Xiaomi Redmi 6 vs 6A Specs and Price Comparison, Availability in the Philippines

Yesterday - Wednesday, July 11, 2018, I received a warm invitation from our friends at the PR agency of Xiaomi Philippines for the imminent official launch of two new entry-level Android smartphones by the company, which are the Xiaomi Redmi 6 and 6A.

So yeah, for those who've been asking me about the local availability of these 'great value for money' handset, I guess I can already confirm that they are arriving soon. How soon? Most likely within July 2018 or even just a few days from now.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 and 6A are true siblings in the sense that they share so many things in common. To be specific:

1. Their 5.45-inch 1440 x 720 pixels HD+ IPS screens are identical
2. They have the same 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery packs.
3. They have similar polycarbonate back plate with metallic sheen that's available in Blue, Grey, Gold, and Rose Gold
4. They sport the same 5MP front-facing camera for selfies that can also record FullHD videos like the main rear camera.
5. They feature the same connectivity options.
6. The two have Dual SIM capability via one nanoSIM slot plus hybrid nanoSIM slot that can also take in a microSD card for memory expansion

So how exactly are they different, you ask?

Well, simply put, Xiaomi Redmi 6 is more powerful in terms of internal hardware and imaging capabilities. To be specific, this model is powered by a 12nm Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P22 high-end processor, has 4GB RAM option, and comes with up to 64GB of ROM. On top of that, it sports a 12MP + 5MP Dual Rear Camera module that enables shallow depth of field or bokeh effect when snapping portraits, food, or product shots.

In comparison, Xiaomi Redmi 6A only has a Quad Core MediaTek Helio A22 processor (which is fairly new), only has up to 3GB RAM for multitasking, and has maximum 32GB ROM for storage. For imaging, it merely has a single 13 MegaPixel rear cam.

Needless to say, Xiaomi Redmi 6A will be the more affordable or accessible model -- albeit not by much. Based on these two smartphones' SRP in other countries, I'm guessing that they should be separated by only around PHP 2,000 when they become available online and in malls.

For those who are interested in either of these upcoming Mi smartphones, I made this side-by-side technical specifications comparison table to help you make up your ind if you're currently trying to figure out which of the two to purchase when they land here.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specifications Table
Specs	Xiaomi Redmi 6	Xiaomi Redmi 6A
Dimensions	147.5 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm	147.5 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm
Weight	146 grams	145 grams
Display	5.45 inches, 720 x 1440 pixels HD+, 295 ppi, 18:9 Aspect Ratio, IPS	5.45 inches, 720 x 1440 pixels HD+, 295 ppi, 18:9 Aspect Ratio, IPS
Screen to Body Ratio	72.7%	72.7%
Front Selfie Camera	5 MegaPixels	5 MegaPixels
Rear Camera	Dual Camera Module: 12 MegaPixels (f/2.2 Aperture, 1.25 μm Pixel Size, PDAF) + 5 MegaPixels (f/2.2 Aperture, 1.12 μm Pixel Size, no AF, Depth Sensor) LED Flash	13 MegaPixels, f/2.2, PDAF, LED Flash
Video Recorder	Front and Back: FullHD 1080p 30fps	Front and Back: FullHD 1080p 30fps
User Interface	MIUI 9	MIUI 9
Operating System	Android 8.1 Oreo	Android 8.1 Oreo
Chipset	Octa-Core 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 12nm Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22	Quad-Core 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Mediatek Helio A22
GPU	PowerVR GE8320	PowerVR GE (TBD)
RAM	3GB and 4GB options	2GB and 3GB options
ROM	32GB and 64GB options	16GB and 32GB options
microSD Card Slot	via Secondary Hybrid nanoSIM slot	via Secondary Hybrid nanoSIM slot
Battery	Non-Removable Li-Po 3000 mAh	Non-Removable Li-Po 3000 mAh
Charging Port	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n	802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth	4.2	4.2
4G LTE	Yes, Cat4, Cat7 DL, Cat13 UL	Yes, Cat4, Cat7 DL, Cat13 UL
Dual SIM Capability	Yes, 2 nanoSIM slots	Yes, 2 nanoSIM slots
FM Radio	Yes	Yes
Fingerprint Scanner	Yes	Yes
Facial Recognition	Yes	Yes
Protection Against The Elements	No	No
Colors	Grey, Blue, Gold, Rose Gold	Grey, Blue, Gold, Rose Gold
Build	Polycarbonate Back Plate with Metallic Sheen	Polycarbonate Back Plate with Metallic Sheen
Availability	July 23, 2018 in the Philippines	July 23, 2018 in the Philippines
Price	Official Prices in the Philippines: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM for PHP 7,490 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM for PHP 8,990	Official Prices in the Philippines: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM for PHP 5,290 2GB RAM + 32GB ROM for PHP 5,990

Which model would I recommend? Hmm. If you're not really a power user or heavy gamer and you're tight on budget currently, just go for the most affordable Xiaomi Redmi 6A variant. Why? You get the same screen, build quality, selfie cam, and battery pack for a lot less. Also, I think the new MediaTek A22 chip should be good enough for basic activities on the go like browsing social media apps, watching movies, and even light gaming.

But hey, that's just me.

Let me know your thoughts about these two 2018 Xiaomi Redmi Android smartphone models via our comments section below. Feel free to also message me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with you have questions about these products. Cheers!

Update as of July 18, 2018: 

Both Xiaomi Redmi 6 and 6A have been officially launched in the Philippines via a media event held in Makati City. Redmi 6 comes in two variants: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM for PHP 7,490 and 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM for PHP 8,990. To excite Pinoy Mi fans, LazadaPH will offer them for only PHP 6,990 and PHP 8,490 respectively on its flash sale scheduled on July 23. 

On the other hand, the Redmi 6A 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM is priced at PHP 5,290. It will be offered for PHP 4,990 via Shopee’s flash sale on July 23, 2018. A Xiaomi Redmi 6A 2GB + 32GB version will also be available soon for PHP 5,990.

Both the Xiaomi Redmi 6 and 6A will eventually be up for purchase at all Authorized Mi Stores starting in August 2018.