Mi6 full review. Xiaomi Mi6 review – does the new Xiaomi flagship live up to expectations? ⇡ Technical specifications
Perhaps only the most technology-ignorant user is unfamiliar with the company. Indeed, this Chinese brand has released and continues to release very interesting gadgets.
Their list is by no means limited to smartphones and tablets; the model range includes the most different devices, from a USB socket for a car's cigarette lighter to electric bicycles, scooters, hoverboards and quadcopters. In this regard, Xiaomi resembles the Korean giant Samsung, under whose brand you can find batteries, phones... and even armored personnel carriers.
However, the smartphone market is receiving more attention, which is bearing fruit. Representatives of the Redmi line are rightfully considered almost ideal devices in the budget segment, and conceptual model Xiaomi Mi Mix literally fell in love with all connoisseurs of the original.
The Xiaomi Mi5 smartphone has won positive reviews users and gained a considerable number of fans. This is not surprising, because for modest money we were offered flagship characteristics. However, this model was not without some shortcomings, which were corrected in Xiaomi Mi5C, which replaced the regular “five”.
But even the most successful models become outdated over time. Xiaomi Mi6 was awaited by many people, there were many rumors about this model, and thanks to our partner - the Cheap-mobile online store, it has a long life. this smartphone I made it to the laboratory. And we will be happy to tell our readers about it. 
First, let's evaluate the technical characteristics of the new product and compare it with its predecessor.
Specifications Xiaomi Mi6
| Model | Xiaomi Mi6 | Xiaomi Mi5S |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835; 4 x 2.46 GHz + 4 x 1.90 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 Pro; 2 x 2.15 GHz; 2 x 2.00 GHz |
| Video processor | Adreno 540 | Adreno 530 |
| operating system | Android 7.1, MIUI 8.0 | Android 6.0, MIUI 8.0 |
| Memory, GB | 6 RAM; 128 ROM | 4 RAM; 64 ROM |
| Screen | 5.15" IPS, 1920 x 1080 | 5.15" IPS, 1920 x 1080 |
| Cameras, Mpix | 12.0 + 8.0 | 12.0 + 4.0 |
| Net | GSM; WCDMA; LTE | GSM; WCDMA; LTE |
| Number of SIM cards, pcs. | 2 | 2 |
| MicroSD support | No | No |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; NFC; iRDA | Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; NFC |
| GPS/aGPS/GLONASS | Yes Yes Yes | Yes Yes Yes |
| Battery, mAh | 3 350 | 3 200 |
| Dimensions, mm | 145.2 x 70.5 x 7.5 | 145.6 x 70.3 x 8.25 |
| Weight, g | 168 | 145 |
| price, rub. | ~29 000 | ~20 000 |
As you can see, progress has not bypassed the new Xiaomi product - the hardware platform has been updated, the volume random access memory grew by half. The resolution of the front camera has increased, and the battery capacity has increased slightly. Among the new features, we note the return of the infrared port. The dimensions of the case have changed barely noticeably, and the weight has increased, despite the decreased thickness of the device.
Packaging and equipment Xiaomi Mi6
Package Xiaomi products is characterized by minimalism. In front of us is an ordinary white box made of thick white cardboard. The quality of the material used and assembly is not satisfactory - the safety of the contents during transportation is ensured.
The packaging consists of a main box and a lid covering the ends. On the front side we see only the manufacturer’s logo and the designation of the device modification – 6 GB of RAM and 128 main.
The model name is displayed in Chinese at the ends. The Russian average person will only understand the number six.
On the back there was a large sticker with identification information and listing the main parameters of the device (also on Chinese). Unfortunately, the manufacturer stubbornly refuses to protect its products with factory seals on the packaging, but it would be worth it.
Inside we find the culprit of the review, it is located in its own niche with careful molding of the body. The case itself is protected by transport films.
Below is Silicone Case, as well as the delivery set. Note the thoughtful placement of all elements inside the box. A specific place is allocated for each item, nothing dangles.
There are no complaints about the quality of the accessories themselves; everything is done to the highest level.
The silicone case protects the case well from various minor damages, as well as slipping, since the smartphone is quite slippery.
