Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Quick Review: The Stakes Are High

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 – A bezel-less flagship phone that has a lot of expectation riding on its back- debuts in India amidst much fanfare. With the Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi is making a sort of comeback in the premium segment where it has been missing from action for some time now. To put the risk Xiaomi is taking in perspective, the second in line Mi A1 doesn’t even cost half as much.

We recently got a chance to fiddle with the new Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 at the launch event in New Delhi here are our initial impressions.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 With 18:9 Display and Dual Camera Leaked Online

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Specifications And Price

Model Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Display 5.99-Inch, 18:9 Full HD display
Processor Snapdragon 835 octa-core
RAM 6GB
Internal Storage 128GB
Software Android 7.1.1 Nougat based MIUI 9
Primary Camera 12MP  Sony IMX 386 sensor,  4axis optical stabilization
Secondary Camera 5MP, f/2.0 aperture
Dimensions and Weight 152.6×73.95×7.6mm and weighs 163 grams
Others 4G VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, NFC, GPS, GLONASS,
Battery 3400mAh, Turbocharging
India Price Rs. 35,999

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Quick Review: Design and Build Quality

Mix Mix 2 has striking similarities with the original Mix. Its attention-grabbing looks are the standout feature for why you’d even consider buying this phone. It boasts of a glass and ceramic body (read: more durable than a glass back phone) which is held together by a rail made of 7000 series Aluminium. Xiaomi has ensured that corners are rounded and seamlessly merge with the metal frame, thus making the 6-inch display device fit well in hand. The glossy finish on the back panel substantiates its premium feel.

By reclaiming portion assigned for bezels, Xiaomi has managed to keep the overall footprint nearly same as a 5.5-inch display phone.

The largest fragment of bezel one can spot is under the chin, which is also 12 percent smaller than its predecessor. This is also where you’ll find the (unusually placed) front-facing camera. And the worst part is that Xiaomi’s pre-installed camera app will ask you to hold your phone upside down each time you fire the selfie camera. Which also implies that it will be nearly unusable for third-party apps like Instagram and Snapchat.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Review: For Those Who Do A Lot On Their Phones

On the rear side, you will find the primary camera at the top-centre followed by the fingerprint sensor. An unusual “MIX DESIGNED BY XIAOMI” branding is also engraved vertically on the back panel. Also, an 18-carat gold plated ring encircles the Camera.

The ceramic back cover of the phone is more durable than glass but it’s still a fingerprint magnet.

At the bottom edge, there is a single speaker and next to it is a USB-C charging port. unlike most Xiaomi phones, there is no IR blaster and no 3.5mm jack on the phone.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Quick Review: Display

The Mi Mix 2 houses a 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS display (2160 x 1080 pixel) with 18:9 aspect ratio. Xiaomi is using a Gorilla Glass 4 protection on top of the display. Ideally, a QHD panel would have been ideal for the price but Full HD+ on IPS LCD panel isn’t a deal breaker either. 

The Mi Mix 2 display isn’t as saturated as the Samsung’s AMOLED displays but colours felt accurate. If you are not happy with the colour calibration, Xiaomi lets you adjust colour temperature. The screen is bright and even against scorching sun, it remains legible.

Thanks to its 18:9 aspect ratio, consuming content on the display is an immersive experience. You can fit in more on the screen without compromising on one hand usage. There is an inbuilt reading mode that cuts out blue light to prevent eye strain, especially during the night-time usage.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Quick Review: Hardware and Software

The Mi Mix 2 rocks Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 835 which is aided by Adreno 540 GPU, 6GB LPDDR4 RAM, and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage. Today most of the flagships boast off more or less the same specifications under their hood. There is no lag what-so-ever and everything runs buttery smooth. Apps open in no time and there is no issue with multi-tasking.

What’s worth mentioning here is that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is surprisingly running on MIUI 8.5, not on the latest MIUI 9. There is no app drawer and all the apps are stacked on the home screen. We noticed some bloatware on the phone too.

If given a choice, I would without a doubt opt for Stock Android but sadly that is not possible. Having said that, Xiaomi’s MIUI is one of the better Custom UI’s available today. It’s feature rich and options like a quick ball, gestures, and extended screenshot makes it a pleasing experience.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Quick Review: Camera

At a time when most of the flagships (barring Pixel devices) are embracing dual camera systems, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 dares to feature only single sensor. The Mi Mix 2 sports a 12-megapixel Sony IMX368 shooter with 4-axis OIS. Up front, it features out-of-place 5-megapixel selfie shooter.

The Mi Mix 2 camera app is simple and easy to get familiar with. First, let’s talk about the selfie camera, if you are a self-proclaimed selfie expect, you’ll have to get used to turning your phone upside down before each click. The lens isn’t wide-angle either, so you’ll have a tough time squeeze more people in your selfie frames. In terms of quality, selfies we clicked outdoors turned out well.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 rear camera performances at its best during the daylight. Most of the time, it focuses quickly and doesn’t take much time to process and save them. The images we took in broad daylight turned out well. We have to wait for a few more tests on the Mi Mix 2 camera to come up with a final verdict.

Also Read: 20 Best iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Tips and Tricks

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: First Impression

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is a gorgeous looking smartphone. With 18:9 edge to edge display Mi Mix 2 will entice a lot of oohs and aahs. Besides, it has the required muscle power to pull off a flagship experience. We would still like to verify camera performance, particularly in low light before we compare it against arch-rivals like OnePlus 5 and Nokia 8.

Also, Xiaomi hasn’t operated in this price budget for a while and we are still not sure if its loyal users would be willing to go all the way and shell out the 35,999 INR price. Whatever the outcome may be, the Mi Mix 2 should be a decisive step in the Chinese manufacturer’s India journey. Xiaomi is all in, let’s wait and watch.

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Deepak RajawatDeepak Rajawat
Experienced technology journalist with over 7-years of experience. Before embracing online journalism, he has worked with several legacy publications including print editions at Hindustan Times and The Statesman. He also has a keen interest in Sports, which he used to cover with equal enthusiasm in his early career.

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