Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A review

Introduction

The Redmi series is Xiaomi's bread and butter; the company sells a boatload of these every year because these are by far some of the most affordable smartphones on the market while at the same time offering reasonable features and performance.

This year, Xiaomi has released the new Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A models, which are updates for last year's Redmi 5 and 5A. Launched at the same great prices as last year, the new models feature an updated design, larger displays, newer 12nm chipsets and a few other bells and whistles.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 specs

• Design: Polycarbonate body
• Display: 18:9, 5.45-inch, 1440x720 IPS LCD, 295 PPI, 1000:1 contrast ratio
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio P22, 8x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz, PowerVR Rogue GE8320
• Memory: 32/64GB storage (expandable up to 256GB), 3GB LPDDR3 RAM
• Rear Camera: 12MP + 5MP, f2.2, PDAF, LED flash, 1080p30 video
• Front Camera: 5MP, f2.2, 1080p30 video
• Connectivity: Dual SIM, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou, microUSB, 3.5mm audio
• Battery: 3000mAh, 5W charging
• Software: Android 8.1, MIUI 10
• Misc: Fingerprint sensor, face unlock, FM radio

Xiaomi Redmi 6A specs

• Design: Polycarbonate body
• Display: 18:9, 5.45-inch, 1440x720 IPS LCD, 295 PPI, 1000:1 contrast ratio
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22, 4x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz, PowerVR Rogue GE8300
• Memory: 16GB storage (expandable up to 256GB), 2GB LPDDR3 RAM
• Rear Camera: 13MP, f2.2, PDAF, LED flash, 1080p30 video
• Front Camera: 5MP, f2.2, 1080p30 video
• Connectivity: Dual SIM, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou, microUSB, 3.5mm audio
• Battery: 3000mAh, 5W charging
• Software: Android 8.1, MIUI 10
• Misc: Face unlock, FM radio

If the names weren't a hint already, the two phones are actually very similar, with the Redmi 6A being the cheaper of the two and featuring some key cutbacks to achieve the more aggressive pricing.

We'll be taking a look at both of these simultaneously today, pointing out the similarities and, more importantly, the differences, as we go along.

Disclaimer: You might notice that this review is shorter than usual and doesn't include some of our proprietary tests. The reason is it has been prepared and written far away from our office and test lab. Still, we think we've captured the essence of the phone in the same precise, informative and detailed way that's become our trademark. Enjoy the good read!