Redmi A3X: In the ever-evolving landscape of budget smartphones, Xiaomi has consistently managed to carve out a significant niche with its Redmi A-series.

Released in May 2024, the Redmi A3X represents the company’s latest attempt to capture the entry-level market with a blend of decent specifications and an affordable price tag.

But in a segment where compromises are inevitable, does the A3X strike the right balance between cost-cutting and usability? Let’s dive deep into what makes this phone tick, where it shines, and where it falls short.

First Impressions and Design

The Redmi A3X makes a surprisingly good first impression for a budget device. Gone are the days when entry-level meant purely plastic construction and cheap aesthetics.

The A3X sports a glass back with a circular camera module accented by a metallic ring—gold on the Midnight Black and Aurora Green variants, silver on the Moonlight White version. This design choice gives the phone a more premium look than its price point might suggest.

At 168.4 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm and weighing 199 grams, the A3X isn’t the most compact or lightweight phone on the market. However, its heft contributes to a solid in-hand feel that many budget devices lack.

The glass on both the front and back is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which should provide decent resistance against minor scratches and bumps—a thoughtful inclusion at this price point.

The sides of the phone are plastic, with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button on the right edge. The bottom houses a USB-C port (a welcome upgrade from the micro-USB ports still found on some budget devices), a speaker grille, and a 3.5mm headphone jack—the latter being increasingly rare even in some higher-end smartphones.

Overall, the design punches above its weight class, offering the look and feel of a more expensive device despite its budget-friendly price tag.

Display: Surprising Quality

The Redmi A3X features a 6.71-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1650 pixels.

While this resolution might seem low by today’s standards (resulting in a pixel density of around 268 PPI), it’s a reasonable compromise for battery life in the budget segment.

What’s more impressive is the inclusion of a 90Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling and navigating the UI noticeably smoother than the 60Hz displays still common at this price point.

The display also incorporates DC dimming technology, which reduces eye strain during extended usage—another thoughtful addition rarely seen in entry-level devices.

The screen achieves a respectable 500 nits of peak brightness, which is adequate for indoor use but might struggle slightly under direct sunlight.

Color reproduction is decent for an LCD panel, though naturally lacks the vibrance and contrast of the AMOLED displays found in more expensive phones.

A waterdrop notch at the top houses the front-facing camera, while the bezels—particularly the chin—are noticeable but not excessively thick for a phone in this category. The overall screen-to-body ratio is approximately 82.9%, which is perfectly acceptable for a budget device.

Performance: The Compromise Zone

At the heart of the Redmi A3X lies the Unisoc T603 chipset—a budget-oriented processor that represents perhaps the phone’s most significant compromise.

Built on a 22nm process (when many competitors have moved to 12nm or better), this octa-core processor delivers basic performance for everyday tasks but shows its limitations when pushed harder.

The phone comes in two configurations: 3GB RAM with 64GB storage, or 4GB RAM with 128GB storage. Both variants use LPDDR4X RAM and eMMC 5.1 storage—the latter being notably slower than the UFS storage found in mid-range and flagship devices.

For basic tasks like messaging, social media browsing, and video streaming, the A3X performs adequately.

The interface generally remains responsive, though you might notice occasional stutters when switching between apps or scrolling through content-heavy feeds.

The 90Hz refresh rate helps mask some of these performance hiccups, creating an impression of fluidity even when the processor is struggling.

Xiaomi has implemented a RAM expansion feature that can virtually extend the RAM by borrowing from the internal storage—up to 8GB total with the 4GB RAM variant. While this doesn’t match the performance of actual physical RAM, it does help with basic multitasking scenarios.

Gaming performance is where the limitations become most apparent. Simple 2D games run fine, but more demanding titles require significant graphics compromises and still might exhibit frame drops.

This isn’t surprising for the price point, but it’s worth noting for potential buyers with gaming aspirations.

Benchmark scores place the Redmi A3X firmly in the entry-level category, with AnTuTu scores typically hovering around the 150,000-180,000 mark—significantly below mid-range offerings but acceptable for basic smartphone use.

Camera Capabilities: Basic But Functional

The camera system on the Redmi A3X is straightforward: an 8MP main camera accompanied by a 0.08MP auxiliary lens on the rear, and a 5MP selfie camera on the front.

This setup isn’t going to challenge flagship camera systems, but it can deliver decent results in good lighting conditions.

The main 8MP sensor produces acceptable daytime photos with adequate detail and color reproduction. Dynamic range is limited, with highlights often being blown out in high-contrast scenes.

In low light, noise becomes quite pronounced, and detail preservation suffers significantly—though this is expected at this price point.

