Ashish has compiled a review of the new beast from Xiaomi – the Xiaomi Mi Max. This review is based on user feedbacks from countries where the smartphone was launched before it became available in India.
A couple of months back, Xiaomi, the world’s third largest smartphone maker redefined the meaning of “big” for the global industry. With the launch of the massive Mi Max smartphone, the line of difference between smartphones and tablets will become blurrier than ever before. While Xiaomi has always played the marketing game phenomenally well, the question that arises in view of all the excitement around this exceptional device is simple – will it be able to provide the experience it promises? We tried to get an answer from users in other countries who’ve been using this device for some time now. Here’s a sneak peek into what it’s like to have this massive beast in your hands…
Hardware and Software: 9/10
As its name suggests, the phone has pretty much every specification as “maxed out” as possible. It has got a 6.44-inches large full-HD display, which is merely half an inch smaller than that of 7-inch tablets. Importantly, however, it’s easily an inch more than its closest competitors in the market. The handset also boasts a 16MP primary camera, a 5MP secondary shooter and an impressive 4,850 mAh battery, making it an irresistible product for selfie lovers and self-confessed smartphone addicts. Clicking pics wherever you go, posting them on multiple social media platforms, constantly staying connected with your pals will all be a dream with this phone thanks to the battery life and smooth experience it promises.
For other features, there are three configuration options:
- 2GB RAM + 16GB internal memory with 1.8GHz hexa-core Snapdragon 650 chipset;
- 3GB RAM + 64GB internal storage with 1.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 652;
- And finally, 4GB RAM + 128GB with Snapdragon 652.
All modern connectivity features like 4G, NFC, OTG, Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac (with Mimo) are packed into the device, helping it live up to its tag of “max”.
Look and Feel: 8/10
As long as you don’t have any problem in carrying a 203-gram device in your pocket, you’ll find that the Xiaomi Mi Max is downright fantastic. Its all-metal body has been crafted exquisitely with some texture on the back and rounded edges to provide a good grip. The bezels of its large display are impressively thin, giving it that coveted premium look. The superior aesthetics and display are protected by Gorilla Glass 4. Overall, the build quality is impressive and shows how much the company has matured in terms of design.
A word of caution though – it’s not a device meant for single-hand usage. If you like to use your smartphone with one hand alone, you may find the Mi Max a little cumbersome for your specific preference. You can’t, however, pin the blame on the phone as it’s almost as large as a tablet, giving you an exceptional entertainment and gaming experience thanks to its large size.
Display and Camera: 8/10
The full HD IPS display of Mi Max results in a pixel density of 342 ppi, which is high enough to put the display at par with Apple’s retina displays. Viewing angles are impressive, the brightness-contrast ratio is decent and there’re also more than enough options to adjust it according to your needs in the ‘Settings’ menu. Added bonus? The sunlight legibility is totally acceptable.
The 16MP rear-facing camera is awesome for your photography needs and the camera app is filled with a wide range of filters. Captured photos show enough sharpness and colour accuracy. All modes work just fine, including HDR and Panorama. Low-light shooting capabilities are also good, thanks to the HandHeld Twilight (HHT) mode. The Selfie snapper also provides good quality images. Heck, it even has a notorious feature that can guess your gender and age and optimize the ‘Beautify’ mode to match those aspects for finer, more eye-catching snaps.
Performance and Battery Life: 9/10
The Snapdragon 650 is a popular choice among smartphone makers for the mid-range, and there’s a good reason behind it: this SoC offers performance power at a budget. The hexa-core chipset is quite capable, which makes Mi Max fast enough for everyday use. The Snapdragon 652 takes things two notches higher and is nice to have if your budget allows. If it doesn’t, no worries! You won’t face any performance issues with the 650 option either. And yes – the Adreno 510 GPU of this device is capable of HD gaming as well.
The battery life of this phone is also impressive enough. It can provide talk time up to a day – yep, that’s TALK TIME up to 24 HRS. Web browsing time is also equally comforting at 19 hours. However, there’s a little disappointment in this department: the phone doesn’t come with a Quick Charger. But if you’ve got one in your home, it can work with the device.
DusBus Verdict: 9/10
Smartphones have got bigger for a reason – they’re not just phones anymore. They’ve become entertainment-cum-productivity machines in your hand enabling you to do a lot more on-the-go than you could earlier. If you like things this way, you’ll love the Xiaomi Mi Max. It has everything that you may need to maximize your experience with media consumption, web browsing, photography or anything else.
For those who like to have just one device to fulfill an entire spectrum of needs, the Mi Max is it! However, if a big handheld is not your thing, there are other options in the market, many from Xiaomi itself. The choice is yours!
♥ Did you know that Xiaomi provides you with a ‘Mi Protect’ service against accidental damages to your smartphone? For a small fee, you can safeguard against huge repairing costs. Check out the features on the Mi Site here for details.
♥ You may also like to check-out: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 vs Vivo V3 Max – Comparison
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