Mobile phone xiaomi mi mix 2 review. Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device. Characteristics and duration of work

Popularity trademark Xiaomi is growing in the market by leaps and bounds. With their phone models they have earned trust and positive reviews from buyers. This article describes one of the popular models mobile phones, namely Xiaomi mi mix 2.

What's included besides the phone?

Under the lid of the package you will find Charger for mi mix 2, cable for contact connection to personal computer, charger, mobile case, special key for removing the SIM card, mini-jack adapter.

Box and contents

What is the appearance like?

This model very similar to previous generations. Rounded corners are already used as standard mobile phone, the lid is made of ceramic, the display is frameless, but differences from previous models are still present. The ends of the phone are now made not of ceramics, but of aluminum. This allowed the phone to become cheaper, but does this make it worth buying? - You decide.

Front view

Ceramic is a good material for mobile phones if you constantly drop and scratch them, but it is too slippery, and the device tends to escape from your hands.

But if you are a fan of ceramics, then there were also special white versions of the phone, which consist entirely of this material without the introduction of aluminum.

The back of the device looks amazing

The width of Xiaomi mi mix 2 is 7.55 cm, height – 15.18 cm, thickness 0.77 cm. The weight of the phone is 185 grams. As mentioned above, the color scheme is represented by a black and white model.

What interfaces does Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 have?

Innovations in the form of the absence of a frame component of the phone forces developers to make some compromises. So the front camera of mi mix 2 is located under the glass of the screen, and not on it.

Many owners of the previous generation of phones complained that the first mix had a very poor speaker, in which almost nothing could be heard during a conversation. Because of this, it was often necessary to use a non-standard earpiece speaker. Taking into account the errors, the developers corrected this, and the new Mi Mix 2 model came out with a standard speaker, although finding it at first glance is not so easy - it is so small and secretive.

The bottom edge of the phone contains a Type C port, as well as external speaker and microphone – the assembly is done neatly, the elements look attractive.

The bottom edge houses the speaker, microphone and Type C port

On the right edge are the volume control panel and the power button. On the left edge there are two cells for nanoSim cards. The developers did not create memory card cells, but, however, this is not necessary, because the minimum memory capacity of mi mix 2 is 64 GB.

Power and volume buttons

At the back of the phone is the main camera, as well as a finger detector, which is much faster than many of the advanced phones available in the market.

Screen

The diagonal is 5.99 inches. Screen resolution – 2160 by 1080 pixels. Protective coating Gorilla Glasse 4. The feature of the new flagships of Xiaomi is their framelessness, they themselves focus the attention of customers on this every new presentation updated smartphone. At the same time, they rather use the word not “frameless”, but “full screen”, which has its own rational grain.

The aspect ratio of the model remains 18:9, and the display is more elongated, which, with the same body dimensions, allows you to install a larger diagonal on the phone. On the one hand, this is a pretty smart solution if you use the phone for reading, but you may have problems navigating such a large screen, especially if you need to reach the top of the screen with your thumb. Another disadvantage is the presence of black bars on the screen when using mi mix 2 to watch videos.

The Mi Mix 2 screen is beautiful

The quality of the display itself is extremely high and is on par with latest models iPhones. The brightness spectrum is very wide, which will allow you to use the phone both when exposed to bright sun and on the darkest night with maximum convenience. The gamma itself is easily adjusted in the settings for different modes work.

In percentage terms, the screen occupies approximately 81 percent of the front of the phone. The display is also equipped with multi-touch for up to 10 touches simultaneously and special protection against scratches.

What operating system is equipped with Xiaomi mi mix 2?

The phone has MIUI 9 and Android 7.1. The system is extremely flexible and completely customizable to the user. Varied quantity various settings, a bunch of additional features, constantly updated components - all this makes working with Xiaomi mi mix 2 extremely convenient for anyone.

Performance

Many modern flagships are equipped with the strongest processors and it is very difficult to notice stutters or freezes in them. Mi mix 2 is no exception. This phone model is equipped with an 835 chipset with 6-8 gigabytes random access memory, as well as an eight-core processor with a frequency of 2450. Naturally, such characteristics will be quite sufficient for games and other applications without the occurrence of slowdowns or freezing of the picture.

The device scored 182 thousand in Antutu

The smartphone is also pleasantly pleased with the fact that with such powerful hardware inside, it practically does not heat up and remains cold for a long time, regardless of how many processes are running. this moment.

Characteristics and duration of work.

A non-removable 3400 mAh battery powers the phone while watching videos in HD quality at full brightness for 7 hours. When operating in game mode at full brightness, the mobile phone will operate for 4 hours. With the browser turned on continuously at full brightness – 5 hours.

