Amidst all the discussions around flagship phones, Redmi has taken a different approach. The company has launched the Redmi A4 below the price bracket of ₹10,000. Redmi has packed the A4 with segment-redefining features like the new Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, a 50 MP rear sensor, and a long-lasting battery, to name a few. However, I would like to clarify that the new Redmi A4 does not support NSA (non-standalone) 5G bands, which are used in Airtel’s 5G network, meaning if you are an Airtel user, then the phone would not be a good option.
Design
Redmi has paid close attention to the design, and it shows. The Redmi A4 5G comes with a Halo Sandwich design that feels modern and premium. The glass back elevates the phone’s overall aesthetics, and mine unit in the Sparkle Purple variant turned out to be a real head-turner. It manages to look eye-catching without being flashy.
The phone also comes with an IP52 certification, meaning it can withstand occasional splashes and dust. In terms of functionality, the right side houses the power button with a fingerprint sensor embedded into it, which is both fast and responsive. Just above it, you get the volume rockers, which are tactile and easy to use. On the left side, there’s a dual SIM tray along with an extra slot for a microSD card, which will come in handy for expanding storage.
At the top, Redmi has retained the beloved 3.5mm headphone jack, which is great for users who still prefer wired headphones. On the bottom, you’ll find a USB Type-C port, a speaker grille, and a microphone. Moving to the back, the phone features a circular camera module, giving it a mid-range feel that aligns with trends seen in higher-end phones.
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Display
The Redmi A4 5G comes with a 6.88-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1640×720 pixels. While it’s not a Full HD+ panel, the display does a good job of delivering vibrant colors and decent sharpness for day-to-day use. The phone features a waterdrop-style notch, which is pretty common in this segment, and it doesn’t look intrusive.
Where the Redmi A4 5G really shines is in its 120 Hz refresh rate. It’s rare to see such a smooth display in this price segment, and it makes a noticeable difference during scrolling and animations. Additionally, the 240 Hz touch sampling rate ensures the screen responds quickly to your touch, making the phone feel snappy and fluid, especially during gaming or browsing.
OS
Out of the box, the Redmi A4 5G runs on HyperOS based on Android 14. The user interface feels clean, snappy, and well-optimised for the hardware. It comes with a promise of 2 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates, which is commendable for a phone at this price point.
Processor
The Redmi A4 5G packs the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 processor, which is quite impressive for this segment. Built on a 4nm process, this chipset is efficient and delivers good performance for its price. It features 2 high-performance Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and 6 efficiency Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8GHz.
During testing, the phone handled daily tasks like messaging, social media, and web browsing with ease. Switching between apps felt smooth, thanks to the optimised software and hardware combination. The phone also performs decently in light gaming. Casual games like Subway Surfers and Call of Duty (on low settings) ran fine, but with heavier games, there were occasional frame drops and heating issues.
For benchmarking enthusiasts, the Redmi A4 5G scored 844 in single-core and 1969 in multi-core on Geekbench, which puts it ahead of most competitors in the under 10K segment. The phone is available in two configurations: 4GB/64GB and 4GB/128 GB. Furthermore, the presence of the microSD card slot ensures users can expand storage further if needed.
Camera
The Redmi A4 5G features a 50 MP primary sensor with an aperture of f/1.8 and a 5P lens. In well-lit conditions, the camera produces good-quality images with decent details and colour reproduction. While it doesn’t compete with higher-end devices, it’s certainly one of the best camera systems in its segment. Images are sharp enough for social media, though you shouldn’t expect exceptional dynamic range or razor-sharp clarity.
In low-light scenarios, the performance dips slightly, but Night Mode comes to the rescue. Enabling Night Mode helps in capturing brighter and more detailed images, which is a big plus at this price.
On the front, the Redmi A4 5G sports a 5 MP selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.2. The front camera performs decently for video calls and basic selfies, though it lacks the sharpness and detail seen in higher-end phones. Both the front and rear cameras can record video at 1080p 30fps.
Battery
The phone features a 5,160 mAh battery. With moderate usage involving social media, web browsing, and occasional streaming, the phone easily lasts a full day on a single charge. It also supports 18 W fast charging. The company has provided a 33 W charger in the box. This is a nice addition, even though the phone charges at a maximum of 18 W. It takes roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes to charge fully, which is acceptable given the battery size and the speed.
Verdict
Starting at just ₹8,499, the Redmi A4 5G is a strong contender in the entry segment, offering a modern design, a smooth 120 Hz display, a reliable Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 processor, and a 50 MP camera that performs well for its price. The phone excels in daily tasks, casual gaming, and battery life, making it one of the best value-for-money options under 10K.
However, it’s important to note that the Redmi A4 5G does not support Airtel’s 5G (NSA bands), which could be a dealbreaker for Airtel users looking for future-proof connectivity. If that’s not a concern, the Redmi A4 5G remains a good choice for budget-conscious users.
Published – December 10, 2024 12:52 pm IST
