Nothing is permanent. What until recently seemed something outlandish, today does not cause the slightest surprise. Xiaomi was no exception, presenting the Xiaomi Mi A1 model to users. The device attracts the closest attention and has a number of interesting nuances.

The development was prepared in close cooperation with Google, which is quite rare. In addition, the smartphone does not contain the beloved MIUI graphical shell. Only “bare” Android OS is available with the possibility of subsequent updates. The combination is interesting and original, so you should get to know the device in more detail.

Design and ergonomics

For the case, the manufacturer chose metal, diluting it with plastic covers that cover the antennas responsible for the operation of the wireless modules. As for the design, the brand remained true to itself and presented a product that is fully in line with current trends. That is, lovers of innovations and innovative ideas will not find anything worthy of attention here. A typical form factor with standard solutions that have successfully proven themselves in the company's previous models.

It is worth noting the possibility of reassigning functions to control buttons for greater user convenience. This trend is gaining increasing popularity and is found in the vast majority of all phones currently produced.

Ports and communications are located in familiar places - everything is at hand and does not require getting used to. Ergonomics are implemented at a decent level. This concerns the quality of workmanship and the materials used. Their tactility is excellent, contact with the hand does not cause discomfort.

Convenient control and use of the device is guaranteed for a long period. Users will be able to choose a model in pink, black or gold.

Display

The Mi A1 model from Xiaomi is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display with FHD resolution. Gorilla Glass is responsible for protection; the screen is made using 2.5 D technology. Oleophobic coating is available - it is problematic to call it the best available, although what is available is enough to ensure comfortable conditions of use.

The color rendering is not satisfactory, everything is natural and correctly balanced. The image contrast is excellent and the brightness can be adjusted over a wide range. This allows you to comfortably use your smartphone not only in the dark, but also during a sunny day. Excess light does not degrade display quality.

There are a number of preset adjustments, including the ability to change the interface scale and the size of displayed fonts.

Performance

It's time to take a closer look at the characteristics of the Xiaomi Mi A1 model. The device is based on the Snapdragon 625 chipset, each of the 8 cores of which operates at a frequency of 2 GHz. Graphics data processing is provided by the Adreno 506 accelerator, and the overall picture is complemented by 4 GB RAM memory.

The available indicators are sufficient to ensure smooth and productive operation in various applications. And the device handles games very well. The only thing that causes some confusion is the overheating of the smartphone when there is a significant load on its hardware. Since there are no proprietary thermal regulation algorithms in the bare OS, we cannot yet count on the situation improving.

It is worth noting the presence of a 10 V audio amplifier, thanks to which you can integrate any headphones, including professional-level studio headphones, with the device. The sound in the device is excellent, the bass is moderate, the frequency division is correct. Rattles and distortion are present even at maximum volume levels.

Software

Xiaomi Mi A1 operates on Android 7 OS. The firmware is updated as new versions are released. Everything in the device is done according to Google standards. The spectacle is quite unusual, although there are still certain innovations here. It is worth noting the presence of telemetry. It is placed in a separate menu and does not have Russification, which can cause certain problems for users.

There is an option to turn on/off according to a schedule. There are a number of pre-installed applications, everything else can be downloaded through specialized services.

Camera

The camera in Xiaomi Mi A1 is represented by three modules. The front one has a resolution of 5 megapixels, the main one has a dual version with a resolution of 12 megapixels. The focal length of the main camera varies and is 26 and 50 mm, which allows you to take photos with a bokeh effect. The level of its performance is quite high and does not differ much from what “DSLRs” can offer.

The quality of the pictures is good. I am pleased with the excellent detail of the frames, bright and rich colors, maximum realism and naturalness. The 2x optical zoom allows you to photograph objects at a considerable distance, without significant degradation in quality. It is worth noting the possibility of taking pictures with a blurred background:

daytime photo:

When there is insufficient lighting, the quality of the images decreases. This problem is typical and inherent in many of the currently produced models. The solution could be to equip smartphones with better optics, but for now we just have to work with what we have.

Autonomous operation

The battery capacity is 3080 mAh. The indicator is low, but the combination of an energy-saving chipset with a bare OS allows you to use the device without recharging for a long period. Maximum active engagement ensures continuous operation for 7 hours. Provided you use the battery economically, you won’t have to think about charging it for a day and a half.

There is no fast charging option on the Xiaomi Mi A1; fully filling the battery pack takes just over two hours.

