Less than six months after Xiaomi presented the Redmi 3S, a new generation of Redmi smartphone series was revealed, consisting out of three models. One of them is Redmi 4A sporting an incredible price of just $70. Let’s see how it compares with the Redmi 3S, the affordable model released in June 2016.
Dimensions, Design
When you look at the two models, there is hardly any difference between the two. The same body, three soft keys under the display, main camera lens placed on the upper left backside, the same placement of speaker, sensors and a selfie camera on the front. The Redmi 4A and Redmi 3S look identical. Their dimensions are very similar as well. The Redmi 4A measures 139.5 x 70.4 x 8.5 mm, being only slightly wider than the Redmi 3S (139.3 x 69.6 x 8.5 mm).
Hardware, Display
Hardware-wise, the two Redmi models sport very similar chipsets. The Redmi 4A is powered by Snapdragon 425 (Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53, Adreno 308 GPU) while the Redmi 3S has a Snapdragon 430 (Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 coupled with Adreno 505 GPU). Two chipsets are almost identical, with the latter having a better GPU solution. They both feature 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of expandable internal storage (SIM 2 slot is used for an SD card).
Camera, Display
The Redmi 4A is equipped with a 13 MP (f/2.2) main camera, supporting autofocus, LED flash, and HDR. It is capable of recording 1080p@30fps videos. The selfie camera has 5 MP (f/2.2). The Redmi 3S has a 13 MP (f/2.0) main camera, offering phase detection autofocus, LED flash, and HDR. The main camera can record 1080p@30fps videos. The front facing snapper has 5 MP (f/2.2) and can record 1080p videos. The cameras are almost identical; we can say that older model has a slightly better main camera.
Both phones feature a 5-inch 720p (294 ppi pixel density) IPS LCD screens. Solid choices for entry-level devices; the size is just right although sharpness could’ve been better.
Battery, Software
The Redmi 3S features a huge 4100 mAh battery, offering up to three days of usage; the Redmi 4A has a bit smaller 3120 mAh battery, that should offer at least one whole day of usage.
Both models run under Android Marshmallow based MIUI 8. You won’t find a fingerprint sensor on either device.
Conclusion
The two Redmi models are practically the same. The Redmi 3S offers a better camera, larger battery, and a more powerful GPU, for the price of Rs 7,000 (around $105). The Redmi 4A sports a $70 price tag but is currently available only in China. If you don’t mind shelling out $35 more, and can’t wait for the Redmi 4A to become internationally available, the Redmi 3S is a better choice.