Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 Review
Last year the Chinese wanted to breastfeed with the Mi MIX in that of the screen-front ratio, something in which LG and Samsung were settling above the average , everything has to be said) with its range tops. It seems that the formula turned out when its predecessor repeats formula, renewing itself at the hardware level and updating the design lines leaving aside the corners to succumb to the curves.
Thus, while the reduction of frames has also detractors by the doubts raised in some aspects (at least taking it to the extreme), Xiaomi bet on it integrating the latest Qualcomm processors and 6 GB of RAM that go armored with the cover ceramic that the manufacturer adopted from the Xiaomi Mi5 for its higher-end smartphones.
Xiaomi Mi MIX 2, technical specifications
XIAOMI MI MIX 2
| |
---|---|
SCREEN
|
IPS 5.99 inches with resolution 2,160 x 1,080 pixels
(about 403 ppi), 1500: 1 contrast ratio |
PROCESSOR
|
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
|
NUCLEI
|
4 x 2.45 GHz Kryo + 4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo
|
RAM
|
6 GB
|
STORAGE
|
64/128/256 GB
|
REAR CAMERA
|
12 megapixels with dual flashLED and Sony IMX sensor 386
pixels of 1.25μm and four-axis OIS, 4K video @ 30 fps |
FRONTAL CAMERA
|
5 megapixels
1080p video |
BATTERY
|
3,400 mAh with
Quick Charge 3.0 |
DIMENSIONS
|
151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7 mm
185 grams |
CONNECTIVITY
|
Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0, LTE Infrared, GPS / GLONASS, 2x2 MIMO technology (supports MU-MIMO)
|
OTHERS
|
USB Type-C, fingerprint reader
|
OS
|
Android 7.1.1 Nougat with MIUI 9
|
The design: keeping the fundamental and adapting to the fashions
Some of us may not pay the high sums already reached by flagships motivated by aesthetics, but this aspect always weighs in the decision and undoubtedly a design and / or attractive finishes will influence the purchase of a mobile. And the Mi MIX 2 is an elegant and well-finished terminal, which we could call a smoothed and compressed Mi MIX (I) .
Combining aluminum, glass and ceramic in a balanced way, we have a back with a glossy finish that manages to merge with the metal matte of the edges with perfect harmony. Materials that give a feeling of robustness and resistance, in fact we are not too afraid to support it on surfaces as sometimes happens with glass or aluminum terminals on the back.
We do not have to neglect with the grip especially if we are going to lean on the edges, because these are the ones that are more slippery
The downside is that it is slippery . While it is true that ceramic (at least this) seems to have more friction coefficient than other materials or finishes, we must not neglect too much in the grip especially if we are going to rely on the edges, because these are the ones that result more slippery
Leaving aside this, the work in compacting the phone is magnificent , just because of the fact that you feel a 6-inch diagonal screen like a 5.2-inch screen. Although the colophon is one of its main claims: the tremendous use of the front by the screen, which does not rise to 90% remaining in a modest 80.8% nothing.
A fact that does not place it in first place regarding this characteristic and that in fact makes it remain a little below its predecessor (which has 83.6%), but, without being a precedent, we value it in a way positive.
Why this time it seems right to us not to go for the maximum advantage? For the accidental touches , that although there is a good hardware work in having made "learn" to the screen what is a tap and what is not, if when holding the phone we touch a little the screen with the base of the palm it will interpret it as you touch and will ignore the real taps with the other hand.
As for the minimum frames , they also integrate the front camera in the bottom and let the buttons become virtual on the screen as we saw in the first Mi MIX. Without a square millimeter for them, the speakers are located on the bottom edge and the fingerprint reader on the back.
The reader (which can also work as a shutter for the front camera) is fast although somewhat demanding in terms of the position of the footprint(with partial or side footprints we protest a bit while others read it well, as the Huawei Nova Plus ), and is very integrated in the ceramic back.
