For me, the dimensions of the Mi Max line are excessive; in everyday use I do not need such a large diagonal. But I perfectly understand users who sincerely love such models. In fact, the phone immediately replaces both a tablet and a smartphone, while being closer in size to the latter. Surprisingly, there are almost no players left on the market producing such huge phablets, although there used to be plenty of them, just remember Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Huawei Mate, Lenovo Phab 2 Pro and many other models. But gradually the manufacturers calmed down and decided to settle on the 5.5/5.7-inch diagonal as the most convenient for most users. It is gratifying that Xiaomi did not do this and continues to release large phablets for the relevant target audience. And, judging by the forum thread on the same w3bsit3-dns.com, there is definitely a demand for them.

I know that part of our audience will be able to assess the prospects of a smartphone simply by its characteristics, so I won’t bore you and invite you to familiarize yourself with them, and then we’ll talk in more detail about the key differences between Mi Max 3 and the previous generation.

Specifications
Dimensions and weight	176.2 x 87.4 x 7.99 mm, weight 221 grams
Housing materials	Aluminum and glass
Display	6.9 inches, 2160 x 1080 pixels, IPS, PPI 350, protective glass, oleophobic coating
operating system	Android 8.1 + MIUI 9.5
Net	2G: 850/900/1800/1900 3G: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 4G: b3/b7/b20/b38 Dual SIM cards, VoLTE support
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, eight-core, 1.8 GHz, Adreno 509
Memory	4+64 GB or 6+128 GB, there is a slot for a memory card
Wireless interfaces	Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, IR port
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Sensors and connectors	Fingerprint scanner, face unlock, accelerometer, gyroscope, light and proximity sensors, 3.5 mm connectors, Type-C port
Main camera	12 megapixels (f/1.9, 1.4μm) + 5 megapixels
Front-camera	8 megapixels, f/2.0, 1.12µm
Battery	5500 mAh, has Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging
Price	1,700 and 2,000 yuan (approximately 17 and 20 thousand rubles)

Design and sizes

Perhaps the key change in the design concerns the appearance of a blue body and a dual main camera. If we talk about the front panel, now the display occupies a larger area than that of the Mi Max 2, this is due to the transition to an aspect ratio of 18:9, reduction of the top and bottom frames and the replacement of touch buttons with on-screen buttons (which I personally consider a plus).

At the same time, the dimensions of the new product have remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous generation.

Chinese sources say that the smartphone is convenient to operate with one hand, but I used the Mi Max 2, and since the “troika” has almost the same dimensions, don’t even think about using it with one hand, you can only hold the smartphone in it.

Screen

At first glance, the key changes in the new product are the larger diagonal and the transition to a new aspect ratio of 18:9. And although Xiaomi puts a beautiful figure of 6.9 inches, in fact, for cinema in 16:9 you will use approximately the same display area as in Mi Max 2. However, in fairness, it is worth noting that the dimensions of the smartphone also correspond to 6.3 -inch phablet.

In addition, Mi Max 3, compared to the previous generation, increased brightness by 19%, contrast by 50% and improved color reproduction in principle. In fact, the display in Mi Max 2 was far from the best; there was some work to be done, including viewing angles. Fortunately, I have the Mi Max 2 in my hands, so in the review I will definitely compare its display with the Mi Max 3.

Memory, chipset, battery

In fact, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset is very durable, and it can still be called relevant, I know many good models running on it. It’s all the more pleasant that Xiaomi decided to take a more recent modification anyway. The memory capacity has increased, the version with 128 GB of internal memory looks very interesting.

I will also note a slight increase in battery capacity, now it is 200 mAh more than that of Mi Max 2, and in an hour the smartphone charges by 71%. Not bad performance, with such and such a battery.

Moreover, if you have the appropriate cable, you can even charge other devices from the Max 3 (I wonder if fast charging will be supported for this scenario?).

