Dual camera phones are trending and decided to compare two of the Best dual camera smartphones in a budget. Xiaomi is one of the companies who has managed to attract a lot of customers in India following its affordable smartphones. Motorola is another name which has been a consistent performer in the budget smartphone market with a promise of timely Android updates. But this time around the Xiaomi has launched the Mi A1 with Android One which promises timely Android updates. The Moto G5s Plus is the latest dual camera smartphone by Motorola which comes with a promising camera and other exclusive Motorola features. Let’s take a look at both the devices and start with our comparison:

Design and Build

Both the devices are well built and have an impressive design for the budget. The Moto G5s Plus is quite similar to its predecessors, Moto G5 Plus but packs in a dual camera in the circular housing at the back. The Mi A1, on the other hand, looks quite similar to the other Mi phones but packs a dual camera at the back and is slimmer than the other variants and keeps the dual cameras stacked horizontally at the right corner just like iPhone or the OnePlus 5.

The Mi A1 feels much better in the hand with a more rounded and thinner body while the Moto G5s Plus is slightly thicker but scores high on the originality.

I personally like the fingerprint sensor placement on the Motorola device as I can use even when it is lying on the table. On the other hand, the large camera housing at the back looks fancy and is prone to scratches. The 3.5mm jack lies at the top of the Moto G5s Plus, while the Mi A1 has it at the bottom. It again depends on personal preference but I prefer it on the top. Also, the Mi A1 is taller than the G5s Plus, which allows more space for the navigation buttons, while the G5s Plus comes with on-screen navigation buttons.

The Moto G5s Plus is available in Blush Gold and Lunar Grey color variants while I personally prefer the Grey variant (I’ve had enough of the gold variants). Similarly, the black variant of Mi A1 is what I would prefer than the Gold variant of the device.

Display

Both the devices have a 5.5-inch Full HD Display but are derived from different technologies. The G5s Plus has a standard IPS Display, while the Mi A1 comes with LTPS IPS Display. Unlike the standard IPS panel, the Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (LTPS) Display maintains low temperatures and provide larger pixel density. The naked eye experience

If we talk about the naked eye experience, the Mi A1 has a blue tint, while the Moto G5s Plus looks punchier and has a good sunlight readability.

Specifications

Both devices have the same hardware and run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Here is a look at the specifications:

Xiaomi Mi A1

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 64 bit Octa-core 2GHz processor.
• 4GB RAM / 64GB internal storage, expandable via Hybrid MicroSD slot up to 128GB.
• 5.5-inch Full HD 1920x1080p display.
• Dual SIM – 4G VoLTE & 3G.
• Android 7.1.2 out of the box with Android One and a promised upgrade to Android P.
• 12MP + 12MP (Telephoto) dual rear cameras & 5MP front camera.
• 3080mAh USB Type C.

Moto G5s Plus

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 64 bit Octa-core 2GHz processor.
• 4GB RAM / 64GB internal storage, expandable via Hybrid MicroSD slot up to 128GB.
• 5.5-inch Full HD 1920x1080p display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
• Dual SIM – 4G+4G.
• Android 7.1.2 out of the box.
• 13MP + 13MP dual back camera & 8MP front-facing camera with flash.
• 3000mAh Lithium-ion battery with 15W Turbo Charging.

In terms of performance, the Moto G5s Plus slightly outperforms the Mi A1 while the battery performance on Mi A1 is better than that of the G5s Plus. Hence, it is very difficult to pick one device in terms of performance.

Camera

Both the devices have a dual-camera setup, where the Moto G5s Plus has a 13MP + 13MP RGB plus Monochrome sensor and the Mi A1 comes with a 12MP + 12MP RGB and telephoto lens. The Moto G5s plus is the first Motorola phone to have a dual-camera setup, similarly, the Mi A1 is the first in the Indian market.

Starting with the Moto G5s Plus, the phone has a snappier and faster autofocus stabilization compared to the Mi A1. Also, Moto G5s Plus has a better mid-tone dynamic range enhancement. The Mi A1 on the other hand, leverages it’s telephoto prowess and captures lot better depth in pictures, the colors also look more natural on this one. Moreover, the 2X optical zoom steals the show when it comes to the camera showdown. Also, Moto G5S Plus is prone to shutter lags which sometimes gets irritating.

In low light, the Mi A1 is better at handling light but the colors looked well saturated on the Moto G5S Plus, which you can actually adjust on the A1 using any photo editing tool. The only issue with the Mi A1 is stability, which at times makes the shots look hazy when zoomed in.

The image quality on both front cameras is fine, although detail does degrade fairly quickly with indoors lighting on both the phones. The Moto G5s Plus has a front flash to escape out of such conditions but the Mi A1 misses this feature.

If you are looking for a camera that which can take some amazing portrait pictures I would suggest the Mi A1, especially because of the telephoto lens which produces excellent bokeh effect.

Which one to buy?

The Mi A1 is priced at Rs. 14,999 while the Moto G5s Plus comes at a price of Rs. 15,999. The price difference is just Rs. 1,000 which makes it very difficult to pick one of the two. There is no doubt that both the phones justify their respective price tags.

Both the devices lie in the same price bracket, which is why we have included them in the Best dual camera smartphones list.

So, if you are looking for a good camera and are fond of the portrait mode then go for the Mi A1. It will offer a good battery backup and is likely to impress you more. But, if the camera is not your major concern and you are looking for a good performing device then the Moto G5s Plus is the one for you.

Hope this will make things a bit clear in your mind. Tell us which one you like in the comments below!!!