Xiaomi was praised a lot (for the style) and scolded (for copying the design and certain techniques) for its rather straightforward orientation towards Apple - at first the Chinese were silent, for promotion the title of “Chinese Apple” was just right. Now they are denying themselves - suspicious similarity is harmful for entering the Western market, where copyright issues are taken much more seriously than in China, India and even Russia, and it also interferes with the identification of the brand as something special, original.
With the release of Mi5, which for the first time in the history of the brand had its own face, then the slightly clumsy Mi5s and in particular, it might seem that Xiaomi has really taken a course towards autonomy and no longer looks towards Cupertino. But then Mi6 came out, and in a difficult time for the company - in the period of transition from online to offline sales, when the company's market share is declining. His role turns out to be quite heavy - if not the rescue of drowning people, then something like that. For this (feasible?) Mission, they decided to disguise the agent of Chinese influence again. The two cameras this time offer 2x optical zoom due to the different focal lengths of the two lenses (unlike the Mi5s Plus, which used the RGB + monochrome sensor scheme), the Home button became touch-sensitive, the 3.5mm jack disappeared, instead there is splash protection, and the black version is glossy (hello Jet Black).
And all this amid reports of problems with the number of patents in the Xiaomi portfolio. However, such little things never bothered the fans of the brand - in the end, all this is accompanied by a price starting at 21 thousand rubles (when buying a device in China) and hardware filling, which is not a shame even when compared with other Android flagships like , or . And the LG G6 with its Snapdragon 835, the new Xiaomi device, can completely plug in the belt.
But the theory of "cool characteristics for little money" sometimes differs from practice - Xiaomi has taught that this happens infrequently with its devices, but it is still necessary to check.
⇡ Specifications
| Xiaomi Mi6 | Xiaomi Mi5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.15 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 428 ppi, capacitive multitouch | 5.7 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 386 ppi, capacitive multitouch | 5.5 inches, AMOLED, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, capacitive multitouch | 5.2 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 424 ppi, capacitive multitouch | ||
| Protective glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Yes, manufacturer unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | No information | ||
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 (Quad Kryo 2.45GHz + Quad Kryo 1.9GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 (two Kryo cores, 1.8 GHz + two Kryo cores, 1.36 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 (two Kryo cores, 2.35 GHz + two Kryo cores, 1.36 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 (two Kryo cores, 2.15 GHz + two Kryo cores, 1.36 GHz) | HiSilicon Kirin 950 (four cores ARM Cortex-A72 @ 2.3 GHz; four cores ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz) | |
| Graphics controller | Adreno 540, 710 MHz | Adreno 530, 624 MHz | Adreno 530, 650 MHz | Adreno 530, 624 MHz | Mali-T880 MP4, 900 MHz | |
| RAM | 6 GB | 3 GB | 4/6 GB | 6 GB | 4 GB | |
| Flash memory | 64/128 GB | 32/64 GB | 64/128 GB | 64 GB | 32/64 GB | |
| Memory card support | No | No | No | No | there is | |
| Connectors | USB Type-C | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack | |
| SIM card | Dual nano-SIM | Dual nano-SIM | Dual nano-SIM | Dual nano-SIM | One nanoSIM / two nanoSIM | |
| Cellular 2G | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | |
| Cellular 3G | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 CDMA 2000 | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | |
| 4G cellular | LTE Cat. 16 (300/50 Mbps): ranges 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 12 (up to 600 Mbps): ranges 1, 3, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 12 (up to 600 Mbps): ranges 1, 3, 5, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 6 (300 Mbps, 50 Mbps), ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 6 (300/50 Mbit / s): ranges 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a / b / g / n / ac | 802.11a / b / g / n / ac | 802.11a / b / g / n / ac | 802.11a / b / g / n / ac | 802.11a / b / g / n / ac | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
| NFC | there is | there is | there is | there is | there is | |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | |
| Sensors | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, IR sensor | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), IR sensor | |||
| The fingerprint scanner | there is | there is | there is | there is | there is | |
| Main camera | Dual module, 12 MP: 27 mm, ƒ / 1.8 + 52 mm, ƒ / 2.6 (2x zoom); an optical stabilizer operates at a wide angle; phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash | 16 MP, ƒ / 2.0, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, 4-axis optical stabilization | Dual module, 13 MP, ƒ / 2, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED flash | 16 MP, ƒ / 2.0, phase detection autofocus, optical stabilization, LED flash | Dual module, 12 MP, ƒ / 2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, | |
| Front-camera | 8 MP, fixed focus | 4 MP, fixed focus | 4 MP, fixed focus | 8 MP, fixed focus | 8 MP, fixed focus | |