A cover in which only highlights (for good or bad, according to taste) a camera that, as we have seen, excels very little (although it does so with a striking gold) and the inscription "MIX DESIGNED BY XIAOMI", perhaps abit excessive at the aesthetic level .
Following the aesthetics, as we said is a sober terminal , elegant and discreet , except in those golden notes of the back. Buttons and SIM tray are integrated and even more attractive if we are the ones who appreciate and enjoy the fashion of reflective finishes.
In fact, one drawback that we usually aim at these finishes is that they are usually permanently dirty by our own fingerprints, but in this case the back is quite clean , and although it is impossible that nothing remains, the traces that remain are quite discreet.
In short, the Mi MIX 2 makes us forget the corners and right angles with a design based on curves in the three axes . The edges outline a hemisphere until finishing in the back (that follows the curve) or in the panel, with what in addition to that aesthetic cohesion a comfortable gripis obtained , favored by a very softened finish of the aluminum (too much, so slippery that is), and what helps also not to weigh too much (for its size).
The fact that it slips in according to what holds influences the comfort when we are hours using the terminal
Of course, although the rear helps not to consider it a slippery terminal in excess, the fact that it slips in according to what grip influences the comfort when we are hours using the terminal . What happens is that to write we need to put the little finger as support or wedge and this, after a while, results in an uncomfortable and annoying (and probably incorrect at the locomotor apparatus).
Screen: the undisputed protagonist, now with more resolution (and less percentage)
Xiaomi stressed at the time to expand the catalog considerably in all ranges, sometimes giving very similar options to each other. A strategy that may not be the best in the long term, and perhaps for that reason (and to find the blow on the table that both like to give manufacturers) was born the MIX saga, establishing itself as the lineage of "once upon a time a mobile to a screen stuck " .
So, how could it be otherwise, in the genetics of Mi MIX 2 we have that screen so protagonist on the front. Those 6 inches IPS panel with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,160 pixels (403 pixels per inch) that abuse the edges like few rivals (except the bottom, by necessity). And that's how it sucks up properly those Galaxy S8 , LG V30 and other prevailing screen phones and also a great compaction exercise .
Speaking of the experience with her, the resolution of the screen gives us a good level of detail, with good tactile sensitivity (except for the accidental touches that we said, which also happens very little) and being very good at viewing angles . There are no dyes or losses of brightness and contrast beyond those expected when tilting the angle a lot.
Of maximum brightness goes well, without having the data of the exact number of nits there are no problems of visualization when the sun strikes with desire. What is not right is the automatic brightness adjustment, which has a quite erratic behavior perhaps in relation to the position of the photosensor (everything is on the lower edge, very susceptible to being covered by our palms) or by software .
What we always like a lot and have done well those of Xiaomi is to provide a series of adjustments so that we can adapt the visualization to our preferences. In this case, it allows us to adjust the temperature and contrast level, although depending on how we configure the second one, we can select a target temperature.
Of course, they are pre-established fixed options and in the case of temperature are too few or exaggerated . It is missing some intermediate degree (more temperate) or that there was a palette as in the case of EMUI.
Something that also greatly improves the user experience is the possibility of enabling double touch to activate the screen , especially for those of us who usually use the mobile phone supported by the table for most of the day. In this way we do not have to lift it to unlock it or go looking for the start button (although it would not have been any more Active Display type solution as in the Motorola).
Xiaomi repeats with the IPS for this new MIX, but another novelty with respect to the original is the ratio . We went from 17: 9 to 18: 9, so it fits also with the trend we've seen profiled by phones like the LG G6 or one of those we mentioned before. The experience with him is positive when taking advantage of space and, above all, in videos or using a split screen.
Performance: large horse for big screen, and go if you walk
Half measures do not compensate neither in the short nor in the long term when we speak of products destined to demanding users, of flagships with a plus of exclusivity and specificity (even more). The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 integrates a Snapdragon 835 that goes hand in hand with 6 GB of RAM, so we play with the same chips as the Moto Z2 Force or the minor configuration of the OnePlus 5 .
