Redmi 7A is currently one of the best budget phones in 2019, coming with decent specs for only P4,790. But before the year ends, its predecessor — Redmi 8A — has been released. Could this possibly be the best phone under P5k?
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Samsung Galaxy Redmi 8A and Redmi 7A Differences
Which is a better buy between the Redmi 8A and Redmi 7A?
Design and Display
While the all-polycarbonate material remains, there are a few major changes in aesthetic. The main camera is now situated at the top-center of the back panel, along with a vertical strip that resembles Reno and Reno 2 Series. The Redmi 8A now comes in Black, Blue, and Red (that actually looks like orange). That said, the device is still splash-resistant.
The display may be the same 720p+ IPS LCD but it’s surely more immersive now that the display is of 6.2″ with a teardrop notch. Protecting the screen from day-to-day scratches is Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
READ: Realme 5 Hands-on and First Impression – Bigger But Cheaper
Performance
In terms of processing power, the Redmi 8A is expected to perform similarly to Redmi 7A. That’s because we’re looking at the same Snapdragon 439 chipset with Adreno 505 GPU. It also runs on MIUI 10 that’s based on Android 9 Pie. However, the starting configuration gives you 2GB/32GB combo, with the higher variant providing 3GB RAM.
Cameras
On paper, the main camera looks the same. Don’t be fooled, as the Sony IMX363 sensor delivers better low-light photos and a few overall enhancements due to AI processing. This also means AI portrait mode is available as a mode on the camera app. Video recording is still capped at 1080p @ 30fps.
As for the selfie, there’s a minor bump — from 5MP f2.2 to 8MP f2.0 sensor. But interestingly, it supports HDR or High-Dynamic Range and up to 1080p @ 30fps video recording.
Battery and Charging
One of the biggest upgrades of Redmi 8A is the 5000mAh battery (4000mAH on Redmi 7A). This should easily get you up to 2 days of battery life, given you’re not too heavy on gaming. There’s also support for 18W fast charging (always appreciated). You’ll also be surprised to know that Redmi 8A is using USB Type-C already. We hope more brands will follow this trend as micro USB is old and slow in comparison.
Conclusion
In India, Redmi 8A has a starting price of INR 6,499 or nearly ~P4,700 and goes up to INR 6,999 or roughly ~P5,100. If Xiaomi manages to bring the top variant in the Philippines for under P5k, Redmi 8A will easily be part of the best budget phones in late 2019.
READ: Galaxy A10s vs A10 Specs Comparison – Samsung’s Cheapest Phone is Now Better
| Specs | Redmi 8A | Redmi 7A |
| Display & Design | 6.2-inch HD+ IPS LCD, teardrop notch, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Splash-resistant | 5.45-inch HD+ IPS LCD, splash-resistant |
| Dimensions | 156.5 x 75.4 x 9.4 mm, 188g | 146.3 x 70.4 x 9.6 mm, 165g |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM439 Snapdragon 439 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM439 Snapdragon 439 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Adreno 505 |
| Memory | 32GB 3GB/2GB RAM + dedicated microSD slot of up to 512GB | 16GB/32GB 2GBGB RAM + dedicated microSD slot of up to 256GB |
| Main Camera | 12 MP Sony IMX363, f/1.8, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 1080p @ 30fps video | 12 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.9″, 1.25µm, 1080p @ 30fps video |
| Front Camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE Wi-Fi b/g/n, BT 5.0 A2DP, LE, GPS, USB Type-C, audio jack | 4G LTE Wi-Fi b/g/n, BT 5.0 A2DP, LE, GPS, micro USB, audio jack |
| Battery | Non-removable Li-Ion 5000mAh battery (18W charging) | Non-removable Li-Ion 4000mAh battery (10W charging) |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10 | Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10 |
| Official Price | estimated between INR 6,499(~P4,700) and INR 6,999(~P5,100) | P4,790 |
Again, good comparison. Can’t wait for Redmi 8A. Let’s face it, the redmi 7A kinda looks like it’s from 2018 and not 2019, which makes the Realme C2 a better buy than the 7A. Good thing Redmi was quick on its feet to put out a better rival to the C2.