The Chinese smartphone manufacturer, famous for its completely different UI, has now launched its first Android device, Mi A1, which will provide stock Android experience. The smartphone has been developed under Google’s Android One initiative. The Android One comes with the stock Android 7.1.2 baked in and will also get timely updates. It will also be one of the best devices to get the Android P update, whenever it is released. It is also Xiaomi’s first smartphone to house a dual camera setup. The device is priced at Rs 14,999.

The Mi A1 retains some of Mi features, despite running on stock Android, including Mi Camera, Mi Remote, Mi Store and more. Also, it comes pre-bundled with numerous Google services. Google Photo provides unlimited cloud storage for high quality photos.

Specifications include a 5.5-inch full-HD display with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. The device is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM. The internal storage offered by the device is 64GB that can be expanded with the help of microSD hybrid card slot. The device runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat.

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In terms of optics, there is a dual camera setup with two 12-megapixel lens – one wide angle lens with a 1.2-micron pixel sensor and f/2.2 aperture – one telephoto lens with 1-micron pixel sensor and an f/2.6 aperture. The dual camera combination is capable of delivering 2x optical zoom. Similar to other dual camera phones, the device is expected to capture images in Portrait Mode as well as Bokeh mode, allowing users to capture professional-like photos. There is a 5-megapixel front selfie shooter also with a real-time beautification mode. All of this is backed by 3080mAh battery that provides decent endurance.

The Mi A1 will also receive regular security updates from Google Play Protect and timely OS updates also. It is expected to receive Android Oreo update by the end of this year and will also be among the first few devices to receive Android P.

Google said, “When we launched Android One in India back in 2014, the goal was to get the next billion people online by providing them with high quality, affordable phones. Since then, the larger community has told us they value what Android One stands for across a range of phones – a refreshingly simple software experience that is accessible, always fresh and stays ahead of the curve, with improvements to battery life, usability, and of course, security… As phone manufacturers continue to innovate by delivering high-quality devices at accessible price points, keeping the inside of one’s phone innovative, fresh and secure is critical to a great experience. We’re extending our commitment to Android One by working with more partners to build phones that run a software experience designed by Google.”

The hardware and software marriage in the new device from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer seems highly promising, with the asking price of Rs 14,999. The company recently claimed of selling 25 million smartphone units in India, the dual camera setup and stock Android may prove to be crucial for the device is expected to deliver a lot more than the asking price.