Xiaomi launches the Mi A2 in Malaysia from RM999

The Xiaomi Mi A1 released last year epitomised the ideal of an affordable budget workhorse as it blended an efficient array of specifications at a very reasonable price. The new Xiaomi Mi A2 continues that legacy with an enhanced array of hardware at a still very reasonable price tag that clocks in at just under a grand for the mainstream model and just over a grand for the upgraded model with more storage and RAM.

At a glance, the Mi A2 upgrades everything all around over the Mi A1 as it brings to the table a larger display, a better processor as well as improved front and rear cameras. Aesthetically speaking, the Xiaomi Mi A2 is hewn from a metallic unibody alminium chassis that is 7.3mm thin while weighing about 166g which comes in one of three different hues – black, gold and blue. Two other colour variants red and a quaint shade of rose gold exist but haven’t been announced to appear in the Malaysia market anytime soon.

In terms of specifications, the Mi A2 comes with a huge 5.99-inch FHD+ touchscreen display up front with a very crisp 403ppi and a bright contrast ratio of 1,500:1, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 2.2GHz octacore processor running Android One and two different configurations of storage with a mainstream model sporting 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage and an upgunned, more premium model with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage. Storage for the Mi A2 is non-expandable as the phone only comes with a dual nano SIM card slot. Both storage variants of the Mi A2 come in all three of the aforementioned colour permutations of black, gold and blue.

The rear consists of a dual-camera array that pairs up a 12-MP Sony IMX486 sensor and a 20-MP Sony IMX376 Super Pixel camera for depth details, with both packing a bright f/1.75 aperture. The rear camera also has what is called a Super Pixel mode which quadruples the amoutn of light captured for low light snaps. For selfies, the phone comes with a front-facing 20-MP Sony f/2.2 camera paired with a front-facing soft selfie flash.

Powering the whole affair is a 3,010 mAh battery with 5V/2A fast charging via a USB Type-C port. The 4GB RAM/64GB storage varianbt is priced at RM999 and 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant is priced at RM1,199, with both variants available for purchase at the Mi Store located at KLCC starting from 3 August with availability at other Mi Stores and Mi Zones nationwide the following day.

Xiaomi also announced that the Mi A2 Lite, a more affordable phone with a 5.84-FHD notched display, a Snapdragon 625 processor, a rear 12-MP and 5-Mp dual camera, a 5-Mp selfie camera along with a huge 4,000mAh battery will also be appearing on 18 August for purchase at all Mi Stores nationwide. For Malaysia, Xiaomi will only be bringing in the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant in gold, black and blue for RM699. For more details swing by www.mi.com