In sleep mode, the phone practically does not discharge and loses a maximum of 5 percent of its charge. Fast Qualcomm charging allows the Mi Mix to charge in an hour and a half from zero percent to a full battery charge. With everyday use, without carrying out excessive load, you can definitely count on 6-7 hours of continuous operation.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 camera specifications

The phone is equipped with two cameras. The resolution of the main camera is 12 megapixels, while the front camera is 5 MP. The camera has fast focusing, stereo sound and optical stabilization. True, it’s not entirely clear why dual camera technology was not used, as in Mi 6, for example, because it improves the quality of pictures, but oh well.

Evening shooting

The Mi Mix 2 camera copes well with both daylight and evening shots. With night photos standard mode makes the photo a little worse, but thanks to the brightness reduction slider, the quality can be increased, since the phone is equipped with such a function.

The front camera does a much worse job. At artificial lighting Selfies are blurry and noisy. But given the full-screen nature of the phone, we can say “thank you” to this quality as well.

Daytime shooting

The smartphone can record video in 4K resolution, and the picture turns out juicy and too rich in colors, but with excellent sharpness.

Wireless interfaces

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 boasts support for a large number of bands, that is, in fact, you can stay connected almost anywhere in the world using the LTE networks of local telecom operators. The list of these bands also includes our post-Soviet operators. All necessary connections also present - WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS. The phone also has an NFC module for online shopping.

What can you say in conclusion?

It’s worth saying that the developers did a very good job and added all the missing elements of the first mi mix new model. It is especially worth noting that the experimental piezoelectric speaker was abandoned. This word sounds great, but in practice it turned out to be a very quiet speaker with the inability to talk to each other. They abandoned the all-ceramic case, but this will not be a plus for all users. It is also worth noting the addition of a large number of new bands and work with screen proportions.

What are the main advantages of the Xiaomi mi mix 2 phone worth noting?

Display excellent quality.
Using advanced processor and chipset.
A large number of RAM and internal memory of the phone.
Excellent performance of the model.

But this phone model also has its drawbacks. This:

Slippery phone body.
There is no mini-jack, although a cord is included in the package.
There are no additional slots for memory cards.
Low quality front camera.

It is worth noting that there are just as many disadvantages, but all of them are not as significant as the presented advantages. High performance makes this phone the flagship of Xiaomi, allowing it to compete with leading companies. In addition, its cost, with approximately the same processors as more well-known brands, makes it affordable for buyers.

Full-screen phones from such giants as Meizu and Huawei will soon be released - then you can see who is who.

In the meantime, mi mix 2 is cheap (compared to leading companies), but just as powerful as Samsung flagships, Apple and LG.

Video review

Xiaomi mi mix 2 owner reviews from various sources:

Vladimir Pershin: I liked the phone, as was said in the review - a very cool main camera. The phone is convenient, although a little heavy. At work I use it to monitor the Internet - the charge lasts about 6 hours. I was pleased with the purchase.
Dmitry Anikin: Good phone, no doubt. Fast, does not lag even if many processes are running simultaneously. The front camera is really so-so, but this is just a minor drawback. There are still many more advantages.
Maria Ivashchenko: There is no slot for a memory card, but this is not a problem at all. I’ve been using it for several months now, and the memory isn’t even half full, even though I’m constantly downloading something. Every day I spend several hours on the subway. I read books on my phone, the charge is enough, and the screen renders colors so softly that my eyes don’t get tired at all.
Andrey Polzunov: Excellent purchase. I thought about buying a phone for a long time, but there is still a price difference with iPhones and Samsung. As a result, I bought Mi Mix 2. I was pleased with the speed of the phone and fast charging. In general, I made no mistake.
Vitaly Onishchenko: Very powerful hardware, and also holds a charge for a long time. I like that on the road I can watch several movies in HD quality and the phone won’t even die completely. Photos from the main camera turn out cool, there’s nothing to complain about. The front camera is average, but fortunately I don’t use it that often. The phone is indeed a little slippery, but that's a hand problem.

Where can I buy?

You can order this device very favorable price in the AliExpress store for $437. Prices are indicated at the time of writing and are subject to change.

P.S. What do you think of the new frameless model? Write your opinion in the comments

Apple was far from the first company to release such a smartphone.

Samsung's Galaxy S8 arrived last spring, but even it wasn't a first mover. Chinese company Xiaomi introduced the Mi Mix device six months earlier. It was more of a conceptual device, but now Chinese manufacturer releases a second-generation device, with which it begins to move into European markets.

Smartphone Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

Mi Mix 2 has a 5.99-inch screen, made in metal case with ceramic at the back. It runs on Snapdragon 835 and has 6GB of RAM. You can buy it either in our country or order it by mail from stores like GearBest.

Specifications

Unboxing video:

Design and screen

The first Mi Max was a real monster, although the bezel-less screen reduced the size on three sides. Now Xiaomi has changed the design of the device to make it easier to operate with one hand. The diagonal size has decreased from 6.4 to 5.99 inches.

Of course, this is still a tablet phone, but compared to other 6-inch Mi Mix 2 devices, it is smaller. LCD screen fills almost the entire front side of the device; there is still a frame at the bottom, but it is smaller than in the first generation model.

