Detailed review of the xiaomi mi mix 2 smartphone. Hardware and software platforms. Software and multimedia

Full Screen, or in Russian: the entire display, is a term that Xiaomi introduced. It was used as a slogan for the first generation Xiaomi Mi Mix. Well, now we have seen the second generation of Mi Mix, which means that it also needs its own slogan! Marketers got seriously confused and here it is: “Full Screen 2.0” is the slogan for the new flagship.

In this way, the company tried to hint at the improvements that the smartphone should come with. As we know, many companies are obsessed with mocking their rivals in the market in their advertising campaigns. This explains why some of Xiaomi's competitors have announced their own bezel-less smartphones with the slogan: “Full Screen 2.1” or “Full Screen 29.0”.

In any case, Xiaomi is the first smartphone manufacturer to sell truly frameless devices. However, some of you may remember a phone from Sharp that was shown quite a long time ago, but also boasted an edge-to-edge display. You may also recall that it did not go into mass production.

XIAOMI MI MIX VS MI MIX 2

The new product has a lot of changes and improvements compared to its predecessor. Firstly, the second generation of the devicebecame less. The display size has been reduced by 0.4 inches. However, the device is in the category of so-called “phablets” and does not pretend to be included in the list of regular smartphones. It’s just that now it’s easier to use the phone with one hand while doing other things with the other.

Due to the absence of frames, the dimensions of a device with a 6-inch display are comparable to the dimensions of devices with 5.5-inch displays, with frames, of course. Another advantage over is the aspect ratio: 18:9 versus 17:9.

The first generation used a lot of innovative technologies, such as a piezoelectric earpiece and an ultrasonic proximity sensor. What does it mean? First, sound vibrations are projected directly through the display, so a person can communicate on the phone without a traditional speaker. Secondly, the proximity sensor uses acoustic radiation to determine the distance. The technology is very cool, although complaints about call quality are also not uncommon. Thus, Xiaomi had to solve a serious problem: to allocate as much space as possible for the display without creating new problems, for example, when making phone calls. Luckily, our favorite company knows a lot about innovation.The second generation comes with three new technologies that reduce the size of the phone by 12%: a micro-front camera module, Chip-On-Film screen technology and a software-controlled active antenna for improved call quality.

The third big change concerns the design. The first generation looks brutal, and its successor is more modern. The company made rounded corners at the edges of the device so that it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Moreover, the new product will be available in not one, but two versions: with a ceramic rim and lid made of Series 7 aluminum, or in a completely ceramic version.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is a true flagship equipped with the latest hardware. But there was still room in this ointment for a couple of fly in the ointment. Let's take a closer look at the new product together and try to understand where the company gave up.

APPEARANCE

We've talked about the design of this device many times. The main reason why we did this is due to the name of its designer - Philippe Starck. He is one of the most popular industrial designers around the world. Thanks to his ideas, the first generation became very popular. Surely, this factor was the most important in Xiaomi’s decision to collaborate with Stark again. Luckily for us, Philip knows how to create dream phones.

Everything about this device hints at premium class. Even the box looks like a box with luxury inside. It is made in a square shape with the phone name on top. On the bottom edge of the box there are only a few factory stickers with information on the specifications of the device.

Since the device is very fragile, a protective case is expected. In addition to it, the box contains the smartphone itself, a USB cable and an 18W charging block. No headphones were delivered.

Mi Mix 2 has a 5.99-inch display with a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels and a pixel density of 403ppi. There are almost no frames on the top and side ribs, but there is a frame on the bottom. The anterior camera is located here. You can also notice that, unlike Mi6, there is no physical Home button.

The back panel of the device looks amazing. This is where the main camera is located, which we will talk about later. The camera eye is framed in gold. Nearby is a dual-tone flash, necessary for better shooting in low-light conditions. And right below the camera is a fingerprint sensor.
There is also a popular phrase on the back panel:“MIX Designed by Xiaomi”. These are really important words, because design here is the starting point for everything else.

The bottom edge is almost no different from that of the first generation. There are two speakers and USB Type-C in the middle. The only difference is two antenna inserts, which were not present in Mi Mix.On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power button.