Pros and cons of Xiaomi Mi A1

It is worth recognizing that the Mi A1 is a rather successful model in a number of aspects. It may seem unusual and original to many, and the lack of a proprietary shell undoubtedly has an effect. At the same time, there are no complaints about the quality of work, the device operates flawlessly and solves all the tasks assigned to it, including multimedia ones.

Speaking about the advantages of the device, it is worth paying attention to the following:

• Metal body;
• Good build;
• Excellent hardware;
• New OS version.

As for the disadvantages, they are as follows:

• No NFC;
• Not the best oleophobic display coating;
• Long startup time for GPS.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi A1

General characteristics
Type	smartphone
OS version	Android 7.1
Type of shell	classical
Housing material	metal
Control	touch buttons
SIM card type	nano SIM
Number of SIM cards	2
Multi-SIM mode	alternating
Weight	165 g
Dimensions (WxHxD)	75.8x155.4x7.3 mm
Screen
Screen type	color IPS, touch
Touch screen type	multi-touch, capacitive
Diagonal	5.5 inch
Image Size	1920x1080
Pixels per inch (PPI)	401
Automatic screen rotation	There is
Scratch-resistant glass	There is
Multimedia capabilities
Rear camera	dual 12/12 MP
Photoflash	rear, LED
Rear camera functions	autofocus, optical stabilization, optical Zoom 2x
Rear camera aperture	F/2.2
Recording videos	There is
Max. video resolution	1920x1080
Max. video frame rate	30 fps
Front-camera	yes, 5 million pixels.
Audio	MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA
Headphone jack	3.5 mm
Connection
Standard	GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE
LTE bands support	bands 1, 1800, 2100, 2600, 3, 7
Interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.2, USB
Satellite navigation	GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou
Memory and processor
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953, 2000 MHz
Number of processor cores	8
Video processor	Adreno 506
Built-in memory capacity	64 GB
RAM capacity	4 GB
Memory card slot	Yes, up to 128 GB
Nutrition
Battery capacity	3080 mAh
Battery	non-removable
Charging connector type	USB Type-C
Other features
Speakerphone (built-in speaker)	There is
Control	voice dialing, voice control
Airplane mode	There is
Sensors	illumination, proximity, Hall, gyroscope, fingerprint reading
Flashlight	There is
USB-host	There is

Xiaomi Mi A1 is a mid-price smartphone with balanced characteristics, attractive design and dual camera. According to the manufacturer, this device is a direct competitor to the iPhone 7 Plus, but for much less money. The announcement of this model took place in September 2017.

Appearance and ergonomics

When creating the Xiaomi Mi A1, Chinese designers were clearly inspired by the appearance of Apple products. This is clearly evidenced by the implementation of the rear part of the aluminum case. Thus, the antenna strips are located almost at the very edges. The block with the camera is in the upper corner. At the same time, the edges of the body are neatly rounded. Brushed aluminum leaves no unnecessary marks. The fingerprint scanner is located on the back of the device, but is high enough to be easily reached with one hand.

The front of the device has a large screen, under which there are three touch buttons for navigation. At the top end there is an infrared sensor that allows you to control a variety of home appliances using your phone. The device fits quite comfortably in the palm of your hand. Available colors: gold, pink and black. Dimensions: height - 155 mm, thickness - 7.3 mm, width - 76 mm, weight - 165 g.

Display

Mi A1 has a large 5.5-inch IPS IGZO display. Its resolution is 1920 by 1080 pixels with a pixels per inch of 403 ppi. On top it is covered with 2.5D glass, which protects the matrix from damage. As for brightness, it can be adjusted independently or automatically. The display recognizes up to 10 touches simultaneously.

It should be noted that there are excellent viewing angles with minimal distortion even at a strong angle. The device has a high-quality oleophobic coating, so your fingers glide over the surface with ease. The overall color scheme goes into cool shades, but no one forbids manually adjusting this parameter. The color rendition itself is as close as possible to natural shades.

Hardware and performance

Inside the Mi A1 smartphone there is an eight-core Snapdragon 625 processor operating at a frequency of up to 2000 MHz. This 64-bit chip is implemented using 14nm technology. Graphics are handled by the Adreno 506 3D accelerator with support for OpenGL ES 3.2. The device is equipped with 4 GB of RAM, and there is also 64 GB of built-in storage. It is possible to expand the internal memory using MicroSD cards up to 128 GB, with the installation of applications.

