The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (also known as the Redmi 6 Pro) and the Nokia 3.4. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite boasts exceptional battery life and a surprisingly good display for its price. However, the Nokia 3.4 offers a more modern chipset and a cleaner Android experience. Ultimately, the Mi A2 Lite wins for battery, while the 3.4 edges ahead in performance and software.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 13, 28, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, July. Released 2018, July | 2020, September 22. Released 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 149.3 x 71.7 x 8.8 mm (5.88 x 2.82 x 0.35 in) | 161 x 76 x 8.7 mm (6.34 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.84 inches, 85.1 cm2 (~79.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12, Android One | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/2.2, 1.25 μm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 13 MP, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, aptX |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio (after SW update to Android 9.0) | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Gold, Rose Gold, Red | Fjord, Dusk, Charcoal |
| Models | M1805D1SG | TA-1288, TA-1285, TA-1283 |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.15 W/kg (body) | 0.83 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.47 W/kg (body) | 0.36 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 106h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1268:1 (nominal), 3.087 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 86dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 77964 (v7)
GeekBench: 4388 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 3.4fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (Redmi 6 Pro)
- Exceptional battery life
- Bright and readable display
- Good value for money
- Compact design
- Older chipset
- Slightly dated design
- Camera performance can be inconsistent
Nokia 3.4
- Modern chipset for smoother performance
- Clean Android experience
- Triple camera system
- Guaranteed software updates
- Battery life not as impressive as Mi A2 Lite
- Display contrast ratio not specified
- Can feel slightly bulky
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite features a 6.21-inch IPS LCD display with a decent 1268:1 contrast ratio and impressive sunlight readability (3.087). The Nokia 3.4 has a 6.39-inch IPS LCD, but lacks specific contrast ratio data. While both offer adequate viewing experiences, the Mi A2 Lite's sunlight performance gives it a slight edge.
Camera Comparison
The Mi A2 Lite typically features a dual-camera setup (12MP + 5MP) and a 8MP front camera. The Nokia 3.4 has a triple-camera setup (13MP + 5MP + 2MP) and a 8MP front camera. While megapixel counts aren't everything, the Nokia 3.4's additional lens and newer image processing algorithms generally result in better image quality, especially in low light. Both offer decent video recording capabilities.
Performance
Here's where the Nokia 3.4 pulls ahead. Its Snapdragon 460 chipset (11nm) is significantly more modern and efficient than the Mi A2 Lite's Snapdragon 625 (14nm). The Nokia 3.4's octa-core CPU with Cortex-A73 cores provides a noticeable performance boost for multitasking and demanding apps. The Mi A2 Lite's CPU is still capable, but shows its age.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is the clear winner in this category. Its endurance rating of 106 hours is exceptional. The Nokia 3.4 has a 4470 mAh battery, which is respectable, but doesn't match the Mi A2 Lite's longevity. This makes the Mi A2 Lite a great choice for heavy users.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (Redmi 6 Pro) is ideal for users prioritizing long battery life and a bright display on a tight budget. The Nokia 3.4 is a better choice for those who value a smoother user experience, a more modern processor, and guaranteed software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better performance?
The Nokia 3.4 has a more modern chipset (Snapdragon 460) and generally offers better performance for multitasking and demanding apps.
❓ Is the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite still worth buying?
Yes, if battery life is your top priority and you're on a very tight budget, the Mi A2 Lite remains a compelling option.