Communication capabilities and sound

Among the interesting things in this section, I’ll note the new version of Bluetooth 5.0 and support for Wi-Fi .ac, but there is still no NFC module. I wanted to note that Xiaomi includes NFC in the more expensive “Mi” line, but then I remembered that, in fact, this is not Redmi Max 3, but Mi Max 3, that is, the model is more premium, so it’s more surprising that here save on NFC. It’s funny that just the other day the official Xiaomi community on social networks answered https://vk.com/mi.russia?w=wall-122404498_71346 to a question about NFC, and the rationale was the same as mine above. But I repeat once again, Max 3 belongs to the Mi line, not Redmi.

And now about the good stuff: the smartphone has two stereo speakers and two microphones for better speech transmission. They also added support for VoLTE, but don’t rush to rejoice. For the service to work for us, the Russian office will have to do some more work, this is not an easy procedure.

Camera

There are several innovations in the camera. Firstly, a dual module is now used, it looks the same as the Redmi Note 5. Secondly, the phone is face unlocked and the front camera has been improved. It’s stupid to talk about the camera’s capabilities without having a smartphone in hand, so I’ll just share with you official examples of photos, and then together we’ll wait for the smartphone to test and evaluate its live shots ourselves.

Impression

Sales start in China today, the younger version will cost 17 thousand rubles (1,700 yuan, 4+64 GB), the older version will cost 20 thousand (2,000 yuan, 6+128 GB). I remember last year the Russian office sold Mi Max 2 for 20 thousand rubles (older version), it was 5,000 more expensive than offers from Ali, so if this year we see a price tag of 22-23 thousand, it will be good proposal. Let me assume that Xiaomi will set the price a little higher, but will delight those who pre-order with some nice gift.

Mi Max 3 was a good update from the previous generation: they added a new aspect ratio, improved the camera and display, and increased battery capacity. The NFC module is still missing, and that’s probably all the shortcomings of the model that I see after the official presentation. I invite you to discuss the new product and its prospects in the comments.

P.S. On the Weibo social network, Xiaomi co-founder Lin Bin promised “one more thing” at the presentation, because the characteristics of the Mi Max 3 had long been leaked to the network, but the presentation had already ended, and no additional information appeared on the network.

August 14, 2018

This year Xiaomi is holding some kind of crazy parade of presentations: before we have time to really get to know one new product, they immediately show us the next one. And at the end of July, in this parade it was the turn of the largest Xiaomi model among smartphones - this is the new Mi Max series. In the phablet category, the fresh Mi Max 3 looks advantageous. Largely due to the fact that it has very few competitors: finding something with the same diagonal and at the same price will not be easy. But in this review we will prove that the new Mi Max should be taken not because there is “no choice”, but because it is a really cool device. Go!

Appearance

The new product deserves to be discussed in a separate block about its dimensions and ergonomics - in this we are only talking about the design and arrangement of elements. And Xiaomi decided not to bother with the appearance: Mi Max 3 looks the same as Mi A2 (only its dimensions, of course, are larger). But is that bad?

• The display occupies 85.19% of the front panel area. But at first glance it seems that almost all 95%. It’s logical - not a millimeter should be spared for the most important detail in the phablet. The frames are not noticeable at all. We also note clear progress in comparison with Mi Max 2: the body dimensions remained approximately the same, but the display was noticeably increased;
• The Mi Max 3 has an all-metal body, and communications are hidden under neat strips - no plastic. All corners are rounded, as are the side edges of the case - the device is pleasant to hold in your hand;

On the left side there is a hybrid card tray: you can install two SIM cards or a SIM card and a flash drive. On the top edge there is a 3.5mm headphone port, an IR port and a noise-canceling microphone. And at the bottom end there are two grilles (behind one is a microphone, behind the other is a multimedia speaker), between which is a Type-C connector. The dual camera module in the “traffic light” format is a typical solution for Xiaomi in 2018. This element also appears on the back panel of Mi Max 3, protruding slightly above the surface of the body. Above the smartphone screen there is a speaker, front camera, flash and a single-color notification indicator. The control keys are on-screen, and the area under the display is empty. The new product is available in three colors: blue, gold and black.