It is worth noting that Xiaomi Mi A1 was developed using the Android One program. Therefore, specialists from the Chinese company and Google worked on the smartphone, and together they created this device. Its important feature was the Android 7.1 operating system. This platform does not provide additional add-ons or shells, as it is completely bare. At the same time, the interface does not slow down, everything functions smoothly and stably. In the synthetic AnTuTu test, the gadget scores about 63,000 points, which confirms its status as a “strong average”. The smartphone handles games quite well, with the exception of “heavy” projects with complex effects. In this case, you can simply lower the graphics quality to ensure a comfortable frames per second.

Communication and sound

On the bottom edge of Xiaomi Mi A1 there is a multimedia speaker. It produces quite loud and clear sound. If you listen to music through high-quality headphones, the sound will pleasantly surprise you with its richness and elaboration of frequencies. With the help of the speaker, you can hear your interlocutor perfectly in a variety of situations. The device supports Bluetooth 4.2, as well as two Nano-SIM. This model works reliably in LTE networks, but there is no NFC here.

Camera

The main camera in Mi A1 is dual. We are talking about two 12-megapixel modules, but with different aperture ratios (main - 2.2, secondary - 2.6). If you take pictures during the day, you get very detailed and clear pictures with natural color rendition. As for evening time, the quality of photographs, of course, drops; unnecessary blur appears, but the natural color scheme is preserved. There is also 2x optical zoom. You can also create a blurred background without much effort. You can record video in 4K resolution. For self-portraits, there is a front-facing 5-megapixel camera with aperture ratio 2.0 and an image enhancement mode.

conclusions

The Mi A1 smartphone seems to be a very successful attempt by Xiaomi to provide users with standard Android without all the extras. The buyer of this device can count on regular updates over the air, high-quality photos and excellent performance. This is a bright representative of the middle class, which can be purchased at a price of 14,000 rubles.

Pros:

• Fast operating system - “pure” Android.
• High quality dual camera.
• Bright and large display.
• Practical and modern design.
• Abundance of RAM and built-in memory.

Minuses:

• NFC module is missing.
• “Heavy” games can slow down.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi A1

General characteristics
Model	Xiaomi Mi A1
Date of announcement and start of sales	September 2017 / September 2017
Dimensions (LxWxH)	155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm.
Weight	165 g.
Available colors	black, gold, rose gold
operating system	Android 7.1.2 (Nougat)
Connection
Number and type of SIM cards	two, Nano-SIM, dual stand-by
Communication standard in 2G networks	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
Communication standard in 3G networks	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Communication standard in 4G networks	LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 38(2600), 40(2300)
Carrier Compatibility	MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, Yota
Data transfer
WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE
GPS	yes, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
NFC	No
Infrared port	There is
Platform
CPU	Octa-core Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 (Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU	Adreno 506
Inner memory	64 GB
RAM	4 GB
Ports and connectors
USB	2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector
3.5mm jack	There is
Memory card slot	microSD, up to 128 GB
Display
Display type	LTPS IPS LCD capacitive, 16M colors
Screen size	5.5 inches (~70.1% of the front surface of the device)
Display protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Camera
Main camera	dual 12 MP (f/2.2, 26mm, 1.25 µm) + 12 MP (f/2.6, 50mm, 1 µm), 2x optical zoom, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Functionality of the main camera	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama
Video recording	2160p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Front-camera	5 MP, 1080p
Sensors
Illuminance	There is
Approximations	There is
Gyroscope	There is
Compass	No
Hall	There is
Accelerometer	There is
Barometer	No
Fingerprint scanner	There is
Battery
Battery type and capacity	Li-Ion 3080 mAh
Battery mount	non-removable
Equipment
Standard kit	Mi A1: 1 USB cable: 1 SIM tray eject clip: 1 User manual: 1 Warranty card: 1 Charger: 1

Prices

Video reviews

Xiaomi is known for its inexpensive but high-quality smartphones, which are quite capable of competing with models from more expensive brands. One of such devices is the Xiaomi Mi A1, the characteristics and features of which we will examine in detail in today’s review. The device was released in collaboration between Xiaomi and Google. This is the first smartphone under the Android One program and it runs on a pure version of Android without the MIUI shell.

Design and delivery kit Xiaomi Mi A1

The smartphone has a stylish and modern appearance, which is distinguished by smooth lines and rounded corners. Its polished all-metal body can withstand even quite serious loads, providing the model with high strength and reliability. The device is available in three colors: black, pink and gold. Its dimensions are 155.4x75.8x7.3 mm. Due to its very small thickness, the device fits comfortably in your hand or pocket. It is very light and weighs only 165 grams.

