Xiaomi is a smartphone maker that is growing in popularity every day despite their limited distribution outside of Asia. Today the company ranks fifth in the production of phones in the world. This fact can be called a great achievement, since the brand began selling devices outside of China a short time ago. Reviews of smartphones "Xiaomi" ("Xiaomi") at the same time are impressive.
All indications are that Xiaomi intends to align with brands such as Apple and Samsung, rising to the top of the phone market. The company overtook Samsung to become one of the major brands in India in 2017, and is now gradually moving into the Russian and European markets. What is this company? What are the unique qualities of the smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi (Xiaomi)?
Xiaomi is the fastest growing manufacturer worldwide
Back in the first quarter of 2014In 2018, Xiaomi (Xiaomi) produced only 11 million smartphones, and almost all of them (97%) went on sale to China. Today the company is a leader in many Asian countries, and occupies a significant percentage of the smartphone market in Russia and Europe. The share of its production increases every year. Therefore, Xiaomi can be called the fastest growing phone manufacturer in the world.
This is a young company founded by experienced professionals
Xiaomi was founded just a few years ago, in April 2010. It was created by eight partners, including Jun Lei, CEO and President of Bin Lin. Previously, he was an employee at Kingsoft, Microsoft-esque Chinese subsidiary in China, and also led the company as CEO for a successful IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The secret of success lies in the modernization of the Android platform
One of the biggest differences between iOS and Android is that "Android" is open source software. This means that any developer or company is free to use the core codebase and modify it in many ways while maintaining compatibility with hundreds of millions of Android apps. For example, the Amazon's Fire tablet operating system is based on a heavily modified version of Android. Similarly, Xiaomi developed an Android software called MIUI and in October 2011 released its first M1 smartphone based on this platform. Unlike the small set of "Android" changes, a new version of MIUI is sent every week to the groupcore testers.
Diversity of products
Xiaomi has rapidly diversified its product offerings and is currently releasing a huge number of devices, including three different lines of Xiaomi smartphones ("Xiaomi"): Redmi, Redmi Note and Mi 3 (which has been replaced by M4).
The company actively sells its products online, often releasing them in fairly small batches. This model means that a new batch of phones can be sold in seconds, creating hype and excitement around them. This is especially noticeable when compared to new releases of Apple products.
Xiaomi has learned how to advertise heavily through social media and spend much less on marketing than other manufacturers (eg Xiaomi (Xiaomi) allocates only 1% of advertising revenue versus 5% in Samsung). This tactic has allowed the company to deliver quality smartphones at prices that middle-class users can afford.
The originality lies in the name of the company
Officially, Xiaomi representatives claim that their "MI" logo means "mobile Internet", or even "Mission Impossible", but this may be a publicity stunt. In Chinese, 小米 (xiao mi) literally means "small rice" or "millet". Some say that this is a reference to the famous leader Mao, under which the Communist Party, armed only with "millet and guns", strove for victory. This is an apt analogy for a company that has made such a breakthrough inmarket.
Xiaomi has a reputation for being budget devices that are extremely basic without premium features. If you are interested in purchasing a device of this brand or just want to know more about the brand, you should explore the popular Xiaomi smartphones ("Xiaomi").
Xiaomi Mi A2
This device was released in July 2018. Thus, this is one of the newest Xiaomi smartphones. The Mi A2 is a follow-up to last year's Mi A1, which was the first Xiaomi phone to offer Android One. It features a host of upgrades, including a cleaner Snapdragon 660 chipset and 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
But the main attraction of this device is the camera. Their characteristics in the Xiaomi Mi A2 smartphone With their 12MP + 20MP rear setup, the Mi A2 can be called one of the best camera phones in the budget category. The camera takes great photos in both daylight and low light conditions. The front camera has an AI-enabled portrait mode that works especially well for selfie lovers.
As for the battery, the 3000 mAh battery allows you to use the device throughout the day without any problems. In this device, you get the standard version of Quick Charge 3.0. Mi A2 also plans to roll out the Android 9.0 Pie update before the end of the year.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Released in March 2018, the Mi Mix 2S is the firm's first flagship in 2018. This Chinese smartphoneXiaomi (Xiaomi) has the same design as the Mi Mix 2, but has key updates in both software and hardware. Powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 10nm 845 chipset, it also comes with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of internal storage and global LTE bands.