Pairs and delays have no place in the use of Mi MIX 2, whatever the task
As in those cases these components are also more than enough to pull the reins either to type, navigate, visualize or play. The scrolls are fleeting and multitasking and the opening / closing of apps happen without the minimum degree of lag ; stoppages and delays have no place in the use of Mi MIX 2, whatever the task.
Looking for tickles with demanding games and apps, we can not find them either. In those cases, RAM and Adreno 540 draw chest providing fluidity and good graphics performance even in load (increasingly) heavy interfaces like the preloads of the Asphalt 8.
Note, however, that in these cases the temperature increases a little more in the back (the lower edge), but neither at the level of feeling nor empirically we have noticed values outside the normal: it does not bother and does not exceed 38 degrees Celsius in the hottest moments we have noticed (games or camera for a long time).
For those who take benchmarks as reference , we leave you the results of the Mi MIX 2 in comparison with other similar hardware rivals and the captures of the results of the usual tests.
PROOF
|
XIAOMI MI MIX 2
(SNAPDRAGON 835 + 6 GB RAM + ADRENO 540) |
MOTO Z2 FORCE
(SNAPDRAGON 835 + 6 GB RAM + ADRENO 540) |
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 8
(EXYNOS 8895 + 6 GB RAM + MALI-G71) |
HUAWEI P10 PLUS
(KIRIN 960 + 6 GB RAM + MALI G71) |
SONY XPERIA XZ1
(SNAPDRAGON 835 + 4 GB RAM + ADRENO 540) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANTUTU
|
175,686
|
179,913
|
173.122
|
151,644
|
140,805
|
GEEKBENCH (SINGLE / MULTI)
|
1.933 / 6.672
|
1.931 / 6.638
|
2,022 / 6,762
|
1,950 / 6,220
|
1.833 / 5.718
|
PCMARK WORK
|
6,734
|
6.141
|
5.151
|
5,931
|
6,886
|
3DMARK (ICESTORM UNLIMITED)
|
18,442
|
40,172
|
32,670
|
25,693
|
38,805
|
With MIUI we do not talk about an aggressive layer, we speak directly of the superposition of a software that disguises Android to the point of making it unrecognizable. In this case we have MIUI 9 global , specifically the beta version 7.9.20 (fresh out of the oven), applying the metamorphosis to Android 7.1.1 Nougat.
The layer maintains the absence of drawer iOS style apps, with own apps for utilities and basic tools and nothing (more) of bloatware or some third-party software. This is always appreciated, except for the fact that pre-installed apps can not be disabled, not even Google .
The settings and the notification curtain also go through the molds of Xiaomi, both at the level of interface design and at the level of options. And in this second we will win if we are those who always ask for a plus of personalization in terms of screen, system or interaction.
We have already seen in the section of screen that MIUI gives us options in terms of colors and contrast among others, and we will see when talking about the audio that for headphones also offers some extra adjustments. And other add-ons are the option to activate the shortcut button (the "floating ball", which can carry up to five shortcuts of actions such as going to the start or lock screen) or the one-hand mode, which reduces the diagonal to 3 , 5, 4 or 4.5 inches so that the user can reach all the elements of the interface with the thumb of a single hand.
Although we can not uninstall or hide them, at least some of our own apps are quite complete and interesting
Although we can not uninstall or hide them, at least some of our own apps are quite complete and can replace those that we use regularly for certain uses. The voice recorder, for example, offers many options in addition to a particularly minimalist interface (layer style), and the screen capture tool is very complete as well as comfortable (it remains floating a few seconds if we want to edit it at the moment , if not saved automatically).
Thus, there are less common interesting applications such as the possibility of establishing a second workspace , so that we can separate between uses (for example, work and leisure). If we activate the second space we will have a clean installation on which to download the applications that we need, as well as apply a different personalization, and for access to this and the main one a password or the fingerprint request can be configured.
