New xiaomi. What's wrong with the new Xiaomi Mi8 smartphone

Xiaomi is the most popular Chinese technology manufacturer in Russia. This is evidenced by both the statistics of search queries (per month, the query “Xiaomi” in Yandex is typed 3.4 million times, the query “Lenovo” - 2.6 million, the query “Huawei” - 1.5 million), and sales results: The top 10 most popular Android smartphones in Russia at the end of 2017 included 4 Xiaomi models (this is how the brand name is pronounced in Chinese, with emphasis on the last syllable; such fruits of Russian folk art as Xiaomi, Xiaomi, Xiomi or Shaomi are incorrect), while models from other Chinese manufacturers failed to even get into the top ten. If you look at the statistics of sales of Android smartphones around the world, then there are 5 Xiaomi models in the top 10, and the first place in sales both in Russia and in the world is also a smartphone from Xiaomi. What is the secret of this manufacturer’s colossal success? In an excellent combination of price and quality: Xiaomi offers models with very good characteristics for little money.

The catalog of Xiaomi models is updated almost every month, so even fans of this brand can find it difficult to figure out whether it’s worth replacing their last year’s device with a new one or waiting for the next new product, and for those who are thinking about buying a smartphone from this manufacturer for the first time, it’s doubly difficult to figure it out in a sea of ​​different models. To complete our acquaintance with this brand, we have collected all the best and current models from Xiaomi for the summer of 2019 in one rating, which takes into account the price-quality ratio, owner reviews and technical characteristics.

10 Xiaomi Redmi 4A 16Gb is the most inexpensive phone in the Xiaomi catalog

The average price in Russia is 7,000 rubles. You can buy Redmi 4A 16Gb on AliExpress for 5.5 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The cheapest model in the Xiaomi catalogue, which appeared in November 2017, scored 73% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 6.0 operating system, 16 GB of internal and 2 GB of RAM, there is a memory card slot up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). The main camera is 13 megapixels with LED flash, autofocus and optical stabilization. Front camera 5 MP. Battery capacity 3120 mAh. Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 MSM8917 processor. No fingerprint scanner. Plastic case.

9 Xiaomi Mi 5C

The average price in Russia is 13,000 rubles. You can buy Mi 5C on AliExpress for 11.9 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The new product from Xiaomi, which went on sale at the beginning of March 2019, scored 50% of the five stars according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.15-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, Android 6.0 operating system, 64 GB of internal and 3 GB of RAM, no memory card support, support for two SIM cards. The main camera is 12 megapixels with LED flash and autofocus, it has increased light sensitivity by 150%, high quality images are achieved by implementing the two-phase noise reduction function and a unique multi-tier optimization algorithm. 8 MP front camera with dynamic image enhancement function.

Battery capacity 2860 mAh. Self-produced 8-core processor Surge S1. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal body.

8 Xiaomi Mi Max 64Gb - Xiaomi smartphone with the largest screen and most powerful battery

The average price in Russia is 17,200 rubles. This tablet phone, which appeared in May 2017, scored 74% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 6.44-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, Android 6.0 operating system, 64 GB of internal and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card), 16 megapixel main camera, front 5 mp. Battery capacity 4850 mAh. Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 MSM8956 6-core processor. There is a fingerprint scanner.

7 Xiaomi Redmi Pro 64GB

The average price in Russia is 12,800 rubles. You can buy Redmi Pro 64GB on AliExpress for 9.8 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). This model was released at the end of July 2017 and today has scored 47% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Redmi Pro). Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 64 GB of permanent memory and 3 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards, support for an external memory card (the slot for it is combined with the slot for the second SIM card). Battery capacity 4050 mAh. MediaTek Helio X25 10-core processor (MT6797T). There is a fingerprint scanner. Like the 7th iPhone or LG G5, Xiaomi Redmi Pro has 3 cameras at once. The 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 sensor is responsible for capturing the main image, and the 5-megapixel auxiliary module from Samsung provides beautiful bokeh (the part of the image that is out of focus in the photo) and helps in post-focusing the finished images. Both cameras shoot simultaneously. The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels.

6 Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro 32Gb

The average price in Russia is 12,000 rubles. You can buy Redmi 4 Pro on AliExpress for 10.7 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). This model was released in November 2017 and today has scored 73% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro). Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of permanent memory and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for an external memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). The main camera is 13 MP, and the front camera is 5 MP. Battery capacity - 4100 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal body.

5 Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 32Gb

The average price in Russia is 10,100 rubles. You can buy Redmi Note 4 32Gb on AliExpress for 9 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). Xiaomi presented Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 at a presentation in Beijing on August 25, 2017. As of today, this model has scored 59% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4). Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of permanent memory and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). Main camera 13 MP, front camera 5 MP. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. MediaTek Helio X20 10-core processor (MT6797), 2100 MHz. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal body.