The package includes:
- Power adapter;
- USB-Type C cable;
- Adapter USB Type C – 3.5 mm;
- Silicone Case;
- Key for removing the SIM card slot.
Without inventing anything new in terms of packaging design and construction, the manufacturer has maintained its quality. The packaging is reliable and performs its protective function properly. I was pleased with the quality of the included accessories, as well as the very presence of a protective case in the kit - everything was done at a level worthy of a flagship.
Can a flagship smartphone with an attractive design, top-end hardware, dual camera and a ton of features cost less than 30,000 rubles? Maybe if it's a flagship Chinese company Xiaomi.
Xiaomi Mi6 is a dark horse among top-end smartphones, whose prices have long exceeded the psychological threshold. While competitors are reducing the bezels around the screen, Xiaomi is reducing the price tag.
The Mi6 has everything that should be in the arsenal of a 2017 flagship: a glass case protected from moisture, a top-end processor, stereo speakers and the absence of an audio jack. In addition, the smartphone is equipped with a dual camera with portrait mode and optical zoom.
Let's see what the Xiaomi Mi 6 camera is really capable of.
Xiaomi used in Mi6 a standard design of two 12 megapixel modules with different focal lengths. The main Sony IMX386 sensor with a focal length of 27 mm has an F1.8 aperture and optical stabilization. Sensor size is 1/2.3 inches. There is phase focus and two-color flash.
The second module produced by Samsung - S5K3M3 - lacks optical stabilization and high-aperture optics, its value is only F2.6. Because of this, not enough light comes in, the ISO increases, and the pictures suffer from noise and blur. But the equivalent focal length of 52mm allows for bokeh effects and 2x optical zoom. Sensor size is 1/2.3 inches.
It's great for portraits thanks to the same optimal equivalent focal length. The photographs are reliable, with minimal distortion. For a clear frame, the only thing missing is optical stabilization, because as the focal length increases, jitter increases.
The front camera in Mi6 is without revelations. Sony IMX268 sensor with 8 megapixel resolution. Lens aperture - F2.2. The selfies are not bad, but often “soapy”. Yes, and I would like a wider viewing angle, for joint pictures with friends.
What you need to know about Xiaomi Mi 6:
IPS display with a diagonal of 5.15 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels. Full HD is quite enough for such a diagonal.
Top eight-core Qualcomm processor Snapdragon 835. Copes perfectly with any tasks now and has power reserves for several years to come.
6 GB RAM. Built-in 64 or 128 GB available. There is no support for memory cards.
The thickness of the smartphone case is 7.5 millimeters, weight is 168 grams.
Android 7.1.1 system user interface MIUI 8.0.
3350 mAh battery with Qualcomm QC 4.0 fast charging. Open from morning until late evening.
In mid-April 2017, the presentation of Xiaomi Mi6 took place - the new flagship smartphone from Xiaomi, which is designed to become the best mobile device among model range Chinese manufacturer. It is expected that it will be able to compete with the flagships of other famous manufacturers in the international market.
The new flagship received an already recognizable cardboard box with a minimalist design.
There is a smartphone inside it, Charger with a USB cable, documentation, a clip for removing SIM cards, an adapter from a USB Type-C port to a 3.5 mm audio jack, and a black silicone case.
We haven't seen you for a long time additional accessories included even in flagship Xiaomi smartphones.
Design
Traditionally, Xiaomi offers smartphones in several color options: black, white and blue, but the black version of 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 really think about keeping your phone in its original appearance for as long as possible, then you can safely use this case without sacrificing its appearance.
Unfortunately, the glossy glass surface began to collect more fingerprints - they are very noticeable despite the oleophobic coating. The ceramic version of Xiaomi Mi6 turned out to be even more problematic - fingerprints are more noticeable on its surface.
The controls remained in their previous 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 pressed with a noticeable click. The location is as convenient as possible to use the smartphone with your right or left hand.
On the left side there is only a barely noticeable hole for a paperclip to remove the SIM card tray.
The top end houses a microphone, as well as an infrared port, which can be used to control household appliances.
Under the display, only the Home button is noticeable, which has already become a full-fledged touch button. Under her protective glass There is a fingerprint scanner.
