Redmi 6A Review – Decent Phone Marred by Sluggish Performance

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Just as the Redmi 5A, or the Redmi 4A for that matter, the Redmi 6A is meant to cater to most basic of users, a subset of which could include feature phone users stretching their budget for a smartphone experience. The idea is to offer a usable phone while restricting the price to a point where all flaws are perhaps forgivable. (Redmi 6A Review हिंदी में पढ़े)

How do you judge such an entry-grade phone? The very low cost in itself implies that corners are being cut, but then again it just doesn’t feel right to complain. In spite of all these constraints, the Redmi 5A was a very competent and usable option.

Is the Remdi 6A better than the Redmi 5A? Is the practical experience good enough for basic usage? Let’s try and list all that’s good and all that’s bad in our Redmi 6A Review, just so you can make an informed choice.

Page Contents:

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Specifications

Model Redmi 6A
Display 5.45-inch (1440 × 720 pixels) HD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass display
Processor 2GHz quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 (12nm processor)
RAM 2GB
Internal Storage 16GB/32GB, expandable to 256GB, Dedicated card slot
Software Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 10
Primary Camera 13MP rear camera with LED Flash. f/2.2 aperture
Secondary Camera 5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture
Dimensions and Weight 147.46×71.49×8.3mm; Weight: 145g
Battery 3000mAh Battery
Others Dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth, GPS, Face unlock
Price 5,999 INR/ 6,999 INR

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Review: Design and Build

The design is a part that we agree with. The Redmi 6A is compact, slim, and reasonably well-built phone. The speaker placement on the back and the three-tier back panel are a few gripes we have, but it would be unfair to complain since the Redmi 6A doesn’t look cheap at all – which isn’t something we could say for most affordable phones currently available under 6K.

Compared to last years Redmi 5A, the 6A is bigger, or rather taller. Other than that, the quality of material used on both phones and their in-hand feel remains similar.

Talking about the specifics, the regular micro USB port is present at the bottom and the Audio Jack is present up top. The power key and volume rocker are easily accessible. There is no IR blaster this time.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 6 Review – Not Much Of An Upgrade

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Review: Display

The display quality is crucial to your smartphone experience in the long run and it’s also the one most blatantly neglected aspect of an affordable phone. Which is why we are quite happy with the panel Xiaomi has used on the 6A.

It’s not a shoddy cheap display with erratic colors and excessively harsh blue tints. And you get to adjust color temperature from display settings.

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Review: Performance and Software

The Redmi 6A marks Xiaomi returning to MediaTek chipsets in India. Now, providing competent Qualcomm chips at the lowest possible prices has been one of the prime causes of Xiaomi’s success in India. We were obviously curious to know how things will pan out with the new hardware-software combo.

Unfortunately, we were disappointed.

From the performance point of view, the Redmi 6A feels like a downgrade over Redmi 5A (with the same amount of RAM and Storage). Just after two days of usage, regular tasks- even the basic ones like calling – show excessive lag.

Now, there is a 32GB storage variant too, we are not quite hopeful whether it will hold well in the long run. Both models have the same chipset, the same software and the same amount of RAM.

After an upgrade, our Redmi 6A retail unit is currently running MIUI 10 software based on Android Oreo. We are quite familiar with the interface by now, and it certainly is among one of the better software skins out there, but the feeble hardware backing it leaves precious little to cherish. Besides, Xiaomi pushing recommendations, ads and pre-installed bloatware in spite of minimal resources further weigh down the overall experience.

There is a dedicated card slot that you can use to augment the storage. The handset doesn’t support Dual SIM 4G VoLTE, though. There is no fingerprint sensor, but you get Face Unlock which works well (even indoors).

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Camera Performance

Once again it shouldn’t be surprising that the Redmi 6A camera won’t hold to scrutiny the same way as other high-end or mid-range phones do. Besides, we are guessing most affordable phone buyers won’t consider camera an absolute deal maker or breaker.

The camera performance still turned out better than what we had anticipated. And the camera quality has noticeably improved over Redmi 5A.

The images have a warm cast, details are fine on a sunny day, and with little work, you can train yourself to shoot well-metered shots. The selfies clicked on the phone are fairly good too.

Don’t go in expecting too much and you won’t be disappointed.

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Battery and Audio

The 3000mAh battery on the Redmi 6A ensures that you get a comfortable one-day mileage. Charging using the bundled charger (5V, 1A) is painfully slow, though.

The audio output via headphones and via loudspeaker is average.

Xiaomi Redmi 6A Review – Should you buy it? No

People do demand for ultra-affordable phones and the Redmi 6A is one first few options that come to mind under 6K. But this certainly isn’t a phone that we can recommend.

The 6A has a great design, a commendable display, runs the latest MIUI 10 software, and also has a massive battery. But all these positives are overshadowed by its annoying day-to-day usage performance.

I guess now is the time when manufacturers stop making 16GB storage phones altogether or perhaps unless there is a resource efficient Android Go software to go along. Eitherways, The performance and the 2GB RAM/ 16GB storage model is poor and that makes using the phone very inconvenient. In fact, we have had a better experience with the base Redmi 5A launched last year. If you are looking for an entry-grade Xiaomi phone, we’d recommend that you go for the Redmi 6 instead.

Pros

  • Design
  • Display
  • Battery Backup
  • Reasonable Camera performance

Cons

  • Slow and laggy
  • Lacks Dual 4G support
Deepak SinghDeepak Singh
Deepak has more than 8 years of experience in covering technology for several eminent publications in India. He currently leads an enthusiastic team of young writers at Smartprix and tries to uphold the highest quality standards.

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2 Comments
User
MR JAMES W GRIFFITHS
Anonymous
2 years ago

Is it possible to use a timer with the camera? Does it have this facility? If so, where do I find it?

Reply
User
Serge@SE
Anonymous
4 years ago

Audio quality of Xiaomi Redmi 6A is in line with top smartphones. SoundExpert.

Reply