| Food | Removable battery 12.73 Wh (3350 mAh, 3.8 V) | Removable battery 14.44 Wh (3800 mAh, 3.8 V) | Removable battery: 11.3 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) | ||
| The size | 145.2 x 70.5 x 7.45 mm | 145 x 69 x 7.3 mm | 154.6 x 77.7 x 7.95 mm | 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4 mm | 145.5 x 71 x 7.5 mm | |
| Weight | 168/182 grams (regular version / ceramic) | 129 grams | 168 grams | 158 grams | 153 grams | |
| Hull protection | Splash protection (no exact data) | No | No | No | No | |
| operating system | Android 7.1.1 Nougat, own MIUI shell | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, MIUI shell | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, OxygenOS shell | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, native EMUI shell | ||
| Actual price | 21 000-25 000 rubles in China, Russian prices are still unknown | from 17,000 rubles | 23,000-27,000 rubles | 25,000 rubles | 22,000-25,000 rubles |
⇡ Design, ergonomics and software
Recently, aluminum has ceased to be an obligatory sign of a high-class and high cost of a smartphone, so the companies are vying with each other to find out who will design their flagship in a more original way: there were both from Nokia / Microsoft. Now glass has come to the fore - with its help Samsung got out of its own plastic captivity, and HTC began to amaze with mother-of-pearl overflows. Xiaomi has also moved away from the plastic used in the Mi5. The novelty is presented in two versions - glass (cheaper) and, like last year, ceramic (more expensive).
For a few days I got exactly the glass version, doomed to be more popular - few will choose the most expensive Xiaomi for the sake of "premium". The outlines have hardly changed compared to the Mi5: in front there is a slightly convex 2.5D glass, in the back there is the same back, in the corner of which there is a camera that has grown a second lens. Thanks to this shape, the smartphone seems even thinner than it really is. This is an illusion: Mi6 has become even slightly thicker than its predecessor - 7.45 mm versus 7.3. But the fact that because of this he more willingly slips out of the hand, which is facilitated by the slippery glossy body, is already a reality. You have to be very careful with the Mi6 - it is a beautiful but extremely wayward gadget.
Another problem, which also owes its existence to the spectacular design, is that the case is very easily smudged and scratched. And if you expect this with regard to the glass back panel (and reluctantly prepare to buy a case for a smartphone), then the front glass feels devoid of an oleophobic coating - I have lost the habit of this in recent years. This is especially strange given the fact that Xiaomi smartphones used to be famous for their resistance to fingerprints and other dirt.
The display takes up approximately 80 percent of the bezel. Taking into account its relatively small diagonal (5.15 inches) and the thinness of the case, Mi6 ultimately feels like a very small gadget - in size it resembles the same iPhone without the addition of "Plus", except that the latter has a display even smaller.
Xiaomi Mi6, left side: SIM card slot
Xiaomi Mi6, right side: power and volume / camera shutter keys
Xiaomi is very proud of the splash guard on its flagship, for which the engineers sacrificed a 3.5mm headphone jack. But this is not IP67 protection, as on the iPhone 7, and even less IP68, as on the Samsung Galaxy S7 / S8 (which with a mini-jack on board calmly comply with this standard), - the gadget must not be dipped in water. What exactly numbers are opposite the IP - Xiaomi does not say, but I suspect there is something like IP54 or 55. That is, the smartphone is theoretically able to survive in the rain - and nothing more. Someone seems to have played a little bit of marketing games.
When my acquaintances ask me to advise them “a cool phone, but so that it is inexpensive, and not a shovel,” I usually come to a dead end. After all, flagships less than 5.5 "are a rare phenomenon (if you do not take into account the Compact line from Sony, but this is still not a completely uncompromising solution). And now, finally, Xiaomi has made a smartphone, which I will confidently recommend in response to such a request.Watch the video!
The Chinese Apple is famous for the fact that for a small price "stuffs" its smartphones with the latest technologies. Mi6 is no exception, the filling of the device is really flagship.
Display | 5,15 ", 1920х1080, IPS, 428 ppi |
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 8-core (4x 2.45 GHz + 4x 1.9 GHz) |
Graphic arts | |
RAM | |
Persistent memory | 64 GB / 128 GB |
Communication | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi (802.11ac, 2x2 MU-MIMO), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS and Beidou, NFC |
Cameras | Main: two cameras 12 MP, with autofocus, video recording 3840x2160 Front: 8 MP |
Sensors | Fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer |
Navigation | |
Android 7.1.1 Nougat + MIUI 8.0 |
|
Battery | |
Dimensions | 145.2x70.5x7.5 mm |
Weight | |
Price in China |
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On the plus side, we didn’t chase fashion and plugged in a 4K or 2K screen, FullHD is enough for all applications, except for VR helmets. The processor is the most powerful at the moment, the memory is 6 GB. At the same time, there is no support for a microSD slot, as well as a headphone jack. This is important for someone, not very much for me (I listen to music on Bluetooth and 64 GB is enough for me.