On the bottom panel of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone there is a compactly built-in USB connector, which is used for connecting to a computer and for charging, next to a standard headphone input, microphone and speaker. In principle, the arrangement of these elements is standard and convenient. On the top panel there is an infrared blaster, as well as another microphone. On the right side there is a convenient lock button and a volume rocker. On the left side, the creators of the device placed a slot for a SIM card and MicroSD. Under the large screen of the device there is a small standard control panel of three touch buttons. The front camera is made almost invisible, next to it are proximity and light sensors, as well as a small indicator light.

As for the rear panel, a dual photo module is integrated in its upper part, next to it is a flash, and below is a fingerprint scanner. At the bottom there is the Xiaomi logo, and below it is the inscription androidone. The case has a special oleophobic coating, so even active use without a case will not spoil its appearance. The display is covered with a special durable 2.5D Gorilla Glass designed to protect against damage

In general, the design of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone is very similar to the solutions already implemented in other models of the Xiaomi Redmi line - it is pleasant, comfortable and smooth.

The device package includes:

• charging adapter;
• USB cable;
• pin to open the SIM card slot;
• instruction manual with warranty card.

Everything that is required for operation is there, but the manufacturer does not provide any additional accessories, in the form of headphones or at least an additional film for the screen. In principle, this is expected in public sector employees.

Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone: screen review

The device has a large 5.5 inch LTPS FHD display. It has the following characteristics:

1. Resolution - 1920x1080 pixels.
2. Pixel density - 403 ppi.
3. Brightness - 450 nits.
4. Contrast - 1000:1.

In addition, the Xiaomi Mi A1 display boasts maximum viewing angles that allow you to fully enjoy your favorite games and movies. This screen size is quite popular and provides an optimal balance between image quality and phone dimensions. The color gamut covers 72% NTSC.

The user has ample opportunities to customize the display. In the device, adjust the backlight brightness, contrast, color saturation and other parameters. The user can independently activate the automatic color shift towards yellow, which makes the screen safer for the eyes. A special oleophobic coating effectively prevents fingerprints from appearing on the screen, and also makes operation smooth and enjoyable.

Performance and OS Xiaomi Mi A1

The developers of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone have done their best to ensure that the phone delivers maximum performance. The model is equipped with an energy-efficient and consistently good 8-core processor from Qualcomm - Snapdragon 625. The maximum frequency of which can be 2 GHz. It also has a special cooling system, which consists of two sheets of pyrolytic graphite elements. They remove heat from the processor and avoid overheating.

The device is equipped with the popular Adreno 506 graphics processor; it has an operating frequency of 650 MHz. Combined with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in flash memory (about 46 are available to the user), this makes the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone very productive even when working with heavy games and applications. The power of the GPU allows you to shoot high quality videos. As for the user memory, it can be expanded with a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. True, in this case you will have to sacrifice the second SIM card, since the slot is combined.

As for the operating system, you can now buy the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone in Moscow or any other city on optimized Android 7.1.2. Before the New Year they promise an update to the current eighth version of Android Oreo. The system is characterized by stable operation and a high degree of security.

Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone - multimedia capabilities

The device has a built-in 10-watt sound amplification system, which will be very useful for both partygoers and those who cannot live without headphones. Thanks to it, it can even work with passive headphones and other audio systems with an impedance of up to 600 Ohms.

The main dual camera of Xiaomi Mi A1 is worthy of a separate review. Despite the fact that there are many models on the market that have a built-in double photomodule, this particular device implements the idea most successfully. The module consists of two 12 megapixel wide-angle and telephoto lenses. To fully appreciate the effectiveness of the camera and its capabilities, it is worth trying portrait photography: it reveals the fashionable “bokeh” effect - the background is effectively blurred, while the foreground, on the contrary, acquires incredible clarity. This is achieved by combining a binocular stereoscopic imaging system with a deep learning algorithm to create beautiful blurred backgrounds and sharp edges. To create a higher quality and richer image, the wide-angle lens uses 1.25µm pixels, and the telephoto lens uses 1 µm pixels. Their aperture also differs - in the first case it is equal to f/2.2, and in the second - f/2.6.

