The new Redmi 8A is a sub-US$100 budget device that redefines value for money

Less than six months after the launch of the Redmi 7A, Xiaomi is back at it with another budget device. The company, yesterday, unveiled its cheapest MIUI device, the Redmi 8A, and like its predecessors, it makes quite the impression.

The Redmi 8A features a 6.22-inch HD+ display. Gone are the big bezels on the 7A, and instead is a teardrop notch, giving the 8A a modern look. The 8A comes standard with 32 GB of storage, up from the 16 GB on the 7A. Potential buyers will be able to choose between 2/3 GB of RAM, though.

Under the hood is a Snapdragon 439. That carries over from the 7A. Battery capacity is boosted from 4000 mAh to 5000 mAh. That, coupled with a HD+ display and a 12nm SoC is sure to make the 8A something of a battery monster. There's also fast-charge onboard, too, with Xiaomi switching to a Type-C port with 18 W support. The device only ships with a 10 W brick, though. 

There's a MicroSD port, IR blaster, 3.5mm headphone jack, and dual SIM support. Sadly, there's no fingerprint reader. Users will have to make do with face unlock.

Camera-wise, the Redmi 8A features an 8 MP selfie shooter. At the rear is a single sensor, the 12 MP Sony IMX363 with an f/1.8 aperture lens. For those not in the know, that's the same sensor used in the Pixel 3, Mi Mix 3, and Poco F1. It's definitely capable, and we're curious how this device performs in that department, especially with the aid of third-party software like, say, a Google Camera port?

Xiaomi's Redmi A series is by some distance its best-selling lineup. The 5A and 6A were, for most parts of their sales cycles, the best-selling Android devices in the world. We expect the Redmi 8A to carry on that tradition. 

The 8A starts at US$91 for the 2/32 GB model, and US$98 for the 3/32 GB one. What's not to love?