It is also worth clarifying that Xiaomi Mi6 does not support 20 band LTE, that is, if you use, for example, Beeline or Tele2 in the Moscow region, then the 4th generation network will not be very good for you.
Appearance and ergonomics
It's hard to surprise me with smartphones, but at one glance at Xiaomi Mi6 I am delighted. And this despite the fact that my black "classic" version is not the most successful in appearance. It seems to me that blue and white look much more advantageous.
Most of all, the device reminded me of the old iPhone 3GS, however, instead of plastic, there is glass around. The display is covered with 2.5D glass with a spectacular curvature. The oleophobic coating is excellent, fingerprints are not noticeable on the device. The display is bright and contrasty, it feels like it's the same as the Xiaomi Mi5S, but without the black bezels around the edges.
At the bottom is the main button, which also houses the fingerprint sensor. By the way, it works just instantly, and very accurately. I have a feeling that the sensor works worse on the Samsung Galaxy S8 +. On both sides of the button - touch areas, highlighted by dots, when pressed, the "home" or context menu is activated.
Above is the speaker, front camera and proximity sensor.
At the bottom is the USB Type-C connector, and next to it is the speaker grill. One of them is decorative, but the smartphone has stereo sound, for it, it is paired with a speakerphone to play a voice. By the way, the sound is surprisingly good, albeit without bass.
On the right is the volume rocker and the on / off button.
Above is an infrared port (which is great), as well as a noise canceling microphone.
The SIM card slot is on the left.
You can put two nanoSIMs in it, but you can't install microSD.
The back of the smartphone is glass, with an excellent oleophobic coating. Yes, of course, fingerprints are visible on it, but much weaker than on a black glossy iPhone.
It is really convenient to hold the smartphone in your hand due to the rounded edges and small size.
Above there are two 12 megapixel cameras, with autofocus and flash. The cameras are close to the edge and a couple of times I covered them with my finger when trying to photograph something, but then I got used to it.
Supplied in a white cardboard box, no "perversions" like the Xiaomi Mi Mix are provided. However, it is not surprising, this is not a technological demo, but just a flagship product.
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The delivery package is decent, they put a cover for those who find the smartphone too thin. There is also an adapter for headphones; you do not have to buy it separately if you want to listen to music through a wire.
The smartphone looks good in the case, it is convenient to use, the device immediately becomes more "grasping".
The case is translucent, so you can still show off to Xiaomi fans.
The new compact flagship from Xiaomi really looks great and is very comfortable. But, of course, someone might not like the lack of an audio jack and a microSD slot.
Performance
The smartphone has the most top-of-the-line chipset from Qualcomm - Snapdragon 835. Here we have added 6 GB of RAM, the powerful Adreno 540 is responsible for 3D output. In the Antutu benchmark, the smartphone shows sky-high 180 thousand, that is, it goes head to head with Samsung Galaxy S8 +. However, due to the compact body, the device heats up, and the second "run", launched immediately after the first, noticeably sags. Nevertheless, the result is still ahead of the previous flagship, Snapdragon 821, which, recall, gained about 120 thousand in Antutu.
In the case of Ice Storm, the situation generally turned out to be interesting - in the Unlimited version, the smartphone went off scale for the maximum.
The graphical test GFXBench is also great. Satellites are caught quickly, GPS, Glonass, Beidou works.
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The number of multitouch points is 10. In general, I have absolutely no complaints about the performance of the smartphone.
Software
The smartphone runs Android 7.1 with MIUI 8. Unfortunately, at the time of testing it was only in the Chinese-English version, and without Google Apps. However, the latter are easily installed by rolling out from the Google Apps backup for Xiaomi Mi Pad. You don't need to connect your smartphone to a computer for this, just use the standard program to restore from a backup.
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It is also interesting that Xiaomi Mi6 supports the purchase of a virtual SIM card, which will come in handy when traveling. Unfortunately, you cannot buy a virtual SIM card in Russia.
Camera
Xiaomi has never been a leader in photo quality, however, their cameras are always at a very good level.
The front camera copes well with backlighting.
With artificial lighting, everything is fine too.
HDR allows you to "pull out" shadows if there is a large difference in brightness in the scene. It works softly and unobtrusively.
