Xiaomi Mi A1: year of release, features and relevance of the model in 2026

Smartphone Xiaomi Mi A1 It became a legend among budget devices with pure Android, and this model, released in partnership with Google, caught the attention of users with a combination of affordable price, performance and lack of a branded shell. MIUI. But what year is this machine? And is it relevant today, a few years after it was released?

In this article, we will discuss the history of Xiaomi Mi in detail. A1, It also features specifications, software features, and how the model has performed in the market, and you will also learn what alternatives exist in 2026 and whether to consider buying this smartphone for the secondary market.

1. Xiaomi Mi A1: official year of release and model history

Xiaomi Mi A1 It was announced on September 5, 2017, at a special event in India, the first joint project between Xiaomi and Google under the Android One program, which involved releasing devices with pure Android without the manufacturer’s additional shells. Sales of the model began in the same month, and in Russia the smartphone appeared officially in October 2017.

Interesting fact: Mi A1 It is a redesigned version of Xiaomi Mi. 5X, which was released earlier in the year, but with a firmware MIUI. Google and Xiaomi decided to adapt this model for the Android One program, which allowed to offer users a budget device with quick updates and a minimum amount of preinstalled software.

The model quickly gained popularity due to:

• 🔹 Dual main camera (12 MP) + 12 MP) with optical zoom – a rarity for the budget segment in 2017.
• 🔹 Metal body of premium design, which was not inferior to the flagships of that time.
• 🔹 Clean Android with guaranteed updates to Android 9 Pie.
• 🔹 Price below 15,000 rubles at the start of sales in Russia.

However, a year later, in 2018, Xiaomi released a successor – Mi. A2, It had a more modern processor and better cameras, but it lost the headphone jack. A1 model.

2. Technical specifications of Xiaomi Mi A1: hood?

Despite the budget position, Xiaomi Mi A1 It had a balanced "stuffing" that allowed you to cope with most tasks even a few years after graduation:

Special attention deserves dual camera — at the time of release it was a unique solution for a device costing less than 15 000 rubles. Optical zoom allowed you to take high-quality pictures at a distance, and portrait mode with background blur worked better than many competitors.

However, a year later it became clear that the Snapdragon 625, despite its energy efficiency, begins to lose to more modern chips (for example, Snapdragon 636 or Helio). P60) In addition, the lack of support for 5 GHz Wi-Fi and USB Type-C was a noticeable disadvantage even in the budget segment.

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If you are planning to use Xiaomi Mi A1 In 2026, consider that its processor may not be able to pull up modern games at high settings, but for social networks, instant messengers and video viewing performance will be enough.

3.Software: Android One and Updates

The main trump card Xiaomi Mi A1 Android One is a Google project that suggests:

• 📱 Pure Android without shell MIUI and extra applications.
• 🔄 Guaranteed updates within 2 years (up to Android 9 Pie).
• 🛡️ Monthly security patches (in practice, updates were less frequent).
• 🔍 Minimal fragmentation: All Android One devices receive updates at the same time.

At Mi kick-off A1 It ran on Android 7.1 Nougat and then received updates to Android 8.0 Oreo (2017) and Android 9 Pie (2018), but the update to Android 10 never came out, despite Xiaomi's promises. This has caused criticism from users, as even some budget models of other brands received more recent versions of the OS.

After the end of official support in 2019, enthusiasts began to release custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), which allowed you to upgrade to Android 11 and even Android 12.

⚠️ Attention: Installation of unofficial firmware on Xiaomi Mi A1 This can lead to loss of warranty (if it is still valid) and risk of "bricking" the device.Be sure to back up the data through the firmware. TWRP Recovery.

4. Xiaomi Mi A1 2026: Is the smartphone relevant?

Later. 6-7 years after the release of Xiaomi Mi A1 It is morally outdated, but it can still be interesting in several scenarios:

Pros of buying in 2026:

• 💰 Low price in the secondary market (3000-6000 rubles depending on the state).
• 🔧 Ease of repair – spare parts are cheap and common.
• 📱 Clean Android without advertising and unnecessary services (relevant for custom firmware).
• 📸 Dual camera with optical zoom is rare for budget smartphones even today.

Cons and limitations:

• ⚡ Weak battery – 3080 mAh capacity no longer seems to be enough, and the original batteries are worn out.
• 🎮 Low performance in modern games and heavy applications.
• 🔌 Outdated interfaces: microUSB, no 5GHz Wi-Fi, no NFC.
• 🛑 No official updates – the latest version of Android 9 Pie is outdated in terms of security.

