Xiaomi smartphones can increasingly be seen in the hands of ordinary people, but the feelings of those who have long known the brand could subside. The history of the company began with the MIUI firmware and flagships that were very successful for their time, and now it seems that the focus has shifted towards the middle segment models. I do not want to say that the Mi line has lost its attractiveness, but the flagships of the market leaders are the first to offer new unique functions and their better implementation, and devices like become popular towards the end of the life cycle, when their price drops as much as possible. Today we will take a look at the Xiaomi Mi 6 and try to answer the question - can this smartphone become a worthy competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S8, LG G6 and Huawei P10?
Smartphone provided by the store Mi.ua
Design and usability
For several generations in a row, Xiaomi flagships receive cases made of glass and metal. Mi 6 is no exception - the company continues to experiment. Now the glass has become even larger - the "back" is made of it, which smoothly flows into the glossy metal edges. To achieve this effect, Xiaomi had to bend the glass on all four sides. It turned out quite nicely - the shape of the case is streamlined, there are no sharp corners, so the device fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.
In the hands of the Mi 6, it feels average in size - it is larger than the iPhone 7 and Huawei P10, but smaller than devices with 5.5-inch or equivalent screens. At the same time, it turned out to be quite weighty - 168 grams. Later, there should also appear a version in a ceramic case in gray or silver. It will be even heavier - 182 grams.
The regular Mi 6 is available in black, blue and white body colors. The perception of design is very subjective, but for my taste, the flagship turned out to be quite beautiful and comfortable. The keys are pleasant to use, no corners bite into the palm - after Mi 5 and Mi 5s, this point has been finally fixed.
In the design, you can see similarities with the same Samsung Galaxy S8, but still the device is perceived as ordinary, like the Huawei P10 - the display bezels here are of the usual width and the screen does not take up so much space. Interestingly, the Mi 6 came to us with a crack in the back glass. The history of its appearance is not known for certain, but it can be assumed that the glass curved from all sides can play a cruel joke with everyone who often drops their smartphone - in the same Galaxy S7 and S8 it is curved only on two sides, although the tactile sensations from the models are comparable.
Another controversial decision is the rejection of the 3.5 mm jack. There is a version that this was done to create a waterproof case, but for Mi 6 only splash protection is declared, and not operability after immersion, and protected devices with a headphone jack have been sold for several years.
Fortunately, in a traditional white box with a smartphone you can find not only documentation, a paper clip, a cable and a charger with support for the Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 standard, but also a USB Type-C - 3.5mm adapter - the main thing is not to forget it at home if you use wired headphones. Also inside is a branded case made of thin soft silicone. By itself, it does not look very remarkable, but in general it does not spoil the appearance of the smartphone and minimally increases its size.
The elements are located on the body as usual. At the back there are two non-protruding cameras and a flash, on the right are the power and volume keys, at the bottom there is a speaker, a microphone behind a false grille and a USB Type-C connector, at the top there is an infrared port and an additional microphone, as well as a slot for two NanoSIMs on the left.
On the front panel there is an indicator of missed events, as well as a fingerprint scanner. As in Mi 5s, it is built under the glass and is in a recess, but, obviously, the company used a different hardware solution. The scanner in Mi 6 works great and almost always recognizes prints the first time. On the sides of it there are two touch-sensitive keys with spot illumination, the time and logic of their work is configurable.
Screen
The flagship received a 5.15-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The company does not specify what kind of protective glass is used in the Mi 6, but it does have a minimally rounded edges (2.5D effect) and a good oleophobic coating.
According to our measurements and personal impressions, the smartphone uses a display of excellent quality. In the "Default" mode, the brightness varies from 1 to 511 cd / m², the measured contrast is 1: 1337. The color gamut is slightly wider than the sRGB space, the temperature is slightly below normal, due to which the image goes slightly into yellowish-pinkish tones.
However, initially in the settings, the "Automatic contrast" mode is activated - in it you can independently adjust the temperature, the colors look more saturated, and the white and black seem the same as they should be. It is possible to turn on the backlight with a double tap, as well as an improved reading mode. Overall, the Mi 6 has an excellent IPS display.
Hardware and software platforms
Another feature of the flagship Xiaomi is the use of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform, it became one of the first devices on this SoC. The company decided not to spare RAM and installed 6 GB of LPDDR4 in Mi 6 at once, the built-in one can be 64 or 128 GB, but there is traditionally no MicroSD slot. However, it cannot be ruled out that versions with other memory sizes will appear in the future.
