantic screens, with premium build and design, at the cost of a hefty price tag.
But what about the rest of us?
For some folks, a smartphone that does the basics will be more than enough reason to shell out a bit of cash. This is where budget phones factor into the equation.
With that said, let’s take a look at the Xiaomi Redmi 6A.
Build & Display
For starters, the Redmi 6A isn’t meant to take on devices like iPhones or High-end Galaxies. The hundred dollar price tag means that you get a device wrapped in polycarbonate, and that’s completely okay for what you pay. In fact, we think that part of the 6A’s charm lies in its simple build.
The phone features a nice matte paint job and comes in different colors like gold, pink and blue. The back of the phone features the loudspeaker and main camera. Meanwhile, the sides of the 6A are bare, save for the volume and power keys and card tray.
One the bottom you’ll find a micro-USB port, and a headphone jack on top, which should remain a standard on phones of ALL prices. The 6A isn’t made of glass or metal but still feels nice in the hand. Dominating the front of the phone is the 5.4-inch display, which sits just below the earpiece and front camera.
There’s no fancy AMOLED or Retina tech here – this screen is aimed at usability, and it does that pretty well, at the cost of a higher resolution and lack of brightness. On the other hand, it’s responsive enough, displays colors nicely, and even comes with a few tricks up its sleeve.
Software & Performance
Again, we have to mention 6A’s hundred dollar price tag. You won’t find the latest Snapdragon chipset or 12GB of RAM on this phone. It exists as a device for people who need to get basic tasks done – phone calls, SMS, web browsing and maybe a song or two every now and then. The phone ships with Xiaomi’s custom MIUI skin on top of Android Oreo. This is powered by a Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 chipset, coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, or 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM in some regions.
MIUI comes with a decent set of customization features, and folks looking for a stock-Android experience should look elsewhere. Otherwise, though, you might like how Xiaomi has customized Android Oreo to run its own version of Android.
Xiaomi Redmi 6A in ultra-thin cover available in various colors
Let’s get this out of the way – this is not a very fast phone. Depending on which RAM version of the phone you get, there will be some minute differences in the overall performance of the 6A.
You’ll be able to scroll through menus smoothly with little lag, and games with simple graphics will be able to run on the phone. Graphically-intensive apps, heavy multitasking can AND will take their toll on the 6A, but for general smartphone use, the phone performs pretty well.
I was able to use the phone for a lot of different tasks, but you have to remember its limitations.
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Camera
A big highlight of the phone is the 3000 mAh battery, which can provide a day’s worth of use. To put things in perspective, this is the same battery capacity found in the Samsung Galaxy S9. The 13-megapixel shooter on the back of the Redmi 6A produces okay shots for your basic social media photography needs. Check out our sample images below:
For a low-priced phone, images come out pretty good, especially in outdoor situations. The camera app can exhibit signs of lag from time to time, however.
There’s no dual or triple camera set-up to be found here. Images are serviceable enough, and for a hundred dollar smartphone that is a good thing.
The Bottom Line
So, is the Redmi 6A the budget phone to get?
If you’re after a very affordable phone with a large screen, battery, and the ability to perform things expected from a smartphone, then by all means get this one.
The competition is tough, however, and there are tons of more powerful phones out there. But for a pleasant balance of handling, performance and just the basics, the Redmi 6A is a worthy consideration.
Oh my goodness! Mike, that’s the phone I need! I’ve never heard of this brand before. Thank you for introducing it to me.
I held on to my old “dumb” flip phone for as long as I could, but when it finally died, I had no choice but get a smartphone. I spend most of the day in front of the computer with a big monitor. I don’t need a computer on my phone with a tiny screen (no matter how huge it for a phone). I don’t want to be “always connected”. I don’t work on my leisure time and I go see people in person when I want to socialize.
Simple phone with SMS option and a fair camera is all I really need from my phone. Redmi 6A seems to offer even more than that. I don’t play games and I don’t even listen to music on my phone. “Reliable and Affordable” is all I care about.
Thank you so much for the thorough Redmi 6A Review with the pictures. When my current phone dies, I will seriously consider Redmi.
All the best,
~ Julia
We’re glad you found the review helpful. Sometimes, simplicity is the best way to go, even in a world full of ever-evolving technology.
I was very impressed that a smart phone at the $100 price tag even existed. Xiaomi seems to have done an admirable job with the 6A. For anyone who is on a strict budget this is a great choice.
I happen to be an Apple fan and would look for a used iPhone 6 if I wanted an inexpensive phone but with the features I need. These can be had for around $120, not too far in price to the Xiaomi 5A. Admittedly it would not be new.
Android users on a budget would do well to give this model serious consideration.
Well if one is bent on considering a cheap Android phone, this can be a nice choice. Although for people who’d like to stick to Apple’s ecosystem, I’d still recommend an older iphone.
While the Redmi 6A is not packed with features, you get what you pay for. And I think there is a market for people who do not want a lot of features in their phone. If it’s just general day-to-day stuff and you don’t really need a lot of apps, I think this budget phone is sufficient enough considering the price tag. If we were to compare budget phones, what do you think would be the comparable mobile phones for the 6A? I think it would be interesting to know for those who are in the market for a budget phone. Thanks Mike.
You indeed get what you pay for. That said, it’s definitely not for power users, or people looking for bleeding-edge technology.
Thanks for commenting!
This might just be what I am looking for. I absolutely hate the high price tag on most phones,with Apple being the worse. For me I need a somewhat larger screen,the speed does not really matter to me as long as I can check email and my websites on the go. I like the fact that the battery life seems to be better than most. Right now I have a Samsung that comes with a quick memo and stylus feature,does this have anything similar?
Hi Cathy. Unfortunately this does not come with a stylus function. You can install a third-party note or memo app though!
Hello Mike, excellent review you have done on xiaomi 6a and to me, it seems to be an excellent phone for anyone who runs on budget. I have been considering getting a small android device for my son and this should do just okay considering the price and what it could do. Its cool and worth getting. The camera us also a good plus for such low budget phone. Thanks
Thanks for checking out the review! Yes, I’d say this is a nice starter device for young people.
It’s crazy that nowadays people spend up to a $1,000 every year just to have the latest flagship. Things have got a bit out of hand. Thankfully there are many low priced smartphones that can get the job done just fine and still offer you the advantages a smartphone has. I like some of Xiaomi offerings as they offer good specs with lower prices than the top manufacturers like Samsung or Apple.
Haha, yeah it’s crazy how expensive phones have gotten. You can’t deny that there’s a market out there who’re only after the basic communication features.