There are a lot of similarities between the Redmi 8A and the just-launched Redmi 8. But the updates? They can be considered incremental.

(Update, October 12: They’re going to be available in the Philippines! Read Redmi 8, Redmi 8A launching in PH — source.)

Depending on your needs, though, the small changes might be the big deciding factor over whether you choose one smartphone over another. We’ll do a quick rundown of what you can expect, but first, their prices in India:

• Redmi 8 (3GB/32GB): ₹7,999 (around P5,799 or $112)
• Redmi 8 (4GB/64GB): ₹8,999 (P6,524 or $126)
• Redmi 8A (2GB/32GB): ₹6,499 (P4,712 or $91)
• Redmi 8A (3GB/32GB): ₹6,999 (P5,074 or $98)

Similarities

One of the key selling points Xiaomi is saying about the Redmi 8 is its “flagship” Sony camera, which in this case is the 12-megapixel Sony IMX363. The same sensor can be seen in phones like the Google Pixel 3a and Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 and Mi 8, and its higher-specced sibling, the Redmi 8A.

The Redmi 8 and Redmi 8A have the same 8-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture, too. They feature a 6.2-inch screen with 1,520 x 720 resolution and a waterdrop notch that houses the front-facing camera.

SEE ALSO: Redmi Note 8 Pro launching in the Philippines

Both handsets are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 chipset paired with Adreno 505 GPU and run Android 9.0 Pie with MIUI 10 on top. Battery capacity is at 5,000mAh with support for 18-watt fast charging. However, the charger that comes with them is a 10-watt unit. Topping them up is through a USB Type-C port.

Differences

The Redmi 8 gets a spec bump in terms of RAM and storage. It packs up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage with extra storage of up to 512GB courtesy of a dedicated microSD slot.

The Redmi 8A, on the other hand, only has up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage, though you can still have an additional 512GB via microSD.

On the back, the Redmi 8 gets an extra 2-megapixel depth sensor for improved portrait shots.

The comparison chart

Given what you know now and that you’re really looking at these two as your options if and when they become officially available in the Philippines, which one are you buying?

Videos you may want to watch

Redmi 8

Redmi 8A

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