There is also a variant with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB and 128 GB storage options, however these versions are not equipped with global LTE connectivity. The highlight of Mi Mix 2S is the dual camera setup on the back, equipped with two image sensors, each 12MP.
The phone has its own options for shooting in daylight, and also works great in low light modes. Many of the features of the camera are related to the new features supported by AI. This allows the smartphone to select the most appropriate shooting mode based on the lighting conditions.
AI functions apply to the present portrait mode. This provides the ability to set the severity of the background blur and even spice up the background bokeh.
The characteristics of the Xiaomi smartphone (Xiaomi) of this model are also unique in terms of software. On the software side, the Mi Mix 2S is the first Xiaomi gadget to ship with Android 8.0 Oreo by default. It offers the latest iteration of MIUI 9.5 and its interface looks more advanced overall.
With MIUI 9.5, you can also restore settings and apps from your previous Android phone or with your Google account. Previously, users were limited to choosing recovery options fromXiaomi's own Mi Cloud account, and this latest move makes MIUI a more attractive option for customers.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
Released in February 2018, it is Xiaomi's best budget smartphone to date. Many of the options that make the Redmi Note 5 Pro so comfortable to use come down to its hardware. It is the first mobile device in the world equipped with Snapdragon 636 from Qualcomm. Therefore, the performance of the device is simply amazing. According to reviews of the Xiaomi smartphone (Xiaomi) of this model, even 3D games can be easily launched on it.
Snapdragon 636 is a closed version of the Snapdragon 660, installed on devices three times more expensive than the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Another feature includes 4 or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. In addition, a dual camera setup can be seen on the back. She is one of the best in the inexpensive segment.
Among devices costing 13-14 thousand rubles, there really are no analogues offering the same functionality.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
This gadget became available for sale in October 2017. The case's ultra-thin bezel, combined with its ceramic construction, make it a tempting option for lovers of the unusual. The phone has the same basic design as the Mi Mix, but with a smaller 5.99-inch screen and a more rounded design, making it much more comfortable.
One of the mainOn the positive side of the Mi Mix 2, global LTE connectivity with 42 bands stands out. Like the previous model, the front camera has been moved to the bottom bezel, which has been reduced in size. The camera module itself is smaller and has been darkened to blend in with the bezel, giving a seamless front view. Xiaomi developers have kept the ceramic back of the case, but added an aluminum middle of the frame. There is an all-ceramic version, but this particular model is exclusive to China and is sold in limited quantities.
According to reviews of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 smartphone, it is also not inferior to more expensive devices in terms of hardware properties. It is equipped with 6GB or 8GB Snapdragon 835 RAM, 64GB, 128GB or 256GB internal storage, 12MP rear and 5MP front cameras, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi with MIMO, and a 3400mAh battery. One of the main shortcomings of last year's Mi Mix was the main camera, but this time the developers have added functionality and settings to it, as in the Mi 6 model. As a result, the images taken with the Mi Mix 2 look incredibly high quality.
With the release of Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi has made its original design available to a wider audience.
Xiaomi Mi 6
Launched in April 2017, the Mi 6 was the first sub-$500 phone powered by the Snapdragon 835. It also differs in that it doesn't have a 3.5mm jack. The distinguishing feature of the phone is the installation with twocameras on the back, which includes a 12-megapixel standard wide-angle lens, as well as an additional telephoto lens that provides 2x zoom without compromising quality.
The design has undergone a significant upgrade compared to last year's Mi 5. Its body features rounded corners and two pieces of glass sandwiched by a stainless steel frame. Other than that, the Mi 6 has promising specs in the form of a 2.45GHz Snapdragon 835, a 5.15-inch Full HD display, 64GB or 128GB internal storage, 6GB RAM, an 8MP front camera, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi ac, NFC and USB-C.
The removal of the 3.5mm headset jack allowed Xiaomi to fit a large 3.350mAh battery into the device – 15% more than the battery in the Mi 5 – while also making it splash resistant. What can be connected to the Xiaomi Mi 5 (Xiaomi) smartphone if its design is so different from others? In fact, the headphones can be synchronized with the device in any other way.
Mi 6 is available in a variety of color options, as well as a limited edition ceramic version and a silver version with a mirror finish. However, keep in mind that the device does not have global LTE bands, unlike Mi Mix 2. You get bands 1/3/5/7/838/39/40/41, but if LTE communication in these bands is available in your region, Mi 6 is a great option.