Dimensions and ergonomics

Of course, the 6.9-inch Mi Max 3 looks more like a tablet than a smartphone. Although you can’t call it compact, the “bulky” characteristic doesn’t suit it either. This is facilitated by 2 factors: the aspect ratio of 18 to 9 (case height - 176.2 mm, width - 87.4 mm) and small thickness (only 8 mm). The device does not cut into the hand and lies very comfortably in the palm. And the fashionable, elongated 2:1 format screen allows you to make the body as narrow as possible, which both looks good and is correct in terms of ergonomics. Using the thumb of the same hand that you hold the smartphone with, you can reach the opposite bottom edge of the display. But, of course, not every pocket is suitable for transporting Mi Max 3. Yes, and for full-fledged work, you will naturally need a second hand. Because You won’t be able to reach the top of the display without her help.

However, these are the features of the Mi Max 3 form factor. If you buy it, then you are ready for such nuances. But not without several blatant miscalculations on the part of the developers. So, the fingerprint scanner is installed, as always with Xiaomi, on the back panel of the device. But it’s not easy to reach it with your index finger - you need to grab the smartphone with your second hand. It would be correct to place the sensor lower. There are no complaints about the operation of the element itself: it reacts to every touch of the owner accurately and instantly. The same complaint applies to the power/volume keys on the right side - too high. True, you can “wake up” Mi Max 3 in an alternative way, using the face unlock function. The method works flawlessly, even in complete darkness. Another drawback of the new body is that it is very slippery. Carrying the Mi Max 3 in a clip case or case (which, alas, is not included) will be calmer. The phone weighs 221 grams.

Display

The model received an IPS screen with Full HD+ resolution (1080 by 2160 pixels). The density is 350 ppi, which means that everything will be excellent with picture detail. The display is good both in terms of contrast ratio (1500 to 1, which is 1.5 times better than it was in Mi Max 2), and in terms of brightness reserve (520 nits), and the wide viewing angles are pleasing. The color temperature here can be very finely adjusted to suit you. Unfortunately, when working with the Mi Max 3 for a long time, you can’t help but feel like something is missing. Firstly, sometimes you just want to turn the phone into landscape orientation, but it is not available for working on the main screen (for videos, games and everything else - of course, yes). Secondly, for some use cases (drawing, notepad, etc.) you just need a stylus, which is not in the box. But the overall impression of the display is positive. The screen is the main thing why we love the Mi Max series in particular and phablets in general. Therefore, Xiaomi developers had no room for error.

OS and hardware

Mi Max 3 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo, and MIUI 9.5 acts as a proprietary launcher. Not everyone loves this firmware, but with each update it gains more fans: Xiaomi specialists improve the performance, optimization and appearance of the shell. So the software part of Xiaomi smartphones is progressing along with other components. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset, made using 14 nm technology, is responsible for the operation of the phablet. It contains eight Kryo 260 cores with a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz, and Adreno 509 helps cope with complex graphics. The Mi Max 3 uses LPDDR4X RAM and permanent memory of the eMMC 5.1 standard. The smartphone is available in two versions: 4/64 GB and 6/128 GB. We remind you that the standard ROM capacity can be expanded with a microSD card (combined slot).

Performance and benchmarks

In AnTuTu, the new product scores 118 thousand points. In GeekBench, as always, we ran two tests: single-core (1329 points) and multi-core (4907 points). The model received a good mid-level chipset. Smooth operation of the system and flawless execution of ordinary tasks are ensured, but it’s still hard to call this phone a gaming phone. For this, the third Mi Max does not have enough power. But in fairness, it must be said that the smartphone can handle all modern toys, it’s just that in some of them you will have to set the graphics settings to medium. PUBG, for example, works at 5 points. World Of Tanks at max. settings with shadows and effects turned on, and maximum detail rendering also work well. At 40-60 FPS. Sometimes there are drops of up to 20-30 fps, but these are one-time problems that almost do not interfere with the game.

Cameras

The new product has three cameras, in all three cases sensors from Samsung are used. Let's start with the main double module. This is a pair of a 12-megapixel sensor with f/1.9 aperture and a pixel size of 1.4 microns, as well as a 5-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture, which provides portrait mode. We won’t surprise you with a list of all the bells and whistles that are available when working with this camera: there’s an LED flash, Dual Pixel technology, and 4K video at 30 fps. Let's take a closer look at the modes:

• The HDR mode works just fine here. I pressed the button and immediately received the finished photo, no need to wait another eternity for the frame to be processed;
• For video recording there are Slow Motion and Time Lapse modes;
• The “Macro” mode pleases with excellent detail of photographs;
• The portrait mode is not here for show: the background is blurred effectively and correctly. However, remember that it is not suitable for all scenes;
• There are also panorama modes, Beauty-mode, night mode and a mode for group selfies.