The advantages of the photo module do not end there - it is equipped with a two-fold optical zoom, as well as a ten-fold digital zoom, which allows you to zoom in and focus the image even on distant objects. A powerful flash with a bright two-color LED produces rich illumination that is as close to natural daylight as possible. Ultra-fast PDAF autofocus allows you to reduce the focusing time of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone camera to just one tenth of a second. This is an excellent indicator. Thanks to it, the user will be able to shoot even fast-moving objects. There is the possibility of panoramic and continuous shooting, as well as HDR adjustment.

The front camera of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone is represented by a 5-megapixel module with f/2.0 aperture and 1.25µm pixels. There is a facial recognition function and a selfie timer. The Beautify 3.0 smart filter is provided for photo editing. The device shoots video in resolutions up to 4K at 30 fps, and in slow motion 720p at 120 fps.

In principle, judging specifically by the cameras, the device has almost no competitors in this price range. However, if we consider the overall quality of the shooting, it is mediocre. The front camera may have laggy focusing.

Interfaces, sensors, navigation, autonomy Xiaomi Mi A1

The device supports all the wireless interfaces necessary for a modern gadget, such as:

• Bluetooth 4.2;
• Wi-Fi in the 2.4/5G range with support for Wi-Fi Direct and Wi-Fi Display.

An LTE modem is used for fast data transfer; operation in 3G and 2G networks is also supported.

To ensure the most efficient geolocation and navigation, the smartphone supports GPS, AGPS, GLONASS and BEIDOU systems. This allows the user to determine the location with maximum accuracy, and also ensures the effective operation of a number of other functions of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone.

As for sensors, in addition to the mentioned fingerprint scanner, proximity and lighting sensors, there is:

• accelerometer;
• infrared sensor;
• gyroscope;
• Hall Sensor.

The non-removable battery of the Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone has a capacity of 3080 mAh. In combination with an optimized operating system and processor, it provides the smartphone with fairly long operation, although not as much as other models from the Redmi line. In particular, the device is capable of operating for more than 7 hours in video viewing mode and more than 5 hours when playing at 100% brightness. The device has standard power-saving settings that let you dim the brightness, turn various apps on and off, and more.

Xiaomi Mi A1: price, pros and cons, video review

Before considering the advantages and disadvantages, it is worth noting that the price of Xiaomi Mi A1 in Russia is 16,990 rubles. This is a budget device, and therefore you can’t treat its disadvantages so strictly. So, first about the pros:

1. If necessary, the device can be used as a remote control. This function is possible thanks to an infrared sensor. It allows you to control TVs, air conditioners, heaters and many other devices that receive this type of signal. This will be very useful for those who always lose remote controls for home appliances. Using this function is very convenient thanks to the special Mi Remote application.
2. The Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone has good performance and speed. This is largely due not only to the processor, but also to the clean OS. Although the shell functionality is sometimes lacking, overall everything works very smoothly.
3. For such characteristics and capabilities, the device is really inexpensive.
4. Cute design and three options for the most common colors to suit every taste.

As for the disadvantages, we include:

1. The camera in the device, despite the fact that it is double, takes average pictures. The quality is far from what the manufacturer claims. For this money, in principle, no one expected a high level, but it was unpleasant.
2. No fast charging. The battery, which is not surprising in its capacity, charges 25% in half an hour, and fully in 2 hours.
3. Lack of NFC module.

The Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone is an excellent example of a high-quality but budget smartphone that fully meets all the challenges and requirements of the modern world. It has a relatively good camera, high performance and a fingerprint scanner. The metal case and protective glass make the device quite strong and durable, allowing it to withstand “classic” loads without critical damage. A video review of the device is presented below:

Xiaomi does not give up hope of one day becoming well known in the US market. In Russia there are no problems with purchasing devices from this manufacturer, including the Xiaomi Mi A1 described in this article. With this smartphone, buyers will get traditionally excellent and non-original hardware components and a mostly pure Android variant. This is a very good combination, especially considering the low price of about 11,000 rubles.

Xiaomi devices are not sold in all countries, but this smartphone runs on Android One and is on sale in more than 40 countries. In the rest, nothing prevents you from ordering it online.

Xiaomi is an interesting company in terms of design. It is capable of releasing completely original stunning smartphones like Mi Mix 1st and 2nd generation. In other cases, it, like many Chinese manufacturers, is good at copying the creations of other popular companies like Apple, offering cheap versions of their devices.

