The Mi A1 launched last year for the equivalent of $230, and the Mi A2 is slated to make its debut at around the $280 mark. What set the Mi A1 apart from the smorgasbord of Xiaomi phones available in this segment was the fact that it ran Android One instead of MIUI, and that allowed the device to become a fan-favorite in the budget segment. Xiaomi is retaining the same formula with the Mi A2, but the phone does offer upgraded hardware and much better cameras. The Mi A2 will be available in over 40 markets around the world, so it's time to find out if it's a worthy successor to one of the best budget phones of 2017. Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Mi A1: Specs

Category Xiaomi Mi A2 Xiaomi Mi A1 Operating System Android 8.1 Oreo

Android One Android 8.1 Oreo

Android One Display 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+

(2160x1080) IPS LCD panel

Gorilla Glass 5 5.5-inch 16:9 FHD

(1920 x 1080) IPS LCD panel

Gorilla Glass SoC Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660

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

14nm Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625

Eight Cortex A53 cores up to 2.0GHz

14nm GPU Adreno 512 Adreno 506 RAM 4GB/6GB 4GB Storage 32GB/64GB/128GB 64GB MicroSD slot No Yes, 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, 1.25um) + 12MP (f/2.6, 1.1um)

PDAF, LED flash

1080p video recording Front camera 20MP (f/1.75, 2.0um)

AI portrait mode

LED Selfie light

Beautify 4.0 5MP f/2.2 lens Connectivity LTE with VoLTE

Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0

GPS, GLONASS LTE with VoLTE

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2

3.5mm audio jack

GPS, GLONASS Battery 3010mAh battery

Quick Charge 4.0 (India)

QC3.0 (ROW)

USB-C 3010mAh battery

Quick Charge 3.0

USB-C Fingerprint Rear fingerprint Rear fingerprint Dimensions 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm Weight 166g 165g Colors Black, Gold, Blue, Rose Gold Black, Gold, Rose Gold

What's the same At its core, the Android One initiative is all about providing a clean user experience. The Mi A2 comes with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and Xiaomi says it will deliver the Android P update shortly after it becomes available. Things haven't changed on the software front, and that's a good thing. The fact that the Mi A1 offered a pure Android skin in lieu of MIUI was what made the device such an enticing option last year, and the Mi A2 continues that tradition. There isn't a shortage of budget phones that offer great hardware — Xiaomi itself has plenty of decent options available — but more often than not, most devices in this category don't receive timely updates. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines Motorola's Moto G series stood out for that reason, but the current Moto G6 series doesn't hold a candle to what Xiaomi, Honor, and others are offering in this space. Battery life is also unchanged from last year. The Mi A2 has a 3000mAh battery — a smidgen less than the 3010mAh battery on the Mi A1 — and you'll get a day's worth of usage most of the time. I've been using the Mi A2 for nearly a week, and I'm yet to see the battery go below 10% even after heavy use.

What's different The key difference between the Mi A1 and its successor is the internal hardware. The Snapdragon 625 chipset in the Mi A1 didn't set benchmark scores on fire, but it was well-regarded because of its balance between efficiency and performance. The Snapdragon 660 on the Mi A2, meanwhile, is one of the fastest chipsets available in this segment. The performance on offer with the Snapdragon 660 is on par with the likes of the Snapdragon 820, and the chipset is essentially using the same cores, albeit clocked lower. The Mi A2 also comes with a memory upgrade, and you'll be able to pick up a variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.