Looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't completely break the bank? The Realme Narzo 50i Prime and Xiaomi Redmi A2 are two contenders vying for the budget crown. Both offer essential features, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi A2 edges out the Narzo 50i Prime thanks to its slightly more powerful Helio G36 chipset, offering a smoother experience for everyday tasks. While both are budget phones, the Redmi A2's performance advantage makes it the slightly better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June 22 | 2023, March 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 27 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.1 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 164.9 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm (6.49 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) | Mediatek Helio G36 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI Go | Android 12 or 13 (Go edition), MIUI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
0.08 MP (depth) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Blue, Mint Green | Aqua Blue, Classic Black, Sea Green |
| Models | RMX3506 | 23028RN4DG, 23026RN54G |
| Price | About 90 EUR | € 59.00 / £ 54.95 |
| SAR | - | 1.10 W/kg (head) 1.01 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.90 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
Realme Narzo 50i Prime
- Clean and simple UI
- Reverse wired charging
- Decent battery life
- Less powerful chipset
- Slow charging
- Average camera performance
Xiaomi Redmi A2
- Slightly better performance
- Good battery life
- Reliable brand
- Average camera performance
- Slow charging
- Basic design
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.5-inch HD+ display, offering decent viewing angles and adequate brightness for indoor use. Color accuracy is typical for this price range, leaning towards slightly oversaturated hues. Neither phone boasts a particularly impressive display, but they are serviceable for the price.
Camera Comparison
The Narzo 50i Prime typically features a 13MP main camera, while the Redmi A2 has a 8MP main camera. Image quality on both is acceptable in good lighting conditions, but struggles in low light. Expect decent selfies from the front-facing cameras (5MP on both).
Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi A2's Mediatek Helio G36 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Realme Narzo 50i Prime's Unisoc Tiger T612. While neither is a powerhouse, the Redmi A2 handles basic apps and light multitasking more smoothly. Gaming performance on both is limited to less demanding titles.
Battery Life
Both phones pack a 5000mAh battery, promising all-day battery life with moderate usage. Charging speeds are identical at 10W wired, which is relatively slow by today's standards.
Buying Guide
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is ideal for users prioritizing a clean, simple interface and basic functionality. The Xiaomi Redmi A2 is a better fit for those who need a bit more processing power for light gaming or multitasking.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi A2 is slightly better for gaming due to its more powerful chipset, although neither phone is designed for demanding games.
❓ Do these phones have NFC?
Neither the Realme Narzo 50i Prime nor the Xiaomi Redmi A2 typically include NFC for contactless payments.