Xiaomi Mi A1 resembles an iPhone. True, this iPhone is far from the latest generation, more like an iPhone 6 or 7. Even minor details are copied, such as the antenna stripes of the iPhone 7 and a pair of screws on the bottom edge of the case. It’s hard to expect revelations in terms of design from a cheap smartphone, but the appearance in the spirit of a counterfeit iPhone is overkill.

Smartphone build quality

On the other hand, Xiaomi has a long-term practice of copying Apple, so the company does it at a high level. The build quality is worthy of flagship devices at a price three times lower. Buyers will receive an excellent device with an aluminum body, which feels significantly more expensive than RUB 11,000.

The metal meets the glass smoothly along the edges of the case and has beveled corners. The side buttons are also made of aluminum and have a distinct click when pressed. At the bottom you get the usual arrangement of elements in the form of a speaker, headphone jack and USB-C.

Appearance

What's unique about the design of the Xiaomi Mi A1 is its outdated approach to creating navigation buttons. All modern Android smartphones, including the cheapest ones, have on-screen navigation buttons. Xiaomi ignores this trend and prefers to draw buttons the old fashioned way.

Everything would be fine, but they are located in an unusual order: on the left is the recent applications button, on the right is the “Back” button, while everyone is accustomed to the opposite arrangement. Samsung also used a similar arrangement, but with the advent of the Galaxy S8 and the transition to on-screen buttons, even on Samsung devices you can return to the usual order.

Meanwhile, on-screen navigation buttons are part of the original Android One specification, so Xiaomi has been on its own here. It also uses some pretty weird icons. The recent apps icon is familiar to those who haven't used an Android smartphone in the last six years, since that's when Google declared it obsolete. If it were possible to change one thing on the device, many would choose the location of the buttons.

The build quality is excellent, but the low price doesn't come without its drawbacks. Buyers will not receive a modern frameless screen, which has become commonplace in smartphones of all price categories.

There is also no protection from water and dust, there is no NFC communication standard, which is why payment systems like Android Pay do not work. A standard 5 V/2 A adapter is used for charging. There are some additional features, such as an infrared sensor for using the smartphone as a remote control, a fingerprint scanner and a slot for microSD memory cards.

Although not everyone likes secondary design and copying others, as well as hardware navigation buttons, this smartphone has so many advantages that you can forget about the shortcomings and low price. The excellent build quality and metal body make you wonder why pay so much for modern flagships.

Display

The 5.5-inch 1080p LCD screen is good enough to not feel left out. RAM 4 GB, storage 64 GB, battery 3040 mAh. The main weak point compared to flagships is the Snapdragon 625 processor, which is noticeably slower than last year's Snapdragon 835 chip. It is quite enough for 2D applications, but heavy 3D games may lack a powerful graphics chip.

At this price, all these disadvantages are inevitable and forgivable.

Software

Xiaomi Mi A1 runs on Android One and comes with stock Android 8.0. Users will get a near-stock Android experience that fits well with the app store ecosystem.

Everything works as Google intended, there are no frills from third-party manufacturers in the form of their shells, no bloated software and duplicate applications. For Xiaomi, the Android One program is especially important, since its MIUI shell is considered by many to be one of the heaviest. On the other hand, many people appreciate its numerous settings.

This version of Android offers Google Assistant, which can respond to the "OK Google" command, but only when the screen is on.

There are only two additional applications. Mi Remote turns your smartphone into a remote control, the Feedback program allows you to send feedback to Xiaomi. In the first application, you need to select the type of device, such as a TV, then select the manufacturer, tests will be performed to study remote access codes. Mi Remote can be removed if desired if you don’t need a remote control or if you have your own.

Feedback also doesn't seem to be very helpful since no one canceled the email. It would seem that such functionality should be hidden deeper in the settings, and not located at the top as a separate icon. This application cannot be disabled or deleted.

Xiaomi Android One updates

When it comes to Xiaomi Mi A1 software updates, the Android One program is no longer what it was when it was introduced. It's still stock Android, but there are no longer Google updates on day one, they're much slower, and they're managed by device manufacturers.

There is no need to guess how soon the update will appear, since in this case it has already been released. When sales began, the device ran on Android 7.0; in January, an update to Android 8.0 was released. This system was launched in August, so the wait took 5 months. This deadline usually applies to flagship smartphones from companies like Samsung or LG. In the case of a device for 11,000 rubles. In general, we can be glad that the update to the next version of Android appeared on it.

There are also regular security updates, which are easy to install thanks to Android's special silent update mechanisms. The storage uses two partitions, the update is installed in the background, and requires a one-time quick reboot of the device.