The rounded edges of the device are reminiscent of the iPhone style. The back uses ceramic, which attracts fingerprints, but still makes the smartphone more beautiful. In addition, this material does not leave scratches, but you should not drop your smartphone on the floor. The ceramic will break immediately, so a protective case is included in the package.

A very fast fingerprint scanner is located on the back, and there is also a 12 MP camera with a gold bezel. On the bottom edge you will find USB-C interface and one of the two speakers, the other is part of the auricle. The volume control and power button are located on right side housings. On the opposite side there is a SIM card compartment that can simultaneously accept two nano cards.

Metal and ceramic make the Mi Mix 2 heavy, but it's well balanced and feels solid. If you were told what it was samsung smartphone or Apple, you wouldn’t doubt it for a second, the quality is so high.

Unfortunately, the Chinese manufacturer does not offer any protection against water and dust. In addition, the 3.5 mm headphone jack has disappeared; instead, an adapter has been included in the package.

The IPS LCD panel is protected by durable Gorilla Glass 4. The resolution is 1080 x 2160, pixel density is 403 ppi, so the image is very clear. The screen is bright, colors are rich, viewing angles are excellent, as is visibility in the sun. The 18:9 ratio allows the smartphone to be not too wide so that it can be held comfortably with one hand.

Performance

Thanks to the Snapdragon 835 chip, the device works at lightning speed. The base model has 6 GB of memory, and there is an even more expensive version with 8 GB of memory.

Video review:

The result is a smartphone that can handle any task put before it. Switching between applications is fast and smooth, heavy 3D games also do not force the smartphone to capitulate. In terms of performance, this is a true uncompromising flagship.

It may not be immediately noticeable, but the device has stereo speakers, one of which is inside the ear. He does the same in his Apple smartphones. The main difference is in this case is that the speakers are noticeably weaker. There is no bass, the speaker in the ear is quite quiet. As a result, it seems that there is only one speaker.

At least this time a real ear is used. The first Mi Mix device used piezoelectric technology; the vibration of the device was converted into sound. Sounds interesting, but the volume during phone calls was low. This problem is now a thing of the past thanks to the traditional speaker.

Software

Like many other Android smartphone manufacturers, Xiaomi installs its own shell on top of Android. MIUI has existed for several years, it is one of the most extreme branches of pure Android versions. In the past it was called a copy of iOS, because in terms of appearance, the developers borrowed a lot from Apple.

This has changed over the last few updates, but the similarities still remain. The most obvious one is the lack of an app list. In the shell there is own innovations, as well as the deep customization that Android is famous for.

You can download home screen and icon packs, create a second space to install more than one copy identical applications, change the wallpaper on the lock screen, taking them from Xiaomi servers, so that the device looks different every day.

The copy from the review worked on MIUI versions 8.5 on top of Android 7.1.1. MIUI 9 is out now and is gradually rolling out to devices, although it is also based on Android Nougat. Despite this, there are some useful innovations here, such as the ability to run two instances of the same application with different accounts.

Xiaomi works with user feedback to remove bugs and add popular features. This is what makes MIUI such an interesting interface. If you don't like it, you can install the bootloader at any time Google Now and get close to stock Android appearance

The model in question worked on Chinese version MIUI, which means availability pre-installed applications for a given country. There may also be problems with services that rely on location. No official support Google applications, although you can install necessary components on one's own. At the same time, the smartphone tries to return to the Xiaomi digital store every time.

With some effort, you can put international version MIUI, which eliminates all these shortcomings. This is a rather complicated procedure; it requires unlocking the smartphone's bootloader and installing several firmware updates using a computer.

Cameras

The device has a single rear camera based on the Sony IMX368 sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels. There is phase detection autofocus and 4-axis optical stabilization. When the lighting is good, it can produce great photos.

Unfortunately, things aren't so good in low light, with the sensor having trouble collecting light even when using the appropriate shooting mode. A quick double flash doesn't help much in these situations, blurring the images even more. Compared to photos from the iPhone 8 or Galaxy S8, photos are compressed more aggressively, resulting in a significant loss of detail when the image is enlarged.

It is unknown why the Chinese manufacturer decided not to install a dual camera, as it did on the Xiaomi Mi6. A secondary wide-angle sensor could be useful here. It supports 4K video recording at 30fps, but the audio is quite poor.

When such big screen fills the entire front of the smartphone, you need to think carefully about where to fit the front camera. The developers made a non-trivial choice and placed it in the lower right corner, so that when taking a selfie you need to turn the device over. Fortunately, software at the same time it also turns over and you see everything as it should. They can’t boast about the same third party applications, which turn out to be upside down.

Autonomous operation

The Mix 2 comes with a 3,400 mAh battery, up from 4,400 mAh before. The battery had to be sacrificed to reduce the size of the device, but the smartphone still works for quite a long time.