The set of other modules is standard: NFC, IrDA, GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, many sensors, and so on. Thanks to the Snapdragon 835, the device received Bluetooth 5.0, so it should support playing music on two speakers or headphones at the same time.
The Mi 6 is fast and performs well in benchmarks and games - something we didn't expect. However, for any smartphone, a lot depends on optimization. It's time to say that Xiaomi Mi 6 came to us with the installed "global" firmware MIUI 8.2.0.2 (NCAMIEC) based on Android 7.1.1, with localization and Google services.
In everyday use, it has shown itself to be good, but still it is difficult to call it ideal.
For example, running Antutu five times in a row managed to achieve throttling and heating up to about 40 degrees - this does not seem critical, but the upper part of the "back" became warm, and the device froze several times over the next 10 minutes, although ordinary games did not cause this. Most likely, like the rest of Xiaomi, the Mi 6 firmware at the start of sales still needs to be improved, especially since the device runs on a new SoC.
There are also complaints about MIUI itself. The shell continues to evolve in its own direction, and it doesn't matter which version of Android is specified in the settings. For example, in the notification curtain, you cannot "expand" notifications or reply to messages, it uses its own energy saving algorithms, the multitasking menu. Most manufacturers have already moved away from such proprietary solutions and are trying to simply add something to the standard Android functionality. Therefore, MIUI can alienate from Xiaomi Mi 6 those who see similar differences and choose more "Google experience" solutions.
Working hours
Taking into account the 3350 mAh battery and the 10 nm platform, the Mi 6 shows good results in benchmarks - 10 hours in the PC Mark. With normal use, the charge is enough for a standard day for flagships with about five hours of active display. If you turn off the MIUI energy saving, then Mi 6 will not sleep well, which is why it is still difficult to feel the full potential of the platform.
In any case, the smartphone supports fast charging QC3.0, comes with an 18W charger (5V / 3A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A), so that even the most active users can easily get additional "fast" charging or power bank ...
From the complete charger, the smartphone is fully charged in 1:40, and 50% of the charge is gained in 40 minutes, but there is no indication that the device is charging in fast mode in the firmware.
Cameras
Mi 6 is not the first device from the company to be equipped with two cameras. Last year we got acquainted with with a color and monochrome module, but this time the company decided to use a different solution.
The smartphone uses a system of two 12 megapixel cameras, which differ in focal length. The first module is 27 mm, with f / 1.8 aperture, four-axis optical stabilization system (Sony IMX 386). The second is 52mm, f / 2.6, without stabilization (Samsung S5K3M3). There is a special portrait shooting mode. We can say that if earlier Xiaomi tried to copy , now we tried to repeat the experiment , and from Huawei they adopted only the manner of adding a watermark to photos (only in P9 / P10 it is not added by default).
To a greater extent, I compared Mi 6 with Huawei P10, which I use as the main one. If we evaluate Xiaomi as a whole, then the device shoots well taking into account the price, but in absolute comparison it will be weaker than the flagships of Samsung, Huawei and LG.
Pictures are ok Xiaomi Mi6, Huawei P10
During the day everything is good, at night Mi 6 also gives a good result. The second camera loses to the main module - this is clearly visible when you switch to it in the application, especially at night. In general, it is quite suitable for shooting in good lighting, and in difficult conditions it is better to use only the main module.
The interface has a "2x" key that switches to the second module. There is little sense from the digital zoom of the Mi 6, so when shooting you have to choose between two focal lengths - switching is fast, so the solution turned out to be working and applicable in practice.
Portrait mode: first photo - Xiaomi Mi 6, second - Huawei P10, third - Huawei P10 (2x zoom)
The portrait mode works well and gives a nice blur, in which the device always switches to the second camera, so you don't have to come close to the model. The blur itself is implemented in software. The software normally detects the edges of the object being shot, but if the clothes merge with the background, then the software can blur the entire frame or practically not blur the background.
As always, the developers left room for improvement of both portrait mode algorithms and general shooting - at the time of testing, what I didn’t like most was that when shooting at night, Mi 6 often misses focusing.
There are a minimum of remarks about the 8 megapixel front camera (Sony IMX 268) - the shooting angle is not the widest, but selfies are of high quality in most conditions, both with the use of “decoration” algorithms and without them.
Multimedia
We have already noted that abandoning the 3.5 mm jack is a controversial decision. However, if we talk about the quality of music playback through headphones in general, then it is at a quite good level. The sound is clear and detailed, there is a very good headroom.