4 Xiaomi Mi5S Plus 64Gb

The average price in Russia is 19,800 rubles. You can buy Mi5S Plus 64Gb on AliExpress for 18.1 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). Xiaomi's flagship, which appeared in the fall of 2017, scored 45% of the five stars according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Mi5S Plus). The model is an improved version of the spring flagship Mi5.

Technical characteristics: IPS LCD screen 5.7 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards. Battery capacity 3800 mAh. There is no support for external memory cards, although 64 GB is more than enough for the average smartphone user. There is a fingerprint scanner (on the back of the case). Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor. Adreno 530 video processor.

Mi5S Plus has two main cameras, each 13 MP (Sony IMX258 sensor). The lens aperture is f/2.0. The camera is also equipped with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and dual LED flash. Monochrome and color camera modules in this smartphone work in pairs, providing color rendition as close to reality as possible. The front camera is 4 megapixels, the pixel size here has been increased to two microns, thanks to which the sensor receives more light. The lens has an f/2.0 aperture and a viewing angle of 80 degrees.

The Dxomark resource gave the Mi5S Plus camera 78 points, the same score as the Google Nexus 6.

3 Xiaomi Redmi 4X 16Gb

The average price in Russia is 8,500 rubles. You can buy Redmi 4X 16Gb on AliExpress for 6.2 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The second best-selling model in Russia today in the Xiaomi catalogue, which appeared in February 2019, scored 78% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 6.0 operating system, 16 GB of internal and 2 GB of RAM, there is a memory card slot up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). Main camera 13 MP with LED flash and autofocus. Front camera 5 MP. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 MSM8940 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal body.

This model is the best choice for those who need a budget smartphone with a powerful battery. There are many such people, this explains the great popularity of Redmi 4X.

2 Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X 32Gb is the best-selling Xiaomi smartphone in Russia

The average price in Russia is 10,200 rubles. You can buy Redmi Note 4X on Aliexpress for 8.7 thousand rubles. Introduced at the end of January 2019, the flagship of the mega-popular Redmi Note family scored 74% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X). Today this is the most popular phone in the Xiaomi sales catalog in Russia.

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: 5.5-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of permanent memory and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card ). Main camera 13 MP, front camera 5 MP. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 processor, 2000 MHz. Adreno 506 video processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal case with plastic inserts on the top and bottom of the back panel.

If we compare this model with last year’s flagships of the family (winter Redmi Note 3 Pro and summer Redmi Note 4), then thanks to the new processor and graphics chip, Redmi Note 4X has increased autonomy and performance, and thanks to the new Sony IMX258 camera module, the quality of shooting has noticeably improved. Apparently, Redmi Note 4X will become one of the most popular models of 2019, which is facilitated by the excellent price-quality combination that Xiaomi is famous for.

1 Xiaomi Mi 6 64GB - Xiaomi smartphone with the best camera and maximum performance

The average price in Russia is 28,000 rubles. You can buy Mi 6 64Gb on AliExpress for 24.9 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The official start of sales of the new Xiaomi flagship took place on July 4, 2019. As of today, Mi 6 64Gb has scored 60% of the five stars according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Mi6).

Technical characteristics: 5.15-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 7.1 operating system, 64 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards. There is no support for external memory cards, although 64 GB is more than enough for the average smartphone user. Battery capacity 3350 mAh. Battery life in video viewing mode is 9.7 hours, in gaming mode - 7 hours. In terms of autonomy, Mi 6 is approximately one and a half times superior to such flagships as the iPhone 7 Plus or Huawei P10. The 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 processor, together with the already mentioned 6 GB of RAM, gives excellent performance: Mi 6 is the third most powerful smartphone in the world (and the second among Android smartphones), it is second only to HTC U11 and iPhone 7 Plus (antutu rating results .com). There is a fingerprint scanner. There is protection against water.

Xiaomi smartphones have always had excellent technical characteristics, but could not boast of an ideal camera. The camera of the new flagship from Xiaomi is positioned as a real alternative to the iPhone 7 Plus. The main camera of the Mi 6 is equipped with two lenses, a wide-angle and a telephoto lens, both with a resolution of 12 megapixels, as well as a 4-axis optical stabilization system. Working in pairs, these cameras allow you to take beautiful and clear pictures in any conditions. Portrait mode allows you to take clear, high-quality photos. Mi 6 has a portrait lens with a focal length of 52 mm. The 2x optical zoom camera captures stunning landscape shots, while the 10x digital zoom captures even fine details from a distance. Mi 6 with 4-axis optical image stabilization technology takes clear photos while capturing even the smallest vibrations. The built-in accelerometer and gyroscope allow you to stabilize the tilt and movements of the smartphone while shooting.