Who's good for Mi? A1 today?

• 👵 Elderly users for calls, SMS simple applications.
• 🎓 Students as a backup phone.
• 🔧 Enthusiasts who want to experiment with custom firmware.
• 📷 Amateur photographers who care about optical zoom.

⚠️ Note: When buying a used Xiaomi Mi A1 Check battery status through applications like AccuBattery, with a capacity below 70% of the original (2100-2200 mAh) means that the battery will soon have to be changed.

Correction of all buttons (on, volume)

Screen state (no broken pixels, yellow spots)

Camera operation (autofocus, zoom, flash)

Battery capacity (not less than 75%)

Original Charge (Quick Charge 3.0)-->

5. Comparison with modern budget smartphones Xiaomi

If you're considering Mi A1 As a budget solution, it is worth comparing it with current Xiaomi models in the same price category (up to 10,000 rubles in 2026:

Critical moment: Despite dual camera, Xiaomi Mi A1 It loses to modern public sector employees in all key parameters - performance, operating time, screen quality and support for new standards (for example, Wi-Fi). 5/6 Bluetooth 5.0).

If your budget is limited to 6000-8000 rubles, it is better to consider:

• 📱 Redmi 9A/9C — More recent processors and larger batteries.
• 📱 Poco C31/C40 — best performance in games.
• 📱 B/Redmi Note 8/9 — More modern cameras and screens.

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Xiaomi Mi A1 In 2026, it will be only a spare phone or for specific tasks (e.g., optical zoom photos), and for everyday use, it is better to choose a more modern model, even a budget one.

6.Typical problems of Xiaomi Mi A1 and the way in which they are addressed

Like any device in 2017, the Mi A1 It has a number of "diseases" that you should know about before you buy:

1. Fast battery discharge

After 5-6 years of operation, the original battery loses up to 30-50% of its capacity.

• 🔋 Replacement of the battery (original art. MBJ4038, price ~1 000 ₽).
• 🔌 Use of power saving mode and disabling application background activity.
• 🔄 Battery Calibration (requires root rights).

Processor overheating

The Snapdragon 625 is prone to overheating under prolonged loads (games, video editing).

• 🧊 Cleaning the device from dust (especially around the processor).
• 📉 Limiting performance through developer settings (Limit background processes).
• 🔄 Replacement of thermopaste (in the service center).

3. Wi-Fi problems (shutdowns, low speed)

The model does not support 5 GHz and has a weak Wi-Fi module.

• 📶 Switch to 2.4 GHz in the router settings.
• 🔄 Resetting network settings (Settings) → System system → Reset → Wi-Fi reset).
• 🛠️ Replacing a Wi-Fi module (in rare cases helps).

4. Hanging and lag on Android 9 Pie

The last official firmware was unstable.

• 🔄 Reverse to Android 8.1 Oreo (more stable version).
• 📱 Install custom firmware (LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11).
• 🧹 Cleaning the cache through Recovery Mode.

7.Alternatives to Xiaomi Mi A1: What to choose instead of?

If you’re looking for a smartphone with a pure Android or dual camera, but don’t want to take an outdated model, consider the following alternatives:

1. For fans of pure Android:

• 📱 Google Pixel 4a (2020 – Clean Android, great camera, updates to 2026.
• 📱 Nokia 8.3 5G — Android One, support 5G, long-term.
• 📱 Motorola Moto G31 — Budget smartphone with almost “naked” Android.

For amateur photographers on a limited budget:

• 📷 Redmi Note 10 Pro – 108 MP main camera, AMOLED-screen.
• 📷 Poco X3 Pro – a good camera and performance for your money.
• 📷 Samsung Galaxy A32 — Balanced camera and long-term support.

3 Budget smartphones with good autonomy:

• 🔋 Redmi 10C — 5000 mAh battery, Snapdragon 680.
• 🔋 Poco M4 Pro - 5000 mAh, 90 Hz screen.
• 🔋 Realme Narzo 50A — A reliable battery and a good camera.

If you are fundamentally important model Xiaomi with dual camera, pay attention to the used Xiaomi Mi A2 (2018) or Redmi Note 5 Pro – they stay relevant longer than Mi A1.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi A1