At dusk the camera does a good job, the only thing, in my opinion, is the exposure is overly optimistic.
The smartphone has two cameras, one with double the focal length. The angle in this case is narrower, closer to the portrait lens, but the aperture also drops, as a result of which photos of fast moving objects can be blurred.
In general, the picture is bright and contrasting, but, in my opinion, slightly "plastic" - the colors are not very realistic.
However, on a bright day, such colors are sometimes even a joy. The watermark in the corner turns off, but at first I forgot about it while taking test photos.
In artificial lighting, HDR can produce a slightly flattened picture, so you shouldn't constantly shoot with it, you need to turn it on only when it makes sense.
In general, the picture in the room is adequate.
You can even shoot good macro.
And, nevertheless, "mistakes" in the exposition are not uncommon.
With a large object, it turns out perfectly. Very neat background blur.
Simply great portrent mode. Yes, the blur is artificial, but overall, the card is five points.
As with all modern smartphones, battery life is highly dependent on the way of use. If you do this both in the tail and in the mane, launch dozens of applications and constantly look at the screen - after lunch, the smartphone needs to be charged. If you turn on the optimization and use it as usual, the device lives up to the evening calmly. Basically, the autonomy seemed to me about the same as the OnePlus 3T. It is inferior to the autonomy of the Samsung Galaxy S8 +.
The stock charger supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3, the smartphone charges really quickly, in just an hour.
Other nuances of use
The speaker of the smartphone is loud enough, moreover, when playing music, you can actually hear stereo (the earpiece is used as the second one). There is no bass, but overall the sound quality is good.
The speaker is excellent, loud and clear. Through the use of two microphones (one normal, one for noise canceling), the voice is transmitted very well.
The infrared port is convenient for reducing the sound level in bars. Well, or in case you have lost your TV remote control somewhere.
The device has NFC and MiFare Classic is supported - it was possible to read data from Troika.
Android Pay did not start on my firmware, however, with the advent of the official version from the Android Market (international firmware), most likely there will be no problems.
The smartphone has "splash protection" - that is, it is better not to put it in water, but in the rain you can not be afraid for it.
Wireless charging is not supported.
Prices
Total
Xiaomi has made a really great device - fast, light, compact, beautiful. Given its Chinese value, this is a fairy tale, not a phone. True, given the fact that Smart Orange continues to rage, and the Orenburg customs, it is possible that we will have to buy a device at a price one third more expensive. The only complaint here is the lack of a mini jack, and the lack of microSD support. However, today this trend is no longer so striking.
Xiaomi flagships, at least in our market, are not just smartphones - they are a banner, they are a symbol. They do not become sales leaders, but they are mentioned in the comments to any review, where they write something like “I’ll buy three Xaomi Mi X better for this money”.
But recently, a sad trend has emerged - until recently, the current trump card in the form of Mi 5S for only $ 250 began to be easily interrupted by words about last year's hardware and slightly less offensive, but still unpleasant statements about the lack of moisture protection and stereo sound. Therefore, to say that the Internet community was waiting for an update is to say nothing. And here is the trump Mi6 in my hands - a weapon of victory over the damned, greedy, capitalists for at least the next six months.
Design
Mi6 is perhaps the second Xiaomi smartphone that I really liked, without any reservations “for my money”. The first, of course, is the ceramic MiMix.
Yes, the ancestors were nothing, but each with its own nuances. Mi5 was spoiled by the edging around the flattened Home button and the ends of soft aluminum, which were quickly covered with small scratches and burrs. It is better not to show the design of the back of the Mi5S to pregnant women, children, but the front with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor built into the glass was good.
In Mi6, the Chinese did not invent anything and took the front part from last year's Eski, and the back from the usual five, rounded the glass and ends, and used polished steel instead of aluminum.
The build quality is perfect, there is no trace of the flimsy Mi5 and cracks like in the iPhone 7. Videos with attempts to bend, scratch the six have already appeared on the Internet, and in them the new flagship from Xiaomi has shown itself just fine, that is, at the level of the flagships of the A-brands.
After 3 days of use, I got a deep groove across the entire screen, but let the one whose iPhone did not scratch the air throw a stone at me. But to bend without a chance, let me remind you that 5S in skillful hands turned into a donut.
Bottom line: As for me, this is one of the most beautiful flagship smartphones on the market ... when it comes to black and white. The design of the blue version was outsourced to Chinese gypsies, so, of course, there was a lot of "gold", the rest was sent to the top ceramic version - only some elements will be gilded there. Later, there will be a silver mirror version a la Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
Ergonomics and elusive beauty
The replacement of body materials had a significant impact on the weight of the device - with a 5.15-inch screen diagonal and dimensions comparable to the iPhone 7, the Mi6 weighs an impressive 168 grams in the regular version and 182 in the ceramic version, which is 30-35% more than the Mi5.