With a relatively heavy load, the device can work all day without recharging. If the load is light, it lasts for a day and a half. Thanks to support for Quick Charge 3.0, the smartphone can be charged from almost zero to 85% in just over an hour. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging.

The base model received 64 GB flash memory, and 128 and 256 GB options are also available. Need to do it right away right choice, since microSD cards are not supported.

Conclusion

From a design point of view, Mi Mix 2 has become an excellent device. Xiaomi has launched luxury smartphones in the past, but this one might be the best among them. The ceramic back and gold frame camera give it a high-end feel.

Among the disadvantages are the lack of protection against water and dust, which all modern flagships have, as well as poor camera performance in low light. However, at such a low price, all these are minor nuances that you can ignore.

Pros: Great screen, powerful components, beautiful design.
Cons: no protection against water and dust, camera could be better.

Appearance 5.0

Screen 5.0

Performance 5.0

Water and dust protection 3.0

Camera 3.0

4.2 Total

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 - second generation flagship smartphones Mi MIX line, which stands out for its innovative design using continuous screens. It was with this line in October 2016 that the craze for full-screen screens that occupy the maximum area of the front panel began and continues.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is even more refined than the first: the frames are thinner, the lines are smoother. In August 2017, the smartphone became a gold medalist in the IDEA design competition, and in October it was added to the collection of the Design Museum in Helsinki. The filling is powerful, and the price is affordable.

Characteristics

Frame	Aluminium, ceramics
Display	5.99 inches, IPS FHD+ (2,160 × 1,080 pixels), Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) processor, Adreno 540 graphics accelerator
RAM	6 GB, LPDDR4X
Built-in memory	64 / 128 / 256 GB, UFS 2.1
Cameras	Main - 12 MP, Sony IMX386; front - 5 MP
Connection	2 nanoSIM slots; 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1 800 / 1 900; CDMA BC0, BC1, BC6, BC10; 3G: WCDMA 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 / 9 / 19; CDMA EVDO, BC0, BC1, BC6, BC10; TD-SCDMA 34 / 39; 4G TD-LTE 34 / 38 / 39 / 40 / 41; FDD-LTE: Band 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 12 / 13 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30; B41 support 2496–2690 MHz; LTE B41 technology with 4 antennas, support 4 × 4 MIMO
Wireless interfaces	2 × 2 MIMO, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 Hz / 5 Hz; Bluetooth 5, GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou
Expansion slots	USB Type-C
Sensors	Accelerometer, ultrasonic sensor proximity, light sensor, gyroscope, compass, fingerprint scanner, barometer, Hall sensor
operating system	Android 7.1.1 + MIUI 9.1.2
Battery	3,400 mAh (non-removable); fast charge 3.0, 9V/2A
Dimensions	151.8 × 75.5 × 7.7 mm
Weight	185 g

Design, materials and ergonomics

The appearance and materials of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 claim premium status. Aircraft aluminum base, mirrored ceramic back panel, 18-karat gold camera frame - chic, shine, beauty! If you like bright things, you will definitely like Xiaomi Mi MIX 2.

However, from a practicality point of view, there are nuances. Firstly, the device gets dirty as soon as you pick it up. Secondly, it is slippery. It is so slippery that you can use it to check the level of inclination of the surface: place the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 on the table, and if it slowly moves to the side and falls, then there is a slight deviation from the horizon line. Thirdly, it does not have dust and moisture protection, which is what expensive flagships from Apple, Samsung, and LG have.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is heavy, weighs 185 g. The dimensions are the same as 5.5-inch smartphones with a regular screen. Overall convenient.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 does not have a 3.5 mm audio jack, so if you have regular headphones with a plug, you will have to connect them via an adapter to USB port Type-C, which is included in the kit. This whole design is not entirely convenient and looks quite cumbersome. It can be tolerated in winter, when the smartphone is in the breast pocket of a coat or jacket, but in summer, when it moves to a jeans pocket, the adapter will cause inconvenience.

Note that Xiaomi has released headphones with a USB Type-C connection, so you can purchase them for your smartphone.

Screen

The main decoration of the Mi MIX series smartphones is the screen, which occupies almost the entire front plane. The unique feature of the Mi MIX 2 display is not only the 18:9 aspect ratio, but also the rounded corners - it looks beautiful and fresh.

The device uses a 5.99-inch matrix with Full HD+ resolution (2,180 × 1,080 pixels), but the manufacturer is silent about which one. It is only clear that this is LCD, not OLED. Brightness, contrast, color rendition are excellent. In the settings, you can enable reading mode, which filters blue light, change the color tone and contrast.

Performance

No one has ever had any questions about the computing and graphic resources of Xiaomi smartphones. The company uses the most powerful components, and as a result, its products beat all benchmarks.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is no exception. It has the flagship 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset with 8 cores and 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM. In AnTuTu, the smartphone consistently scores 171–174 thousand points, and in the Sling Shot Extreme test from the 3DMark package - 3,738 points. The device becomes a little warm even under heavy loads, there is no throttling, and the result remains stable.

