Following its launch in India back in February, the Redmi A3, an entry-level smartphone that curiously looks like the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, has arrived in the Philippines with an aggressive price tag.

We found the phone listed by several retailers, with the 3GB/64GB base model carrying a suggested retail price of P3,399 (around $60) and the top-end variant with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage selling for P3,999 ($70).

Not bad considering the Redmi A3 is easily one of the best-looking budget phones the company has ever built, with one version sporting a faux-leather back with a huge circular camera module that takes after Xiaomi’s top-of-the-line, camera-focused smartphone. There are three color options available locally — Forest Green, Midnight Black, and Star Blue.

Packing familiar specs like a MediaTek Helio G36 chip and a 5,000mAh battery (with rather pedestrian 10W wired charging), the A3 focuses on value. The display stretches to a sizeable 6.71 inches, offering a smooth 90Hz refresh rate despite the HD+ resolution. Meanwhile, a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 adds a touch of scratch resistance.

Unsurprisingly, the camera department is quite basic. There’s an 8-megapixel main sensor coupled with an AI sensor on the back. You also get a 5-megapixel selfie shooter housed in a waterdrop notch. But here’s the unexpected twist: the Redmi A3 runs the latest Android 14 with Xiaomi’s MIUI skin on top. This puts it ahead of some of Xiaomi’s pricier offerings, making the A3 a potential heavyweight in the crowded budget segment.

Ready to make a statement? Pick your favorite shade of sophistication from the Redmi A3 lineup; Forest green, sky blue, or midnight black.

Show us how smooth and stylish you are! #RedmiA3 #SmoothAndStylish pic.twitter.com/PGRPgqPbnN

— Xiaomi Nigeria (@XiaomiNigeria) March 24, 2024

Redmi A3 product video

Redmi A3 specs

• 6.71-inch LCD display, HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• 12nm MediaTek Helio G36 4G chipset
• PowerVR GE8320 GPU
• 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM
• 64GB/128GB storage
• Dual 8-megapixel (main), AI rear cameras
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 5,000mAh battery with 10-watt charging
• Android 14
• Colors: Forest Green, Midnight Black, Star Blue

Learn About This Author

Ramon Lopez

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Reviews editor: Ramon "Monch" Lopez has 16 years of professional experience creating and editing content for print and digital publications such as Yahoo. He headed the gadgets-merchandising division of one of the Philippines’ largest retail operators somewhere in between.