You probably got a little tense when reading the “Included Contents” item, since among the accessories there was an adapter from USB Type-C to a 3.5 mm audio jack. 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. If you look at it from an aesthetic point of view, the use of an adapter clearly spoils the whole picture.
As for the musical capabilities of Xiaomi Mi6, the smartphone offers full stereophony - the sound will be reproduced not only by the main speaker, but also by the ear speaker. In this case, a full stereo effect will be heard, low frequencies, as well as the absence of rattling and wheezing at maximum volume.
Video – Xiaomi Mi6 crash test
What this stylish flagship lacks is full water resistance. The phone is not afraid of splashes, but we definitely don’t recommend diving with it.
Additionally, two special versions of Xiaomi Mi6 will be available for sale – silver and ceramic black. The first has an almost mirror image back panel, and the second has a bezel around the main camera modules made of 18-karat gold.
Display
Mi6 received almost the same screen as Mi5 - this 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's just mention a few new features.
Xiaomi Mi6 received new mode work, which in iOS is called Night Shift. We are not talking about exact copying - this is just an analogue, in which the range of cold colors is reduced and color rendition remains as natural as possible without the effect of yellowness. It's nice that new useful features are appearing.
In night mode, the minimum screen brightness remains at just 1 nit.
Camera
At the official presentation, the main dual camera of Xiaomi Mi6 was very clearly presented. Unlike the iPhone 7 Plus, here the camera modules do not protrude from the body at all, which means the lens glass should not be scratched.
The front camera is installed with a resolution of 8 megapixels, so selfie lovers will have a real treat. 
The dual main camera received two 12-megapixel modules. Four-axis stabilization is available, so even in shaking hands the 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 many features in the camera app.
Examples of photos from the Xiaomi Mi6 camera
The flagship Mi6 will now become the most best offer companies. The camera is capable of taking excellent photos, although it is not without problems software. Most likely, over time, some problematic details of the stereo mode will be corrected and we will receive a perfect camera comparable to the quality of entry-level DSLRs.
Performance
Today, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor remains in short supply and it is rare that a flagship can boast of it. However, Xiaomi Mi6 runs on this 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 is sufficient for fast operation of the interface and demanding programs. You can easily launch and play the most powerful games at maximum settings.
At the presentation of the smartphone, we saw a result of 184,000 points in AnTuTu, but depending on the modification of the hardware, firmware and version of the program for testing, it can receive completely different scores.
Xiaomi Mi6 will appear on the market in two versions - with 64 and 128 GB of memory. And this is exactly the space you will have to be content with, since there is no microSD slot here - only a tray for two SIM cards.
Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi 6
| Manufacturer | Xiaomi |
| Model | Xiaomi Mi 6 |
| Announcement date | 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 |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, access point |
| Dimensions | 145 x 70.5 x 7.45 mm |
| Weight | 168 grams |
| 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 RAM, 64 GB or 128 GB internal |
| 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 capacity of the built-in battery here is 3350 mAh. It is expected that under load the M6 can last up to 2 days, or even longer. Note that such long work The smartphone is obliged, among other things, to the optimized MIUI shell.
The battery also supports QuickCharge 3.0 fast charging.
Video review of Xiaomi Mi6
Results
pros
- nice design;
- excellent performance;
- good camera;
- stereo speakers with high-quality sound;
- Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC support;
- competitive price.
minuses
- no microSD support;
- no 3.5 mm audio jack;
- dubious attractiveness to use USB adapter Type-C – 3.5 mm audio;
- The glossy surface instantly collects fingerprints and stains.
Xiaomi Mi6 leaves only pleasant impressions, despite several dubious points. This is top and one of the most stylish smartphones from Xiaomi. The only serious drawback is the lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack. A strange trend, especially considering the reluctance of headphone manufacturers to switch to wireless standards en masse.
The Xiaomi Mi6 is an excellent Android smartphone that came dangerously close to the Galaxy S8 and HTC U11 in terms of performance during testing. But he still had one problem: chinese smartphone in Russia it has limited LTE support. Otherwise it offers characteristics top class: length of time battery life- is phenomenal, the build quality and performance are excellent, and even the photos taken with the dual camera are for the most part something we really like. IN official online store The device can be purchased for 30,000 rubles.