We can’t help but praise shooting in low light: forget about blurry, darkened, spoiled shots. All cameras in new Xiaomi models can take great pictures in the dark. In other respects, everything is also excellent: correct colors, effective stabilization and good sound during video recording, high detail. The front camera of Mi Max 3 is 8-megapixel, with an f/2.0 aperture and a pixel size of 1.12 microns. Video recording is possible in 1080p at 30 frames per second. AI functionality is available for all cameras, which can also be called a 2018 trend among Xiaomi phones.

Battery

The new phablet has a 5500 mAh battery. Impressive, although for such a giant a large battery is a necessity. What autonomy indicators can you expect?

• You can watch videos on YouTube in 720p quality for up to 17 hours;
• listen to music - more than two hundred hours;
• You can play for at least 5 hours if we are talking about power-hungry projects at maximum settings. Something lighter and less fresh can be played for up to 10 hours without recharging.

Mi Max 3 can withstand two or even three days with an average load on the hardware. And if you load it to the fullest extent, then the smartphone must still stand for a day without recharging. A nice bonus is the Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging function. In half an hour, the Mi Max 3 battery recovers exactly a third of its charge.

Other

We are pleased with the support for a huge number of LTE bands: the third, seventh, and twentieth Bands are supported. Those. With a 4G connection everything will be fine. By the way, the maximum possible data transfer speed in LTE on Mi Max 3 is 600 Mbit/s. There are many wireless communication modules, but, alas, there is no NFC among them. But there is Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with support for Wi-Fi Direct, an infrared port, a radio receiver and the ability to navigate using GPS and GLONASS. We also note the stereo function; the sound in Mi Max 3 comes from two speakers: the bottom one (louder) and the top conversational speaker (quieter). But there is no need to talk about any outstanding audio capabilities of the Mi Max 3.

Bottom line

The new phablet from Xiaomi has its drawbacks: the absence of an NFC module that is so relevant today, a “boring” design (because everyone has already seen it many times), not the most successful package (they regretted the clip case and stylus), and the technical content could be fresher . But let's also realize that sometimes we want too much. With a Snapdragon 710 or even a Snapdragon 660 on board, a new phablet would cost more, because production costs would increase. The same can be said about the stylus, NFC and other things that the Mi Max 3 lacks. Xiaomi has created a nice, bright, functional device with good cameras, a durable battery and a reasonable price. The phone is definitely stronger than its predecessor and is ideal for those who are looking for a device with a large screen for consuming multimedia content.

Or not. To tell the truth, I still can't decide. On the one hand, a 6.44-inch smartphone is an excellent help in consuming any kind of content (videos, toys, books, websites), but on the other hand, it is a huge shovel that tends to slip out of your hands at any moment. By the second day of use, I was relatively problem-free typing text on the Mi Max with one hand using Swype (usually what I use) and managed the Twitter feed without any outside help, but the feeling of concern that I was about to drop it still did not leave me . This smartphone leaves very mixed and even somewhat contradictory impressions, but let’s talk about everything in order.

The text may and most likely does contain grammatical, spelling, punctuation and other types of errors, including semantic ones. I strongly encourage readers to point out these errors and correct me through private messages.