I probably would have resigned myself to such a weight and would not have mentioned it at all, had the six not been so slippery. Thanks to the shape of the case and the oleophobic coating, which is not only in front, but also behind. Completely eliminate the problem, a complete thin silicone case can, it's a pity, however, that it feels like a bag from Auchan.
Otherwise, there are no questions about ease of use - everything is in place, the dimensions are great for one-handed operation.
Scanner and IR
The experiment with the ultrasonic sensor in Mi5S was obviously unsuccessful, so in the new version they returned to the usual optical scanner and did the right thing. Everything works just fine - the read speed is almost at the level of the best smartphones from Huawei in this business, the number of errors even with wet fingers is minimal. Returned to Xiaomi Mi6 and the prodigal IR port, cut out in Mi5S. I was glad to have him back when I could not find the remote control for the air conditioner ... in order to turn it on for heating in mid-May, of course.
Minijack and waterproof
There is no minijack, there is moisture protection. The second is most likely a consequence of the first - apparently, the Chinese did not succeed in making a smartphone protected from moisture with a hole in the case with a diameter of 3.5 mm, I simply do not see any other reasons to remove the jack.
Xiaomi does not recommend immersing the smartphone in water, and you probably should not immerse it, because I already did it for you. After two minutes of washing in running water, all the buttons of Mi6 failed and they restored their functionality only after thorough drying with a hairdryer.
The kit includes a usb-c adapter - a minijack, but not a headset, which looks redneck, given that Xiaomi produces quite good in-ear headphones. I could have released a special version with a USB-C connector for my flagship.
Was it worth sacrificing jack for moisture protection, which has not even received an IP rating and, in theory, only protects against splashes? I don't think so. Xiaomi buyers are used to saving money, but in this case, the company pushes you to additional expenses associated with the purchase of a bluetooth headset, or condemns you to search for headphones with a usb-c connector, and again for additional expenses. On the other hand, perhaps this is good news for the market, and soon we will see affordable and high-quality Airpistons from Xiaomi.
Although, wait, you can suffer for free with the adapter ... Xiaomi ... suffering ... everything came together.
Screen and stereo sound
The Xiaomi Mi6 has a good screen, which did not cause me the slightest discomfort when switching from the iPhone 7 Plus.
According to the characteristics, everything seems to be the same as two generations before: IPS, 5.15 inches, Full HD, but there are improvements, and they are immediately noticeable - the colors have become richer, almost AMOLED. Brightness automatically adjusts as much as 4096 steps in the range from 1 to 600 nits, undoubtedly important information for you.
The Chinese first swung at stereo speakers and were able to make two speakers, but the quality and volume are mediocre. The main speaker was equipped with a spoken speaker, but despite this Xiaomi Mi6 I want to ask to clear my throat and try again.
The sound has definitely added in volume, covering one speaker with your hand while playing or watching videos, you will still hear something, but the frequencies did not work out - one middle, there are few highs, lows are locked at maximum volume, which in turn is quite average. The Xiaomi Mi 6 loses even in comparison with the iPhone 7 Plus, and it is far from the standard.
POWER! AAAAAAA !! 1
All you need to know about the hardware of the new Chinese flagship is that the first smartphone with Snapdragon 835, which means that lovers of parrots in Antutu can already run to branded stores and leave pre-orders.
Although you can not run, firstly, wait until they figure out the delivery from China, and secondly, on the current firmware version 8.2.0.2 on Android 7.1.1, my copy of Xiaomi Mi6, although it produces 183,000 in anttu, but the sensations that the smartphone flies, no.
There are jams, applications crash, freeze or run longer than you expect, despite the fact that there is 6 GB of RAM. There are no problems with games by itself, only with full hd-resolution there are no problems with them on snapdragon 821. Under load Xiaomi Mi6 practically does not heat up and does not trotlite - after the fifth run in antutu only 15,000 less, and the temperature does not exceed 38 degrees. Thanks to the ten-nanometer process technology. Another obvious advantage of the new platform is support for Bluetooth 5.0, however, two stereo headsets, like the Galaxy S8, cannot be connected.
PowerAAAAA !! in Xiaomi Mi6, undoubtedly, there is, but I did not have an understanding of where it can be used, even in the anttu there is only ten more than the One Plus 3T. Apparently, it's worth the wait, and the firmware is about to be released, on which everything will work as it should. It is a pity that no firmware will add support for memory cards - the amount of internal memory is fixed: 64 or 128 GB, and 256 gigabytes is not even allowed for the ceramic version.