The auxiliary lens doesn’t add much to the photography experience, primarily serving to enable basic depth effects for portrait mode shots. These can look reasonable in good lighting but often exhibit edge detection issues around hair and other complex outlines.

The 5MP selfie camera delivers serviceable self-portraits in well-lit environments, though detail and dynamic range are notably limited.

Video capabilities are basic, with both front and rear cameras supporting 1080p recording at 30fps. The footage is usable but lacks stabilization, resulting in shaky videos unless the phone is mounted on a tripod or gimbal.

Xiaomi has attempted to compensate for the hardware limitations with software features.

The camera app includes various filters and AI enhancements that can add some creative flair to photos. While these can’t overcome the fundamental limitations of the sensors, they do provide some flexibility for casual photographers.

Battery Life: The Standout Feature

If there’s one area where the Redmi A3X truly shines, it’s battery life.

The phone packs a substantial 5,000mAh battery that, combined with the power-efficient display resolution and processor, delivers excellent endurance.

Most users can expect a full day of heavy use or even two days of moderate use on a single charge.

Screen-on times of 7-9 hours are typical, depending on usage patterns—impressive figures by any standard and particularly noteworthy in the budget segment.

Charging, however, is less impressive. The phone supports only 10W wired charging, which takes around 2.5-3 hours to fully charge the large battery from empty. Additionally, in some regions, the charger is sold separately, adding to the overall cost if you don’t already have a compatible adapter.

There’s no wireless charging support, but that’s entirely expected at this price point and not a meaningful criticism.

Software Experience: Surprisingly Robust

The Redmi A3X comes with Android 14 out of the box, overlaid with Xiaomi’s MIUI interface.

This represents a surprisingly current software package for a budget device, as many competitors in this price range still ship with older Android versions.

MIUI brings a host of customization options and additional features, though it also includes some bloatware and occasional ads in system apps.

The interface is visually polished and offers themes, custom icon packs, and various gesture controls that enhance the overall experience.

More impressively, Xiaomi has promised two major Android updates and three years of security patches for the A3X.

If delivered, this would mean support through Android 16 and security updates until 2027—an exceptional commitment for a budget device that many more expensive phones don’t match.

The software includes practical features like dual apps (running two instances of the same application), a secure space for private content, and various battery optimization tools. There’s also a dedicated gaming mode that attempts to optimize performance and minimize distractions during gameplay.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Redmi A3X supports dual SIM functionality with 4G LTE connectivity.

There’s no 5G support, which is a reasonable omission at this price point, especially considering that 4G networks remain prevalent in the markets where budget phones sell best.

Wi-Fi support is limited to the older 802.11 b/g/n standards (aka Wi-Fi 4), lacking the faster ac/ax (Wi-Fi 5/6) capabilities found in more expensive devices. Bluetooth 5.4 is a pleasant surprise, offering better range and connection stability than expected at this price.

For navigation, the phone supports GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and Galileo satellite systems, ensuring accurate location tracking across various regions. There’s no NFC support, meaning contactless payments aren’t an option—a common omission in budget devices but potentially limiting in regions where mobile payments are widespread.

The side-mounted fingerprint sensor works reliably and quickly for biometric authentication.

There’s also a software-based face unlock feature, though it uses the front camera rather than specialized hardware and isn’t as secure as fingerprint authentication.

The single bottom-firing speaker delivers acceptable audio quality for casual listening, though it lacks bass and can sound tinny at higher volumes. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a practical feature for budget-conscious users who may not want to invest in Bluetooth headphones.

Real-World Usage Experience

In day-to-day use, the Redmi A3X performs better than its specifications might suggest.

The combination of Android 14, the 90Hz display, and Xiaomi’s software optimizations creates a generally smooth user experience for basic tasks.

Messaging, social media browsing, and video consumption work well, with the large display making content consumption particularly enjoyable.

Web browsing is smooth for simple sites, though complex pages with heavy animations can cause some stuttering.

Multitasking is reasonable with the 4GB RAM variant, allowing you to switch between a few recent apps without constant reloading.

The 3GB model struggles more in this regard, making the higher RAM version a worthwhile investment if your budget allows.

Call quality is good, with clear audio through both the earpiece and speakerphone.

Network reception is solid, maintaining connections in areas with reasonable signal coverage.

The camera is serviceable for casual photography in good lighting but becomes a clear limitation in challenging conditions.

For social media posts and personal memories, it’s adequate, but photography enthusiasts will find it restrictive.

