For the first time in REDMI’s A Series history, a “Pro” version has been introduced in India. With Xiaomi India getting first dibs on this upgraded budget king, the big question looms on the horizon: Will the Philippines also get one?
The REDMI A Series has always been a “back-to-basics” kind of smartphone. While it may not be the most powerful, it reliably does all the things you expect from a phone. Think of it like a Toyota Vios or a Mitsubishi Mirage, they’re not made to race but they will get you from point A to point B without any issue.
What’s “Pro” About the REDMI A7 Pro 5G?
Let’s face it, the “Pro” moniker has been thrown around in any smartphone category, whether it’s entry level, mid-range, or flagship. It has become more of an identifier of a higher variant than something that truly embodies the “Pro” spirit.
Regardless of how I feel about the word “Pro”, the REDMI A7 Pro 5G does offer some improvements, and here are some of them:
- Massive Battery: One of the things going for the REDMI A Series is its endurance. Last year’s REDMI A5 only had a 5200 mAh battery but still managed to last a whole day. That feat will soon be beaten with the A7 Pro 5G’s 6,300 mAh battery. My only qualm is that charging speed remained the same at 15W, so don’t expect 0 to 100% in an hour.
- Performance & Connectivity: If you haven’t caught on by now, one of the A7 Pro’s main selling points is its 5G support, made possible by the UNISOC T8300 chipset. Performance-wise, the T8300 is still a pretty capable chip. You’ll still be able to run all of your essential apps plus some light to medium gaming on the side.
- Software Support: It looks like the era of short-term entry-level phones will soon be a thing of the past. Last year’s A5 only had 2 years of major Android updates, while the A7 Pro 5G promises up to 4 years of major Android updates and 6 years of security patches. It runs HyperOS 3 (based on Android 16) out of the box, meaning the A7 Pro 5G is supported until Android 20.
Design-wise, not much has changed, just a few subtle differences like the longer pill-shaped camera island that houses the 32 MP main sensor. At approximately INR 11,499 (or around PHP 7,800), you really can’t ask for more…
Will the PH Be Next?
There’s still no official word from Xiaomi Philippines about a follow-up to their widely successful REDMI A5, but we’re hoping that they bring the REDMI A7 Pro 5G to the Philippines. If they do, and it’s sold at about the same price I quoted earlier, then we might see Xiaomi maintain its market share in the entry-level market.
For now, Mi Fans would have to wait for an official announcement from Xiaomi, so stay tuned to UnboxDiaries.com and to our official Facebook pages to stay updated on the latest news on the REDMI A Series.