As we see in other layers such as ASUS, MIUI also makes us the nanny of autonomy , ensuring the minimum consumption from the beginning automatically and marking the apps with more hunger of milliamps / hour. Here we also have the option to adjust it according to our preferences, as well as several options to clean the system cache and apps (for example automatically when blocking the terminal).
But just as we appreciate personalization, we hate impositions . MIUI continues to show notifications in the form of balloons numbered in the apps to indicate that a process or task has finished, which at least can be deactivated (although it is not too deductive to find out how). Sometimes we do not know what they indicate, like when ten or more appear in the Play Store, and for some strange reason there are elements that escape the screenshot like the floating ball or some warnings.
It is not the most intuitive layer , and is not suitable for those who are lost with very specific settings (not everyone is grateful) or who is not willing to keep pre-installed apps, but the level of customization is quite high at the performance level, conservation of autonomy or elements to be shown, without forgetting MIUI issues. Aesthetics we may like or not, but it is more possible that it does if we are enthusiastic about minimalist and discrete interfaces.
Camera: we did not ask you for a double camera, but one for the height
We do not know why Xiaomi has not included double camera in the Mi MIX 2, when we have seen it in other terminals of the manufacturer of lower range as the Mi A1 . But the fact is that on the back we find a sensor Sony IMX 386 12 megapixels (with pixels of 1.25 μm), maximum aperture F / 2.0 and optical image stabilizer (OIS) of four axes. The front camera is 5 megapixels and again has that particular location of the lower right corner (looking at the front screen).
Although some hype had in his presentation, the camera does not seem one of the main claims of the phone, as it happened with the original Mi MIX. However, we must appreciate that here the manufacturer has endeavored to improve the above , adding this OIS and trusting (this time yes) in Sony as a provider, leaving aside that we do not see a combination of sensors.
Do you notice the improvement in practice? Maybe we still have to refine something more in performance and processing, at least if we want to balance the camera with the rest of the features (and rivals). In fact we will see that again it continues limping a little especially in certain environments. We see it in detail, starting with the app.
Camera app: minimalism also to shoot
Not out of tune with the fluency we express at all times with the phone, the camera app opens without stops and quickly both from the icon and from the lock screen. Nor does it leave the aesthetics of the system and in fact we see lines and colors similar to the previous one, although the options that were previously concentrated in a single button of "Modes" are redistributed and distributed .
Better or worse? It is very deductive and is a disposition that is probably familiar, and some of us may prefer not to have as much choice concentrated in a single contextual menu (as with the endless ASUS options). But it is not very easy to swipe to change the way we have in line over the shutter (to the iOS), and would greatly improve the handling if we could slide from any point as with the Sony camera app.
Very complete at the level of adjustments , so that the user can customize whether or not you want shutter sound to the contrast or saturation of each shot. The latter is interesting and probably comfortable if we find the ideal point for our taste, but it would be good if these two options were more accessible (for example, where the tilt-shift or filters) and not having to enter the settings every time.
It is not one of those apps that saturates with so much possibility
Regarding the modes we will talk about it thoroughly when touching the cameras, but only to comment at the moment that it is not one of those apps that saturates with so much possibility (sometimes with not too much sense). Among other features we have a help with "straighten", the typical with the panoramic and an interesting manual mode on which also deepen.
Rear camera: not bad, but it does not reach "flagship-level"
When it comes to capturing scenes this camera is very grateful to the light. Something that seems a truism but that is not always so decisive to see good results, especially at the level of compensation of exposure and noise.
Thus, with abundant and indirect light the camera behaves well . The autofocus is fast and compliant, and the saturation (adjusted at the factory, that is, at the standard level) is in accordance with reality, leaving nice colors and without going over in vividness.
The noise appears to us very soon, especially talking about a camera with OIS
However, we are surprised by some lack of detail that we expected to appreciate by putting something more difficult on the lenses (for example, indoors). And no, you do not have to put it hard to see unclear shots in relatively distant objects, with edges that tend to watercolor as soon as we think of expanding a bit. Even the noise appears to us very soon, especially talking about a camera with OIS.
