Xiaomi's Redmi Note series has turned into a juggernaut: over the last two years, phones in this series have defined the budget segment in India. To put things into context, the Redmi Note 5 series managed to rake in sales of over 5 million units in just under four months, and one out of every ten phones sold in India over the last three months was either a Redmi Note 5 or a Note 5 Pro. Then there's the Mi A2, Xiaomi's 2018 Android One device. The Mi A2 shares a lot of similarities on the hardware front with the Redmi Note 5 Pro — both share a design aesthetic, same display, and a lot of the internal components are also identical. There's no question that the Redmi Note 5 Pro continues to be one of the best-selling phones in India. Let's see how Xiaomi's other budget phone fares next to it. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specs

Category Xiaomi Mi A2 Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Operating System Android 8.1 Oreo

Android One Android 7.1.2 Nougat

MIUI 9.5 Display 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+

(2160x1080) IPS LCD panel

Gorilla Glass 5 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+

(2160x1080) IPS LCD panel

Gorilla Glass SoC Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660

4x2.2GHz Kryo 260 + 4x1.8GHz Kryo 260

14nm Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636

Eight Kryo 260 cores up to 1.8GHz

14nm GPU Adreno 512 Adreno 509 RAM 4GB/6GB 4GB/6GB Storage 32GB/64GB/128GB 64GB/64GB Expandable No Yes, dedicated up to 128GB Rear camera 12MP (f/1.75, 1.25um) + 20MP (f/1.75, 1.0um)

PDAF, LED flash, 4K video recording 12MP f/2.2 lens + 5MP f/2.0 lens

PDAF, LED flash

1080p video recording Front camera 20MP (f/1.75, 1.0um)

AI portrait mode

LED Selfie light

Beautify 4.0 20MP f/2.2 lens

LED Selfie light

Beautify 4.0 Connectivity LTE with VoLTE

Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0

GPS, GLONASS LTE with VoLTE

Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0

GPS, GLONASS

Micro-USB, 3.5mm jack, IR blaster Battery 3000mAh battery

Quick Charge 4.0 (India)

QC3.0 (ROW)

USB-C 4000mAh battery

5V/2A over Micro-USB Fingerprint Rear fingerprint Rear fingerprint Dimensions 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm 158.6 × 75.4 × 8.05mm Weight 166g 181g Colors Black, Rose Gold, Gold, Blue Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, Black

What the Mi A2 does better

Although both phones share a lot of features, there are key differences that make them stand out. The Mi A2 is aimed at those looking for an uncluttered software experience — as the device is in the Android One initiative, the interface is in line with Google's vision for Android. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and Xiaomi has committed to delivering the Android Pie update in the coming months.

There's a lot in common on the design front, but the aluminum unibody chassis — with the antenna lines seamlessly merging into the body — gives the Mi A2 a slight edge in this area. The dual camera configuration is also identical across both phones, with the cameras arrayed vertically and the modules protruding from the chassis. This isn't as big an issue on the Redmi Note 5 Pro as it has a thickness of 8mm, but it makes the 7.3mm Mi A2 wobbly when laid out on a flat surface. It's safe to say the Mi A2 has the best camera in the budget segment. The phone manages to do a much better job in low-light scenarios and has better dynamic range when compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro in daylight conditions. On the video front, the Mi A2 has 4K video recording, and even though the Snapdragon 636 chipset facilitates 4K video, the Redmi Note 5 Pro doesn't come with that option.

Mi A2 on the left, Redmi Note 5 Pro on the right. Elsewhere, the Mi A2 relies on USB-C for charging and comes with Quick Charge 4.0 for the Indian market. The charger included in the box delivers a 5V/2A charge, so you'll have to pick up an aftermarket accessory to unlock the charging potential of the phone. Xiaomi Mi A2 review: A great sequel with a fantastic camera What the Redmi Note 5 Pro does better