Advantages
remarkable battery life
excellent workmanship
very good performance
Flaws
limited LTE support in Russia
- Price-quality ratio
Fine - Place in the overall ranking
41 out of 200
- Price/quality ratio: 61
- Performance and Control (35%): 95.4
- Equipment (25%): 62
- Battery (15%): 100
- Display (15%): 92.8
- Camera (10%): 79.3
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Xiaomi Mi6 test: excellent performance
In its homeland, Xiaomi is a big deal: but while there it is often called Chinese Apple and are included among the leading smartphone manufacturers, in Europe Xiaomi has yet to overcome the status of an exotic brand. The brand attracts import fans with an incredible price-quality ratio, promising a product iPhone level and Galaxy S. But enough big words: we received the current top model Xiaomi Mi6 and checked which of these promises is actually fulfilled.
Xiaomi Mi6 looks gorgeous, fits perfectly in the hand and shines with impeccable workmanship. In the literal sense of the word, the glass case also shines, on which fingerprints and fingerprints immediately become visible when using the smartphone. greasy spots. But it takes some getting used to if you want a phone with a glass body.
However, in the case of the black model we tested, this effect was not as pronounced as in some other competitors. Xiaomi has rounded all the corners and edges of the case, so it feels pleasant and even soft in the hand. There are no glaring cracks here. With 170 grams of mass, the smartphone is relatively heavy, but for our taste this only contributes to the tactile perception of the device as more expensive.
Xiaomi Mi6 looks expensive and feels exactly the same
Mi6 is protected only from splash water
Unlike (or even Xiaomi Mi Mix), Xiaomi Mi6 is not shocking with its appearance, since the 5.15-inch LC display on the front side is surrounded by a frame of very noticeable thickness. In contrast to the top models known in Russia, you may also lack the corresponding IP certification (67 or 68), which promises the smartphone’s invulnerability during prolonged immersion under water. Mi6 is only splash-proof. Support is also missing here wirelessly charging.
Xiaomi also deserves minor criticism for using the old and slow USB 2.0 standard while having a new USB Type-C connector with anti-twist protection. And to those who have good headphones with a 3.5 mm audio plug, you will have to connect them only through an adapter, since the Mi6 does not have a corresponding connector.
Mi6 is only splash-proof, so you should not immerse it under water or shower spray Xiaomi Mi6 beats Galaxy S8 in battery test
First of all, the battery life was impressive, which was demonstrated by the smartphone during our online test, in which we automatically scrolled websites, played videos and typed texts at medium display brightness.
Here Xiaomi Mi6 managed to last 13 hours 42 minutes - this value is one of the best smartphones available in our rating. By comparison, the S8 clocks in at just under 10 o'clock. To achieve this result, Xiaomi Mi6 uses a 3350 mAh battery. This capacity, although large, is not record-breaking.
Thanks to technology fast charging The included 18W power supply fully charges the battery in 90 minutes - that's very fast. At the same time, there was no adapter for German sockets in the box with our imported model, so users will have to buy it themselves for a few euros.
In addition, the battery is not replaceable. The version we tested had 64 GB of memory, but multimedia fans can opt for the 128 GB option as an alternative. Both versions have a generous 6 GB of RAM.
USB port Type-C only transfers data according to old and slow USB standard 2.0
Highest performance, good display
The eight-core Snapdragon 835 processor installed here, which is currently considered the fastest system on a chip, should demonstrate energy efficiency advantages thanks to the 10nm process technology and thereby contribute to the impressive battery life of the smartphone. operating room Android system 7, which Xiaomi has equipped with a user interface own development MIUI generally responds to commands as quickly as expected.
Some positive influence The moderate size of the screen area, as well as, in contrast to QHD screens, the slightly reduced Full-HD resolution, also have an impact on battery life. The latter is quite enough, since the difference with a higher resolution on smartphone displays is not visible to the naked eye - except perhaps with virtual reality glasses.
When used outdoors, the screen can increase brightness to 572 cd/m2 - this is a very good value. These characteristics allow you to clearly see content even in bright sunlight.