What's even better is that Android Oreo will not be the latest version on this smartphone. Google claims that this model will be one of the first to run Android P. All Android One smartphones receive updates for at least 18 months after launch.

Since Xiaomi Mi A1 came out with Android 7.0 and was updated to Android 8.0, it does not support the Treble project. This support is only available on devices that originally came out with Android Oreo. It uses a modular system, where the code of the operating system itself is separated from the drivers for hardware components. This allows fewer changes to be made when updating the system and faster distribution of updates.

In addition to benefits for device manufacturers, the project will be important for manufacturers of custom firmware, eliminating the need to make different Android builds for each smartphone model. They will already have a standard build of Android installed, which works on all Treble-enabled devices.

Xiaomi Mi A1 has an unlockable bootloader, so with developer tools and simple commands you can install anything.

Characteristics of Xiaomi Mi A1

The smartphone runs on a cheap Snapdragon 625 processor, which leads to a decrease in operating speed compared to flagships. If Snapdragon 835 is produced on a 10 nm process technology, then here it is a 14 nm process technology. The processor is still the same 8-core, but instead of the more powerful Cortex-A73, not so fast Cortex-A53 cores are used.

In general, the speed of work is not bad. In Geekbench multi-core testing, the device scores around 4,000 points, which is on par with the 2016 flagship processor Snapdragon 820. Single-core performance is not very good, so the speed of applications depends on how well they implement multi-threading.

Performance

The GPU is much worse. When compared to the Pixel 2, Pixel 1st generation, Nexus 6 smartphones from two years ago, they all outperform this device. Graphics performance here is at the level of 2013 flagships. As a result, users will have problems in complex 3D games.

But the storage is surprisingly fast, beating the first-generation Pixel in Androbench tests.

As a result of these characteristics, the smartphone performs quite quickly in everyday tasks, especially considering the price. Applications launch quickly, scrolling the page is also no problem; Only in games can you understand that this is not the most powerful device.

Cameras

The rear camera is dual. The main camera of Xiaomi Mi A1 has a resolution of 12 megapixels, as well as the auxiliary one with telephoto lenses with double image magnification.

Although many smartphones use two cameras with the same resolution and different lenses, in this case the secondary camera is far below the quality of the main one. The pixel size on them is 1.25 microns versus 1 microns, the aperture is f/2.2 versus f/2.6.

Cheap smartphone cameras are never amazing, but in this case that's fine. Detail and light sensitivity are inferior to flagships, as it should be. There are quite a few functionalities like image depth analysis, facial recognition and beautification modes.

Final review

Xiaomi is quite popular in developing countries; it is the king of its price segment. Another example of this is the Xiaomi Mi A1, which has a lot of functionality, an aluminum body, excellent build quality, USB-C, a fairly good screen and processor.

For many, the main disadvantage of Xiaomi is the MIUI shell, which was developed independently of the main version of Android and often lacks the capabilities of the stock version of the system.

This problem is not present here thanks to the Android One program, which will ensure long-lasting and fast Android updates. It's always a plus when a non-Google smartphone comes out with the latest version of Android, especially a cheap one. Xiaomi Mi A1 will receive Android 8.0 5 months after the release of this system, which is an excellent result for a cheap device.

Another disadvantage is the unoriginal appearance. This is a complete copy of the iPhone, many may confuse one with the other. You can also call it legacy and hardware navigation buttons.

pros

• Aluminium case
• Build quality
• Pure Android variant
• USB-C, fingerprint scanner, headphone jack and microSD
• No bloatware

Minuses

• iPhone imitation
• No NFC
• Voice commands don't work when the screen is off
• Location of physical navigation buttons

Typically, companies that can be considered start-up smartphone manufacturers begin to work closely with Google. However, the partnership with the world-famous Xiaomi has reached such a level that both giants decided to jointly release a smartphone as part of the Android One program. As a result, a beautiful and high-quality camera phone Xiaomi Mi A1 appeared.

Other Android One series smartphones:

Equipment

The box with the smartphone contains: a charger, a USB to USB Type-C cable, instructions, a warranty card and a paper clip for removing the SIM card slot and memory card.

Design and ergonomics

The Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone is identical in appearance to its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi 5x.

The device body is made of metal and contains only two small plastic inserts necessary for stable operation in wireless networks.

At the top of the front side of the smartphone there is a front camera, sensors and a voice speaker.

