The Xiaomi Mi Mix series, comprised of undeniably-gorgeous offerings, racked a lot of sales since the arrival of the first-gen Mi Mix. The Mi Mix, launched back in 2016, also started the war against bezels after which everyone began to follow suit. Fast forward to 2017, Xiaomi announced a new Mi Mix with a more refined bezel-less aesthetic- a huge upgrade from the first one. We are referring to the second iteration of the Mi Mix, dubbed as the Mi Mix 2. The Mi Mix 2 took the world by storm upon its arrival last September, at the same time its close rival, Apple, unveiled the notch-bearing iPhone X. However, I couldn’t help but notice the two phones’ huge pricing difference despite them both sporting almost the same level of performance. Intrigued yet? Well then read on for more information about this awesome device.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Price
It’s a no-brainer to think that most of us consider a product’s price more than anything. We won’t purchase a device which might break our bank or cost us an arm and a leg unless you have enough money to blow. As for the Mi Mix 2, it follows the same pricing outline as the rest of the Xiaomi device lineup: It won’t be considered as cheap but it definitely is way more affordable compared to its competitors with a similar set of specs. If you have $510, you can afford the base model of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Cash out $100 more and you’ll get a beefier Mi Mix 2 sporting the same amount of RAM coupled with 256GB of memory.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Design and Display
Like I said before, the Mi Mix lineup flaunts a premium look and feel and the Mi Mix 2 isn’t an exception. Conceived through the imagination of the world-renowned designer Philippe Starck, the Mi Mix 2 proved that going bezel-less is sexy. It has a tri-bezel-less design and the remaining bezel, the one on the bottom, is minimal in size. We are looking at a stunning, ceramic-clad device with an aluminum frame in between. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2’s IPS LCD display measures 5.99 inches diagonally, which is remarkably smaller than the 6.4-inch screen of its predecessor. The touchscreen has a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels, an aspect ratio of 18:9, and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It is also slightly thinner and lighter than the Mi Mix, and a screen-to-body ratio of 80%. You can have a choice between Black and White colors.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Specs and Performance
Roaring deep within the Mi Mix 2 is 2017’s most powerful chipset, Snapdragon 835 processor. Needless to say, the phone offers fast and fluid performance courtesy of its 6GB RAM, let alone 8GB. All apps load speedily and can run at the same time without causing lags. Storage-wise, the 6GB Mi Mix 2 pairs with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB while the 8GB model is only offered alongside 128GB of storage. As for the platform, the Mi Mix 2 runs on Android 7.1 Nougat OS out-of-the-box. Xiaomi also included the well-received MIUI 9 interface in the package. In terms of connectivity, the Mi Mix 2 packs 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and NFC, and uses a USB Type-C charger. It gets its juice from a 3400mAh battery which should last a day or more in a single charge. The Quick Charge 3.0 fast charger bundled inside can fill in the phone from 0 to 85 percent in over an hour.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Camera
While Xiaomi isn’t known for producing camera-focused smartphones as much as Apple, Samsung, and Huawei are, it still implemented a capable camera system on the Mi Mix 2. The handset features a 12-megapixel Sony IMX368 rear snapper with f/2.0 aperture, HDR, PDAF, and 4-axis OIS. Up front, there’s a 5-megapixel selfie shooter with an aperture of f/2.0. When shooting under good lighting conditions, the Mi Mix 2 captured great photos. However, it did not perform well in low-light situations. A lot of details were lost when zooming in and the LED flash tends to wash out the image.
Is the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 worthy of your hard-earned money?
The direct answer is yes! For half the price of the 1000-dollar iPhone X, you’ll have a ceramic device with a Snapdragon 835 chipset, either 6GB or 8GB RAM, a choice between 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage, 5.99-inch display, 12MP rear camera, 5MP selfie sensor, and 3400mAh battery. However, before deciding to purchase a Mi Mix 2, you may also want to consider the Mi Mix 2’s successor, the Mi Mix 2s, which arrived in the market just last April.
What does the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s bring to the table?
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s is similar to the Mi Mix 2 in several different ways. For instance, it retains the same 5.99-inch 2160 x 1080 IPS LCD touchscreen, 6GB/8GB RAM, 64GB/128GB/256GB storage options, 5MP front-facing snapper, and a 3400mAh powerhouse. It also has a bunch of remarkable differences when it comes to specs. Powering the Mi Mix 2s is the current flagship SoC, Snapdragon 845 chip. It runs on pre-installed Android 8.0 Oreo topped with the latest MIUI 9.5 skin. The rear camera has also undergone a revamp from the single 12MP sensor to a dual-lens 12MP one.
As expected, the price of the Mi Mix 2s is slightly higher than its predecessor. The base variant with 6GB/64GB memory configuration costs $530 while the 6GB/128GB storage model has an asking price of $575. A 20-dollar price difference isn’t that burdensome, is it? Basically, Xiaomi is only asking you to pay $20 more to have upgraded cameras, more powerful SoC, and better software and interface.
Final Thoughts
Of course, if I were to choose between the two devices, I would opt for the Mi Mix 2s since I won’t have to cash out hundreds of bucks in order to have better specs. Also, if you aren’t in a hurry to buy a new phone, you may want to wait a little longer for the arrival of the Mi Mix 3. It’s sure to have even better specs and more features to offer. Still have any questions about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2? Still not sure if it’s the right phone for you? Do you have the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 already? Ask any questions and share your thoughts in the comment section below, then share this post with your friends to help them decide if the Mi Mix 2 is the right choice for them!