We were also pleased with the usual speakers - they have an average maximum volume, but when watching a video and in other cases, both the main speaker at the bottom end and the spoken speaker work - this creates a conditional stereo effect and you get a completely normal sound even if you cover one of them with your hand.
Site score
Pros: ergonomic design, hardware platform, a system of two cameras, front camera, good autonomy and sound, good screen, fingerprint scanner, splash protection
Minuses: probably high price, no memory card slot and 3.5 mm jack, heating under high load, MIUI features and traditional software dampness at the start of sales
Conclusion: Xiaomi Mi 6 turned out to be interesting. Regarding Mi 5 and Mi 5s, the company improved the design and made the smartphone more ergonomic, corrected the shortcomings of the fingerprint scanner, was able to create a completely working system of two cameras and, of course, offered its fans up-to-date hardware. However, Xiaomi has not invented anything new and many solutions look like imitations of Apple, Huawei and Samsung, while the company repeats not only successful developments. It is easy to close our eyes to this, because other factors will be decisive. The first is MIUI, which can be viewed negatively, neutrally, and even seen as an advantage. The second is the price. In the home market, Mi 6 costs 25% more than the two previous models, so at the start of sales in late May - early June, Chinese $ 362 can easily turn into Ukrainian 12-15 thousand hryvnias, which will compare the model with most solutions of 2016, which have enough "Gunpowder".
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 pieces of 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 Mi5S to pregnant women, children, but the front with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor built under 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 instead of aluminum they used polished steel.
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 proved to be 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 someone 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: 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 the 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
Replacing the 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 one, 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. Thank you for the shape of the case, and the olephobic coating, which is not only in front, but also in the back. 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, obviously, turned out to be 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, 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 your smartphone in water, and you probably should not, because I have already done 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 the fact 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 the sake of 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 towards additional expenses associated with the purchase of a bluetooth headset, or condemns you to search for headphones with a usb-c connector, and again, to 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 an 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 that: IPS, 5.15 inches, Full HD, but there are improvements, and they are noticeable right away - 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, low ones 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 gives out 183,000 in anttu, but the sensations that the smartphone flies, no.
There are jams, applications crash, freeze or run longer than expected, despite the fact that there is 6 GB of RAM. There are no problems with games, 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 the anttuu, it is 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 was usually enough 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 the 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 belongs to the middle class in the Sony line, 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 with 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 on Apple iPhone 7 Plus in the same conditions.
| Display | 5.15 inches, IPS, 1,920 × 1,080 dots |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8 cores) |
| Video accelerator | Adreno 540 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Persistent memory | 64 or 128 GB |
| Main camera | Dual 12 MP module (Sony 389) |
| Front-camera | 8 megapixels |
| Operating system | Android 7.1.1 with MIUI 8.0 add-on |
| Interfaces | USB Type-C |
| cellular | Two nanoSIM |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0 LE |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, BDS |
| Battery | 3 350 mAh, fast charging Qualcomm QC 4.0 |
| Sensors | Fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer |
| Dimensions (edit) | 145.2 x 70.5 x 7.5 mm |
| Weight | 168 g |
Appearance and usability
Xiaomi ditched large high-end smartphones and returned to 5.15-inch diagonal. And just like the Mi5 generation without an index, the fresh Mi6 received two versions: in a glass or ceramic body.
The ceramic version is the flagship one, therefore it is equipped with a more powerful filling. It is presented so far only in black. The more mass-produced glass version is sold in three colors: black, white and blue with gold edging.
The smartphone screen has a very high brightness and contrast, rich color reproduction and feels great both in the dark and under the bright sun. Almost AMOLED, but without the inherent problems of OLEDs.
In addition, the screen has undergone major improvements from the software side. The smartphone has received improved algorithms for preserving vision. Now the minimum display brightness is equal to one candle - the most pleasant and correct value for using the device in complete darkness.
Also in Mi6 there is an improved reading mode, familiar to us from other smartphones of the company. However, the flagship practically does not change the color of the display, while simpler Xiaomi devices simply include a yellow backlight.
Hardware platform and performance
Xiaomi Mi6 became one of the first smartphones based on the new single-chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform. It is worth emphasizing that it is serial, since almost every brand announced the release of such a device, but only Samsung and Xiaomi offered them to the mass consumer.
In such a comparison, Mi6 takes on a special charm. The new processor can cope with any load now and will do it for several more years: the performance margin is simply colossal. Benchmarks also give the corresponding data, recording the novelty in the category of the most powerful smartphones.