The front camera received 8 megapixels and new firmware. Beautify 3.0's beautiful filter technology reacts differently to men and women - it changes the appearance of men a little less. For women, cheeks are reduced, the skin is smoothed and the eyes are slightly enlarged to a greater extent.

In the June 2019 comparison of flagship cameras, the portal hi-tech.mail.ru gave the Xiaomi flagship camera the same score as the Sony Xperia XZ Premium. At the same time, Mi 6 was able to bypass the flagship of ASUS - ZenFone 3 Zoom, which is positioned as a camera phone.

So, the new Xiaomi flagship has a good camera and battery life, as well as excellent performance. All this at a price half the price of the flagships of Samsung or Apple. At the same time, this model is not suitable for lovers of large screens - the display diagonal is only 5.15 inches.

Today, Xiaomi is one of the largest manufacturers of portable electronic equipment in the world. It boldly competes with such well-known brands as Apple and Samsung. But five years ago nothing was heard about it in the USA and European countries.

Speaking about the presented range of models, the scale of Xiaomi is striking in its volume of output per unit of time. The structure of the available products, although large, is quite simple to understand. Thus, the main production lines of the company are:

• Xiaomi Mi smartphones;
• Xiaomi Redmi smartphones;
• Xiaomi MiPad tablets.

In order to find out the basic principles of the work of the Xiaomi company, as well as to understand in detail all the upcoming new products of the fashion brand for 2017, we will examine the structure of its linear product line in more detail.

Xiaomi Mi

This is the first line of flagships created by the company and represented by the Mi-One model, which began such a successful process of development of Chinese smartphones in the global portable electronics market.
The features of this line are that it:

• The first to receive all system updates, as well as new firmware;
• It has unique cameras with many advanced features: two-tone flashes, optical stabilizers and most other modern gadgets;
• It has an excellent design combined with good build quality (metal body);
• It is a series of powerful smartphones with advanced capabilities (Qualcomm processors).

This line, in turn, is divided into:

• “Mi” models, the main difference of which is a relatively small screen;
• “Mi Note” models, phablet with a screen from 5.7 inches;
• “Mi Max” models, which are a combination of a smartphone and a tablet with a diagonal of 6.44 inches.

Xiaomi Redmi

The basic principle of the company's work is to take into account all the wishes of users in each new model. Thus, the Redmi line appeared, combining the ideal compromise of price and quality. The special feature and its distinguishing feature is the MediaTek processor. Today, after quite a long period of time, the company began collaborating with Qualcomm, and yet a small number of models are produced based on Snapdragon. However, the issue of price has not changed in any way. The Redmi line has retained the title of the most cost-effective option in terms of price and quality ratio. Distinctive features are:

• The main principle is to listen to the buyer’s opinion;
• Minor savings on design and quality of materials;
• The internal filling is aimed at the common man and does not have a wide range of capabilities (often MediaTek processors);
• Targeted at home use, without the user racing for a top-end device.

The versatility and compactness of use of this line, with a display diagonal of up to 5 inches, will be a good solution when buying a new smartphone. With all this, Redmi models are divided into:

• Redmi smartphones (standard model of this line);
• Redmi Note smartphones (increased size from 5.5 inches, improved design - aluminum body).

Xiaomi MiPad

The list of products would not be complete without the presented tablet models from Xiaomi. Since 2014, only two models have been produced: MiPad and MiPad 2. The models have a 7.9-inch Retina screen with a resolution of 2048x1536, they are distinguished by an aluminum body, a new processor and the ability to use Android and Windows 10 on the newer MiPad model 2.

Having understood the structure of the entire production system from the Xiaomi brand, two main questions should be answered: which Xiaomi smartphone is the best at the moment? What will be presented from Xiaomi as the latest model for 2017?

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The best smartphone from Xiaomi

Speaking about the best offer, it is difficult to compare different models since each of them has an advantage in one area or another, so the decisive criterion will be the number of purchases on the electronics market. So, let's look at the Top 5 such smartphone models:

Latest models for 2017

The latest Xiaomi model 2017 - what will it be like?! Considering the growing popularity of this brand by leaps and bounds, many advanced users are looking forward to the answer to these questions. Xiaomi has found a way out of this situation. Without leaving the framework of its basic principle, it placed the initiative to create the newest models in the hands of users. Thus, the Mi 7 smartphone should outperform the current leaders from Samsung and even Apple in terms of power.
So, the main arguments in favor of the new product will be:

• 4 and 8 GB of RAM;
• The latest generation Snapdragon processor will ensure excellent performance of 8 cores (there is also the option of completely disabling them to save battery and maximize use when necessary);
• The camera is 25 megapixel main and 8 megapixel front (improved focusing and aperture).

To summarize, it should be said that Xiaomi has certainly begun to massively fill the portable electronics market with high-quality products accessible to everyone who wants to use modern technology. Its structure, having a simple structure, has a huge base of models for every taste and budget.

