The Tecno Camon 15 Air and Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport represent the fiercely competitive sub-$150 smartphone market. Both devices aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at an accessible price point, but they differ in their core processing power and feature sets. This comparison dives deep into the nuances of their Mediatek chipsets and overall capabilities to determine which phone offers the best experience for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport emerges as the slightly better choice. While both phones utilize Mediatek’s Helio series, the Redmi 9A Sport’s Helio G25, with its dual-core configuration at a higher clock speed, provides a noticeable performance edge in multitasking and light gaming, justifying its slight price premium.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 13. Released 2020, April 13 | 2021, September 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, September 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 76.5 x 9 mm (6.48 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 10, HIOS 6.0 | Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lenses | - |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@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 | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Stand-by | Up to 384 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h (3G) | - |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Malachite Blue, Ice lake Blue, Misty Gray | Carbon Black, Coral Green, Metallic Blue |
| Models | CD6, CD6S | - |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 100 EUR |
Tecno Camon 15 Air
- Potentially lower price point
- Reliable Mediatek Helio P22 chipset for basic tasks
- Likely similar battery life to the Redmi 9A Sport
- Less powerful processor compared to the Helio G25
- May struggle with multitasking and demanding apps
- Potentially slower image processing
Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport
- More powerful Mediatek Helio G25 chipset
- Improved performance for multitasking and light gaming
- Slightly better GPU for smoother graphics
- May be slightly more expensive than the Tecno Camon 15 Air
- 10W charging is relatively slow
- Similar camera performance to the Camon 15 Air in ideal conditions
Display Comparison
Neither Tecno nor Xiaomi provide detailed display specifications beyond the basic resolution. However, given the price bracket, both likely utilize IPS LCD panels. The key difference lies under the hood. The Redmi 9A Sport’s Helio G25 includes a slightly more capable GPU, which *could* translate to marginally smoother scrolling and transitions, though this is unlikely to be dramatically noticeable. Both phones will likely suffer from limited outdoor visibility due to lower peak brightness levels typical of this segment.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are expected to feature basic camera setups geared towards casual photography. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Redmi 9A Sport’s slightly more powerful processor *could* contribute to faster image processing speeds. It’s crucial to note that the prevalence of 2MP macro and depth sensors in this price range often delivers minimal real-world benefit; focusing on the main sensor’s quality is more important. Expect similar image quality in good lighting conditions, but the Redmi 9A Sport may exhibit slightly better performance in low-light scenarios due to its more capable ISP.
Performance
The core distinction between these phones is their chipset. The Tecno Camon 15 Air features the Mediatek Helio P22, an octa-core processor with eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. The Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport, however, utilizes the Helio G25. While also an octa-core processor, the G25 employs a big.LITTLE architecture with four Cortex-A53 cores at 2.0 GHz and *four* Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5 GHz. This configuration allows the G25 to dynamically allocate processing power, offering better efficiency and responsiveness during moderate workloads. The G25’s GPU is also a step up, providing a slight advantage in graphics-intensive tasks. This benefits users who play casual games or use graphically demanding apps.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified in the provided data. However, both phones likely feature batteries in the 4000-5000 mAh range, typical for this segment. The Redmi 9A Sport includes 10W wired charging, which is standard for budget devices. While not fast charging by any means, it will provide a reasonable recharge time for overnight use. The Helio G25’s improved efficiency *could* translate to slightly longer battery life under moderate usage, but this difference will likely be marginal.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Camon 15 Air if your primary needs are basic smartphone functions like calling, texting, and light social media browsing, and you prioritize a potentially lower price. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 9A Sport if you anticipate more demanding tasks like occasional gaming, running multiple apps simultaneously, or require slightly faster overall responsiveness. The G25 chipset offers a tangible benefit for these use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Redmi 9A Sport handle games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile?
While the Helio G25 can run these games, expect to play at the lowest graphics settings and potentially experience frame drops. It's suitable for casual gaming, but not for a demanding, high-fidelity experience. The Camon 15 Air will struggle even more with these titles.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Helio P22 and Helio G25 noticeable in everyday use?
For basic tasks like browsing and social media, the difference is minimal. However, when opening multiple apps, switching between them, or performing more complex operations, the Redmi 9A Sport’s Helio G25 will feel noticeably snappier and more responsive.
❓ Which phone is better for watching videos and streaming content?
Both phones will provide a satisfactory experience for video playback, assuming the content resolution matches the display resolution. The slightly more capable GPU in the Redmi 9A Sport *might* offer marginally smoother playback of higher-resolution videos, but the difference is unlikely to be significant.
❓ Does the Redmi 9A Sport support fast charging?
No, the Redmi 9A Sport only supports 10W wired charging, which is a standard, slower charging speed. Expect a full charge to take around 2-3 hours.
