Last year’s Redmi 8A had two main selling points – support for 18W fast charging and a USB-C connector. Even before the device launched, Xiaomi/Redmi used these as marketing points. The tweet below by the CEO of Xiaomi India, Manu Kumar Jain, is a reminder.
1st ever look of beautiful #Redmi8A! 🤩
When we said the #Redmi 8A would have #Dumdaar features, we meant it. It will come with #TypeC port and fast charging support.🔋
Probably the ONLY phone in the price segment to have Type-C! 👍 RT if excited. 🔄#Xiaomi ♥️ #DumdaarRedmi8A pic.twitter.com/ycTGyLvzgk
— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) September 23, 2019
The Redmi *A line is Redmi’s most affordable line and the switch to USB-C and support for 18W fast charging meant the company was leaving MicroUSB as well as 10W charging behind for good. The brand got praise for bringing USB Type-C to the masses and even used these features to go against its competitors.
Here’s how #dumdaar #Redmi8A actually is against the competition.😎#Xiaomi ❤️ #DumdaarRedmi8A pic.twitter.com/mjFj3tj0Kc
— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) September 25, 2019
Progress, right? That’s what we thought until the Redmi 9A launched with a MicroUSB port and 10W charging. It is quite disappointing to see a successor come with downgraded features.
What makes it even worse is that the Redmi 9A launched in India for a slightly higher price tag than the Redmi 8A did. The new Redmi 9A starts at ₹6,799 (~$93) while its predecessor had a starting price of ₹6,499 (~$89). Even the Redmi 8A Dual that launched about 7 months ago with an extra camera had a launch price of ₹6,499 (~$89).
And those are not the only areas where corners were cut. There is also no mention of Gorilla Glass protection for the Redmi 9A which was a selling point for the Redmi 8A and Redmi 8A Dual which both boast Gorilla Glass 5 protection. These downgrades do not make the Redmi 9A a device I will recommend.
Xiaomi India has pulled the Redmi 8A down from its site and the Redmi 8A Dual now sells for a much higher price tag of ₹7,499 (~$102) than it launched, no thanks to the increase in goods and services tax and other factors.
However, not everyone will be able to pay the extra amount to pick up the Redmi 8A Dual, which is a better buy in my own opinion. In addition, the fact that you have to purchase an 18W adapter (if you don’t already have one) adds to the cost. Nevertheless, a successor to a phone should not be a downgrade when you compare its specs and features to that of its predecessor.
UP NEXT: Redmi 9i to debut soon in India, RAM, storage and color variants
