The entry level segment is a very interesting one because manufacturers are always trying to offer customers a nice blend of price to performance. In this article we’ll compare the Redmi A3 vs Redmi A2+ and see if it’s worth the upgrade. Both phones are entry level devices from Chinese tech giants Xiaomi. The Redmi A3 is the direct successor to the Redmi A2+ and the Redmi A1+.

I was recently contacted by someone who was interested in knowing if they should get the Redmi A3 over the Redmi A2+. I immediately raised the alarm that both phones are entry level, and are not fit for heavy use. In a rather uncharacteristic turn of events , he stopped me and said that he knew.

What he was looking for was a second phone to drive his daily needs. He already has a very capable high end phone but since he tends to go home late, he wanted a secondary device to take out with him. His main device would be safe at home. So even if the “real owners” accost and dispossess him of this device, he would have lost nothing. I told him that I completely understood. Let the comparison begin.

Redmi A3 Vs Redmi A2+: Key specifications

Specs Redmi A3 Redmi A2+
Body 192g, plastic frame 193g, plastic frame
SoC MediaTek Helio G36 MediaTek Helio G36
RAM 4GB, 6GB (LPPDR4X) 2GB, 3GB, 4GB, 6GB (LPPDR4X)
Storage 128GB (eMMC 5.1) 32GB, 64GB, 128GB (eMMC 5.1)
Software Android 14, MIUI 14 Android 13, MIUI 13
Display 6.71″ 720p IPS-LCD, 90Hz, Gorilla glass 3 6.7″ 720p IPS-LCD, 60Hz
Camera (rear)
  • 8MP
  • 0.08MP
  • 8MP
  • 0.08MP
Selfie 5MP selfie 5MP Selfie
Video 1080p@30fps 1080p@30fps
Battery 5000mAh, 10W charge 5000mAh, 10W charge
Audio Loudspeaker, 3.5mm jack Loudspeaker, 3.5mm jack
Comms 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 5, USB-C, OTG 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5, WiFi 5, OTG
Sensors Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Acc., light and proximity sensors Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, Acc., light and proximity sensors
AnTuTu 127,000 127,000

So let’s look at these two entry level Xiaomi phones indepth and see if the leaps of the A3 are worth choosing it over the older A2+

Body

Both phones are made with a plastic frame and a plastic back. I have read that some Redmi A3 models have glass backs but I am yet to see any physically. Both phones weigh around 193g and lack any sort of dust or water protection.

Display

For the display, they both use a 720p IPS-LCD with roughly 450-500 nits of brightness. However it may interest you to know that the A3 has got an improved 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It has also got a slight larger display as well (6.71″ to 6.52″).

Would the advertised 90Hz refresh rate, larger display and Gorilla 3 be enough to make you pick the A3 over the A2+?

Performance

Both phones use the same MediaTek Helio G36 entry level SoC so they should both have the same level of performance.

I have seen a lot of people picking up Redmi A2 and trying to play eFootball mobile or wanting to play PUBG or CoDM on mid settings. The surprise Pikachu face that they pull when I explain what entry level means is always funny. Please note, the Redmi A3 cannot play eFootball because it only has 32-bit Android software. With that being said, the Redmi A3 can handle other games like PUBG Mobile or CoDM at low settings.

The key difference here is that the Redmi A3 has Android 14 whilst the older A2+ had Android 13. Personally this does not mean much to me but I have encountered people for whom, it is a deal breaker.

RAM/Storage

They both use the same LPPDR4X RAM and eMMC 5.1 storage so don’t expect snappy multitasking and file transfer. It’s decent enough to get you through your day.

The A2+ offers 2GB, 3GB and 4GB RAM variants with 32GB, 64GB and 128GB of eMMC storage. The A3 offers 4GB and 6GB of RAM with 128GB of eMMC storage.

Cameras and video

The setup on the Redmi A3 is identical to that of the Redmi A2+. There’s a 5MP selfie on the front and an 8MP main camera on the back. They’re also both capable of 1080p video.

If you have seen my review of the Redmi A2+, then you’ll have a good idea of their photo and video capabilities.

Battery

They both have a 5000mAh battery with 10W of normal charge. No fast charge here. The battery life here is quite impressive of you use it for regular stuff.

I have seen this phone go two days on a single charge on regular use. By regular use I mean candy crush, cooking fever, WhatsApp, Facebook etc.

For network and connectivity

Both phones are 4G phones with Cat. 7 LTE modems so there’s that. There’s WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5 here. That’s mostly where the similarities end. The Redmi A3 has side mounted Fingerprint sensor and a USB C port. The Redmi A2+ uses a rear fingerprint sensor and a micro USB port.

Prices

Let’s end up with the current prices. The Redmi A2+ (3+64GB) sells for around 94k Naira while the the Redmi A3 (3+64GB) sells for around 98,900 (Naira).

Conclusion

This Redmi A3 Vs Redmi A2+ comparison has been very close with very little to separate them. So seeing as it is that the prices are quite close, I would very much recommend the A3 over the A2+ which I have handled extensively.

It’s got:

  • Screen protection (GG3)
  • 90Hz Refresh Rate (which I don’t care much about)
  • Newer Android 14 version
  • USB C
  • Side mounted Fingerprint sensor

So which one would you recommend for those who are split between both devices?

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