In addition, the new processor reduces heat dissipation. The device does not heat up above 45 degrees even under heavy load.
Operating system and software
Like other smartphones of the company, Xiaomi Mi6 runs under control. The first copies of the device were supplied with the eighth version of the Chinese firmware. At the moment, an international (global) version of the add-on is also available, based on the fresh version of Android 7.1.1.
The system has advanced options for customizing the shell, functionality of the smartphone and connected peripherals, appearance and reaction to various events.
Improved screen algorithms in reading mode and in low light, and improved power consumption are important differences from previous versions.
Autonomy
The capacity of the Xiaomi Mi6 non-removable battery is 3 350 mAh. An excellent figure for a flagship, but small for users of mid-priced economy smartphones, including Xiaomi devices of the Redmi 4 and Redmi Note 4 lines.
Contrary to expectations, a well-optimized software shell and a modern processor allow Mi6 to achieve excellent autonomy. On it you can watch a movie for 8 hours at maximum screen brightness with the wireless interfaces turned off. Reducing the backlight level by up to 25% increases the operating time up to 14 hours.
In a mixed mode of operation, the smartphone lasts at least a day. The net operating time of the display at maximum brightness is at least 5 hours. And this is with the synchronization of 10-15 applications in the background, constant correspondence, calls, watching videos and using the device as a navigator.
The new chipset allowed the company's engineers to implement another important function - fast charging of the promising Quick Charge 4.0 standard. With its help, Xiaomi Mi6 charges from 0 to 100% in just 1 hour and 30 minutes. To make the battery last as long as possible, the charging algorithm works nonlinearly: the smartphone charges 50% in just half an hour, and 80% in an hour.
Cameras
Usually, Chinese smartphones cannot boast of the quality of shooting. But this is another matter. The main camera is one of the main advantages of the Xiaomi Mi6.
As befits a modern fashionable flagship, Mi6 received a dual main camera. Each module hides the flagship Sony IMX298 with a 12 megapixel matrix used in the previous generation of the company's smartphones. But, as we know, the camera does not always depend on the hardware configuration. This was the case with Mi5, the photo capabilities of which were never revealed by the developers. Apparently, they were in a hurry to master the module for Mi6, because everything is in order.
The latest flagship is equipped with 4-axis camera stabilization, and it works really well. Also worth noting is the improved sharpness of images.
For an ordinary user who does not scrutinize each frame meticulously, these properties will manifest themselves primarily when shooting in the dark and in cloudy weather. These complex scenarios work better for the Xiaomi Mi6 than any of the Chinese smartphones.
Not every system camera allows you to take such photos.
The front camera was designed according to the Chinese canons: as you know, the entire population of the Middle Kingdom is very fond of taking selfies. If desired, you can use it to get artistic pictures. The quality of simple shots for social networks can hardly be discussed.
Sound
Xiaomi has picked up another mobile trend this season - stereo sound. Mi6 was the first of its devices to receive two external speakers: one is installed on the bottom end, and the second is an enhanced conversational emitter.
The combination in this case was only half beneficial: the upper one sounds much quieter, the stereo sound turns out to be a little distorted. Probably, if you dig into the settings or wait for the official full version of the global firmware, the problem will be fixed programmatically.
In the meantime, Xiaomi Mi6 still has the most interesting sound of external speakers among all the company's smartphones. It is juicy, deep, bass, as much as possible for a mobile device. Music plays about the same, half the cost of which is the audio path.
The fly in the ointment was added by the decision of engineers to follow the example of Lenovo and Apple and abandon the traditional headset jack. The role of a mini-jack is played by a universal data connector. Fortunately, the Mi6's USB Type-C is powered by an advanced USB 3.1 chip, so it is possible to charge the device and listen to music in a wired headset at the same time.
The package contains an adapter for ordinary headphones. But Xiaomi has taken care of the customers by providing something better. Already, you can purchase an updated version of the Xiaomi Hybrid headset with USB Type-C instead of the 3.5 mm connector.
Wireless interfaces
In accordance with the flagship status, Xiaomi Mi6 received support for all modern communication standards. The latest Bluetooth 5.0 LE with lower power consumption and increased range is used to connect to peripheral equipment. There is NFC - you can use Android Pay and Troika. The Wi-Fi module works in all common ranges and has a good range, easily communicating with the router through 3-4 reinforced concrete walls.
The Xiaomi Mi6 navigation module supports GPS, A-GPS, BDS, GLONASS satellites are not displayed when searching. The cold start is almost instantaneous: it takes no more than 10 seconds.