The result is not better indoors , although here we always give a little more for the extra difficulty of these conditions. With medium-low light we will see less detail and less defined strokes, although on the other hand the color that is obtained is quite faithful.
The HDR , unfortunately, is not always a good squire. In fact he sins of exaggerated in what illuminations and situations, contrasting too much and resulting in nonexistent halos or very exaggerated edges. If we shoot hair or leaves better or try.
The one that can save us from a hurry is the manual mode . We have the option of adjusting to our taste white balance, focus, exposure time and ISO, each one independently. At night, for example, we can get better results by adjusting the ISO, the shutter speed and the focus, as in this example where we shoot at ISO 100 while the automatic mode does it at ISO 3200.
The best : we will save night shots with HDR or HTT mode would come full of noise, overexposed and with a sharp loss of sharpness, as well as others with more light (especially for being able to "squeeze" the ISO). And very, very successful the peak , that is, mark the focused surface. Chapeau .
The worst : the interface is not the best for this setting, occupying much of the field of view from the screen and requiring us to be extremely delicate to leave the point we want, in addition to the camera does not show the application of the adjustment (for example , even if we change the exposure time, we will always see the same thing).
Front camera: bad location, good results
Is the location of the front one in the Mi MIX one of the worst ? Possibly he had the gold medal if there was a competition in getting the worst location for a front camera. This can be imagined, one can suppose, but it is fully verified after a while trying to make decent selfies (leaving aside the own appearance, for that we will also see "the remedies" by Xiaomi ).
If our intention is to be agile with the * selfies *, we'd better take a moment to familiarize ourselves with the position of the front camera
If our intention is to be agile when it comes to selfies (attentive, instagrammers ) it would be better to spend some time to familiarizeourselves with the way to pick up the phone to find the most comfortable position. Really.
Factors to consider: in addition to the location of the camera, there is the position of the buttons (in case we want to shoot with the fingerprint reader or with the volume reader) and the orientation of the camera , which incidentally dances a lot and is something annoying (the shutter can give us more equal to having so much choice, but we will care if we are going to touch the beauty options).
Once we have strengthened ties with the front camera, we can talk about its performance. In general the result is very satisfactory , speaking of a lens without stabilization, without highlighting in megapixels and without stabilization.
Very good level of detail in full light and in intermediate lights. The noise and lack of clarity will always be present in low light or night shots, but nothing out of the ordinary in a camera with these characteristics.
As it already seems a sine qua non condition in the software of a subjective camera, Xiaomi does not escape this tendency (of more tradition in oriental software). But we do not find a lot of adjustments of "beauty" in which to lose or that we are tired before shooting: quite moderate, they offer us an automatic option of three degrees of intensity and another more detailed to select the degree of narrowness of the face , tone and softness.
The best of this camera : the level of sharpness to be a frontal and that gives options without hating or saturating. We even have something that entertained us a lot and that adds a certain playful component, the gender and age detector (it also helps us to see if beauty options can rejuvenate us).
We leave you a gallery with photographs of both cameras and different situations and modes.
Autonomy: when you leave the average without being outstanding
More screen is usually more consumption especially if it is linked to more resolution, so the challenge in these high-end phones that play to restrict frames as much as possible is even greater. Xiaomi did not want to ride the Sony 4K without going to a very respectable Full HD (it could be a Full HD "plus", a surname that both like marketing), but what it has done is to overcome this kind of barrier the 3,000 mAh, remaining at 3,400 mAh .
This is, however, 1,000 mAh less than the first Mi MIX . The price to pay for containing a terminal, given that the volume is quite small, but despite this, at the capacity level, it is above several rivals (the advantage of not falling to 5.5 inches).
