Xiaomi will launch the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite in Madrid, Spain today
At an event today in Madrid in Spain Xiaomi will launch the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite phones. This is a global launch and that is one of the reasons why Xiaomi, which usually launches its phones in China, has opted for Madrid to showcase its newest devices. The phones succeed the Xiaomi Mi A1, which was a big success in India. Just like the Mi A1, the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite will also use Android One and will come with stock aka pure version of Android Oreo 8.1 software.
Unlike the Mi A1 series phones, Xiaomi’s other devices, including popular Redmi Note 5 and flagship Mi 8, come with the company’s MIUI operating system, which uses Android as base but looks and works very differently.
In the last few days, Xiaomi has teased the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite big time on social media. Although it hasn’t revealed any particular specifics of the two Android One phones, the devices have been leaked. Also, many of the details about the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite are known because the two phones are based on Xiaomi phones that have already been launched in China. The difference is that the phones launched in China run MIUI and not Android One.
Given that this is a global launch – the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite will go on sale in India as well as in European Countries — Xiaomi is holding the event in Madrid, Spain. The event starts at 11AM local time, which means in India you will see it from 2.30PM. Well, a little late in the day but not as late as the iPhone events, which we have to see from India at 11PM in night.
Given that this is not a launch happening in China, it also means that Xiaomi will live stream the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite launch on Facebook and YouTube (in China both websites are banned). But not in Spain so you get the livestream. To watch the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite launch on YouTube, go here.
To watch the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite launch on Facebook, try this.
Ahead of the launch, the Mi A 2 and the Mi A2 Lite were listed on some European e-retail sites. The prices that were listed against the two phones seem somewhat on the higher side. And they are all over the place.
According to a website that goes by the name QuickMobile, the Xiaomi Mi A2 will cost RON 1,288 (roughly Rs 22,200) for the 4GB RAM and 32GB storage version while the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage version will be available for RON 1,424 (roughly Rs 24,600) in Romania. The Mi A2 Lite on the other hand will cost RON 943 (roughly Rs 16,200) for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage version while the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage version of the phone will cost RON 1,143 (roughly Rs 19,700). Again the prices are from Romania.
Then we have another leak, again from Romania. And the prices on this occasion are even higher.
This time a website called PCGarage says that the Xiaomi Mi A2 will cost RON 1,400 (roughly Rs 24,200) for the 4GB RAM and 32GB storage version while the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage version will be available for RON 1,600 (roughly Rs 27,600). The Mi A2 Lite on the other hand will cost RON 1,000 (roughly Rs 17,200) for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage version while the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage version of the phone will cost RON 1,200 (roughly Rs 20,700).
We think these are Romanian prices and have no bearings on the price of the Mi A2 and the price of the Mi A2 Lite in India. In India, the two phones will be priced cheaper. Here is the thing: The Mi A2 is basically a rebranded Xiaomi Mi 6X and the Mi A2 Lite is rebranded Redmi 6 Pro. These devices seem to carry global price of around Euros 240 and Euros 150.
In India, Xiaomi is usually very aggressive about its prices. So, the Mi A2 we suspect is going to cost Rs 19,999 whereas the starting price for the Mi A2 Lite is going to be either Rs 14,999 or Rs 15,999.
But one thing is certain that the Mi A2 will cost more than what the Mi A1 did at its launch. That phone launched with a price of Rs 14,999. It is because the Mi A2 is going to be more expensive that Xiaomi is launching the Mi A2 Lite as well this time. The idea is that those who are looking for a Mi A1 price for a Mi A2 phone will be able to pick the Lite variant.
As far as the India launch of the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 Lite is concerned, expect it soon. The Mi A series is very important for Xiaomi – particularly after success of the Mi A1 and due to challenge from Nokia – so the company will launch the Mi A2 and the Mi A2 either within a week or before August 10.
Did we say that the Xiaomi Mi A2 is basically the Xiaomi Mi 6X running Android One instead of MIUI? Well, we did. This also means that the Mi A2 is going to be a phone with 5.99-inch screen, which will have FullHD+ resolution. It will also have dual-camera setup with one main camera using 12-megapixel image sensor and the secondary camera sporting a 20-megapixel sensor. On the front there is expected to be a 20-megapixel camera. Then there is going to be an all-glass and metal body, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3010mAh battery, Snapdragon 660 processor, weight of 168 grams, 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM variants with up to 128GB storage (India may get variant with only up to 64GB storage) and a thickness of around 7.3mm.
Compared to the Mi A2, the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is expected to be light only in name. It is going to be the rebranded Redmi 6 Pro or in other words, the Redmi 6 Pro running stock Android Oreo out of the box. The Mi A2 Lite is actually going to be heavier with weight of around 178 grams. The phone is likely to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor (Xiaomi loves this chip), and will have up to 4GB RAM and up to 64GB internal storage. It is likely to come with 5.84-inch screen with FullHD+ resolution, two rear cameras – the primary one with 12-megapixel sensor and the secondary one with 5-megapixel sensor – and a 5-megapixel front camera. The Mi A2 Lite is also expected to come with a large 4000 mAh battery.
