Redmi A4 5G review: An excellent budget smartphone, except for one major flaw

A big, beautiful, fund smartphone

The ample display, contempt its little solution is large for contented consumption. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

The Redmi A4 5G is simply a ample smartphone featuring a 6.88-inch HD+ (720p) show with a accelerated 120Hz refresh complaint and a water-drop notch—a plan item I haven’t seen successful years. Despite being a fund device, it has a premium solid sandwich design. However, I would person preferred a polycarbonate backmost sheet implicit glass, arsenic it could person reduced the phone’s hefty 212-gram weight.

The circular camera land connected the backmost gives the Redmi A4 a premium look reminiscent of Xiaomi’s flagship, the 14 Ultra. It besides includes essentials similar a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD paper slot, features expected successful fund smartphones. While the Redmi A4 5G looks and feels large successful hand, it is somewhat slippery and prone to smudges—especially the sparkle purple variant—when utilized without a case.

Using societal media, watching reels feels similar a breeze

Apps similar Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram enactment conscionable fine. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

In the past, I person seen galore fund phones struggling to implicit basal smartphone needs specified arsenic browsing the web, streaming videos, and playing elemental games. As 1 tends to adhd much apps, the telephone gets slower, but this is not the lawsuit with the Redmi A4. I was pleasantly amazed that the telephone tin grip a spot of multitasking with ease. I was capable to swiftly power betwixt assorted societal media apps specified arsenic Instagram, Facebook, X, and WhatsApp. Although immoderate apps did reload occasionally, I didn’t brushwood important stuttering oregon lag.

That said, the display’s 720p solution is simply a noticeable drawback. On the 6.88-inch screen, the little pixel density is evident, peculiarly for users accustomed to higher-resolution displays. Still, for those upgrading from a fund 4G smartphone oregon buying their archetypal device, this won’t beryllium a large issue. On a affirmative note, the mono talker astatine the bottommost is amazingly large and delivers wide audio adjacent astatine precocious volumes.

Android 14-based HyperOS connected the Redmi A4 is feature-rich and smooth, offering plentifulness of customisation options. However, the telephone does battalion a spot of bloatware, and immoderate third-party apps thin to propulsion notifications, which tin beryllium disabled, but it is so a spot of work.

Cameras that bash their job

Redmi A4 5G camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express) Redmi A4 5G camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express) Redmi A4 5G camera sample. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

I didn’t person precocious expectations for the cameras connected the Redmi A4, but the 50 MP superior shooter performs admirably. The 5MP selfie camera is capable for video calls and daytime selfies, delivering decent results for its terms point.

Here are immoderate camera samples consecutive from the Redmi A4 5G camera:

Minor details that marque a immense difference

The telephone has everything that 1 wants from an entry-level smartphone. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Some of the smallest features connected the Redmi A4 marque it a applicable smartphone, including the side-mounted fingerprint sensor and FM radio. In fact, if you don’t person wired headphones to link to section radio, determination is besides enactment for streaming, and if you person a Jio 5G pack, you tin bask vigor stations from crossed the world.

The phone’s 5,160 mAh artillery with 18W accelerated charging enactment is different highlight. It easy lasts 2 days connected a azygous complaint with regular use, and the included accelerated charger is simply a invited addition.

Verdict: A well-packed 5G smartphone that works for fractional of India

A 5G telephone that lone works connected Jio network. (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Unlike astir 5G phones that person launched successful caller years, the Redmi A4, powered by the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, lone supports a standalone (SA) 5G network. This means the telephone is lone compatible with Jio’s 5G web and volition not enactment connected Airtel 5G based connected non-standalone (NSA) technology. In fact, the upcoming 5G work by Vi is besides NSA, and the Redmi A4 volition not beryllium compatible with that arsenic well. Hence, the Redmi A4 is simply a Jio-only 5G smartphone successful India.

This regulation means the Redmi A4 is not a viable enactment for Airtel users oregon those looking to future-proof their instrumentality for broader 5G compatibility. However, for Jio customers seeking an affordable 5G smartphone, the Redmi A4 5G is an fantabulous prime that delivers coagulated show and value.