The world is now at a point where the mobile phone is no longer a luxury but a necessity. And not just a mobile phone, the need for good modern smartphones is becoming more and more inevitable as modern economies take shape around the need for people, Governments and organizations to keep in touch. In short, digital inclusion is now more of a need than not, except for the sad fact that smartphone affordability is still standing in the way of a majority of people.
Phone manufacturers are taking note of these needs and making smartphones with modern features, and that people on a budget can purchase. One of these phones is the Redmi A+1 which I’ve been using for the last few weeks now. The device checks all the boxes of an entry level phone and around Ksh.10,000/- it will certainly go a long way in seeing that more people have good phones in their hands.
What’s in the box?
The device comes packaged in a simple small box, in which you’ll find the phone, charging brick, USB cable, SIM ejector pin and phone literature and warranty.
Design
The build of the phone is simple but high quality, with a plastic back cover and body. On the back of the phone is a fingerprint scanner and the cameras, plus some manufacturer branding. On the right side is the power button and volume rockers, while on the left there is only the SIM and memory card tray. It is a dual SIM. At the top we have the loudspeakers, and at the bottom the mic, charging port and a 3.5mm jack port.
Performance
The Redmi A1+ runs on Android go, a secure version of Android from Google that consumes less data, making devices running on it even more suitable for entry level customers. It is also not demanding of memory and so users can run more apps and programs without straining the phone.
It has an internal memory of 32GB RAM and 2GM ROM. Not too high but given that it runs on the lighter version of Android, this has been catered for. This is also justifiable because to be fair, we can only expect so much from a phone at that price point.
Camera
The device has an 8MP back camera with dual LED flash, and a 5MP selfie camera. The photos are decent and sharp, though obviously not of a resolution that would be expected on phones of a higher range. With a 6.52 screen and a resolution of 720*1600, it gets the job done for clear photos, sefies, videos and video calls and this is the inclusion we are talking about.
Battery
The Redmi A1+ has a 5000mAh battery which I’ve been able to use for more than two days on a single charge. Of note is that I was not using it as a primary phone but I’m able to estimate that as a primary and for a heavy user, it would go a whole day without needing a recharge or a power bank.
Verdict
I think this is a very empowering phone. For instance, I’m thinking about someone who would want to start an online store on Facebook or Instagram and other than capital for merchandise, they need a good phone but cannot afford an expensive one. The Redmi A1+ offers this person a working phone which will produce good photos and host the required apps, and that person is in business. For around Ksh.10,000/- this is certainly a go to phone that I would recommend for anyone on a budget.