The 5.15-inch display is bright, well controlled and displays content in great detail Dual camera with 2x zoom
The dual camera system of Xiaomi Mi6 reminded us of that in . Both matrices have a resolution of 12 megapixels, but differ, however, in other characteristics. The main camera has a maximum aperture of f/1.8, which really lets in a lot of light, optical image stabilization and a focal length of 27mm in small format.
The secondary camera with a maximum aperture of f/2.6 lets in less light, has to do without optical image stabilization and works with small image points. But since the small format equivalent focal length here is 52mm, users can get photos with 2x magnification relative to the main camera.
The quality of the zoomed images we received during testing was slightly better than those simply enlarged standard photos- so it turns out that 2x zoom here is a completely rational function.
At the same time, the firmware of our test device demonstrated one oddity: the improved 2x zoom through the “tele” matrix worked as we wanted only when it was activated in manual mode. If in automatic mode we clicked on the “1x/2x” symbol that appeared, the camera simply increased the size of the image without switching to another matrix. This is extremely disorienting and is a bug for us.
At the moment Xiaomi testing Mi6 offers 2x lossless zoom in manual mode only Good photo quality with slight imperfections in low light
The quality of photographs taken in daylight turned out to be very good. We really liked the dynamics and colors, the noise is almost invisible. However, the clarity could have been a little better. In twilight lighting, photos tend to be softly blurred and faded. In addition, the level of detail is reduced. The fact that the quality of photographs in such conditions can be better is clearly demonstrated, and even in twilight lighting it outperforms the Mi6.
Photos taken in twilight lighting (right) are a bit washed out and blurry - but they're still fine With all these characteristics, the Xiaomi Mi6 has almost everything it needs to become a more affordable alternative to the Galaxy S8 & Co., if not for the limited LTE support. And all because this imported phone does not support the LTE 800 MHz frequency range, which is important for Russia. For this we took away the smartphone a large number of rating points, because such an LTE disadvantage leads to the fact that any user will have to face restrictions, which in each individual case (depending on the location and provider) may differ from each other.
An infrared transmitter is hidden at the top end Alternative: Samsung Galaxy S7
A very good alternative for about the same money is the Galaxy S7 from Samsung. And although it is equipped with a slower processor and does not have a dual camera, this smartphone offers high performance and top quality in all respects. At the time of testing, you can find offers for about 27,000 rubles - that is, it costs even less than Xiaomi asks for its smartphone.
Xiaomi Mi 6 64GB test results
Characteristics and test results of Xiaomi Mi 6 64GB
| Price-quality ratio | 61 |
| OS during testing | Android 7.1.1 |
| Current OS | Android 8 (released |
| Is there an OS update planned? | no data |
| App Store | |
| Weight | 170 g |
| Length x Width | 145 x 71 mm; |
| Thickness | 7.5 mm; |
| Expert design review | Great |
| Expert assessment of work speed | Very good |
| Download speed: PDF 800 KB via WLAN | 2.6 s |
| Download speed: main chip.de via WLAN | 0.4 s |
| Download speed: chip.de test chart via WLAN | 5.0 s |
| Sound quality (speakerphone) | Very good |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| Processor architecture | |
| CPU frequency | 2.450 MHz |
| Number of CPU cores | 4+4 |
| RAM capacity | 6.0 GB |
| Battery: capacity | 3.350 mAh |
| Battery: easy to remove | - |
| Battery: surfing time | 13:43 h:min |
| Battery: charging time | 1:30 h:min |
| Fast charging function | Yes |
| Charger and fast charging cable included | |
| Battery: discharging time/charging time | 9,1 |
| Function wireless charging | - |
| WLAN | 802.11n, ac |
| Voice over LTE | |
| LTE: frequencies | 1.800, 2.600 MHz |
| LTE: Cat. 4 | up to 150 Mbit/s |
| LTE: Cat. 6 | up to 300 Mbit/s |
| LTE: Cat. 9 | up to 450 Mbit/s |
| LTE: Cat. 12 | up to 600 Mbit/s |
| Screen: type | LCD |
| Screen: diagonal | 5.1 inches |
| Screen: size in mm | 64 x 114 mm; |
