Introduction

With the Xiaomi Mi 5X confined to the domestic Chinese market soon after launch, its double, the Mi A1, is called upon to boost the brand's global presence. Steered by Google, Android One is full of potential. Xiaomi's looking keen on getting its message across a wider audience and, of course, making some profit in the process with the Mi A1.

Android One started as an initiative for the emerging markets, making decent smartphone experience widely-available on entry-level and budget-friendly handsets. It has now outgrown its initial target and is ready to confidently step into mature markets with phones like the Xiaomi Mi A1. The Chinese maker benefits from this sort of partnership too, celebrating the first Mi ever that's officially available across Europe.

We users are lucky enough to enjoy this midrange smartphone with on-time updates and a pure Android experience. The 5.5" LCD screen is a popular choice, while the Snapdragon 625 is still the benchmark for power efficiency. The dual-camera is what makes the Mi A1 so attractive though, delivering the trending imaging experience on the cheap.

Xiaomi Mi A1 key features

Body: Aluminum unibody design

Aluminum unibody design Screen: 5.5" IPS LCD display, 1080p resolution, 403ppi

5.5" IPS LCD display, 1080p resolution, 403ppi OS: Android OS v7.1.2 Nougat, Oreo coming soon

Android OS v7.1.2 Nougat, Oreo coming soon Chipset: Snapdragon 625 chipset: octa-core 2.0GHz Cortex-A53 processor; Adreno 506 GPU

Snapdragon 625 chipset: octa-core 2.0GHz Cortex-A53 processor; Adreno 506 GPU RAM: 4GB

4GB Camera: Dual 12MP camera; wide-angle F/2.2 + telephoto F/2.6, live bokeh effects, dual-LED flash, phase detection auto focus, 2160p@30fps video;

Dual 12MP camera; wide-angle F/2.2 + telephoto F/2.6, live bokeh effects, dual-LED flash, phase detection auto focus, 2160p@30fps video; Selfie: 5MP front-facing camera with 1080p@30fps video

5MP front-facing camera with 1080p@30fps video Storage: 32GB/64GB of built-in storage

32GB/64GB of built-in storage SIM: Dual-SIM (nano-SIM)

Dual-SIM (nano-SIM) Connectivity: LTE; Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, Bluetooth v4.2, USB-C port, IR blaster

LTE; Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou, Bluetooth v4.2, USB-C port, IR blaster Battery: 3,080mAh non-removable battery

3,080mAh non-removable battery Misc: Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted)

Main shortcomings

No NFC

No Quick Charge

No FM radio app, though there is a receiver

The omissions of the Mi 5X are automatically inherited by the Mi A1 - it's pretty much the same phone after all. This means no NFC and no fast charging. The bundled charger will restore about 30% of a flat battery in half an hour, which is not so bad. Luckily, the phone has broader availability and is free of MIUI, for better or worse.

It's a big deal when such a properly equipped package as the Mi A1 is entering the Android One program. There are lots of firsts happening for both Xiaomi and Google and we can't wait to see how the story will unfold. If you are curious too, follow us to the next page for the usual unboxing and hardware checkup.

Special thanks to HonorBuy for providing the review unit.