With Redmi A1, Is Xiaomi Resurrecting The Android One Dream, But Without Google?
When was the last time you saw a Rs 6,500 phone take center stage at the launch of another phone that cost more than twice as much? Well, we doubt this is exactly what happened when Xiaomi introduced the Redmi A1 at the launch of the Redmi 11 Prime series. The A1 was supposed to be an add-on, "something else" in Apple parlance for core products, but it ended up stealing the thunder from the Redmi 11 Prime in terms of interest.
The Redmi A1 made such an impact because it was so different from any phone that Xiaomi released some time ago. In fact, some might say that this is the biggest surprise Xiaomi has brought to the Indian phone market as it stunned everyone by introducing high refresh rate AMOLED screens for its Note series in 2020 at surprisingly affordable prices. But while the release of the Redmi Note 10 Pro in 2020 was a surprise, the Redmi A1 is very different not only from the Note series, but from any Xiaomi phone released in a few years. In many ways, it differs from other devices released by Xiaomi since entering the Indian market in 2014.
Since arriving on the coast of India, Xiaomi has been leading the market with the formula "Great features at an incredible price". Although it has begun to grow its Rs 10,000 solar panel market share, it has recently surpassed it. The best-selling Redmi Note series costs well over Rs 10,000 and even exceeds Rs 20,000. It's not that Xiaomi turned its back on the Rs 10,000 sub-slide. The brand regularly releases devices with the A suffix and the Prime series. But in the past few years, the focus has shifted to higher prices. The shift was even more pronounced last year, when ingredient prices and availability plummeted in a pandemic-ravaged world.
Redmi A1: Xiaomi returns to the category of affordable smartphonesWhile Xiaomi's interest seems to be mainly focused on the Rs 10,000 and up market, the arrival of the Redmi A1 could be a reminder that the brand has by no means abandoned its four-figure price range. The Redmi A1, priced at Rs 6,499, is the most affordable Xiaomi phone launched in India since the Redmi 9A, priced at Rs 6,799, was launched two years ago as the Desh ka, (Indian) national smartphone.
However, Redmi A1 is very different from previous Redmi devices with suffix A. It was supposed to be the end of a series of one-off releases at very affordable prices: it will be Redmi Note X, Redmi X Prime, Redmi X and Redmi XA in descending order of availability. The Redmi A1 has no real connection to any of these raw notes or figures. This is an excellent device in its field.
Redmi A1: abandoning MIUI in favor of "Pure Android"
Perhaps the biggest sign of its "independence" is the fact that it is the first Redmi device launched in India without Xiaomi's famous MIUI interface. The Redmi A1 runs on what Xiaomi calls "Pure Android 12" - interestingly, the brand has chosen not to use the term S (tock) Android to refer to the user interface on the device. Xiaomi claims to use a less feature-rich interface because the A1 is aimed at an audience that just wants a phone that runs smoothly with minimal effort and doesn't care about bells and whistles.
This is a clear departure from the old mentality that promoted MIUI as the best Android interface. Some industry observers claim that Xiaomi may have opted for the Android UI as well because its latest MIUI versions won't run well on Helio A22 processors with a very low-spec phone with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage.
Redmi A1: no combat specs (and comes with a 2018 chip)This also brings us to the A1 specification. Unlike in the past, when Redmi devices with the A suffix were equipped with new, relatively inexpensive processors, the A1 comes with a MediaTek Helio A22 processor released in 2018. Recall, Redmi 6A, released in 2018, was equipped with this processor. chip too. The rest of the phone's specs don't claim to be relevant either: a 6.52-inch HD+ LCD, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage (although a separate memory card is enough), an 8-inch main MP sensor, and 5000mA. battery
Unlike other more affordable Redmi phones, the A1 doesn't even try to claim good specs for its price. Instead, it focuses on providing a smooth and "clean" Android experience at a surprisingly low price. Yes, you read that right: Xiaomi is not really chasing the performance of the released phone. There wasn't even the usual "comparison chart" showing how it compares to other models in the same price range. Do you understand what we meant when we said that this is a completely different phone by Xiaomi standards?!
Redmi A1: the first phone in the Android series? Or Xiaomi's version of Android One.There is also a theory that the A1 is actually a budget or tech-focused series of Xiaomi phones, while the A is positioned as pure Android. The devices in the series are said to run Android rather than MIUI and will cost between Rs 6,000 to Rs 25,000. We don't know if this is true, but not so long ago, Xiaomi had a series of fairly successful Android One phones in partnership with Google. They used Android as a reference, but update issues brought the series to a halt and, in fact, the Android One initiative as a whole.
It would be naive to assume that the Redmi A1 could be somehow related to the Mi A1 Android One released by Xiaomi in 2017. With a very limited budget. But it's also undeniable that the Redmi A1 has almost all the hallmarks of the early Android One phones, except for its association with Google and providing regular Android updates. It places the same focus on providing users with a clean and tidy experience at a very affordable price. According to some of our sources, Google's lack of engagement with the Redmi A1 could be a good sign, as many believe that the search giant has spoiled the Android One initiative by not releasing updates in a timely manner. Redmi A1 has no such outstanding obligations. All you have to do is implement. In many ways, it follows the model that Nokia is known for: focusing on building the right foundation. This scheme worked!
Of course, a lot will depend on how good the Redmi A1 is in terms of performance. We'll update you on this in our review of the device in the coming days. At the moment, we can simply say that this is the most different device on the market, not only from Xiaomi, but also in its price range. And if he succeeds, he can do what Android One failed: make pure Android affordable and great.
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