Like any other flagship, Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is powerful enough that its owner will not have to worry about performance for several years.

The amount of internal memory can be 64, 128 or 256 GB. That's quite a lot, so the lack of microSD card support isn't a big deal.

Camera

Although Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is a top model, the manufacturer has installed regular mono cameras here: one at the back and one at the front.

For the main camera, we chose a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 photo module. There are optics with an f/1.8 aperture, 1.25 micron pixels, four-axis optical stabilization, and phase detection autofocus. However, the IMX386 is a mid-range module. It can be found, for example, in last year’s mid-range Honor 6X from the “smartphones under 15 thousand rubles” group. Why Xiaomi uses top smartphone Is this the solution? We believe in order to save money and at the same time save the warehouse of stale unused modules.

Of course, with this Xiaomi camera Mi MIX 2 cannot be compared with the flagships from Apple, Samsung and LG, even last year. But what is a smartphone capable of?

The camera is fast and the autofocus is accurate but thoughtful. The image stabilizer allows you to grab your smartphone from your pocket on the go and immediately take a sharp photo. In video shooting mode, the stabilizer also performs well.

The dynamic range leaves much to be desired: dark tones are a problem. As the amount of light decreases, the amount of noise sharply increases, and sometimes just cloudy weather is enough for this. The smartphone uses radical noise reduction, which ungodly kills detail, turning lines into spots.

The front 5-megapixel camera with a “beautifier” could be called ordinary if not for its location. If in 99.9% of smartphones it is located above the screen, then in Xioami Mi MIX 2 it is in the lower right corner, which made it possible to make not only the side frames thin, but also the top one.

This leads to two problems. Firstly, holding the smartphone in your right hand, you cover the camera with your palm - you need to get used to not doing this. But how? Secondly, both in selfies and during video calls, you will always look somewhere up. Yes, it didn’t turn out very well, although it was good for design.

Connection

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 supports 43 cellular bands and will not leave you without communication and fast internet neither in Russia, nor in China, nor in Europe, nor in the USA. You can install two SIM cards.

Support Wi-Fi networks also fully functional: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac protocols, 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. You can simultaneously receive Wi-Fi and distribute it.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is one of the few smartphones that support the latest Bluetooth 5.0. Compared to version 4.2, the range of Bluetooth 5.0 has increased four times, the speed has increased by two times, and the throughput has increased by eight times. For ordinary person, which uses Bluetooth to connect a smartphone with headphones, smart watches and fitness gadgets, and in the evening, possibly with wireless speakers, there is no benefit from such technologies. However, Bluetooth 5 is a good start for the future when more compatible devices and perhaps more custom scripts.

Available in Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 and NFC module. You can use your smartphone in plastic card emulation mode to contactless payment in system Android Pay, as well as for recording data on NFC tags and transport cards.

Satellite receivers GPS signals, GLONASS and BeiDou work as expected.

Safety

Everything is very simple here. The fingerprint scanner is located on the back below the camera. Works quickly and accurately, used to unlock smartphones and authenticate transactions in Android Pay.

Software

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 runs operating system Android 7.1.1 Nougat and has a proprietary graphical shell MIUI 9.1.2. Interface, like everyone else Chinese smartphones, simple, similar to iOS. However, there are many interesting features hidden under the hood.

The most striking is, perhaps, the possibility of creating a second workspace. Essentially, you get another system in your smartphone with different accounts, settings, and applications. Login to the second space can be protected with a password and fingerprint.

Working hours

Although Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 has an energy-efficient processor, it will not last longer than one day in the “little of everything” mode. The battery capacity of this 5.99-inch smartphone is 3,400 mAh. There is technology fast charging Quick Charge 3.0, but it only works with a 9V/2A power adapter. The smartphone charges from 0 to 100% in less than 2 hours.

Bottom line

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is suitable for those who want a productive frameless flagship, created using the latest technologies, but do not want to overpay. In this sense, Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 has no competitors: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and solid screen They combined only into , which will cost astronomical money, and into , which we don’t sell yet.

However, if the camera is important to you, then the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is absolutely not suitable. Here the manufacturer saved money, deciding that it could get by with last year’s mediocre sensor.

In the official Xiaomi store, the smartphone can be purchased for 34,990 rubles.

By releasing the original , Xiaomi company was able to declare itself as one of the first manufacturers whose portfolio includes a “frameless” smartphone. However, testing showed many controversial aspects of the model - weight and dimensions, implementation of the earpiece speaker, and other little things. Today we’ll see how Xiaomi’s vision of the ideal frameless smartphone has changed over the year.

Smartphone provided Xiaomi.ua

Equipment and design

Just like a year ago, Mi Mix 2 meets the buyer in black cardboard box. We can immediately note that it has become simpler, and the complete Leather Case replaced with plastic. This accessory may look cheaper, but it will certainly last longer and be more practical.