No power bank needed
During the time that I spent with the Xiaomi Mi6, I forgot what charging during the day is. If the iPhone 7 Plus usually lasted for me at best until seven in the evening, then the Chinese without any problems live up to late night with the final 6-7 hours of screen activity and the remainder of 10-15%. Thanks to the new platform, thanks to the Full HD screen, thanks to the 3350mAh battery and thanks to Xiaomi for not messing it up with the firmware. We are waiting for the firmware. From fast charging of the Qiuck Charge standard from 0 to 100, the smartphone gains a little more than an hour.
Twice as many arguments
This is not the first time Xiaomi has installed two cameras in their smartphones, but if last time the concept with a separate black and white module was spied on from Huawei, now it is hiccuping engineers from Cupertino.
At first glance, the main module is similar to Mi5S - 12 megapixels, four-axis stabilization, 27mm, except that the aperture is now higher - f / 1.8. But if you dig deeper, it turns out that the sensor here is Sony IMX386, which in the Sony line belongs to the middle class, while its predecessor had a top-end and larger IMX378. The second module has 52mm optics, f / 2.6, but without stabilization, this is a small sensor from Samsung. The quality of the main camera suits me perfectly, it is clearly not worse than the iPhone one, and in a detailed comparison, it will most likely turn out to be even better, but in general the level of pictures is one - high, but still lower than that of the Galaxy S8.
Xiaomi, recently, has been actively working on the software revision of the photo part of its flagships, so the quality is likely to improve even further, as happened with the Mi5S. A televitch to make you cry ... in fact, it is again plus or minus at the level of an iPhone, except that there are much more chromatic aberrations around the branches against the background of the sky, they can be removed by software, which the Chinese will most likely do in new firmware.
This is how Xiaomi Mi 6 shoots.
And these are examples of shooting with Apple iPhone 7 Plus in the same conditions.
In mid-April 2017, the presentation of Xiaomi Mi6 took place - the new flagship smartphone from Xiaomi, which is intended to become the best mobile device among the model range of the Chinese manufacturer. It is expected to be able to compete with the flagships of other well-known manufacturers in the international market.
The new flagship received the already recognizable cardboard box with a minimalist design.
Inside it is a smartphone, a charger with a USB cable, documentation, a clip for ejecting SIM cards, an adapter from a USB Type-C port to a 3.5 mm audio jack, and a black silicone case.
For a long time we have not seen additional accessories in the configuration of even flagship Xiaomi smartphones.
Design
Traditionally Xiaomi offers smartphones in several colors: black, white and blue, but the black version of the Mi6 is obviously the most attractive. The body of the smartphone is made of monolithic metal and glass, and even in a stock silicone case, the smartphone looks expensive and stylish.
As a result, if you are really thinking about keeping your phone as long as possible, you can safely use this case without sacrificing its appearance.
Unfortunately, the glossy glass surface began to collect more prints - they are very noticeable despite the oleophobic coating. At the same time, the ceramic version of the Xiaomi Mi6 turned out to be even more problematic - prints are more noticeable on its surface.
The governing bodies remained in their former familiar places. On the right side there is a power / lock button and a volume rocker. The travel of the buttons is small, but they are comfortable and pressing occurs with a tangible click. The location is as convenient as possible to use the smartphone with the right or left hand.
On the left side there is only a barely noticeable hole for a paper clip to remove the SIM tray.
The upper end houses a microphone, as well as an infrared port, which can be used to control household appliances.
Only the Home button is visible under the display, which has already become a full-fledged touchscreen. There is a fingerprint scanner under its protective glass.
Surely you tensed a little when reading the "Package Contents" item, since there was an adapter from USB Type-C to 3.5 mm audio jack among the accessories. Yes, unfortunately, but Xiaomi Mi6 has lost this connector and this is one of the main innovations. You will have to use an adapter or take a Bluetooth headset. From an aesthetic point of view, the use of an adapter obviously spoils the whole picture.
As for the musical capabilities of Xiaomi Mi6, the smartphone offers full stereo - the sound will be reproduced not only by the main speaker, but also by the ear speaker. In this case, you will hear a full-fledged stereo effect, low frequencies, as well as the absence of rattling and wheezing at maximum volume.
Video - crash test Xiaomi Mi6
What this stylish flagship lacks is full water resistance. The phone is not afraid of splashes, but we definitely do not recommend diving with it.
Additionally, two special versions of Xiaomi Mi6 will appear on sale - silver and ceramic black. The first has an almost mirrored back panel, and the second has an 18-karat gold rim around the main camera modules.