This year marks 7 years since the formation of the Xiaomi company. It is unknown what the lucky number seven means for the Chinese; everything is always wrong with them, but 2018 turned out to be a surprisingly fruitful year. New items rained down like from a cornucopia. The range of products offered is very varied, the solutions are diverse and relevant. Practicality, ergonomics, design, screen size, performance - in a word, everything that the consumer pays attention to has been taken into account and modernized.

Overwhelmed by the itching feeling to be aware of everything that is happening, many of my friends want to change their phone. They heard out of the corner of their ears that it turns out that Xiaomi smartphones are not bad. That is, there is a feeling, but they can’t really explain where it came from. Accordingly, it is impossible to choose any of the new products from the company on your own. In such cases, I always ask how much money you don’t mind in order to be in trend and feel like a happy owner of a modern gadget.

Therefore, when building a review in the future, we will dance from the stove, that is, from the price. Naturally, smartphones released in the current year, 2018, will be listed.

General overview of the budget line

Usually, few people need a phone that would just ring and not show itself as a faithful companion in Internet surfing. Even Xiaomi has devices of this class; they don’t pretend to be anything special, but they earn their $80-90. Today, these are mainly devices with the designation “A” at the end, which defines a simplified version of a particular model. Redmi 5A, Redmi 6A.

Super budget for today. Light-style equipment: 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, clocked at 1.4 GHz, HD screen and 2/16 of the memory on board. I advise you to buy the first model, as it has been tested by time.

Let's move on. Who wants something cooler, and is ready to lay out about 120 bucks on the table, I suggest Redmi 5. A rocket launched into space. A budget employee that will amaze you. The response speed is impressive, the screen is increased to 5.7 inches, the graphics are also at the same level.

The latest in this line, Redmi 6, goes even further and has a Helio chip, with eight cores and a clock speed of 2 GHz. It has not yet been properly tested, since it appeared quite recently, but everything is stopped by the processor manufacturer Media Tech.

Up to $150. Redmi 2S and Redmi 5 Plus. Released this year, the models are similar in characteristics. The first device went into production in India. They offer it to Indians for just a hundred bucks.

If you want “expensive, rich” - take Redmi Note 5. Reviewers on YouTube really kiss it, it’s good that they’re not passionate about it yet. Add thirty and you have a six-inch shovel, with a fast processor and super-autonomous operation, a device.

I consider the recently launched Redmi 6 Pro to be the apotheosis of the budget line. For those in the know, Redmi 4 Pro, which flashed like a comet in the sky and disappeared (as a version, it was announced at a very low price, I think such parameters are more expensive), is its forerunner. An identical, excellent chip - Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, with 2 GHz on board, the phone is balanced in all characteristics, really a gamer, and also equipped with a dual rear camera (which the fourth version did not have). For $160 I would take it, but I already have that same 4 Pro.

General overview of the flagship line

Mi Max 2 and Mi 6X are two more new products from Xiaomi. Both devices come with a dual-enhanced camera. The special feature of the new products is their vertical location, the aluminum body of the device, unlike previous versions. The last one in this series is also known as A2 (the first “naked android” A1 was modernized). Snapdragon 660 allows you to play all modern games, without restrictions.

We are gradually approaching the holy of holies. To smartphones that claim to be the ideal combination of all functional features. But first, let’s take a break and get acquainted with the sub-flagships. This is a cross between the gray “bottom” and the dazzling Olympus. This direction is represented by such devices as Xiaomi Mi 8SE and Xiaomi Mi Note 3.

They fit into $300 due to super-powerful optical solutions, an impressive 16 megapixel front camera, the presence of an NFC module, a Full HD screen and improved graphics.

Let's move on to sweets. Before us are the incredible Xiaomi Mi 8 and Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S. Designed for those who are looking for an ideal, and who will not leave the store when they see a price of -500-600 bucks per device. Yes, this is exactly what the price rises to in older versions of phones. By the way, Xiaomi will not have a price tag of $700. This was stated by official representatives of the company, let’s hope that this will happen.

How do these smartphones differ from the crowd of their predecessors? In short: the eighth flagship has infrared face unlock in the dark, which is the latest development, 2S pleases with the flip of the front camera, an excellent, perhaps the best screen from Xiaomi today. Otherwise, they are approximately equal, the technical equipment is the maximum for today.

You may ask me, how is it that everything is the best, the most advanced, and that model has a good processor, and this one has a good processor. So how to choose, and why the price is different.

Multitasking will reveal some nuances. Running several applications at the same time, especially those that are expensive in terms of RAM, will immediately reveal who is capable of what. The numbers in the device specification actually reflect the capabilities of a particular device and allow us to draw a conclusion about its operation in extreme conditions.