Surprisingly external changes in Mi Mix 2, compared to the first model, the minimum is about the same as between some iPhone 6 and 6s (exaggerated, but close to the truth). The body materials, as before, are metal (frame) and ceramics (back). The gold accents on the back have also been retained, although now only the camera lens is highlighted in color, and the fingerprint scanner is less noticeable.

Accordingly, tactile sensations remained at a comparable level - a pleasant, quite expensive and high-quality device, the back of which quickly becomes covered with fingerprints.

The list of changes does not end here and it’s time to note the most important of them. If Mi Mix was equipped with a 6.4-inch display, then Mi Mix 2 already received a 6-inch display. The body has become narrower, lower and a little lighter - the smartphone still feels heavy, but some may like it.

The reduced size has a positive effect on ease of use. Now the dimensions are comparable to 5.5-inch devices with frames, so with some skill, Mi Mix 2 can be used with one hand.

Another difference compared to the first Mi Mix is the abandonment of the usual 3.5 mm jack; for using regular headphones, the kit includes a corresponding Type-C adapter.

In terms of build quality, everything is traditional good level. The physical keys are in their places, they turned out to be quite comfortable. We also note the presence of a rare white version.

The degree of “framelessness” of the model has not changed. The actual distance from the edge of the image to the edge of the glass is a couple of millimeters, to which you should add the width of the metal frame. Therefore, upon closer inspection, you will notice that the frames are normal and noticeably wider than in the official images. But minimal padding at the top and bottom, as well as the rounded edges of the display, allow the smartphone to look quite impressive.

Display

The smartphone screen has become smaller (5.99 inches versus 6.4), but retains the resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels and IPS matrix. According to our measurements, the backlight brightness varies from 1 to 424 cd/m², and the contrast is 1 to 605.

Color rendering depends on the selected profile. In the “standard” color gamut is slightly wider than the sRGB space, and other parameters are close to the reference values.

In the “Increased Contrast” and “Automatic Contrast” profiles, the coverage becomes noticeably wider, the color temperature is higher, and the main parameters deviate more from the reference values. The picture turns out less “honest”, but more saturated and bright.

Overall, the Mix 2's display quality is comparable to other Xiaomi flagships - it's good IPS matrix with a comfortable brightness range, covered with glass with an oleophobic coating.

Hardware and software platforms

In terms of hardware, Mi Mix 2 differs little from Mi 6 and other flagships. Used Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, available memory sizes range from 6/64 to 8/256 GB. Traditionally there is no support for memory cards. Kit wireless interfaces includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC.

There were no problems with operating speed - the device feels quite fast, programs launch almost instantly, animations are smooth. In many ways, it’s worth saying “thank you” to MIUI - the shell is well optimized in terms of visual effects, although developers still need to work on multitasking, as programs are often quickly unloaded from memory.

We tested the device on stable Chinese assembly MIUI 8.5 - unnecessary programs deleted, installed Google services themselves. Perhaps, this is one of the main nuances of the device - in the Chinese MIUI, fonts still “spread” in some places, and double tap multitasking keys simply opens and closes the list running applications, although the device runs on Android 7.1.1.

During use, an update to the “global” version of MIUI was released (with localization and Google services), and also a firmware for developers based on MIUI 9 has appeared - in the first there should be no problems with fonts and Google services, in the second, double-pressing the multitasking key will work as it should. But, for example, the ability to fully expand notifications and respond to them is not yet available in any version of MIUI.

In fact, the shell continues to develop in parallel, without paying attention to the basic functionality of Android - those who are used to using it may not appreciate the developer's approach. If such nuances do not bother you, then there should be no problems. Plus there will be an opportunity to try flexible settings energy consumption and other MIUI functions for which it is praised.

Support for full-screen applications is implemented in MIUI at a normal level. Most of them “stretch” in height themselves, while for the rest the option can be turned on forcibly. How games work will depend on the developers. For example, in our case, Asphalt Extreme and Guns of Boom themselves earned full screen mode without black bars, and for Doodle Jump I had to activate the option. The smartphone software does not yet know how to stretch and trim video.

Multimedia, calls

The quality of music playback through headphones in Mi Mix 2 can be called ordinary - the sound is clear and detailed, the power is enough to drive most earbuds and on-ear headphones with low impedance. The only thing that confuses us is the need to use an adapter, which Xiaomi did for reasons unknown to us. On the other hand, the company has already released at least one of its own headphones with Type-C and has acquired a fleet of Bluetooth models, so even in the budget segment it will be possible to choose a suitable accessory.

When playing sound through a single multimedia speaker, the conversational speaker is also used. This does not create a noticeable stereo effect, but the sound improves slightly. The multimedia speaker itself can be called average - it is loud, but does not have any special sound quality.

