Xiaomi made its foray into the world of Android One last year with the Mi A1, and the company is now introducing updated variants for 2018. Xiaomi has overhauled the hardware and rolled out key upgrades to the camera, making the Mi A2 an even more attractive option. The Mi A2 is designed around an 18:9 panel, and the goal with the taller form factor is to increase screen real estate by cutting down on the bezels. However, the Mi A2 still has sizeable bezels at the top and bottom, and in this area Xiaomi could have done better. Then there's the design at the back. Xiaomi has been using a similar design aesthetic for over a year now, so the Mi A2 doesn't really feel like a new device. If anything, I think it looks like a smaller Mi Max 2. The vertically-arranged dual camera module at the back once again evokes similarities with the iPhone X. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines

While the design itself may not be exciting next to the likes of the Nokia 7 Plus or the Honor 10, the subtle curves at the back and the sleek 7mm chassis make the Mi A2 fit comfortably in your hand. As the phone is considerably thinner than its predecessor, the rear camera sensor juts out from the body. And because Xiaomi didn't want to lose internal space to an analog port, it got rid of the 3.5mm jack. The Mi A2 is available in four color variants — gold, black, blue, and rose gold — and the blue variant looks like the most interesting option. Xiaomi says it will have all four models available at launch when the phone debuts in India early next month, so if you're eyeing the Mi A2, the blue or rose gold colors are the way to go.

Spec Xiaomi Mi A2 Screen 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ IPS LCD SoC 2.2GHz Snapdragon 660 RAM 4GB/6GB Storage 32GB/64GB/128GB Camera 1 12MP, ƒ/1.75, 1.25um Camera 2 20MP, ƒ/1.75, 1.0um Front Camera 20MP, ƒ/1.75, 1.0um Battery 3000mAh Quick Charge 4.0 Connectivity Wi-Fi ac, BT 5.0 Security Fingerprint, face unlock Dimensions 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm Weight 166g Colors Black, Rose Gold, Gold, Blue Price $290, $325, $410

Although things haven't changed by much from last year on the design front, Xiaomi overhauled the internal hardware. The Mi A2 is powered by the Snapdragon 660, and comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Snapdragon 660 is one of the best chipsets available right now, offering flagship-level performance for less than a third of the cost of the Galaxy S9 or the Pixel 2 XL. The Mi A2 is just as fluid in day-to-day usage as the Pixel 2, and the fact that you can get this level of performance for under $300 is fantastic. A lot of that has to do with Android One as well. The clean interface combined with the sheer power on offer with the Snapdragon 660 makes the Mi A2 a delight to use. I've been using the phone for just over two days, and while that's not nearly enough time to get an accurate picture of battery life, I was able to get a day's worth of usage with room to spare. The Mi A1 managed to deliver excellent battery life from the 3010mAh battery, and it looks like the Mi A2 is no different.

Like last year, all models of the Mi A2 support Quick Charge 3.0, but Xiaomi is introducing Quick Charge 4.0 support exclusively for the variant that will go up for sale in India. That's the model I'm using now, and while there's a noticeable lack of reliable QC4.0 wall chargers in the market, that will likely change in the coming months. Xiaomi, for its part, includes the usual 5V/2A charger in the box, so you'll have to get a third-party wall unit to access QC 3.0 or QC 4.0 speeds.