Redmi 7A v/s Nokia 6.1: Which one to buy?
Xiaomi has released Redmi 7A as the sequel to its best-selling smartphone, the Redmi 6A. The handset comes with an HD+ display, octa-core Snapdragon 439 chipset, 12MP rear camera, and a solid 4,000mAh battery. However, taking on Redmi 7A in the budget segment is HMD Global's Nokia 6.1 which has recently received a massive price cut to attract buyers. So, which one is better?
At a glance
In the day and age of notches and punch-holes, both phones look very much like budget offerings with their conventional rectangular displays and prominent bezels. However, with a Series 6000 Aluminum chassis and contrasting metal accents around the frame and rear side, the Nokia 6.1 feels and looks a lot more premium than Redmi 7A's matte-finished polycarbonate body. Winner: Nokia 6.1.
All about the screen
The Redmi 7A sports a 5.45-inch LCD display with a resolution of 720x1440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. In comparison, the Nokia 6.1 offers a 5.5-inch full-HD LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. However, the screen is shorter and wider than Xiaomi's offering with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Winner: Nokia 6.1 for its higher resolution.
For the shutterbugs and selfie lovers
The Redmi 7A offers a single 12MP (f/2.2) Sony IMX486 rear camera with LED flash and PDAF lens. Up front, it has a 5MP selfie snapper. The Nokia 6.1, on the other hand, sports a 16MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash. It also gets an 8MP (f/2.0) front-facing camera. Winner: Nokia 6.1 for its superior sensors.
All the important stuff
The Redmi 7A is powered by an entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 chipset, coupled with Adreno 505 GPU, 2GB/3GB RAM and 16GB/32GB storage (expandable upto 256GB). Under the hood, the Nokia 6.1 is backed by a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset, coupled with 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of internal storage (expandable upto 256GB). Winner: Nokia 6.1 for its more capable chipset.
Battery to Biometrics
The Redmi 7A packs a 4,000mAh battery with 10W fast-charging (via micro-USB) while Nokia 6.1 houses a 3,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging (via Type-C port). The Nokia offering also gets a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner while Redmi 7A relies on face scanning or password for unlocking. Lastly, Nokia 6.1 runs on stock Android Pie while the Xiaomi handset runs on MIUI 10. Winner: You decide.
Pricing: The key factor
The Redmi 7A costs Rs. 5,999 for the 2GB/16GB variant and Rs. 6,199 for the 2GB/32GB model. Meanwhile, as part of an introductory offer, Xiaomi is offering Rs. 200 discount on both the models. In comparison, Nokia 6.1 has received a massive price cut and it now costs Rs. 6,999 for the 3GB/32GB variant and Rs. 9,999 for the 4GB/64GB model.
How things stack up!
The Redmi 7A is a decent package given its entry-level specs and the affordable price tag. However, with a premium build quality, sharper display, better cameras, and a more powerful chipset, the Nokia 6.1 is our pick here. At Rs. 6,999, you get higher RAM and storage than Redmi 7A along with all the latest connectivity options and Android One assurance. Winner: Nokia 6.1.
