It maintains a very similar design to its previous versions. It comes in a white box with an image of part of the terminal in different colors. On the back are the most relevant specifications, the quality, recycling seals, the IMEI numbers, and the “Android One” logo. They also mention that it is compatible with Google Assistant.
Inside there is a small cardboard box where the pin is to access the nano-SIM, the warranty card, the multilanguage quick start guide, and a transparent TPU case. Below and above the European charger from 5V to 2A (10W) and the 1-meter-long cable is the Xiaomi Mi A3.
Design and Screen
In this new generation, they have created a smartphone with a more careful design and aluminum alloys that give it a beautiful finish. This Mi A3 is 71.9 mm long x 153.5 mm high x 8.5 mm thick and weighs 174 grams, which provides excellent ergonomics, mainly thanks to its smaller size.
It has a 6.09-inch AMOLED panel manufactured by Samsung and HD+ resolution (1560 x720 pixels) that makes it have a low density of pixels per inch of only 282. The functional surface of the terminal is 82%.
At this point, which has been vital for Xiaomi in the past generations of the MiA range, I do not understand why they have put a screen of this resolution. I think it is a severe error on the manufacturer’s part and that it can cost you dearly. Having terminals with similar features but with a better screen, it does not cross my mind to recommend this one.
The front part is all screen without physical buttons, with reasonably considered edges. Above the “drop type notch” is the speakerphone that sounds good. Above the front camera is the white notification LED.
The slot to access the nano SIM and microSD card holder are on the left. On the right is the typical volume up and down button followed by the lock button, all of them made of metal.
At the bottom, we find the USB type C connector and the microphone and speaker on each side. On the upper side is the 3.5mm headphone jack, the noise-canceling microphone, and the infrared LED to use the smartphone as a remote control. In the same way that it happened with past models, I have not seen that the phone includes any application to be able to use it. I will recommend Xiaomi’s Mi Remote, which you will find in the Google Play application store for free. It is straightforward to use.
In the back, how could it be otherwise? It maintains the aesthetic that characterizes the latest Xiaomi devices, with the triple camera in the left corner placed vertically and an LED flash below.
Software
One of the most characteristic and striking aspects of this family of smartphones is that it comes with Android One, a clean customization layer provided by Google itself that offers two years of operating system updates and three years of security updates. Specifically, this Xiaomi Mi A3 has the Android 9 Pie version. I have received some updates in the short time I have had it.
It has all the languages that have been and will be, such as Spanish, English, German, Portuguese, French, etc.
In addition to Google services and the Google Play app store, it comes with other applications such as Youtube, Drive, Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Photos, etc. This time Xiaomi has not wanted to add more applications, something that, from my point of view, is perfect.
The settings menu has a new one that few manufacturers were incorporating. One of the only ones that had implemented it was OnePlus. This setting is called “Digital Wellbeing,” and it gives you precisely some parameters of the use you give to this Mi A3.
It has a multi-user system, with which you can have different accounts within the same Android terminal with different configurations and applications. It includes gestures on the screen, however, and as you may have seen in the images, the entire screen is not used for applications. There is a small lower strip where the gestures are made. Accustomed to those of MIUI, I see this type of gesture as a bit absurd.
Another thing that is interesting to know is if it can play Netflix content in HD. Thanks to the Widevine L1 encryption codec that will help process the online video, it can access the device’s hardware and play the content in high definition. However, anticipating In the review, it must be taken into account that its screen is HD +; therefore, it will not be possible to view higher resolution content. I have passed the Malwarebytes antivirus, and it has not detected any virus that could risk the user’s security.
Camera
In this new generation, Xiaomi has provided this Mi A3 with a triple camera and a powerful LED flash. – The primary sensor is the already widely used Sony IMX486 Exmor Rs 48 megapixel sensor with a 1.79 focal aperture with which excellent photographs are achieved. – The secondary sensor is a wide angle of 8 megapixels and a focal aperture of 2.2 – And the third sensor is only 2 megapixels prepared to achieve depth in portrait mode.
The front camera uses a 32-megapixel Samsung S5KGD1 sensor with a 2.0 focal aperture.
The video camera allows recording at a maximum resolution of 4K at 30 FPS which, thanks to the digital image stabilizer, will help improve the shots. It also has fast motion video mode (time-lapse) and slow motion (slow motion) at 240 frames per second.
The camera application is the same one that usually includes all Xiaomi, and it is simple and comfortable to use. It has different shooting modes and filters with which to try to get a good result. Below are the screenshots of this application.
