Xiaomi became the largest handset manufacturer in India at the end of last year, and it was all because of a strong showing in the budget category. Xiaomi now accounts for one out of three sales in the country, and over 95% of its market share comes from the sub-₹15,000 ($215) segment. It isn't hard to see why Xiaomi is so dominant in this category. Earlier this year, the manufacturer launched the Redmi Note 5 Pro, offering robust hardware in the form of a Snapdragon 636, upgraded cameras, and a massive 4000mAh battery. The Mi A2 builds on that by offering a Snapdragon 660 — normally featured on devices that cost twice as much — along with even better cameras and an 18:9 screen. The main draw, however, is the fact that the Mi A2 runs Android One, ensuring it receives timely updates. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines Honor is also on the rise in India, with the company emulating Xiaomi's strategy. Its latest phone — the Honor Play — is interesting for several reasons.The Honor Play is powered by the Kirin 970, the same chipset behind the Honor 10 and the Huawei P20 Pro. The Kirin 970 is just as powerful as the Snapdragon 845, and it's incredulous to think that the Honor Play is offering such enticing hardware for the equivalent of $290 (₹19,999). For gamers in particular, there isn't a device that comes close to the Honor Play in this segment. Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Honor Play: Specs

Category Xiaomi Mi A2 Honor Play Operating System Android 8.1 Oreo

Android One Android 8.1 Oreo

EMUI 8.1 Display 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+

(2160x1080) IPS LCD panel

Gorilla Glass 5 6.3-inch 19.5:9 FHD+

(2340x1080) IPS LCD panel SoC Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660

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

14nm Octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 970

4x2.4 Cortex A73 + 4x1.80GHz Cortex A53 GPU Adreno 512 Mali-G72 MP12 RAM 4GB/6GB 4GB/6GB Storage 32GB/64GB/128GB 64GB/64GB Expandable No Yes, dedicated up to 256GB Rear camera 12MP (f/1.75, 1.25um) + 20MP (f/1.75, 1.0um)

PDAF, LED flash, 4K video recording 16MP (f/2.2) + 2MP (f/2.4)

LED flash, 4K video recording Front camera 20MP (f/1.75, 1.0um)

AI portrait mode

LED Selfie light

Beautify 4.0 16MP f/2.0 lens, 2.0um

1080p video recording Connectivity LTE with VoLTE

Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0

GPS, GLONASS LTE with dual VoLTE

Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.2

GPS, GLONASS, FM radio

USB-C, 3.5mm jack Battery 3000mAh battery

Quick Charge 4.0 (India)

QC3.0 (ROW)

USB-C 3700mAh battery

Fast charging (18W) Fingerprint Rear fingerprint Rear fingerprint Dimensions 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm 157.9 x 74.3 x 7.5mm Weight 166g 176g Colors Black, Rose Gold, Gold, Blue Midnight Black, Navy Blue, Violet

What the Mi A2 does better

The $250 Mi A2 is all about delivering a user experience that's devoid of clutter. Android One drives Google's vision for Android and makes it more accessible across various price points, and the Mi A2 is one of the best examples the program has to offer. For its part, Xiaomi has done a masterful job with its 2018 Android One phone, and if clean software along with timely security updates is a key factor in your purchasing decision, the Mi A2 is one of the best options for under $300. Neither device is particularly striking on the design front — but the Mi A2 has a slight edge in this area as its back is subtly curved, facilitating better in-hand feel.

That said, the camera sensor on the Mi A2 protrudes quite a bit from the body, making the phone wobble when using it on a flat surface. On the subject of camera, the dual 12MP + 20MP configuration at the back is one of the best in this category. The Mi A2 consistently takes great photos in daylight and low-light scenarios, and the front camera is leagues ahead of what the Honor Play has to offer.

Xiaomi Mi A2 to the left, Honor Play to the right.

While the Honor Play did outshine the Mi A2 in a few scenarios, mainly because of the AI, the Mi A2 is a more consistent shooter that delivers great images in any lighting condition. What the Honor Play does better