| Screen: resolution | 1.080 x 1.920 pixels |
| Screen: Dot Density | 428 ppi |
| Screen: max. brightness in a dark room | 571.5 cd/m² |
| Screen: staggered contrast in a bright room | 48:1 |
| Screen: staggered contrast in a dark room | 119:1 |
| Camera: resolution | 12.2 megapixels |
| Camera: measured resolution | 1,599 line pairs |
| Camera: expert assessment of image quality | Fine |
| Camera: VN1 noise | 1.7 VN1 |
| Camera: minimum focal length | 3.8 mm; |
| Camera: minimum shooting distance | 7 cm; |
| Camera: Shutter Time with Autofocus | 1.05 s |
| Camera: optical stabilizer | Yes |
| Camera: autofocus | Yes |
| Camera: flash | Double LED, LED |
| Video resolution | 3.840 x 2.160 pixels |
| Front camera: resolution | 5.0 megapixels |
| LED indicator | yes (multicolor) |
| Radio | - |
| SIM card type | Nano-SIM |
| Dual SIM | Yes |
| Protection against dust and moisture (IP certificate) | - |
| Fingerprint's scanner | |
| User accessible memory | 52.9 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes |
| USB connector | Type-C-USB 2.0 |
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Headphone output | -; |
| HD Voice | Yes |
| SAR | 0.41 W/kg |
| Firmware version during testing | NMF26X |
| Test date | 2017-07-12 |
The company sees design, a dual camera with portrait mode, the most powerful chip and design on the market as the keys to the success of Xiaomi Mi6. The flagship Mi5 was very popular and is still in demand, but the Mi5S was in much less demand. The new Mi6 is made, rather, in the image and likeness of the Mi5 and it has every chance to at least repeat the success of last year's hit. Shall we consider?
Technical Xiaomi specifications Mi6:
- Network: GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA/HSPA (900/1800/1900/2100 MHz), FDD-LTE (1, 3, 5, 7, 8), TD-SCDMA, CDMA
- Platform (at time of announcement): Android 7.1.1 Nougat with MIUI 8
- Display: 5.15", 1920 x 1080 pixels, 428 ppi, 600 nits, contrast ratio 1500:1, Sunlight Display, IPS
- Camera: dual, 12 MP main (1.25 µm, f/1.8, 27 mm) + 12 MP portrait (1 µm, f/2.6, 52 mm), 2x optical zoom, 4-axis optical stabilization (main module), PDAF focus, dual LED flash, 4K video recording
- Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.2, Full HD video recording
- Processor: 8 cores, up to 2.45 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- Graphics chip: Adreno 540, 710 MHz
- RAM: 6 GB LPDDR4X, 1866 MHz
- Internal memory: 64/128 GB UFS 2.1
- Memory card: no
- GPS and GLONASS
- Bluetooth 5.0 HID
- Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), 2x2 MU-MIMO
- USB Type-C
- IR sensor
- Two nano-SIM slots
- Fingerprint scanner under glass
- Splash protection
- Battery: 3350 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0
- Dimensions: 145.17 x 70.49 x 7.45 mm
- Weight: 168 g (182 g with ceramic)
Video review and unboxing
Design and equipment
The equipment of the smartphone pleases and saddens at the same time. Positive emotions are caused by the silicone case, while negative emotions are caused by the 3.5 mm to USB-C adapter, which certainly indicates the absence of an audio jack in the phone. Mi6 became the first in the Xiaomi range without a traditional socket.
During the announcement, four color options were shown to the public: black, white, blue and ceramic (a special black option with ceramic instead of glass and gold accents). At first, only completely black was available for purchase, but now the situation is improving a little. If you want to criticize the company for the meager selection in the first weeks of sales, then don’t, otherwise you’ll scare them away. It’s better to say “thank you” that they rolled out something other than white, as was the case with Mi5.
I saw the blue and black Mi6 live. Both colors look cool. And if black attracts with its solidity, restraint and solidity, then blue with a shiny gold frame and changing shade at angles and lighting seems to challenge all classic colors - in almost any company it will be the most elegant and will definitely arouse interest. I can’t say that the blue Mi6 gets boring quickly. I’ve been using it every now and then for a couple of months and I’m always happy to return to it, it can definitely charge the owner with positive emotions. We’ll leave white for the ladies, and ceramics for rarity hunters and lovers of slippery sensations (read the Xiaomi Mi Mix review to find out the whole truth about the ceramic body).