Redmi 2S

Redmi 2S, announced in 2017, was introduced by the company to the market in May 2018, equipped with a 6-inch screen. If previously the presence of a main dual camera was considered a characteristic of expensive phones, Redmi 2S, being, in fact, a budget option, can boast of its presence. The smartphone is a frameless phone with optimized touch buttons located at the bottom of the screen. The body of the device is made entirely of plastic, which does not make it presentable.

The most vulnerable point of the Xiaomi Redmi 2S is its large 5.99″ diagonal screen with a modest resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. The Android 8.1 Oreo operating system and the proprietary MIUI9 shell make it possible to control the gadget without being limited to buttons and gestures.

Advantages of Redmi 2S:

• price;
• presence of a universal card slot;
• The display base is a screen without side frames.

A very interesting device is equipped with a 2.0 GHz eight-core Snapdragon 625 processor with a choice of 3 or 4 GB of RAM, while the internal memory is 32/64 GB. The dual main camera 12 + 5 MP with phase detection autofocus and ice flash makes it possible to take good pictures. The front module has the characteristics of 16 MP, HDR, LED flash.

Redmi 5 Plus

Released at the beginning of the year, the smartphone showed the company's desire to explore new screen sizes, a large shovel of 5.99 inches, FHD resolution (2,160 × 1,080) was made with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The chip from Snapdragon 625 with eight cores, already tested many times and showing good results, added to the attractiveness of the device. A powerful 4000 mah battery was a good help in the matter of economical operation of the device, given the large dimensions of the display, it is not superfluous at all.

At the time of release, the device had the Android 7.1 Nougat operating system with the MIUI9 shell.

What is important to understand when choosing between the two presented devices? The optics of the first one are preferred, especially the front 16 MP camera, which allows you to take full-fledged selfies. Dual and primary optics will help in producing photos with bokeh effect.

5 Plus has a standard set of optical elements, but the magnificent screen with FHD+ resolution, which was advanced at the time of the smartphone’s creation, inspires optimism. The opponent is deprived of bright color rendition; compensation for visual sensations consists of a spectacular frameless perception of the picture.

In a word, choose for yourself, the processor is the same, the batteries are different, only the 5 Plus can boast of autonomy, the Redmi 2S has a dismal 3000 mah. For such a huge screen, this is still not enough.

Mi Max 2

An improved version of the Mi Max phablet, where the manufacturer completely abandoned the plastic covers on the rear panel and created the entire body as an all-metal one. The presence of a USB Type-C port and good speakers that produce “non-creaking” sound at the highest volume allow the phablet to compete with similar devices on the modern market.

Pros of the model:

• improved performance;
• availability;
• unique design.

The Quick Charge 3.0 function implements the ability to quickly charge a battery with a capacity of 5300 mah. The selfie camera is moved to the bottom panel, which is new for Xiaomi. The device is equipped with a frameless design; the body is made of a combination of glass, ceramics, and metal. Like the previous Mi Max model, the latest revision of this series also does not have a built-in NFS module - the ability to make contactless payments.

Mi Max 2 has the following technical characteristics:

• RAM 4 Gb, main memory 64 Gb\128 Gb;
• GPU Adreno 506, 650 Mhz;
• already familiar chip - Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 2 GHz clock frequency;
• 6.44-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 (FHD).

As you can see, the set is in some sense standard, however, the equipment is superior to its predecessor. It's time to highlight the big plus of the model: the screen does not glare in the sun, changing the viewing angle does not affect the visual image.

To be fair, it should be mentioned that the Mi Max was equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 and scored 76,000 parrots in synthetic tests. The new model has more modest results. But with all this, Mi Max 2 is a top-end smartphone that can compete with more expensive phone brands, but at a lower cost.

Mi 6X

In 2018, Xiaomi released a model that can compete with the iPhone X. This is the Xiaomi Mi 6X.

What attracted me to this device in the first place? Super powerful optics, you can't take that away. Mi 6X uses two matrix sensors from Sony for the main camera, unlike previous versions. The front camera sports an incredible resolution of 20 megapixels. The quality of the photos taken will be excellent. The means of displaying just taken pictures does not fail either - a 6-inch screen with FHD+ resolution.

The new powerful Snapdragon 660 processor is equipped with artificial intelligence - an independent AIE module. GPU: Adreno 512 with a frequency of 650 MHz will undoubtedly also please you.

Another plus of the new phone is the smart voice assistant, however, there is a caveat - it is in Chinese, which will be a useless function for the Russian consumer.

Finally, I will focus on the best that is available today. Both phones are worthy of attention and quite attractive in their own way. Technical solutions are implemented to the maximum, see for yourself:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 8 cores accelerates to 2.8 GHz. Comparable to the power of an average computer;
• RAM -6 or 8 GB, internal 64, 128 or 256 GB. The numbers are impressive;
• The 6-inch screen for Mi 8 is even more impressive, at 6.21 inches. Corning Gorilla Glass 4, the resolution reaches the maximum values ​​to date -2248X1080;
• dual camera, 12+12 MP, with OIS (optical stabilization), front 20 MP.

