Redmi A1+ review: Affordable phone with the promise of stock Android
It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a ‘budget’ phone, meaning a device priced below Rs 10,000. So when the Redmi A1+ turned up for review, I was curious to see how this would perform. This is unlike the other Redmi Note phones that I usually review. Firstly, the Redmi A1+ does not come with MIUI which is usually seen on most phones from the brand. Instead, it runs Android Go 12 – a version of Android that’s optimized and meant for phones with less RAM and storage. The Redmi A1+ also has an old micro USB port for charging. It is also quite affordable starting at Rs 7,499. But is that enough to justify getting the Redmi A1+? Here is my review.
Redmi A1+ Specifications: 6.52-inch LCD screen with 720p resolution | Mediatek Helio A22 processor with 2GB or 3GB RAM and 32GB storage| 5000 mAh battery | 8 MP dual AI camera + 5 MP front camera | Android Go edition
Redmi A1+ Price in India: 2GB RAM + 32GB at Rs 7,499 and 3GB RAM + 32GB storage at Rs 8,499
Redmi A1+ review: What’s good?
The Redmi A1+ may be a budget phone, but it doesn’t compromise on looks. The light green color I received for review looks quite nice and makes this device stand out. The phone has a structured back. I could not see any spots or stains in the color during use. It comes with a fingerprint sensor on the back, which works to unlock the device quickly. The phone has a dedicated MicroSD card slot (up to 512GB support) and two nano SIM slots. So if you’re one of those people who rely on an SD card for their phone, the Redmi A1+ should keep you happy. This is particularly important since the onboard storage is limited to 32 GB.
Redmi A1+ gets HD+ display. (Image credit: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
The phone has a large 6.52-inch screen, which is sufficient when used indoors. But in light outdoors the screen is not enough and sometimes I struggled to see what was on the screen. However, for daily use, the Redmi A1+ screen works well.
Redmi A1+ comes with stock Android and the advantage is that this is one of the few budget phones without bloatware from MIUI. Setting up the phone is easy and the number of pre-installed apps is limited. It also comes with Facebook Lite, although I was able to run the full Facebook app on this without much trouble. Apps like Netflix and YouTube also worked well.
Redmi A1+ works fine with basic apps, but if you want to run too many games, prepare to spend more. (Image credit: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
The phone gets a 5000 mAh battery, which will easily last more than a day for most users. However, the large battery still relies on a micro-USB charger, so make sure you have this with you when you travel. Finding a micro USB charger can be a challenge these days since most other phones have switched to Type-C charging. It will take more than three hours to get this to a full charge given 10W charging.
The Redmi A1+ has an 8 MP camera on the back along with a second sensor. Redmi has not specified the details of the second sensor. The selfie camera is 5 MP. Camera performance is acceptable provided you shoot in bright and well-lit scenarios. The selfies weren’t bad either. The camera also supports “Portrait” mode, but the results are not completely accurate. If the lighting is difficult or poor, the images have too much noise in them.
A camera sample taken with the Redmi A1+ (Image credit: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
A camera sample taken with the Redmi A1+ (Image credit: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
A camera sample taken with the Redmi A1+ (Image credit: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
Redmi A1+ review: What’s not good?
There is noticeable lag and stuttering when using the phone and I had the 3GB RAM variant. If you’re hoping to get a budget device to play some daily games, I’d suggest you be prepared to spend more. While the camera performance is acceptable for a budget phone, I wish Redmi had offered something more for users here. It’s almost as if the budget phone camera remains stuck in 2015. I understand that this segment
Finally, as I noted above, the display is not bright enough for use in daily bright sunlight, which will be a problem for many users.
Redmi A1+ Review: Verdict
If you’re looking for a budget phone and can’t afford to spend more than Rs 9,000, the new Redmi A1+ is an option to consider, given stock Android and its overall specs. Be prepared though, this is a budget phone and temper your expectations around performance. If your budget is flexible and you can increase it by Rs 1000 to Rs 2000, I would suggest you to look at other options from Redmi, Realme and Samsung before you decide.