It's good that the company didn't forget to work on the earpiece. Compared to Mi Mix, a speaker of a different design was used here. Its sound is practically no different from usual solutions- talking on the phone is comfortable, you don’t have to adjust.

Working hours

Mi Mix 2 received a battery with a capacity of 3400 mAh - as much as 1000 mAh less than the first model. That's why new smartphone It’s hard to call it too autonomous. The model works for a comparable time to its competitors - with my usual set of programs, the device averaged a day of work with 5-6 hours of active screen. In most cases, this will be enough to charge the device once a day. There is support for fast charging according to the Qualcomm Quick Charge standard.

Camera

Frameless Xiaomi received the main camera module from Xiaomi Mi 6 (12 MP). At the same time, the company's frameless flagship uses only one main camera with worst characteristics optics (f/2.0 versus f/1.8 in Mi 6). It's good that at least the system optical stabilization saved.

The camera is equipped standard set shooting modes: HDR, manual, night, panorama and so on. There is no portrait shooting mode.

The device takes pictures like others Xiaomi flagships- average Focusing and shooting occur quickly, the software correctly determines color temperature and in general the photographs look good, but upon closer inspection, the average detail in the photographs is noticeable, especially those taken in poor lighting.

The front module is located under the screen, so you have to turn the smartphone over to take a selfie. The 5 MP sensor (f/2.0) takes mediocre pictures.

Site evaluation

Pros:“frameless” design and case materials; normal sizes housings (width and height); high-quality screen; characteristics and performance; normal operating hours; The speaker has gotten better

Minuses: price; cameras are simpler than those of Mi 6 and generally worse than those of other flagships; rejection of the 3.5 mm jack; reduced battery capacity compared to the first Mi Mix

Conclusion: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 can hardly be called unequivocally good or bad. The first model was perceived as a concept that became a real product, and the second version leaves comparable impressions. It’s safe to say that at the moment it is Mi 6 (and Mi Note 3) that is the current flagship of the company. Mi Mix 2 has an image function, as well as the role of the most expensive smartphone in the line. It has become more convenient to use, has a normal earpiece and updated characteristics. But on the other side of the scale are higher cost, less battery life, minus headphone jack, and average cameras by flagship standards. Probably, if you are a Xiaomi fan and want to use a “frameless” device, then the model is worth paying attention to, but it seems to us that in global terms this device will be on a par with other experimental and not the most successful Xiaomi flagships.

You can say as much as you like that the first frameless smartphones were made by Sharp, but this does not cancel the wow effect of the first Xiaomi Mi Mix. But Mi Mix 2 similar feelings after Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6 and iPhone X no longer call. Now it's just another frameless smartphone. And nothing more.

However, the gadget looks good and, what is important for many, expensive. There is a metal frame around the perimeter, and at the back there is a perfectly smooth ceramic panel that can be used as a mirror. It's beautiful, but it quickly becomes covered with fingerprints. And it scratches over time no worse than glass.

Move the slider to view your smartphone from different angles

Reducing the screen diagonal from 6.44 to 5.99 inches has benefited Mi Mix 2 - holding the phone in your hand has become much more convenient. The fingerprint scanner is located at the back - your index finger can easily reach it. It works quickly and accurately, almost the same as in Huawei flagships.

The screen is normal, although not flagship

Xiaomi managed to make a mistake with the “frameless” display of the Mi Mix 2 right during the presentation of the device in Beijing. The thickness of the frames in the press renderings turned out to be much smaller than in real life. The deceived public immediately began to rightly and noisily be indignant at the entire Internet.

Well, if we talk about the quality of the 5.99-inch display itself, then it is... just normal. It’s appropriate to see something like this in mid-range smartphones, but you can’t help but expect more from a flagship. The screen is based on an IPS matrix with a resolution of 2040x1080 pixels, that is, actually Full HD.

The clarity of the picture is normal; individual pixels are not visible due to the density of more than 400 dots per inch. Color reproduction is natural, but the maximum brightness is even lower than in the first Xiaomi Mi Mix, and the depth of black color is not impressive. There is a night mode, but there are flexible adjustments color tone they were not delivered into the shell. There are only a few preset options available. However, manual correction for each channel (RGB) is not really needed here.

Under bright light, the image on the display is visible. However, if with a smartphone with AMOLED matrices you just walk down the street on a clear sunny day and calmly scroll through instant messengers and social networks, then with Mi Mix 2 in your hand you want to stop somewhere in the shade.

photos

One of the most powerful Android smartphones

What the Chinese have learned to do well is negotiate with manufacturers mobile chipsets. So Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 received the “top” Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, and even as much as 6 GB of RAM. Moreover, there are even modifications of Mi Mix 2 with 8 GB of RAM, but this is completely outright overkill. Xiaomi's logic, obviously, is that it needs to somehow stand out among its competitors' flagships, which are still generally prudently limited to 4 GB of RAM.