▌Specifications

Screen:	6.44-inch IPS display with FHD (1920x1080) resolution; protective coating Corning GG 4; 2.5D shape (rounded edges); oleophobic coating
Case materials:	metal back with plastic inserts on top and bottom
CPU:	six-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 (two Cortex-A72 1.8 GHz cores and four Cortex-A53 1.4 GHz cores) / eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (four Cortex-A72 1.8 GHz cores and four Cortex-A53 1.4 GHz cores)
Graphic arts:	Adreno 510 (600 MHz)
Operating system:	MIUI 7 based on Android 6.0
RAM:	3/4 GB
User memory:	32/64/128 GB + ability to install a memory card up to 128 GB instead of nanoSIM
Camera:	16 MP (f/2.0 aperture), autofocus, LED flash; front camera 5 MP, also f/2.0, viewing angle 85°
Network support:	GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz), CDMA 1X/CDMA2000: BC0, WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100MHz), TD-SCDMA, FDD-LTE (Band 1/3/7), TDD-LTE (Band 38/39/40/41), two card slots (micro-SIM + nano-SIM, one radio module)
Wireless technologies:	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual band: 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS/BDS, A-GPS support, FM radio
Sensors:	fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass, distance and illumination
Additionally:	USB 2.0 microUSB port with USB-OTG support, fast charging using Quick Charge 3.0 technology, IR port, 3.5 mm headset jack
Battery:	4850 mAh, non-removable
Contents of delivery:	Power supply (5 V, 2 A), USB cable, instructions
Dimensions:	173.1 x 88.3 x 7.5 mm
Weight:	203 grams
Cost (official)
Cost (real):	// dollars

Initially, Xiaomi announced 3 versions of the smartphone, which, in addition to the price tag and the amount of user memory, were distinguished by a more powerful platform in the two older versions and 4 GB of RAM in the top model for 1999 yuan ($300 at the time of publication). Later, the most budget version of the smartphone with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of user memory for ~$190 appeared on the virtual shelves of Chinese trading platforms. I got the younger version from the previously announced Max line for testing, i.e. smartphone with Snapdragon 650 on board, 32 GB of user memory and 3 GB of RAM.

▌How big he is!

The length of the smartphone is just over 17 centimeters. Right now, take the ruler in your hands and see how much it really is. To compare the dimensions of several popular smartphone models:

At the same time, Mi Max manages to fit more or less adequately in the hand. During operation, I either supported it with my little finger when working with the keyboard, or held it closer to the middle of the case while scrolling through social feeds. networks. In most other situations it was necessary to resort to the help of a second hand.

Swype is a great help when typing, because... even if you didn’t reach which last letter, auto-selection will most likely insert it itself. Therefore, there were no special problems with typing with one hand, except for a slight jitter about the likelihood of dropping the smartphone when intercepting it. The software mode for one-handed control somehow didn’t catch on with me.

The appearance of the smartphone is in the best traditions of Xiaomi: a metal back panel with plastic inserts at the ends, under which the antennas of the radio modules are located. There are three color variations to choose from: gray, silver and gold, which I got for testing. The backing on the front panel remains white in any case. It looks nice, but there are a few complaints about the design. Firstly, in the torsion test, the components of the smartphone noticeably play. Fortunately, this fact does not affect the daily use of the smartphone, and it is probably due to the thickness of the case, which is only 7.5 mm.

Secondly, the camera module protrudes beyond the body. Yes, such a solution has already been seen many times in many smartphones, but Xiaomi designers made a fatal mistake by recessing the protruding rim relative to the glass. Thus, when the smartphone comes into contact with flat surfaces, the entire “impact” in the upper part falls on the glass covering the camera. After two weeks of use, you can observe the following picture:

Perhaps the sapphire glass used in the notorious iPhone (covers the camera) would save the situation, but who would put it in a smartphone for $250?

I have only good things to say about the fingerprint scanner on the back, except for the fact that I'm not a fan of its placement. The sensor speed of even the most budget representatives of the Redmi line is simply excellent, and the number of recognition errors is minimal. In addition, I like the shape, size of the scanner and its location in a noticeable recess, which .

There is only one multimedia speaker at the bottom end, and a conversational microphone is hidden behind the second grille. The quality of speech transmission is not satisfactory, but the speaker lacks volume and low frequencies. The use of MicroUSB instead of USB Type-C seems to hint at a certain budget-friendly device, since the company is gradually introducing a new interface connector into older series smartphones.

The function keys on the right side do not play and have a noticeable tactile response. Above without changes: audio output and IR transmitter. The tray on the left side is combined: micro-SIM and a choice of nano-SIM or microSD.