The blue Mi6 is very similar to the blue Honor 8, but there is no way to confuse them - the location of the fingerprint scanners and the golden design of the Xiaomi flagship frame leave no room for doubt. Visually, the “six” is very good. A real beautiful flagship device. The tactile sensations are also completely fine, if you lower the bulging wells of the cameras and the slightly crooked 3D back - on one edge the glass slightly cuts your hand, if you run your finger against the grain, there is a gap at the top. In the black version horizontal alignment normal, but slightly off vertical. Now the Mi6 technical process should already be debugged and the glass should be level, but the camera bezels could have been done differently. And for some reason the light strips under the antennas get dirty.
The design of the phone is strong - it is not afraid of compression, bending and torsion. But not practical due to the materials. I advise you to carry the device in a case (what luck - it comes with a free case), since the rear glass really likes to be scratched.
The left side houses a tray for two SIM cards; microSD is not supported here. On the right are the volume rocker and the power button. The IR transmitter is in the most obvious place for it - at the top. Small led indicator placed above the screen on the right. Below it are three touch keys, and the central one (Home) has a fingerprint scanner. The side ones can be swapped, and functions can also be assigned to them by long pressing. Interestingly, the fingerprint sensor occupies about 1/3 of the button area, and in case of unsuccessful grips with inaccurate placement of the finger on the pad, reading failures occur. If your finger hits accurately, the smartphone will quickly unlock.
The main multimedia speaker is hidden behind the right group of holes at the bottom end; the additional one also plays the role of a conversation speaker - it is above the screen. The difference in volume and quality between them is colossal, which is why the stereo effect is inexpressive (the ZTE Axon 7 or iPhone 7 Plus is much better). Well, for a model, let’s assume that with one normal speaker the Mi6 sounds great - I like it better than Samsung Galaxy S8+.
The IPS screen with a diagonal of 5.15” and Full HD resolution produces 600 nits of brightness and has a contrast ratio of 1500:1. Compared to Mi5 and Mi5s, if it has changed, it is hardly noticeable. The advantages are rich color rendition and high brightness. The downsides are the matrix grid, which is noticeable to the eye, and panel burnout under diagonal tilts (fortunately, it’s only noticeable when displaying dark shades). The oleophobic coating is good, the display glass does not scratch as much as the back, but it is still scratched. In the settings you can adjust the temperature and select the contrast.
Software
The phone is based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and if you prefer a clean OS, then this is not the case. The eighth version of MIUI rules here, which, although it is one of best firmware, but still ideologically located on a different plane.
Key points I like about Xiaomi shell: the ability to easily replace the wallpaper on the locker, lowering the curtain by swiping on the table, a weather icon as a widget and displaying the weather in the curtain, themes. You can flexibly customize the status bar, organize a second workspace, and clone applications (relevant for programs in which you cannot maintain two different accounts). Key settings sections:
The phone was constantly tested with global version firmware provided by Xiaomi. Available in it Google services, There is Play Market and there are no Chinese apps. Pre-installed programs:
As mentioned above, Mi6 does not have a 3.5 mm jack and owners wired headphones you will have to use an adapter. The sound produced by the Qualcomm Aqstic codec (WCD9341) will satisfy most users. Actually the difference between latest phones on Snapdragon 835 and smartphones with dedicated DAC and amplifier is not so large as to hunt for music phones. It’s better to take care of buying high-quality headphones, as they affect the sound the most. And due to the lack of an audio jack, I advise you to consider wireless options, of which there are now a lot.
Camera
Xiaomi began experimenting with dual modules with the Redmi line, where the second camera did not bring any particular benefit. For Mi6 was chosen working diagram from Apple iPhone 7 Plus - two sensors of the same resolution (12 megapixels), but with different focal lengths. They made it possible to implement portrait shooting mode with beautiful effect bokeh and 2x optical zoom. The main camera supports optical stabilization, has 1.25 micron pixels and an f/1.8 aperture, while the additional one has 1 micron pixels and an f/2.6 aperture. Phase focus, dual two-color flash.