XIAOMI MI MIX 2
|
XIAOMI MI MIX
|
SONY XPERIA ZX PREMIUM
|
IPHONE X
|
SAMSUNG GALAXY S8
|
LG V30
|
GOOGLE PIXEL 2 XL
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DIAGONAL SCREEN
|
5.99 inches
|
6.4 inches
|
5.5 inches
|
5.8 inches
|
5.8 inches
|
6 inches
|
6 inches
|
DIMENSIONS
|
151.8 x 75.5 x 7.7 millimeters
|
158.8 x 81.9 x 7.9 millimeters
|
156 x 77 x 7.9 millimeters
|
143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm
|
159 x 73.4 x 8.1 millimeters
|
151.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 millimeters
|
157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 millimeters
|
SURFACE (WIDTH X HEIGHT)
|
114.61 cm2
|
130.06 cm2
|
120.12 cm2
|
101.81 cm2
|
101,40 cm2
|
114.38 cm2
|
121.11 cm2
|
VOLUME (WIDTH X HEIGHT X THICKNESS)
|
88.25 cc
|
102.75 cc
|
94.89 cc
|
78.40cc
|
81.12 cc
|
84.64 cc
|
95.68 cc
|
WEIGHT
|
185 grams
|
209 grams
|
191 grams
|
174 grams
|
173 grams
|
158 grams
|
175 grams
|
BATTERY
|
3,400 mAh
|
4,400 mAh
|
3,230 mAh
|
2,716 mAh
|
3,000 mAh
|
3,300 mAh
|
3,520 mAh
|
All this translates into use at about 22-24 hours on average per loadmaking a medium-intensive use (multimedia playback, camera, social network query and navigation, with more hours of wifi than data connection). With a medium-low use, it holds up to us very well the day, even reaching day and a half autonomies.
With a medium-low use, it holds up very well the day, even reaching day and half autonomies
What we have and always appreciate is the USB Type-C and fast charging. The terminal is charged from 0 to 100% in 1 hour and 40 minutes , with the first quarter of an hour 25% of the battery and the first half hour 53%.
In general, it allows us to become independent enough to take an external battery or to be aware of having a USB plug or nearby, even if we use it intensively, it holds up well the day. Especially if we get carried away by the automatic configurations of the system and its resources in terms of control of applications in the background and consumption of them.
Sound: stereo without maraca effect, so yes
Little reference to the audio in the presentation this terminal, and in the end it is a more satisfactory feature than that camera theoretically "at the level of top of the range" ( flagship level ). What we have at the hardware level are two speakers, one on the bottom (next to the USB, one of the slots being the microphone) and another on the headset, so that there is stereo sound (it emits more the main speaker, in the bottom). And what we do not have is 3.5 millimeter jack.
In general it reproduces with a clear and quality sound , as much music as multimedia reproduction or podcasts and radio. Power is left over, reaching 113.9 decibels and allowing us to serve as a multimedia center although we are in an adjoining room.
In fact, the loss of quality that we normally experience when going up in volume is around 80% of it, which is why it gives a lot of itself. The only thing that sometimes happens is that we cover the loudspeaker if we are with the mobile horizontal (relatively common playing or playing on apps such as YouTube or Netflix).
There is no 3.5 mm jack, but we can adjust the sound with equalizer and other options
MIUI also dedicates a small section to the personalization of the sound , although not something hidden among the settings. We find it in the section "Additional adjustments" (not in the "Sound and vibration"), and it is about some options that allow us to adapt the sound more to our liking if we have headphones with cable or one of the models of Xiaomi (with cable or not).
It also has an equalizer with presets or adjustable to our liking . They are added to be appreciated if this aspect worries us a little more, although perhaps this would be a good case to create an own app (more than My Video or others), so that it would be more direct for the user to access it or know that there is a possibility.
About the experience with this is a matter of tastes and sensitivities, but testing with in-ear headphones (from another brand) we liked much more the option of general headphones that the intraural generic, which lowers the quality. Of course, activating My Sound Enhancer , which improves quality a bit.
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