Below the display are three control buttons: menu, home and back. If desired, the action of each button can be reassigned at your discretion.

The back of the smartphone houses a dual camera, dual LED flash and a fingerprint scanner.

On the top edge there is an IR port for household appliances, as well as a microphone for noise reduction.

As for the bottom edge, there are: a 3.5 mm port for headphones, a USB Type-C port for charging and connecting to a PC, a main microphone and a speaker.

The arrangement of elements on the side faces is quite familiar.

On the right there is a power button and a volume rocker, and on the left there is a tray for SIM cards and a memory card.

It is known that the new product will be available in three colors: black, gold and rose gold.

Display

The smartphone is equipped with a large 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen is quite bright and has wide viewing angles.

The touchpad supports up to ten touch points simultaneously.

The screen is covered with 2.5D glass, which means using the smartphone will be as pleasant as using the budget hit of 2017 -.

Performance

The new product received an 8-core Snapdragon 625 processor with a frequency of 2 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of internal memory. Graphics processing is handled by the Adreno 506 processor.

Performance will be good in most games. For example, the device does not experience any problems with Asphalt 9 and Modern Combat 5.

The only real drawback of this phone is overheating. If Xiaomi had used its own thermal regulation algorithms, the situation would have been better, but here it’s pure Android.

In any case, if you are not an avid gamer, then you will not have problems with the Xiaomi Mi A1. The maximum measured case temperature is 42 degrees, which is quite acceptable for such devices.

The new product has a dedicated 10-watt audio amplifier, which allows you to use even the most serious studio headphones with your smartphone.

In the AnTuTu test, the device scores 63298 points.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi A1

	63298
	Xiaomi Tissot
Announcement date	2017, September
Network support	GSM/CDMA/HSPA/LTE
- 2G	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
- 3G	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
- 4G	LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500 )
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE
WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, access point
Dimensions	155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm (6.12 x 2.98 x 0.29 inches)
Weight	165 g (5.82 oz)
Accumulator battery	Non-removable, Li-Ion 3080 mAh
Display	(~70.1% of smartphone surface)
- permission	1080 x 1920 pixels (~403 ppi)
CPU	Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625
- CPU frequency	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
- graphic arts	Adreno 506
Memory	64 GB, 4 GB RAM
USB	2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector
Camera
- main	Dual 12 MP (26mm, f/2.2; 50mm, f/2.6), phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, dual LED dual-tone flash
- frontal	5 MP, 1080p
operating system	Android 7.1.2 (Nougat)

Battery

Xiaomi Mi A1 has a 3080 mAh battery. From a practical point of view, this is quite enough for a full working day, but using a special energy saving mode, the battery life can be slightly increased.

Charging is carried out via a modern USB Type-C port, but there is no support for Quick Charge technology.

Camera

Xiaomi Mi A1 is equipped with three camera modules. The front camera has a resolution of 5 MP, and the dual main ones are 12 MP each. At the same time, the main modules have different focal lengths (26 and 50 mm), which made it possible to equip the camera with 2x optical zoom.

Using portrait mode, which uses two camera modules at once, you can achieve a good software background blur effect (bokeh), which, upon a quick inspection, almost completely repeats the work of SLR cameras.

Examples of photos on Xiaomi Mi A1

Overall, with good lighting, photos are of excellent quality in both normal and portrait modes.

However, this cannot be said when shooting in the dark. Like most other smartphones, the Xiaomi Mi A1 will take longer to focus and the quality of photos will noticeably deteriorate.

Stock Android on Mi smartphone

The main difference between the MI A1 and other Xiaomi smartphones is the absence of the proprietary MIUI shell.

From the basic assembly, only 3 applications will remain: Mi Remote, Mi Store and Feedback. Everything else on the phone is pure Android 7.1.2.

The “Camera” application has also been changed, since it requires support for the operation of the dual main module.

Running a smartphone on pure Android allows you to free up additional funds to use a more powerful processor. As a result, both the system and applications will work faster.

Video – Xiaomi Mi A1 Unboxing and Review

Results

pros

• recognizable interface of pure Android;
• speed of receiving firmware updates;
• good performance.

minuses

• strong noise in photos in low light;
• rather modest battery capacity.

Xiaomi Mi A1 is a premium device from the Android One family, which is perfect for those users who trust the quality of Xiaomi smartphones, but have not been able to get used to the proprietary MIUI shell. Xiaomi Mi A1 will appear in Russia in October 2017 at an estimated price of 17,000 rubles.