Released in 2018, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ and Xiaomi Mi A2 (also known as the Mi 6X) represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market. Both devices aimed to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, but they took different approaches. The A8+ focused on Samsung’s established brand and software experience, while the Mi A2 championed a clean Android One implementation and Qualcomm’s efficient Snapdragon 660 chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device holds up better today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing software simplicity and efficient performance, the Xiaomi Mi A2 emerges as the better choice. While both phones offer similar 18W charging and battery endurance ratings, the Snapdragon 660’s architecture provides a smoother, more consistent experience, especially considering the cleaner Android One software. The A8+’s Exynos 7885 is capable, but burdened by Samsung’s heavier software skin.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, December. Released 2018, January | 2018, July 24. Released 2018, July |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm (6.25 x 2.97 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 166 g (5.86 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2220 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 91.4 cm2 (~75.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7885 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G71 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 7.1.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.9", 1.25µm
20 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.8", 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8”, 1.12µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@120fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
8 MP, f/1.9, 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired, QC3 (Global)
18W wired, QC4 (India) |
| Music play | Up to 73 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 23 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, orchid grey, gold, blue | Black, Gold, Blue, Red, Rose Gold |
| Models | SM-A730F | M1804D2SG, M1804D2SI, Mi A2, Mi 6X |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.96 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 73h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 89dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 89dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 130927 (v7), 172886 (v8)
GeekBench: 4625 (v4.4), 1157 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018)
- Samsung’s Super AMOLED display (likely)
- Dual front-facing cameras for wider selfies
- Established Samsung brand and ecosystem
- Exynos 7885 prone to throttling
- Samsung Experience software can be resource-intensive
- Potentially slower charging speeds (QC3 only)
Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X)
- Clean Android One experience
- Efficient Snapdragon 660 chipset
- Quick Charge 4.0 support (India)
- IPS LCD display (likely) may lack the contrast of AMOLED
- Less brand recognition compared to Samsung
- 2MP macro camera is largely a gimmick
Display Comparison
Neither Samsung nor Xiaomi provided detailed display specs in the provided data. However, given the A8+'s positioning, it likely featured a Super AMOLED panel, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mi A2 likely used an IPS LCD. While peak brightness isn't specified, Samsung's AMOLED technology generally offers superior contrast. The A8+'s larger size (implied by the '+' designation) suggests a more immersive viewing experience, but the Mi A2’s IPS panel might offer better color accuracy for content creation. Bezels were a key design element in 2018, and both phones likely competed in minimizing them.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specifics are lacking. The Mi A2 likely benefited from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 660, known for its strong image processing algorithms. Samsung’s A8+ would rely on its own ISP. Without sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Mi A2’s software optimization and Qualcomm’s ISP likely resulted in more consistent image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the Mi A2 is unlikely to significantly impact overall camera performance, serving more as a marketing feature.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi A2’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (14nm) utilizes a Kryo 260 core configuration – 4x2.2 GHz Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Silver – designed for a balance of performance and efficiency. The Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) employs the Exynos 7885 (14nm) with a big.LITTLE architecture: 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 and 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53. While both are octa-core and fabricated on the same 14nm process, the Snapdragon 660’s Kryo cores generally offer better sustained performance and thermal management. The A8+'s Exynos chip, coupled with Samsung’s heavier software, is more prone to throttling under sustained load. The Mi A2’s Android One implementation minimizes background processes, further enhancing its responsiveness.
Battery Life
Both the Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) and Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X) share an endurance rating of 73 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life. Both support 18W wired charging. However, the Mi A2’s support for Quick Charge 3.0 (QC3) globally and Quick Charge 4.0 (QC4) in India provides a potential advantage. QC4 offers improved efficiency and faster charging speeds compared to QC3, meaning Indian Mi A2 users could experience significantly quicker 0-100% charge times. The Snapdragon 660’s efficiency also contributes to the Mi A2’s strong endurance despite potentially having a smaller battery capacity (not specified).
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) if you specifically prefer Samsung’s user interface, features like the dual front-facing cameras, and are comfortable with a potentially more resource-intensive software experience. Buy the Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X) if you value a clean, bloatware-free Android experience, efficient performance from the Snapdragon 660, and potentially faster charging speeds (depending on region – QC4 in India).
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 7885 in the Galaxy A8+ overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Exynos 7885 is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly during graphically intensive games. The 14nm process and Samsung’s software contribute to this issue, potentially leading to reduced frame rates and a less enjoyable gaming experience compared to the Mi A2’s Snapdragon 660.
❓ Is the Android One software on the Mi A2 still receiving updates in 2023?
No, the Xiaomi Mi A2 reached its end-of-life for official Android updates. However, the clean Android One implementation remains relatively secure and stable, and the device is still capable of running many modern apps. Custom ROMs are available for users who wish to continue receiving updates.
❓ Does the Mi A2 support USB-C Power Delivery (PD)?
While the Mi A2 supports 18W charging via Quick Charge, it does not natively support USB-C Power Delivery. Using a PD charger will still charge the device, but at the standard 5W rate unless a QC-compatible charger is used.
