Redmi launched a new smartphone in its brand new entry-level Redmi A-series portfolio earlier this week, the Redmi A1. At an affordable price, the phone offers entry-level hardware with a pure Android UI. What’s noteworthy is that the phone doesn’t come with the MIUI skin and instead runs on Android 12 Go Edition, so it should provide a better experience than other Xiaomi devices in its price range that do.
Now, we’ve decided to pit two entry-level Redmi smartphones in the Indian market against themselves: the Redmi A1 and the Redmi 9A Sport. The Redmi 9A sport was released about a year ago, but it still represents good value for money owing to the Helio G35 processor.
So, let’s see how these two devices compare.
We’ve always stated that design is a subjective field. Both smartphones have the decent build quality and design. Cheaper cellphones no longer appear to be inexpensive. Recently, the $100 phones have begun to adopt innovative styles and hues that conceal their lower price.
For example, the new Redmi A1 is available in three new color options: Light Blue, Classic Black, and Light Green. The bright hues, along with the circular form, give it a nice vibe. The Redmi 9A Sport, on the other hand, is available in Carbon Black, Coral Green, and Metallic Blue. Apart from the black color choice, the remaining two color options for the 9A Sport give it a luxury vibe.
Both gadgets have almost comparable sizes. The Redmi A1 measures 164.9 x 76.5 x 9.1 mm, while the 9A Sport measures 164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm. Even their weights are comparable, with the A1 being 192 grams and the 9A Sport weighing 194 grams.
However, the designs of the back cameras vary slightly. The Redmi A1 has a dual camera module with a rectangular form, similar to other phones released in 2022. The Redmi Sport 9A, on the other hand, has an older-looking pill-shaped design with a single camera module.
Overall, we favor the newer Redmi A1 model’s design, which is both modern and fresh. The Redmi 9A Sport, on the other hand, has a great appearance, although the camera module design may appear dated to certain customers.
Given that they are entry-level gadgets, they have identical entry-level panels. Both devices have a 6.53-inch 720 x 1600 pixel IPS LCD display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 400 nits of brightness. As previously said, these are simple entry-level displays available on the majority of phones in this price range. In terms of display, there is no discernible difference between these two devices.
This is one key difference between the two phones. The latest Redmi A1 variant is equipped with a quad-core entry-level Helio A22 processor. The Redmi 9A Sport, on the other hand, packs a lot more punch owing to the Helio G35 CPU on board, which features an octa-core architecture clocked at 2.0GHz. While the Redmi A1 has a maximum of 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, the 9A Sport has 3GB RAM and 32GB storage choices. Notably, both phones include a MicroSD Card slot.
While entry-level phones are not intended for gaming or very strenuous jobs, the Redmi 9A Sport clearly has a processing edge with a significantly more powerful CPU.
However, because it runs Google’s Android 12 Go edition, the Redmi A1 may still provide a pleasant user experience. The Redmi 9A Sport, on the other hand, continues to run MIUI 12 based on Android 10.
Cameras, like most smartphones in this price range, will never be the primary selling feature of these handsets. The Redmi A1 has two cameras, one of which is an 8MP main camera. But the second camera is only for show. Because the secondary camera on board is just 0.3MP. The Redmi 9A Sport, on the other hand, has a 13MP single main camera at the rear.
Both phones include a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies. It’s difficult to determine which would be superior in terms of cameras, but the Redmi 9A Sport, despite having a single camera at the rear, may have an advantage.
Both phones include a 5000mAh battery as well as a 10W charger in the box.
The Redmi A1 was released in India with a single 2GB + 32GB memory option for ₹6,499 (around Php 4,650 and above). In comparison, the Redmi 9A Sport’s 2GB RAM and 32GB storage option can be purchased in India for ₹6,999 (roughly Php 5,059 and above).
Overall, despite being a year-old gadget, the Redmi 9A Sport appears to be a superior buy based only on specifications. It includes a significantly more powerful Helio G35 chipset with quicker processing capability. On the other side, the Redmi A1 with its Android Go edition makes a convincing argument without all of the baggage found on MIUI OS.
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