Xiaomi Mi A1
Launched in October 2017, the Mi A1 is groundbreaking in terms of software. The phone is the first in the Xiaomi lineup that does not run MIUI. In this model, the Chinese manufacturer interacts with Google using the Android One platform. Ultimately, the user receives a device with Xiaomi design language and software from Google. The fact that the gadget costs less than $ 200 (11 thousand rubles) is reflected in many positive reviews about the Xiaomi smartphone (Xiaomi) of this model.
Mi A1 has a great design with metal stripes running along the bottom and top back of the phone, while the aluminum body makes it look great. The smartphone also has two rear 12-megapixel cameras with the same options as in Mi 6: a wide-angle lens along with a telephoto lens for 2x optical zoom.
Other specs revealed as Snapdragon 625, 5.5-inch Full HD display, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, microSD slot, 5MP front camera, 3.5mm jack and 3080mAh battery, charged via USB-C.
Xiaomi Redmi 5A
Released in November 2017, the Redmi 5A stands out because it is Xiaomi's cheapest and most affordable phone today. Its cost is 7 thousand rubles. Xiaomi developers have made great strides with the Redmi 4A and therefore have not changed the configuration much in the follow-up model. You get exactly the same basic hardware, but the low price indicates that the device is available to the widest range of users.
Redmi 5A features Snapdragon 425, 5.0-inch 720p display,RAM 2 or 3 GB, 16 GB / 32 GB of internal memory, two slots for SIM cards and a microSD slot, a rear 13-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel front and 3000 mA battery. As for downloading the software, the smartphone uses MIUI 9 by default.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2
Launched in May 2017, the Mi Max proved to be unexpectedly popular last year. Therefore, the manufacturer has released an updated model with an improved design and improved internals. The large 6.44-inch screen, combined with a powerful battery, makes Mi Max 2 a complete multimedia powerhouse.
In the new version, the developers switched to a single design with metal lines on the back and made the edges rounded, which makes it easier to hold the device in your hands.
The hardware capabilities of the Xiaomi smartphone (Xiaomi) are as follows. Mi Max 2 is equipped with a Snapdragon 625, a 6.44-inch Full HD display, 4 GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of internal storage, a microSD slot, a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, as well as an excellent battery of 5300 mAh, which provides at least two days of use.
Xiaomi Mi 4
Imitation and copying is a hot topic in tech circles, but few manufacturers do it like Xiaomi. Xiaomi Mi4 is perhaps the most famous replica phone on the market. It looks almost exactly like the iPhone 5 or 5S. But despite the blatant plagiarism, the Mi4 is arguably one of the best Android devices of 2014. He manages to combine incrediblepower with impeccable build quality and great software. At the same time, at the time of the start of sales, its price was approximately 15 thousand rubles. It can now be bought second-hand for much less.
It is equipped with a metal body made of Gorilla Glass and equipped with a plastic back panel. At the bottom, you'll find a single speaker - similar to the iPhone 5's - and a rather odd USB port. The phone uses MicroUSB-B, while all other mobile devices (other than iPhones) use MicroUSB-A. However, a USB-B connection will still work.
The 5-inch IPS display is also striking and impressive with Full HD 1080x1920 resolution and deep viewing angles. It is also easy to view in direct sunlight.
Technical specifications of the device provide a Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.5 GHz. This is backed up by 3GB of RAM, giving you a smooth user experience and amazing performance.
There is no Micro SD slot and internal storage is between 16GB and 64GB. Xiaomi's MIUI platform (pronounced "Me-You-Eye") is based on Android. In the case of MIUI 5, which comes with Xiaomi Mi4, you will get a strong semblance of Android 4.3. However, unlike other manufacturers (such as Sony and Samsung), Xiaomi offers a rather idiosyncratic interface. So, there is not a single pre-installed Google service, but there is a Google Installer application that allows you to download everything you need. OftenUsers need a manual for a Xiaomi smartphone (Xiaomi) to understand its interface.
In conclusion
The above review of Xiaomi smartphones (Xiaomi) shows that this manufacturer offers devices with excellent features at an affordable price. Moreover, some of the proposed devices are equipped with options presented in devices of a higher price category. Few developers manage to copy the functionality of premium devices while offering products in the budget category. Starting with MI4, Xiaomi is steadily catching up with the leading brands in this market segment.
It is also worth noting the following. The company strives to take a leading position in the market, although it lags behind other manufacturers. Samsung is still the undisputed leader in smartphone production, while Xiaomi's native rival Huawei is beginning to lose ground under strong competition.