As you can see, there is a lot to see, the frameless Mix 2S is quite impressive. But Mi 8 is also not far behind, with a mirrored back cover and the already mentioned face recognition function in complete darkness.

Expected new products 2018

Among the smartphone models already released for sale, Xiaomi continues to surprise with new products: it plans to release models of such devices as: Xiaomi Pocophone F1, Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, Mi 8 Youth, Mi Max 3, Mi Mix 3. The characteristics declared by the manufacturer make it possible to assume that devices continue to improve not only technically, but also visually. News regarding release dates is not yet known for all gadgets.

Pocophone F1

Billed as a flagship killer. It is a powerful device with a whole set of “goodies” that characterize it as an advanced device. But the price has been significantly reduced. Naturally, he immediately came to the attention of all media and is gaining wild popularity. From the stated parameters, I can present to you some features of the device:

• fast charging Quick Charge 4.0;
• P2i water-repellent coating, you can walk in the rain;
• 4000 mAh battery, usually a flagship cannot have such a battery capacity due to design decisions and thickness, but this device has better battery life;
• The overall technical characteristics are practically not inferior to the flagship models.

Think about it, this device has no competitors in its price segment.

Further developments of the Mi 8 version. Increased performance by replacing the processor, updating the color scheme. In addition, it is planned to replace the screen with a brighter version (although much larger), the resolution will become equal to 2280 X 1080 pixels, and the aspect ratio will also change to 19:9.

I will mention here the fact that the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition is already on sale in China, the latest news in this regard is encouraging: a global version of the firmware will soon be released and Russian users will have the opportunity to enjoy the masterpiece of the telephone industry. A second name is planned for this monster - Mi Pro.

Mi Mix 3

The Mi Mix lineup becomes a continuation of its predecessors. The screen will be a six-inch bezel-less design with 2160 x 1080 Full HD+ resolution. One of the significant changes may be the movement of the fingerprint to the front panel, located under the display. But implementation can be problematic, so specific information on this characteristic is not yet available. It is expected to arrive by September of this year, where a full list of new changes and additions will be announced.

Mi Max 3

The new gadget will be marked by the largest screen possible. The planned diagonal of the current flagship is at least 6 inches, in this case it is stated to be 6.99″. Theoretically, the size of the phone will not increase in size. This diagonal can be achieved by narrowing the frames. The Mi Max 3 review states that the body will be made of aluminum, and the battery capacity will increase to 5500 MA/h. This battery is quite enough for active use throughout the day, even with a fairly large screen diagonal. Available for sale on mi.com

Xiaomi is one of the fast-growing technology multi-companies that is able to bring affordable gadgets to the market with competitive characteristics, while creating them in a budget price category. Many technologies do not require advertising, and their implementation becomes an expected event.

While everyone is experiencing the shock of the appearance of the new Xiaomi smartphone, I decided to take a critical look: what happened?

Yes, I love Xiaomi products for their balance. This time it's time to criticize. Do you think that the Chinese have presented a real competitor to the iPhone X or OnePlus 6 with a bunch of killer features. In fact, we have just been fooled.

Or maybe Mi8 will really become the best smartphone of 2018? Let's try to figure it out.

Why does Xiaomi need 3 flagships at once?

The Chinese promised to announce a flagship: so cool that they had to jump over the serial number 7. Instead of the Mi7, the anniversary Mi8. Did you promise? But they did it in a unique way, “in the Xiaomi way.”

Instead of one smartphone, there are three at once, and all are different (full specifications -). And everything is not as promised. And with unpleasant surprises.

Flagship super smartphone Mi 8 Explorer Edition should have been the coolest not only Xiaomi phone: an under-screen scanner, a 3D camera for facial recognition, an incredible DxO score (105 for photos - cooler than the iPhone X and its own Mix 2s) and a transparent body. Ground meat! For 577 bucks.


Expensive. The main problem is that the Explorer Edition is a myth. The start date for sales has not been announced, so the company can delay it for any period of time (hello, Apple and fans - just as you like!).

The basic version is $150 cheaper, already acceptable 421. It seems that this is not the money that is worth paying extra for an under-screen scanner and a 3D camera hidden in the eyebrow. Moreover, not everything is smooth with the cameras (read below).

The under-screen scanner is really cool and convenient. But if it costs so much, why is it necessary? Xiaomi is still a budget brand in our heads. They made the bottom frame a little thicker and hid it there (full-screen smartphones with an under-screen touch button are not uncommon). Or on the edge of a smartphone, like Meizu - wildly convenient.