As always, the novelty received a cut-off range of LTE operating frequencies, including Band 20. Unfortunately, the short testing time did not allow us to determine whether part of the European bands was blocked by software or hardware. However, in the networks of "Beeline", "Megafon", Tele2 of the Volga region, excellent reception and transmission is noted both with voice connections and in the EDGE / 3G / LTE data transfer mode.
Outcomes
Pros:
- Compactness.
- A large number of colors.
- High quality dual module camera.
- A modern, energy-efficient processor with a performance margin for several years.
- Good sound from speakers and headset (thanks to USB Type-C).
Minuses:
- Lack of 3.5mm audio jack.
- Fragile glass body.
- Slippery coating.
- Low (compared to the average segment of Xiaomi smartphones) autonomy.
The Xiaomi Mi6 is priced at $ 410 (with coupon Mi664GZY) for the 64GB version and $ 480 (with GRMi4G coupon) for the version with 128GB storage. The main competitors of the new items were OnePlus 3T ($ 400), ZTE Nubia Z17, Mi5s ($ 300) and Samsung Galaxy S7. Most of them are inferior to Mi6 in terms of autonomy and performance, but in terms of image quality, the Galaxy S7 will certainly have an advantage. The choice in any case remains with the buyer.
Many Xiaomi fans will agree that the latest flagship of the company Mi6 turned out to be 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 card sizes.
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 thing 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 be thicker
- 3.5mm port is another common breakdown (broken and stuck headphone plug)
- Mi6 is protected from moisture, and the 3.5mm outlet is another place where liquids can get into.
- on the Apple drawings it was like this (just kidding)
How can you listen to music on it? It's simple, the company suggests using a universal USB Type-C port to connect 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 output adapter in the box. This way, you can connect your favorite headphones without any problems. The bad news is that you won't be able to charge your phone and listen to music using 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 will not be able to 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 commercially available:
- 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, definitely Xiaomi Mi6 is 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)
- 6GB RAM, 128GB Flash, Snapdragon 835 (2.45GHz), Adreno 540 (653MHz)
The smartphone uses modern fast LPDDR4x memory chips with a frequency of 1866 MHz. In synthetic tests, 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 with 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 depths 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 a fresh version with a preinstalled MIUI 8.2 operating system. In terms of chips, the phone has all the same popular MIUI features as other Xiaomi phones:
- dual attachments
- second space
- long screenshots
- working with app permissions
- etc
If you have questions about your smartphone, be sure to ask them in the comments. We and our community will try to answer them.
Disputes between fans of different brands of smartphones, it seems, will never end. One of the arguments against buying Xiaomi for a long time was the lack of warranty service and the need to wait for delivery. In 2017, the company got its own official channel in Russia, which resolved these issues. But the release itself and the announcement did not go unnoticed, as expected, a successful attempt was made to cover up the gray import channels and the sale of Xiaomi smartphones, which already caused discontent among the majority of fans of this brand. Now the passions have subsided, and we decided to examine the new flagship smartphone Xiaomi Mi6 from the official delivery.
Looking ahead, in the coming week we are planning to publish a comparative review of Xiaomi Mi5 and Mi6, as well as compare the OnePlus 5 and Xiaomi Mi6. If you have ideas and interest in such materials, please unsubscribe your suggestions in the comments below. Traditionally, the pivot table contains data compiled on the basis of the Yandex.Market service.
Xiaomi Mi6 review
Equipment
Xiaomi Mi6 comes in a white cardboard box with a light design. The lid bears the manufacturer's logo and a mark on the memory size. With backward brief data on technical characteristics.
The kit includes a USB Type-C cable, a headphone adapter, a charger with a Euro plug, a paper clip for a tray, a black silicone case, instructions and a warranty card.
Appearance
Xiaomi Mi6 came in three different body colors: black, blue and white. In Russia, only the black version with 64 GB of internal memory is available. In addition to the color of the lid, the color of the frame around the display also changes.
Design inherited from its predecessor. The recognizable features are retained, but with their own cosmetic changes. The appearance of the smartphone will especially appeal to the female audience, graceful and neat.
The appearance of Xiaomi Mi6
The back cover is not removable. It is made of scratch-resistant glass. Unlike metal, it slides. It is worth being careful, from experience, there is a risk of damage if it falls. A complete silicone bumper will help here. Those who are afraid of glass can wait for the Mi6s to appear.
The lid, as well as the front side, has an oleophobic coating. Accumulated fingerprints are removed quickly.