On the right is a microSD card slot. There is a microphone hole at the top.
You won’t find a 3.5 mm audio jack here, but IP67 protection is claimed.

PERFORMANCE

In terms of hardware, only a few devices can compete with this phone. For example, OnePlus 5 or ZTE Nubia Z17. Like the Mi Mix 2, these smartphones are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.
Possible configurations of Mi Mix 2 are described below:
6 GB + 64 GB
6 GB + 128 GB
6 GB + 256 GB
8 GB + 128 GB

It is also worth noting the fact that the memory in the device is made using UFS2.1 technology, which is faster than eMMC. The read speed is about 740 MB/s, and the write speed is 240 MB/s. This is the fastest memory in mobile devices today.

The results of testing Mi Mix 2 with 6 GB of RAM in Antutu are amazing. The device scored 180,000 points, which is higher than the ZTE Nubia Z17 with 8 GB of RAM, and very close to the results of OnePlus 5. Just imagine what result a smartphone with 8 GB of RAM will show!

XIAOMI BATTERY

It may seem that the battery capacity must be large enough to ensure good autonomy of the device. But imagine our surprise when we found out that the Mi6 has only a 3350 mAh battery. However, the device worked almost the entire day with active use. Thanks to Qualcomm for improved power consumption. Test. So Xiaomi also installed a 3400 mAh battery in Mi Mix 2.

The device supports fast charging. In just 20 minutes, Mi Mix 2 charged from 44% to 79%. A full charge takes 1.5 hours.

COMMUNICATION IN XIAOMI

It's no secret that the second generation supports full-featured NFC. This is no secret because, according to one of the leaks, this model ended up in the payment system in the Beijing metro. This means that the phone supports AliPay and other payment systems. In addition, the phone is equipped with 4 4x4MIMO LTE antennas. Thus, the 4G network is covered in 6 modes and 43 frequencies.

We have already said that the device can be supplied in a ceramic case, or in an aluminum case, but with a ceramic rim. What does it mean: ceramic body? This is not the traditional pottery we have seen before. The ceramics of this smartphone are reinforced with nano-zirconium powder particles, the size of which does not exceed 50 nm. The entire process takes about 10 days and involves a myriad of processes including powder finishing, molding, high temperature sintering and post-processing.

Compared to glass, ceramics are considered one of the hardest materials. On the Mohs scale, it has a degree of hardness of 8.5, that is, it scratches glass and can only be processed with diamond. This ceramic is in second place after sapphire and diamond. The great news is that such ceramics transmit electromagnetic radiation well, therefore, the 4G signal level increases.

As for the earpiece speaker, the device has returned to the traditional type, without piezoelectric elements. Xiaomi has installed a small hole above the screen, just large enough for sound to pass through.

Finally, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 still uses an ultrasonic distance sensor instead of an infrared sensor. The phone is equipped with an internal ultrasonic transmitter operating at a frequency of 40 kHz. This is the same technology as in the first generation. But thanks to the speaker hole, it will work better.

CAMERA

Well, the camera in Mi Mix 2 is definitely its weak point. Unfortunately, the smartphone has only one 12-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX386 module. If you remember, one of the lenses on the Mi6 has a similar camera. This means it comes with a 1.25 micron sensor, 4-axis image stabilization, and other nice-but-not-life-saving options for better shooting.

But to understand what has been improved over the first generation, let's dive into the details. Mi Mix is ​​equipped with a 16-megapixel camera (OV16880) with f/2.0 aperture and 1 μm sensor.

In fact, when comparing pictures taken by both devices in good lighting conditions, the Mi Mix's color reproduction is slightly better. As the example photos show, the colors are more vibrant, the perception is more real, but the photos are a little muted and slightly white.

However, the Mi Mix 2's camera has a little more detail in objects and detects edges correctly. And this is more important when it comes to background blur.The smartphone is also great for night shots. Pictures taken on Mi Mix have much more noise.

So we can say that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 takes better pictures than its predecessor, but we would like to see a dual camera module.
Finally, the device comes with a 5-megapixel front camera.

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 no longer evokes such feelings after the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6 and iPhone X. 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 flexible color tone adjustments are not included in 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.