Vivo has smartphones with an under-screen scanner. Are there many of them sold in Russia? Alas, these very cool devices are unreasonably expensive and remain in flight.


Both there and here you need to be like the iPhone. Therefore, Xiaomi has to get out and hide the main unlocking tool under the screen. But, apparently, there is no production or licenses. Are they buying from Vivo at exorbitant prices? I think yes.

The same reason explains the appearance of the younger Xiaomi Mi 8 SE with a smaller diagonal, simplified cameras (apparently, the dual main one was borrowed from the budget Xiaomi S2 for $150 at retail) and processor Snapdragon 710. It would be a cool middling product, but the similarity with the popular Apple gadget raises the price to $281.

This means that in retail we will see it at 330-350. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has the Mi6X with a metal body, a cool camera and a good processor with the same performance (but a generation older). With a similar price.


Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s is similar to the old Sharp, but cooler than Mi8

In fact, Xiaomi released one “original” (we’ll get to this later) Mi8 and standard Chinese clone of iPhone X without features.

But they know how to make cool gadgets without regard to other developers (for example, and). This is why they love Xiaomi.

To be honest, the “eight” turned out to be strange: all “normal Xiaomi” without an “eyebrow”, with thick frames and convenient dimensions. It was clearly created with Apple in mind - that’s why I like the previous Mix 2s more (by the way, there will be a review soon - an incredibly cool smartphone).

Nothing can replace looking normal. And “eyebrow”, that is, face unlocking, raises many questions.

Infrared camera versus 3D scanning: who wins and why?

If you look at Vivo's materials on scanners, it turns out that the in-display fingerprint sensor costs nothing, so the notorious price difference between the Mi 8 Explorer Edition and the regular version is for the 3D camera for face scanning. Why is it needed?

After all, the basic Mi8 also has a complex front camera: an infrared camera and illumination are added to the regular camera, with which the smartphone will photograph the user’s face in the dark for accurate recognition.

I am familiar with MIUI algorithms for facial recognition (sad, but there is hope). They work quite accurately - better than Samsung or OnePlus. If we assume that they have improved the software in the 10th version of the proprietary shell, the need to build a three-dimensional model of the face to unlock the smartphone becomes doubtful.


Unlocking with the front camera will work in the regular Mi8, with a regular camera. And on any other Xiaomi smartphone. Let me remind you:

Together with Mix 2S, Xiaomi presented the XiaAI artificial intelligence system, which processes voice commands and operates Face ID face unlocking.
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Unless you're a constantly putting on make-up actor, a professional boxer, or a make-up artist model. Will 3D facial scanning work? Is not a fact. And the iPhone X may not cope.

Please note that the Mi8 EE does not indicate the presence of an infrared camera. Question: How will the facial recognition module work in the dark? Good question, we'll test it.

Hype on iPhone X. The Chinese love this smartphone.

Too many competitors and nothing of our own

If you forget about 2 unsuccessful options and deal with Xiaomi Mi8, it becomes even sadder.

Instead of a high-quality, cheap smartphone with a personal development ideology, Xiaomi for the first time released an exact clone of the modern market. The same as what other Chinese manufacturers produce.

So. Under the hood is the Quallcomm Snapdragon 845 - the traditional flagship of 2018. It comes with 6GB of RAM, which has also become the norm. They don't charge less anymore.

At first glance, the AMOLED matrix with a diagonal of 6.21 inches with a Full HD+ resolution of 2248×1080 pixels attracts attention: support for the DCI-P3 color space, brightness of 600 nits, contrast ratio of 60,000:1. Incredibly cool!

But why AMOLED? The IPS matrix, traditional for Xiaomi flagships, has the same parameters, but does not fade over time and is much cheaper.


Important point: Xiaomi has released a smartphone with an AMOLED screen only once. It was cool, but not for long - and Redmi Pro () was released only for the Chinese market. That is, they have no experience with the type of matrices. And there are no specific functions in the system.

It will take time for them to work properly. Buyers will again work as beta testers.

The last hope remains: the incredibly cool Mi8 camera, which received a whopping 105 points for photos from DxO. There are 2 top modules from Sony and Samsung, 4-axis optical stabilization, RAW support and even “feng shui” sensors with huge pixels to eliminate noise in photos in the dark!

The exact same one is installed in Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s with a normal design. The engineers received an additional 3 points by tweaking the firmware.


It turns out that Mi8 is functionally not so cool. There are a lot of analogues: starting from our own Mi Mix 2s, ending with the fashionable OnePlus 6 or Huawei P20 Pro. Moreover, one uses pure Android (and is therefore very good), and the second is ahead of Xiaomi in terms of photo quality (it cannot be otherwise).

The Chinese novelty can only be saved by new network modules and a fresh operating system with deep support for artificial intelligence for creating photos, animoji and a voice assistant.