As a result, the iPhone 8, as Apple has always been, is far ahead in terms of performance, and the Mi Mix successfully plays on the same field with the Android giants: Samsung Galaxy S8, LG V30, Sony Xperia XZ1, OnePlus 5 and others.

Nothing more powerful than the Snapdragon 835 has yet been invented for smartphones with a “green robot,” so we smile, wave, and launch any mobile games without any problems or slowdowns. And the system, by the way, works very well, although Android 8.0 has not yet been released for it.

No firmware glitches were noticed; after all, the product is aimed at the international, not the local market. With heating, everything is also tip-top. If you look at the smartphone screen, the processor is located in the upper right part of the case - exactly where the user’s fingers are least likely to hit. Eventually right part The metal frame may become warm, but everything is within reason.

Be careful when choosing the amount of memory. The basic version has 64 GB, which seems good, but there is no slot for microSD in the device. At all. And this is bad. So it's better to focus on 128 or 256 GB.

Photos are good during the day, but at night there is a lot of noise

Impressions from the 12-megapixel photos of the main camera of Mi Mix 2 are mixed. On the one hand, there is natural color reproduction and surprisingly accurate auto-exposure. The device extremely rarely overexposes or underexposes frames. On the other hand, night photos are frustrating a huge amount noise

At the same time, the algorithms diligently try to make the pictures as sharp as possible, and they succeed quite successfully. Mainly due to the presence of a good image stabilizer. But the autofocus system was not successful. It is difficult for her to aim at small objects at close range. Macro photography on Mi Mix 2 is a tedious task.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

Samsung Galaxy S8+

As a result, we can say that compared to the frankly terrible camera of last year's Mi Mix, this is a noticeable step forward. But in comparison with other Android flagships, the results are mediocre. Many “middle peasants” for 20-25 thousand can do at least no worse.

Videos can be recorded in 4K, but it’s better not to try this and limit yourself to reasonable Full HD. The matrix is noisy, the optics are dark (f/2.0). During the day the result is acceptable, at night it is sad.

The front camera is a separate sad song. As before, it is located in the lower right corner of the front panel. If you want a selfie, turn your smartphone upside down. And if only this were okay, the quality of the 5-megapixel self-portraits is such that you want to hug yourself and cry bitterly. They film it about the same way budget smartphones about 10-12 thousand.

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The sound was disappointing, but everything was fine with the wireless modules

Last year, Xiaomi developers tried to surprise everyone with a piezoelectric earpiece speaker: the sound was created using vibration of the display. And the result was complete nonsense - quiet and muffled audio.

In Mi Mix 2, they hastened to forget about the failed super-technology and installed a standard speaker in the phone, but it was also disappointing with the quality of voice transmission. And also because at a volume above average, not only you, but also everyone standing nearby can hear your interlocutor.

A similar bleak story with external speakers. Mi Mix 2 is proudly “stereo”, but the second speaker is the same one that is used during calls. Music and calls end up sounding quiet, everything rattles unpleasantly.

Login for wired headphones For some reason the Chinese removed it, and instead they offer to use an adapter with microUSB of absolutely disgusting quality. These are just right to be sold for half a dollar on Aliexpress, and not put in a box with a gadget for 500 bucks.

If good sound If headphones are important to you, we recommend passing by this smartphone or using decent Bluetooth solutions with aptX support. Fortunately, the Mi Mix 2 supports this codec, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC. GPS works quickly and accurately enough that you don’t have to worry about it.

Runs less than its predecessor

The Xiaomi Mi Mix had a battery with a respectable capacity of 4400 mAh, in the new Mi Mix 2 it was reduced to 3400 mAh. This is sad, but not fatal. The gadget lasts its honest day from morning until late evening under medium load.

In mono tests, a full charge lasted for 4 hours and 50 minutes mobile games and a little over 7 hours in Full HD video playback mode. The brightness in both cases was maximum. We previously carried out similar tests with the previous model: the lag is not dramatic, but very noticeable.

Fast charging has accelerated from 2 to 1.5 hours. In 15 minutes, Mi Mix 2 can be charged from 0 to 25%, and in 30 minutes – up to 50%. Well, to achieve 90%, 60 minutes of connecting to an outlet via the proprietary adapter included in the package will be enough.

Competitors

IN China Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 costs about 33-34 thousand rubles. Since it is impossible to officially buy the device in Russia, it is logical to compare it with competitors’ smartphones imported through the same “gray” routes.

If you add a couple of thousand on top, then for 36,000 rubles you can buy a much more “frameless” Samsung Galaxy S8, which doesn’t really need any introduction. Looks no worse, better screen, better and bigger camera, better battery life, plus normal sound, plus a microSD slot, plus wireless charging and water protection. Killer combo!

For 32,000 rubles you can get an LG G6 with a screen that occupies almost the entire front panel and is of much higher quality dual camera and protection from water. But there is a minus here - the previous generation Snapdragon 821 chipset. However, it is still wow.