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One of the most powerful Android smartphones

What the Chinese have learned to do well is negotiate with mobile chipset manufacturers. 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 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. As a result, the right side of 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 rendition and surprisingly accurate auto-exposure. The device extremely rarely overexposes or underexposes frames. On the other hand, night photos are frustrating with a huge amount of 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. In about the same way, budget smartphones are sold for 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 conversations. Music and calls end up sounding quiet, everything rattles unpleasantly.

For some reason, the Chinese removed the input for wired headphones, 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 in headphones is important to you, then we recommend passing by this smartphone or using decent Bluetooth solutions with aptX support. Fortunately, 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 was enough for 4 hours and 50 minutes of 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 a figure of 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. It looks no worse, the screen is better, the camera is better and larger, battery life is better, 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, a much better dual camera and water protection. But there is a minus here - the previous generation Snapdragon 821 chipset. However, it is still wow.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	75.5 mm (millimeters) 7.55 cm (centimeters) 0.25 ft (feet) 2.97 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	151.8 mm (millimeters) 15.18 cm (centimeters) 0.5 ft (feet) 5.98 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	7.7 mm (millimeters) 0.77 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.3 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	185 g (grams) 0.41 lbs 6.53 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	88.25 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.36 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black White
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Aluminium alloy Ceramics

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
CDMA CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) is a channel access method used in communications in mobile networks. Compared to other 2G and 2.5G standards like GSM and TDMA, it provides higher data transfer speeds and the ability to connect more consumers at the same time.	CDMA 800 MHz CDMA 1900 MHz CDMA 800 MHz (B10)
TD-SCDMA TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) is a 3G mobile network standard. It is also called UTRA/UMTS-TDD LCR. It was developed as an alternative to the W-CDMA standard in China by the Chinese Academy of Telecommunications Technology, Datang Telecom and Siemens. TD-SCDMA combines TDMA and CDMA.	TD-SCDMA 1880-1920 MHz TD-SCDMA 2010-2025 MHz
UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 700 MHz Class 13 LTE 700 MHz Class 17 LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39) LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) LTE 850 MHz (B26) LTE 1900 MHz (B25) LTE 700 MHz (B12) LTE 700 MHz (B28) LTE 800 MHz (B18) LTE 800 MHz (B19) LTE 700 MHz (B29) LTE 2300 MHz (B30)

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	10 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	4x 2.45 GHz Kryo 280, 4x 1.9 GHz Kryo 280
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv8-A
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	3072 kB (kilobytes) 3 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	8
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	2450 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	Qualcomm Adreno 540
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	710 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	6 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR4X
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	1866 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	JDI IPS
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	5.99 in (inches) 152.15 mm (millimeters) 15.21 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.68 in (inches) 68.04 mm (millimeters) 6.8 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	5.36 in (inches) 136.08 mm (millimeters) 13.61 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	2:1 2:1 (18:9)
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	1080 x 2160 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	403 ppi (pixels per inch) 158 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	81.05% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass 4 1500:1 contrast ratio 450 cd/m²

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor model	Sony IMX386 Exmor RS
Sensor type	CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Sensor size	4.96 x 3.72 mm (millimeters) 0.24 in (inches)
Pixel size	1.24 µm (micrometers) 0.00124 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor	6.98
ISO (light sensitivity) ISO indicators determine the level of light sensitivity of the photosensor. A lower value means weaker light sensitivity and vice versa - higher values ​​mean higher light sensitivity, i.e. better ability of the sensor to work in low light conditions.	100 - 3200
Diaphragm	f/2
Focal length	4.5 mm (millimeters) 31.4 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting.	Double LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image.	4000 x 3000 pixels 12 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device.	3840 x 2160 pixels 8.29 MP (megapixels)
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode
	Phase detection 5-element lens 4-axis OIS 720p@120fps

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera.	OmniVision OV5675
Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device.	PureCel
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution.	2.98 x 2.21 mm (millimeters) 0.15 in (inches)
Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels.	1.151 µm (micrometers) 0.001151 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor of a particular device.	11.66
Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger.	f/2
Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera.	3.5 mm (millimeters) 40.82 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with an additional camera.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution.	30fps (frames per second)