The camera app includes a variety of modes, including portrait and handheld. There are a lot of parameters and some of them are surprising. For example, photo quality. Is anyone going to consciously shoot low? Tip: before you shoot, turn off the Dual camera watermark function in modes (if you don’t turn it off, all your pictures will have a Mi6 dual camera watermark).
no magnification and 2x optical zoom
without HDR and with HDR
Just taking a bunch of pictures on the Mi6 seemed boring to me, since the camera on the phone is quite sophisticated. So I decided to compare it with the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8+. Detailed material about this is available in a separate article, but here I offer photographs and a brief conclusion.
LG G6 – Samsung Galaxy S8+ – Xiaomi Mi6:
LG G6 – Samsung Galaxy S8+ – Xiaomi Mi6
Alas, next to the Korean G6 and S8+ Chinese flagship Mi6 showed itself to be about the same. In none of the presented stories did he show best result, but at times it turned out to be the worst by a wide margin. Whatever one may say, just integrating a cool module into your phone does not mean that the photos will necessarily be high-quality. At the same time, the Mi6 cannot be called a bad camera phone; it is simply no match for the generally recognized favorites. Many companies are trying to catch up with Apple and attach portrait mode to a single or dual module, but with the same focal length (like Huawei with an additional monochrome sensor), but the result is always the same and it is sad. For good portraits you need a telephoto lens, which the Mi6 has. Take a look at the comparison shots (separate comparison):
Xiaomi Mi6 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 Plus was ahead in terms of exposure, color reproduction, and object tracing accuracy. Also to the product Apple is better allows you to shoot inanimate objects with beautiful bokeh. But Xiaomi Mi6 is a little better at dealing with noise in low light conditions, for which it gets a virtual like from me. The iPhone 7 Plus has better portraits than the Mi6, but the Mi6 has better portraits than the Huawei P10 (review).
without effects and with effects
At 8 MP front camera You need to shoot in wide format to fully utilize the sensor. By default, selfies are taken with the “smart” mode of medium level face correction. There is also Pro-beauty with adjustments for slimming and skin retouching. The effects can be turned off, but as soon as you unload the camera from RAM, the “beautiful” selfies will return. The sebyashki are good, by the way.
The video is written in maximum resolution 4K and if you prefer best quality, then before each shooting you will have to go into the parameters and change Full HD to 4K. It's infuriating. The quality of recording stars from the sky is not enough. And while the video is pretty good, the sound is sad. Especially with a concert one (video examples).
Performance and tests
Close relations with Qualcomm allowed Xiaomi to be the first after Samsung to launch a smartphone with Snapdragon 835 into wide sales. This is an extremely successful hardware solution, including 8 cores with a frequency of up to 2.45 GHz and an Adreno 540 (710 MHz) graphics accelerator. The iron portrait of Mi6 is complemented by 6 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 64/128 GB permanent memory. First, the numbers from the benchmarks:
If they don't tell you anything, then under this paragraph there will be a video demonstrating a bunch of demanding games. With the release of the Snapdragon 835, players no longer have to worry about throttling and frames per second in their favorite game. Xiaomi has never been a leader in optimizing Qualcomm's top chips, but Mi6 almost always has constant 30 or 60 fps (depending on what fps the toy is locked to) with maximum visual settings. At the same time, the processor does not heat up much and is very economical.
The smartphone has a 3350 mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0 technology. Thanks to its small diagonal for a flagship (5.15”), optimal resolution (Full HD) and chip (Snapdragon 835), the phone demonstrates excellent battery life. According to our measurements, at maximum brightness, Mi6 played video continuously for almost 10.5 hours, and the discharge per hour of play with the panel brightness at a comfortable level was only 6%. Imagine what would happen if there were AMOLED? In everyday life, it is not difficult for him to last up to two days on one charge with a medium-intensive load, and he weakly sits down in standby mode.
conclusions
When buying a Xiaomi Mi6 from China, it will cost you about 25 thousand rubles (we recommend GearBest.com), and officially in Russia they ask for 30 thousand rubles (although you can get a very good discount in the Mi-Shop brand store). And for this money you get top performance, excellent autonomy, one of the most functional Android firmware and an advanced camera with a good portrait mode. With such a ratio of advantages and price, it would be a real crime not to pay attention to the smartphone.