Xiaomi now has two excellent phones in the same price range. The Xiaomi Redmi 4A that has a fixed price of Rs. 5999, and the Redmi 4 that has three variants and the price starting at Rs. 6999. Since there is not a big difference in the prices, it should surely be confusing whether there are differences in the performance and other specifications that would ask you to pay more and get the Redmi 4 rather than choosing the lesser priced one.
In this comparison, let us talk about the two phones and see which one should you get in the budget range.
| Specification | Xiaomi Redmi 4A | Xiaomi Redmi 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.0 inch, 720 x 1280 pixels (~296 ppi pixel density) | 5.0 inch, 720 x 1280 pixels (~296 ppi pixel density) |
| Processor, GPU | Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425, Quad-core processor, Adreno 308 GPU | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 435, Octa-core processor, Adreno 505 GPU |
| RAM, Storage Options | 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, MicroSD expansion through SIM 2 slot | 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, MicroSD expansion through SIM 2 slot |
| Rear Camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, autofocus, LED flash, 1080p video, 5MP front with F/2.2 | 13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, 1080p video, 5MP front with F/2.2 |
| OS Version, UI | Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow), MIUI 8 | Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow), MIUI 8 |
| Battery Capacity, Charging | Non-removable Li-Ion 3120 mAh battery | Non-removable Li-Ion 4100 mAh battery, fast charging |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, 4G with VoLTE | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, 4G with VoLTE |
Specs usually don’t matter in some aspects but here, it is what shows up the difference because these two phones come from the same brand and thus, you cannot talk much about the UI here, which stays the same. Now, let’s list out the major differences that matter when it comes to the Redmi 4A and the Redmi 4.
Processor: While the Redmi 4A has the Snapdragon 425 processor powering it, the Snapdragon 435 chipset is what gives the Redmi 4 enough power to be better than the one on the Redmi 4A. And not just that, the Adreno 505 GPU is known to offer a great performing with gaming, relatively much better than one on the Redmi 4A that has the Adreno 308 GPU.
The build – Easy to say when we are talking about a plastic body vs. a metal body one, right? That’s what makes the Redmi 4 a much better choice because of that metal unibody that although adds to the weight, but makes it feel solid. It has a better shape as well and the fact that the speakers are not on the back but on the bottom frame, it doesn’t have any compromise with the sound levels when you have the phone lying on a flat surface.
Almost everything else is the same with respect to the buttons, notification LED light, cameras, sensors, and even the display size. Except for the fact that the Redmi 4 also has a beautiful 2.5D glass while the Redmi 4A doesn’t have that.
Battery – A big difference, again. Not just the capacity, but with the performance as well. The Xiaomi Redmi 4A has a 3120 mAh battery, which, for this price is a great one. But the Redmi 4 betters that with a much better capacity of 4100 mAh battery and the phone lasts for a day with ease. If we are strictly comparing battery life of these two phones, the Redmi 4 beats the 4A with over an hour of extra screen-on time on average.
So, which phone should you buy?
If you are on a really strict budget, i.e. Rs. 6000, which might already be quite a good one for you, the Redmi 4A is your choice. It really isn’t a phone with any compromise. But then, if you have no issues with the budget, there is no reason you should go for it because the Redmi 4 is a much better choice as has been mentioned in the several aspects above.
The Redmi 4 has a metal body, a fingerprint scanner, a better processor and a much better battery as well. Also, to tell you the extent of how better the device is, you won’t really find any other device that is better than the Redmi 3 in the price range of Rs. 9000. Since the newly launched phone has 2GB and 3GB RAM variants, you can choose the higher RAM variant.