Battery life is the standout feature in real-world use, easily lasting through a full day of moderate to heavy usage. This longevity makes the A3X a reliable companion for users who prioritize endurance over raw performance or camera capabilities.

Value Proposition: Who Is It For?

With a price tag of approximately $70-80 (varying by region), the Redmi A3X positions itself firmly in the entry-level segment. Its value proposition centers around providing essential smartphone functionality with a few pleasant surprises (90Hz display, glass design, current software) at a very accessible price point.

The phone is particularly well-suited for:

• First-time smartphone users transitioning from feature phones

• Budget-conscious consumers who prioritize battery life and basic functionality

• Secondary or backup phone users who need reliable communication without premium features

• Elderly users who need a simple, affordable device for staying connected

• Parents looking for a starter phone for children or teenagers

It’s less suitable for:

• Mobile gaming enthusiasts who need consistent performance

• Photography enthusiasts who prioritize camera quality

• Power users who frequently multitask between demanding applications

• Users who need 5G connectivity or NFC for contactless payments

Competitors and Alternatives

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, with several alternatives to consider alongside the Redmi A3X:

Poco C61: A close relative with similar specifications but slight differences in design and software. Often priced similarly, making the choice largely a matter of brand preference and regional availability.

Samsung Galaxy M05: Offers a better processor and camera specifications with similar pricing, though it lacks the 90Hz display. Samsung’s reputation for reliability might make it worth considering despite some hardware compromises.

Moto G05: Features better processor performance, a higher-resolution camera, and cleaner software with less bloatware. Typically priced slightly higher but represents a good alternative for those who prioritize performance over display quality.

Realme C61: Another competitor with comparable specifications and pricing, offering a different software experience that some users might prefer over MIUI.

When comparing these options, the Redmi A3X’s standout features remain its 90Hz display and promised software support, while its main weaknesses are processor performance and camera capabilities.

User Feedback and Common Complaints

Early user feedback on the Redmi A3X has been mixed, reflecting the inherent compromises of budget smartphones.

Common praise points to the attractive design, display quality, and battery life, while criticisms typically focus on performance limitations and camera quality.

Some users have reported occasional software glitches and UI lag, particularly when using more demanding applications or attempting to multitask extensively.

Others have noted that while the performance is adequate for basic use, the phone feels noticeably slower than previous-generation mid-range devices that can sometimes be found at similar prices on the secondary market.

Camera quality is a frequent point of criticism, with users noting that even good lighting conditions produce merely acceptable results rather than truly good ones. The limitations become even more apparent in challenging lighting scenarios.

The lack of included charger in some regions has also been a point of contention, as the additional expense somewhat undermines the phone’s budget positioning for users who don’t already own a compatible adapter.

Long-Term Outlook and Durability

The Redmi A3X’s physical durability appears solid, with Gorilla Glass 3 protection on both front and back providing reasonable resistance against minor scratches and impacts.

The plastic frame may show wear over time but is less prone to catastrophic damage than all-glass designs.

Battery longevity is a potential concern, as all batteries degrade over time.

However, the A3X’s large 5,000mAh capacity means that even with some degradation, it should maintain acceptable endurance throughout a typical ownership period.

The promised software support is impressive if delivered as stated, potentially keeping the phone secure and relatively current through 2027. This long-term support could significantly extend the useful life of the device, making it an even better value proposition.

The main long-term limitation is likely to be performance, as applications continue to grow more demanding over time.

The entry-level processor and limited RAM may struggle with future software, potentially leading to a degraded user experience before the official support period ends.

Redmi A3X Conclusion: Balanced Compromise

The Redmi A3X represents a thoughtful approach to budget smartphone design, offering a mix of essential features, a few surprising premium touches, and inevitable compromises. It doesn’t redefine what’s possible at its price point, but it does provide a balanced package that addresses the core needs of its target audience.

The standout features—90Hz display, glass design, current software, and excellent battery life—make it an attractive option for users with basic needs and limited budgets.

The compromises in processor performance, camera capabilities, and charging speeds are reasonable given the price constraints.

For many users in developing markets or those seeking an affordable secondary device, the Redmi A3X offers sufficient functionality wrapped in a surprisingly premium-feeling package. It won’t satisfy tech enthusiasts or power users, but it wasn’t designed for them.

In the broader landscape of smartphone technology, devices like the Redmi A3X play a crucial role in expanding access to digital connectivity.

By providing essential smartphone functionality at accessible price points, they help bridge the digital divide and bring more users into the mobile ecosystem.

The Redmi A3X may not be exciting by flagship standards, but for its intended audience, it represents a practical, affordable entry point to the world of smartphones—and in that context, it succeeds more often than it fails.