Xiaomi Mi A2 long-term review

Conclusion

We don't usually put mid-rangers through the long-term review process, and for a good reason - they generally don't elicit the same amount of interest from you as flagships do. But the Mi A2 (like the Mi A1 before it) is a big exception. We assume it's the pairing of Xiaomi hardware and pricing with Google software that caught everyone's attention, so we wanted to give you an honest assessment of what it's like to live with the Mi A2 every day for many weeks on end.

Hopefully this review doesn't read as a hatchet job, despite the many shortcomings it lists. We just think it's worth knowing everything, even small details, about a phone, before you go ahead and commit to buying it. Most things might not matter to most people, but then some could be deal breakers. Every person is unique in what they expect from a smartphone, and we want to bring as much info to the table as possible so you can make your own informed decision.

With all that said, the Mi A2 definitely isn't a bad phone. Compared to the Huawei Mate 10 Lite which was also a mid-ranger in a long-term review many months ago, it's miles ahead, and these two can still be found on sale for very similar prices even today. Seriously, there's no contest here. On the other hand, compared to any top of the line device, with or without 'stock' Android, the Mi A2 obviously falls short.

That's okay, though, because it costs about a third as your average 2018 flagship. And this was perfectly clear right from the start: the price is one of this handset's main features. That, along with the software, the decent cameras, and Xiaomi's reputation for putting together very good hardware, are what the Mi A2 is all about. Add to that the surprisingly good battery life from such a small cell, and this is the package you're getting.

Although it's definitely not perfect, it might just be for you. That is if you're looking for an affordable phone that runs stock Android, has decent but not earth-shattering performance, comes with pretty good cameras for its price, and is offered by a company that made its name in releasing devices that are cheap and good.

On the other hand, if you want a very smooth software experience, performance on par with high-end devices, and a better camera, well, unfortunately, you're going to have to shell out more cash. As much as the mid-range space of the mobile world has evolved in the past few years, it's still not on up there with the high-end in these regards. And in a way it makes sense - otherwise. it wouldn't be mid-range. The key takeaway is this: if you want flagship-grade everything, get a flagship (or, ahem, a 'flagship killer'). If not, then the Mi A2 is a very good mid-ranger that could be great for you if you can live with its shortcomings.