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML HTML5 CSS 3

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours.	3400 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices.	Li-polymer
Adapter output power Information about the electrical current (measured in amperes) and electrical voltage (measured in volts) that the charger supplies (power output). Higher power output ensures faster battery charging.	5 V (volts) / 3 A (amps) 9 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) 12 V (volts) / 1.5 A (amps)
Fast charging technology Fast charging technologies differ from each other in terms of energy efficiency, supported output power, control of the charging process, temperature, etc. The device, battery and charger must be compatible with fast charging technology.	Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0
Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery.	Fast charging Fixed

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device close to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the guidelines of ICNIRP 1998.

0.39 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.

1.77 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

The popularity of the Xiaomi brand is growing in the market not by years, but by days. With their phone models they have earned trust and positive reviews from customers. This article describes one of the popular mobile phone models, namely Xiaomi mi mix 2.

What's included besides the phone?

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

Box and contents

What is the appearance like?

This model is very similar to previous generations. The rounded corners of the mobile phone are already used as standard, the cover 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, I often had to use a non-standard earpiece. 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 an external speaker and microphone - the assembly is neat and 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 with every new presentation of the 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 the latest iPhone models. The brightness spectrum is very wide, which will allow you to use the phone both when exposed to bright sun and in the darkest night with maximum comfort. The gamma itself is easily adjusted in the settings for different operating modes.

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. A varied number of different 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 of RAM, as well as an eight-core processor with a frequency of 2450. Naturally, these characteristics will be quite sufficient for games and other applications without any stuttering 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 at the 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. Qualcomm fast charging allows the Mi Mix to charge in an hour and a half from zero percent to full battery. 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, the 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. In 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 is rich and overly saturated with 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 are also present - WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS. The phone also has an NFC module for online shopping.

What can you say in conclusion?

It is worth saying that the developers did a very good job and added all the missing elements of the first mi mix to the 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?

1. The display is of excellent quality.
2. Using advanced processor and chipset.
3. A large amount of RAM and internal memory of the phone.
4. Excellent performance of the model.

But this phone model also has its drawbacks. This:

1. Slippery phone body.
2. There is no mini-jack, although a cord is included in the package.
3. There are no additional slots for memory cards.
4. 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 the flagships of Samsung, Apple and LG.

Video review

Xiaomi mi mix 2 owner reviews from various sources:

1. 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.
2. Dmitry Anikin: A 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Vitaly Onishchenko: Very powerful hardware, and it 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 at a very competitive 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

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is a flagship smartphone with a massive display. A special feature of the built-in screen is the almost complete absence of side frames. The device was officially presented on September 11, 2017.

Appearance and ergonomics

The main focus of Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 was on frameless design. The display occupies almost the entire front panel, and there is a small free space only at the bottom. This is where various modules and sensors are located. At the same time, the absence of side frames made it possible to install a large screen, but while maintaining fairly compact dimensions. The ceramic case looks very impressive, as it is absolutely smooth. Therefore, the smartphone may seem slippery. But this is only the only serious complaint, which is easily corrected with the help of the case included in the kit.

It is noteworthy that the rear camera is elegantly framed with real gold. There is also a gold inscription “Mix Designed By Xiaomi” on the back. This makes the device even more elegant. And right under the main camera there is a fingerprint scanner. On the bottom edge there are multimedia speakers, as well as a USB Type-C port. As already noted, the front of the device is dedicated to the display, which is covered with protective glass. Under the monolithic body there is a 3400 mAh battery. Available colors: black. Dimensions: thickness - 7.7 mm, height - 151.8 mm, width - 75.5 mm, weight - 185 g.

Display

The Mi Mix 2 smartphone is equipped with a frameless 5.99-inch screen. Moreover, the resolution of such a display is 2160 by 1080 pixels due to the progressive aspect ratio of 18:9. We are talking about the new Full Screen 2.0 IPS matrix, thanks to which engineers were able to reduce the size of the lower frame to a minimum value - 12% of the total area of ​​the front panel. And on the other sides of the frames they are completely invisible to the naked eye, but they are still there. The top of the display is covered with durable and beautiful 2.5D glass. As for the picture, it is very detailed, there are natural colors. If you want to make them a little more saturated, this is easy to do through the screen settings. But the brightness reserve is not enough to really comfortably read text in sunny weather.