Is Bluetooth 5.0 critical for you? Don't think. While there is nothing to connect with, suitable accessories are practically not produced.


This is how the new GPS module works: red - its track (real), green - received from a regular smartphone

Do you need dual and highly accurate new generation GPS? There are questions about whether it will be able to work as accurately as stated, because the existing limitations on the accuracy of satellite navigation are supervised by the intelligence services. They may prohibit both sales and use. And not only in Russia.

A smart voice assistant already exists in Russia. “Alice” and the “Yandex” team are great. Therefore, Xiaomi designed the assistant for the Chinese domestic market, and we can forget about its existence.


I don’t even want to talk about “animoji”. I frankly don’t understand them, I don’t use emoticons. A normal Russian person has a lot of ways to express his mood and thoughts in writing. Can not? Call. Don't know how to express emotions? It's worth learning, you're not 5 years old.

The wide range and quality of products in the field of smartphones have allowed Xiaomi to take a leading position in the market. The manufacturer offers gadgets for almost every taste and budget. From budget dialers to frameless flagships with a screen that occupies almost 100% of the front panel. Fans of stylish design and high-quality photos will also not be left out.

Xiaomi Mi7 - flagship of the year

There is no doubt that the flagship version will receive all the most advanced and modern. First of all, it is worth mentioning the processor, because it is fundamental to every smartphone. There is little doubt that the phone will have the advanced Snapdragon 845 processor, which will also appear this year. According to official information, it will receive eight powerful 3rd generation Kryo cores. It will be complemented by 6 and 8 GB of RAM. The choice of configuration will depend on the amount of built-in storage: 64/128/256 GB.

The very large 5.65" display will have an aspect ratio of 9:18 with a resolution of 1080x1920 FullHD. Thin frames around the perimeter of the screen will allow you to classify the device as “frameless”.

Of the most significant features, it is worth mentioning a dual camera with optical stabilization and Bokeh effect. It is likely that there will be user facial recognition and wireless charging.

According to the latest data, the release date of Xiaomi Mi 7 is scheduled for 03.18. Of course, no one gives guarantees, since there have been cases of postponement of the announcement of flagships.

Mi Mix 3 - continuation of the line of frameless phablets

The Mix line of frameless smartphones has made a splash in the market. However, not everyone was happy with the latest model released. What to expect from the 3rd generation, bug fixes or a brand new device?!

The 6-inch OLED matrix with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 Full HD+ plans to cover 97% of the front of the device. It will also have a 16MP dual camera that allows you to take stunning photos with a blurry background effect. The body will be made according to modern trends: glass and metal.

The most interesting innovation may be the fingerprint scanner located under the display. Technology is no longer a myth. It’s too early to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the method, but one thing can be said - the function deserves attention.

Mi Max 3

The Max series is known for its use of the largest screens possible. The entire line had displays larger than 6 inches. The 3rd version is unlikely to be an exception; a 6.99” matrix by 2160x1080 pixels is expected. This will not increase the dimensions; most likely, the increase will occur due to the reduction of the frames around the perimeter.

Based on the insider photos that have appeared, we can talk about an aluminum body, 12 MP dual optics with Bokeh effect and a standard fingerprint scanner on the back side.

While not a flagship, the smartphone will have an average-performance Snapdragon 660 processor. A nice feature may be a battery with a capacity of 5500 mAh.

The release date of Mi Max 3 has not yet been determined, most likely the announcement will take place in the spring of this year.

Redmi Note 5 is an inexpensive smartphone with solid potential

The company quite often updates budget models, equipping them with not the latest features. The fifth model in the line, like a number of others, will receive a 5.99” LCD with 2160 x 1080 pixels Full HD+. The modern trend has become the presence of two cameras, Note 5 is no exception.

It is planned to release two modifications: Snapdragon 630 with 3GB of RAM and Snapdragon 636 with 4GB of memory, respectively. A 4000 mAh battery will be enough to power the hardware. The volume of built-in storage will be 32 and 64GB.

The presentation of the device is expected at the end of February this year.

Redmi 6 is a revolutionary and affordable smartphone

Inexpensive Xiaomi smartphones are far from being “dialers”, but functional and advanced phones. What can we expect from the sixth generation?

Improving a “state employee” is a difficult and thankless task. The final cost of the product imposes restrictions on the choice of components and functions. The sixth series will inherit the previous IPS matrix of 1440 x 720 pixels.

The smartphone will be powered by a mid-range Snapdragon 630 processor with a frequency of 2.2 GHz. The gadget will be equipped with two memory options: 16 and 32 GB and 3 GB of RAM.

The appearance of a dual main camera module is quite possible. Its parameters, as well as the frontal one, remain unknown. The fingerprint scanner will also be located on the back of the case.

Redmi 6 is planned to be released in the fourth quarter of 2018.