• Xiaomi has christened the new Redmi A1 as the most affordable Android phone to land in SA in 2022. 
• It is the latest entry-level phone from the Chinese device maker.
• The smartphone retails for under R2 000, with discounts already available on selected retailer sites.

Xiaomi has a new entry-level phone for local Android enthusiasts in the form of the Redmi A1.

This new device has been christened as the most affordable Android phone of 2022, according to the Chinese company, but we will reserve such plaudits until we get the chance to review one ourselves.

In the interim, however, the Redmi A1 is aggressively priced locally, recommended to retail for R1 999. We have also spotted it at online retailers for less, such as the Xiaomi store on Takealot, listed at a current discount of R1 499.

So what do you get for just shy of R2k?

The Redmi 1 sports a 6.52″ HD+ (1600×720) display up front, with a teardrop notch used to house the front-facing camera. Speaking of which, the front-facing option is a 5MP camera, with the rear featuring an 8MP primary camera and an auxiliary lens.

“Both cameras are loaded with versatile modes including portrait, short video and time-lapse, offering users diverse shooting options,” explains Xiaomi in a press release sent to Hypertext, but again we’d have to see this in person before we weigh in on what the cameras yield.

Shifting to some of the internal components, a massive 5 000mAh battery is present, so it should muster a full day’s use and then some from a fully charged device. Added to this is 10W charging, so don’t expect the rapid fast charging that some other Redmi models offer.

“In terms of performance, Redmi A1 is powered by MediaTek Helio A22, which ensures enough performance to run apps, supports the high-resolution display, and is power efficient. Additionally, it also supports expandable storage of up to 512GB, which frees up space on-device for additional data storage,” adds Xiaomi regarding the other internal components.

“Inheriting the family design from the Redmi Note Series, Redmi A1 comes in Black, and Light Blue, both with a stylish flat-frame design. Accentuated by a clean, minimalistic curved back, its leather-like texture resists fingerprint smudges and marks,” it concludes.

Those wanting to pick the Redmi A1 (2GB RAM, 32GB storage) up will be able to do so from local retailers including, Ackermans, Checkers Hyper, Edgars, Hi-Fi Corp, Incredible Connection, JET, Makro, Mobile in Africa, Mr Price, MTN, PEP, Takealot, Vodacom and Woolworths.