Curved around the edges. In the upper zone there are two cameras that do not protrude above the surface of the body and a pair of LED flashes. Below is the chrome-plated logo of the manufacturer.
The rigidity of the case is provided by the metal frame, which remained open in the area of the side edge.
On the right side of the Xiaomi Mi6 there is a power button and a volume rocker, on the left is a pull-out tray for two SIM cards. The company remains true to its traditions, the flagship does not support memory cards.
The front side is completely covered with 2.5D protective glass. The side frames are narrow. On the top frame there is a front camera lens, a speaker grill, proximity and lighting sensors.
On the bottom there is a fingerprint scanner, which has become larger in area. Multiple prints are stored in memory. Response speed and accuracy flawlessly.
Finger scanner in Xiaomi Mi6
Along the edges of the sensor are touch buttons. At the top, there is an infrared port that supports control of household appliances, a noise canceling microphone.
Bottom USB Type-C, paired grill with round holes. This area contains a speaker and microphone. Does not overlap with normal palm grip.
As you can see, there is no room for an audio jack. Instead, it is suggested to use a Type-C to 3.5mm audio jack adapter.
Screen
Installed 5.15-inch display with Full HD resolution, density - 428 ppi. They did not pursue the increase, keeping it at a quite comfortable level and without creating an increased load on the system. The engineers did a good job with the matrix, the harmful radiation and the minimum level of brightness were reduced.Xiaomi Mi6 screen
In the settings, you can adjust the contrast and color tone. Xiaomi Mi6 screen with wide viewing angles, the backlighting is uniform over the entire area. By default, colors are rendered close to natural. The maximum brightness level is high (close to 600 cd / m2).
Filling
Xiaomi Mi6 is built on the basis of the eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform, made using a 10 nm process technology. Four cores operate at 1.9 GHz and four at 2.46 GHz. Responsible for the graphics Adreno 540. In our version available 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. There is a 128 GB version (not officially available in Russia). A performance level with a margin for all modern tasks. Games with complex graphics run at high settings without lags. The interface is stable, there is no lack of performance.Antutu
GeekBench
3DMark
Connection
Xiaomi Mi6 works in LTE networks, the whole spectrum of frequencies reproduced in Russia is supported. Bluetooth 5.0, VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac. There is NFC with potential support for Android Pay (at the time of June, the application swears at the official MIUI firmware).
The navigation system uses a joint signal GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou. The cold start takes about 20-30 seconds, the positioning accuracy is high.
Battery
A battery with a capacity of 3350 mAh is responsible for autonomous operation. Considering the small thickness of the case, not bad. Here it is worth considering that the power consumption of the new flagship SoC Qualcomm has significantly decreased. At maximum load, it works for about 7 hours and about 10.5 hours for movie playback. In mixed mode, the charge lasts for an entire working day. The discharge and charge schedule is uniform. Xiaomi Mi6 supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging.
Camera
The main camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels, uses a Sony IMX386 sensor, aperture F / 1.8. The second sensor Samsung S5K3M3 with a resolution of 12.0 megapixels and f / 2.6. During normal operation, only the main sensor is used. The second camera is activated when you switch to a separate mode. She is responsible for changing the depth of field and magnification.Xiaomi Mi6 camera
Front camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels, sensor Sony IMX286. Uses the native MIUI shell app with an additional background blur tool. There are a large number of filters, effects and enhancers. There are additional creative modes and manual settings.
You can view and study the source code from Yandex.Disk - https://yadi.sk/d/exnv36xg3KznAr
Software
The MIUI shell has been installed, which is planned to be updated in the summer to a new generation. The shell is familiar to XIAOMI lovers and is considered one of the best third-party solutions.Xiaomi Mi6 software
Wide possibilities of customization with themes, icons, background images are offered. The convenience of the shell is confirmed by its frequent use in third-party firmware for competitors' smartphones.
Results for Xiaomi Mi6
Xiaomi Mi6, while retaining its recognizable features, became, as expected, better in all respects. The price below key flagships makes it an attractive buy for those looking for a premium design and maximum performance. In addition to the price, it also wins in size, retaining a 5.15-inch display, against the background of competitors' models that have grown in size. The pluses include a dual camera unit with excellent image quality, support for fast charging, good battery life, a protective case included, MIUI shell, NFC, finger scanner. There may be questions about the glass back cover, which creates problems in daily use. The disadvantages include the lack of support for memory cards and an audio jack. receives the well-deserved award "Gold ..