Hardware and performance

Since the Mi Mix 2 is equipped with the flagship Snapdragon 835 processor from Qualcomm, the overall performance of this device is only positive. This eight-core chip is capable of operating at frequencies up to 2450 MHz, providing excellent performance. And thanks to the Adreno 540 3D accelerator, any games will run with the best possible effects. There is no slot for memory cards, and the size of the built-in storage directly depends on the selected modification with 64, 256 or 128 GB of RAM. The amount of RAM is 6 or 8 GB.

Android 7.1 acts as the operating system, and the proprietary MIUI 9 shell is also installed here. In the very popular AnTuTu test, this gadget confidently scores more than 180,000 points. These figures once again convince us that the device is truly powerful. There will be no problems with games and applications. At the same time, the device hardly heats up after prolonged use.

Communication and sound

The developers decided to no longer experiment with the earpiece, which is located at the very top in Xiaomi Mi Mix2. We are talking about the latest generation of cylindrical technology. Therefore, the interlocutor can be heard perfectly even on the street. But the multimedia speaker does not stand out in anything special. The same applies to the sound in headphones. It is worth noting that there is no 3.5 mm jack, which forces the user to purchase exclusively a Bluetooth headset. Two nano-SIMs are supported, as well as NFC and LTE.

Camera

Xiaomi Mi Mix2 has a main 12-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture. The Sony IMX386 sensor is complemented by phase detection autofocus, optical stabilization and dual flash. During the daytime, the smartphone takes photographs very well. Photos are taken with correct automatic exposure and colors are natural. But the situation changes dramatically at night and in the evening. When there is insufficient lighting, a lot of noise appears. There is also a completely ordinary 5-megapixel front camera.

Pros:

• Excellent speed.
• Beautiful appearance.
• A large amount of RAM and built-in memory.
• High-quality display with minimal bezels.
• Excellent conversational speaker.

Minuses:

• The camera doesn't shoot very well in the evening.
• There is no headphone jack.
• Not the best placement of the front camera.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

General characteristics
Model	Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi Mi Mix Evo
Date of announcement and start of sales	September 2017 / September 2017
Dimensions (LxWxH)	151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7 mm.
Weight	185
Available colors	black White
operating system	Android 7.1 (Nougat) + MIUI 9
Connection
Number and type of SIM cards	two, Nano-SIM, dual stand-by
Communication standard in 2G networks	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 CDMA 800/1900 & TD-SCDMA
Communication standard in 3G networks	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Communication standard in 4G networks	LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17 (700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 27(800), 28(700), 29(700), 30(2300), 34 (2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
Carrier Compatibility	MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, Yota
Data transfer
WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE
GPS	yes, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
NFC	There is
Infrared port	No
Platform
CPU	Octa-core Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 Octa-core (4×2.45 GHz Kryo & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo)
GPU	Adreno 540
Inner memory	64/128/256 GB
RAM	6/8 GB
Ports and connectors
USB	Type-C 1.0 reversible connector
3.5mm jack	No
Memory card slot	No
Display
Display type	IPS LCD capacitive, 16M colors
Screen size	5.99 inches (~80.8% of the front surface of the device)
Display protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Camera
Main camera	12 MP (f/2.0, 1/2.9″, 1.25 µm), 4-axis OIS, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Functionality of the main camera	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama
Video recording	2160p@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Front-camera	5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p
Sensors
Illuminance	There is
Approximations	There is
Gyroscope	There is
Compass	There is
Hall	No
Accelerometer	There is
Barometer	There is
Fingerprint scanner	There is
Battery
Battery type and capacity	Li-Ion 3400 mAh
Battery mount	non-removable
Equipment
Standard kit	Mi Mix 2:1 USB cable: 1 SIM tray eject clip: 1 User manual: 1 Warranty card: 1 Charger: 1

Prices

Video reviews