Display
Mi6 received almost the same screen as Mi5 - it is an IPS matrix with a diagonal of 5.15 inches and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Therefore, we will not stop here for long. Let us note just some of the new features.
Xiaomi Mi6 received a new operating mode, which is called Night Shift in iOS. We are not talking about exact copying - this is just an analogue, in which the range of cold colors is reduced and the color rendition remains as natural as possible without the effect of yellowness. It's nice that new useful "chips" appear.
In night mode, the minimum screen brightness remains at just 1 nit.
Camera
At the official presentation, the main dual camera Xiaomi Mi6 was very brightly presented. Unlike the iPhone 7 Plus, here the camera modules do not protrude from the body at all, which means that the lens glass should not be scratched.
The front camera is installed with a resolution of 8 megapixels, so that selfie lovers will have a real treat. 
The dual main camera received two 12-megapixel modules. Four-axis stabilization is available, and therefore, even in shaking hands, photos will turn out clear. There is a 2x optical zoom.
Video - Xiaomi Mi 6 camera test in 4k
It is common for Xiaomi smartphones to have a lot of features in the camera app.
Sample photos from the Xiaomi Mi6 camera
The flagship Mi6 will now be the company's best offering. The camera is capable of producing great photos, although it is not without software problems. Most likely, over time, some problematic little things in stereo mode will be corrected and we will get a perfect camera comparable to the quality of entry-level DSLRs.
Performance
Today, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor remains in short supply and rarely a flagship can boast of it. However, Xiaomi Mi6 runs on this very chip. The processor is manufactured using a 10nm process technology, which gives it a lot of advantages, including energy efficiency, performance and other important characteristics.
The smartphone also received 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which, with a huge margin, is enough for fast interface performance and demanding programs. You can easily launch and play the most powerful games at maximum settings.
At the presentation of the smartphone, we saw the result of 184,000 points in AnTuTu, but depending on the hardware modification, firmware and version of the program for testing, it can receive completely different marks.
Xiaomi Mi6 will appear on the market in two versions - with 64 and with 128 GB of memory, and this is exactly what the space will have to be content with, since there is no microSD slot - only a tray for two SIM cards.
Specifications Xiaomi Mi 6
| Manufacturer | Xiaomi |
| Model | Xiaomi Mi 6 |
| Date of announcement | 2017, April |
| Network support | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - 2G | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2 |
| - 3G | HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 |
| - 4G | LTE band 1 (2100), 3 (1800), 5 (850), 7 (2600), 8 (900), 38 (2600), 39 (1900), 40 (2300), 41 (2500) |
| Bluetooth | v5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Dimensions | 145 x 70.5 x 7.45 mm |
| Weight | 168 gram |
| Accumulator battery | Non-removable Li-Po 3350 mAh |
| Display | 5.15 inches |
| - permission | 1080 x 1920 pixels (~ 428 ppi) |
| CPU | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 |
| - CPU frequency | Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo and 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| - graphic arts | Adreno 540 |
| Memory | 6 GB of RAM, 64 GB or 128 GB of built-in |
| USB | Type-C 1.0 reversible connector |
| - main | 12 MP, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED dual-tone flash |
| - frontal | 8 MP, 1080p |
| operating system | Android OS, v7.1.1 (Nougat) |
Battery
The built-in battery capacity is 3350 mAh. Under loads, the M6 \u200b\u200bis expected to last up to 2 days, or even longer. Note that the smartphone owes such a long work, among other things, to the optimized MIUI shell.
The battery also supports QuickCharge 3.0 fast charging.
Video - review of Xiaomi Mi6
Outcome
pros
- nice design;
- excellent performance;
- good camera;
- stereo speakers with high quality sound;
- support for Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC;
- competitive price.
minuses
- no microSD support;
- no 3.5 mm audio jack;
- dubious attractiveness in using a USB Type-C to 3.5 mm audio adapter;
- the glossy surface instantly collects fingerprints and smudges.
Xiaomi Mi6 leaves only pleasant impressions, despite several questionable points. This is the top-end and one of the most stylish smartphones from Xiaomi. The only serious drawback is the rejection of the 3.5 mm audio jack. A strange trend, especially considering the reluctance of headphone manufacturers to massively switch to wireless standards.
Many Xiaomi fans will agree that the latest flagship of the company Mi6 is controversial. On one side of the scales there is a powerful filling and cool functions, and on the other the controversial design and autonomy. Should you upgrade from Mi5 / Mi5S and buy a new product in 2017? We hope that our 10 answers to questions about Mi6 will help you form the right opinion about the flagship and make the right choice.
