Wiko Y81 vs Xiaomi Mi A3: Which Budget Champion Reigns?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Wiko Y81 and the Xiaomi Mi A3. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Mi A3 emerges as the clear winner. While the Wiko Y81 is a decent entry-level option, the Mi A3 boasts a significantly more powerful processor, better camera capabilities, and a longer-lasting battery, all while maintaining a competitive price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	Wiko Y81	Xiaomi Mi A3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2020, August 18. Released 2020, August 18	2019, July 17. Released 2019, July 24
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions	157.9 x 76.1 x 8.3 mm (6.22 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)	153.5 x 71.9 x 8.5 mm (6.04 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	166 g (5.86 oz)	173.8 g (6.14 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density)	720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~282 ppi density)
Size	6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.09 inches, 91.0 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
Chipset	Mediatek MT6761D Helio A20 (12 nm)	Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
GPU	PowerVR GE8300	Adreno 610
OS	Android 10 (Go edition)	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Android One

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	32GB 2GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	13 MP, AF	-
Triple	-	48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP	32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	-	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired, QC3
Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh	Li-Po 4030 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Deep Blue, Gold, Green	Kind of Gray, Not just Blue, More than White
Models	-	M1906F9SH, M1906F9SI
Price	About 80 EUR	About 230 EUR
SAR	-	0.53 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.56 W/kg (head) 1.61 W/kg (body)	0.30 W/kg (head) 1.10 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 101h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 74dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
Performance	-	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2345Basemark X: 17948

Wiko Y81

Stylish Design
Affordable Price
Decent Display (likely IPS)

Weak Performance
Limited Camera Capabilities
Shorter Battery Life
Outdated Chipset

Xiaomi Mi A3

Powerful Snapdragon 665 Processor
Excellent Battery Life
Good Camera Performance
Fast Charging (18W)
Clean Android Experience

Design may be less striking than Y81
Display brightness could be higher

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi A3's display, while measured at 363 nits, benefits from an 'infinite' contrast ratio, providing richer colors and deeper blacks. The Wiko Y81 likely has a standard IPS LCD, but brightness and color accuracy details are scarce. The Mi A3 generally offers a superior viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi A3's camera system is generally considered superior. While both offer photo and video capabilities, the Mi A3's Snapdragon 665 includes a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) for better image processing and low-light performance. The Y81's camera is adequate for basic snapshots but lacks the Mi A3's versatility.

Performance

The Xiaomi Mi A3's Snapdragon 665 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Wiko Y81's Helio A20. The Mi A3's octa-core processor and 11nm manufacturing process provide significantly faster performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding apps. The Y81's quad-core processor struggles with heavier workloads.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi A3 shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 101 hours. The Wiko Y81's battery capacity is likely smaller, and its battery life is expected to be considerably shorter. The Mi A3's 18W fast charging is also a bonus.

Buying Guide

The Wiko Y81 is ideal for users prioritizing a stylish design and basic functionality on a very tight budget. The Xiaomi Mi A3 is a better choice for those seeking a smoother performance, a more capable camera, and extended battery life, even with a slightly higher price.