1 Which SIM card is suitable and is there a microSD
The first thing to note is the SIM card formats that the smartphone supports. Xiaomi Mi6 works with two Nano-SIM cards as well does not have a slot for memory cards microSD format. In principle, nothing new, the original Mi5 and Mi5S also came with a double tray for the two smallest operator cards.
If you are going to buy a new product, you should pay attention to this. There is no problem with this, because the Micro-SIM card is easily cut to Nano-SIM, and a slot for additional memory is not required at all. The fact is that even the most initial version of the phone has 64 GB of flash memory on board (you should have enough), and the next configuration in the lineup is already equipped with twice more storage for 128 GB (you will definitely have enough).
2.Does Mi6 have a standard 3.5mm audio output
Another important question if you decide to buy the Xiaomi Mi6 is that it does not have a standard 3.5 mm audio output for headphones. Why did Xiaomi kill such a great port in a smartphone? There are several reasons for this:
- the phone is 7.5mm thick, with a 3.5mm port it could have been thicker
- 3.5mm port is another frequent breakdown (broken and stuck headphone plug)
- Mi6 is waterproof, and the 3.5mm outlet is another place where liquids can enter
- it was like this in Apple's drawings (just kidding)
How can you listen to music on it? It's simple, the company suggests using a universal USB Type-C port for connecting headphones. The good news is that you don't need to have a headset with a USB-C port, there is a Type-C to 3.5mm audio out adapter included. This way you can connect your favorite headphones seamlessly. The bad news is that you won't be able to charge your phone and listen to music through the included adapter at the same time. To do this, you should look for a special adapter with a charging output and a 3.5 mm port. Also, do not lose this adapter, since then you cannot connect ordinary headphones.
3 What colors does Xiaomi Mi6 have
But with the colors of the Mi6, everything is much more interesting than that of its predecessors. There are four versions available for sale:
- blue with golden frame
- white with silver frame
- black with silver frame
- black with gold frame (ceramic model)
In addition, the CEO of Xiaomi, Mr. Lei Jun, at the presentation of the flagship in Beijing, showed the chrome version of the smartphone right from the stage. This version of the Mi6 looks exactly like the Apple iPod Touch 4G: its back has a silver metallic mirror finish, and the production of this version, at the time of writing, has not yet started.
Thus, users can choose between the standard popular colors: blue, white and black. Most likely, on Chinese trading floors, the white version will be the cheapest, and for the blue and black (black ceramic) you will have to pay extra, as for an exclusive. Which color to choose and which one looks better is of course up to you to decide. Galagram's editors were impressed by the phone in the blue version of the case, we consider it the most attractive one.
4 Xiaomi Mi6 powerful? What is its processor and how much RAM?
Yes, the Xiaomi Mi6 is definitely a powerful smartphone. It is built on the basis of the most productive mobile chip in the first half of 2017 - Qualcomm Snapdragon 835... As for memory, only 2 modifications are offered:
- 6 GB RAM, 64 GB Flash, Snapdragon 835 (2.45 GHz), Adreno 540 (653 MHz)
- 6 GB RAM, 128 GB Flash, Snapdragon 835 (2.45 GHz), Adreno 540 (653 MHz)
The smartphone uses modern fast LPDDR4x RAM chips with a frequency of 1866 MHz. In synthetic tests, the Xiaomi Mi6 also does not lag behind and scores enough points. For example, in the AnTuTu benchmark, he scored 184.292 points.
5 What cameras are installed in Xiaomi Mi6
Xiaomi Mi6 has become the third device of the company with a dual module of the main camera on board, after Redmi Pro and Mi5S Plus. As for the sensors themselves, the following modules are installed in the smartphone:
- Sony IMX386 1.24μm pixels
- Samsung S5K3M3 with 1.0μm pixels
The main camera has two modules: main and telescopic, as in the iPhone 7 Plus. Thus, with the Mi6 camera, you can take photos with different depth of field, in other words, you can make a beautiful blur of the background (bokeh) in the pictures. The front camera also did not disappoint, it is an 8 megapixel Sony IMX268 sensor with a wide viewing angle for group selfies.
6 Which Android is installed and which version of MIUI
Little was said at the presentation about the Xiaomi Mi6 software, but in vain, because the smartphone has something to brag about. The device works on the basis of the latest version with the preinstalled MIUI 8.2 operating system. As for the chips, the phone has all the same popular MIUI features as other Xiaomi phones:
- dual attachments
- second space
- long screenshots
- working with app permissions
- and so on
If you have questions about your smartphone, be sure to ask them in the comments. We and our community will try to answer them.