Considering that this is a multimedia device, skimping on the display would look like blasphemy on Xiaomi’s part. However, this did not happen; the Mi Max has an IPS matrix, excellent in all respects, with a brightness adjustment range from 2 to 631 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 936 to 1. The display is easy to read in the sun and does not dazzle the eyes in the dark. The only problem is that the oleophobic coating is weak compared to the one I tested quite recently.

Many reviewers complained about the black frames framing the display, but during all the time I used it I still couldn’t understand what was wrong with that. They do not catch the eye at all, and with a dark screensaver they look great, illusorily expanding the space occupied by the display. But there are so many people, so many opinions.

After 2 weeks of using the smartphone without a case or films, the protective coating of the display remained pristinely clean, despite the fact that the smartphone had been tested in a different edition before me. The question regarding the origin of the coating remains open, since the model is not indicated on the official Chinese website, and on the Indian website about the use of Gorilla Glass 3. Some foreign ones even replicate information about Gorilla Glass 4.

▌Surprised in a good way by the gaming performance

The Snapdragon 650 chipset was originally conceived as a budget solution called Snapdragon 618, but was later upgraded in rank and there is a logical explanation for this. The fact is that in terms of performance it is in no way inferior and even slightly superior to the Snapdragon 808, which other companies installed in their flagship smartphones last year.

The Snapdragon 650 system-on-chip is equipped with four energy-efficient Cortex-A53 cores clocked at up to 1.4 GHz and two high-performance Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. Snapdragon 652, installed in older versions of Xiaomi Mi Max, is supplemented with two more high-performance cores, which, according to test results, brings it closer to last year’s top SoC - Snapdragon 810.

The first image shows the overall performance of the SoC, while the second shows the performance of the graphics accelerator.

Additional tests in comparison with devices that were previously in my hands:

Phone/Benchmark
Xiaomi Mi Max (Snapdragon 650)	17902	8,8	1544 / 3680	77959
Xiaomi Mi Max Pro (Snapdragon 652)	-	-	1521 / 4443	83272
	14801	4	890 / 4836	55209
	8557	5,8	635 / 2825	34009
	19594	12	991 / 2990	47075
	19564	9,9	1241 / 3222	50610
Xiaomi Mi 5 (Snapdragon 820)	29891	30	2319 / 5507	131142

Despite the comparable results of graphics performance tests of the 808 (Adreno 418, 128 stream processors, 600 MHz) and 650 (Adreno 510, unknown number of stream processors, 600 MHz) chips, in practice the victory was with the latter. For example, let's take WoT: Blitz. The ceiling for Xiaomi Mi 4c and 4s was average graphics settings, and in order to achieve a stable 60 frames per second it was necessary to additionally disable HD textures. In the Mi 4c review, I complained about the poor optimization of the game for this SoC, but six months later nothing has changed. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 650 allows you to run “tanks” with maximum graphics settings, and fps remains at 50-60 and drops by a maximum of 10 frames in scenes with a lot of action or in aiming mode.

In a shooter Unkilled at maximum graphics settings we have a stable 40 frames per second without a decrease in fps in action scenes. WWR(online robot battles) limits the maximum fps to 30, and in scenes with high weaponry activity the frames per second can drop to an unpleasant 18-20. In the latter case, optimization problems are evident, since the situation is similar on smartphones with Snapdragon 820.

In all tested games, the processor load did not exceed 30%, and the maximum number of fps was limited by the performance of the graphics subsystem, which was fully loaded almost all the time. So, when choosing a smartphone, I advise fans of mobile gaming to first of all pay attention to the performance of the graphics subsystem, and not to the total number of points in popular synthetic tests.

Under prolonged high load, the smartphone body did not heat up above 40 degrees. No noticeable throttling was noticed, which is also confirmed by the GFXBench stability test.

At the start of the system, about 1500 MB (out of 3!) of RAM are allocated for the user’s needs, and only 24.3 of the declared 32 GB are available for user use. To expand disk space by installing microSD up to 128 GB, you will have to sacrifice a second SIM card.

In terms of telephone functionality, the smartphone works well: the speaker is loud and of high quality, the vibration signal is felt in trouser pockets, and both the first and second SIM can work in the 3G/4G network. FM radio only works with connected headphones, which act as an antenna.

▌Hemorrhoids cannot be avoided with flashing

Nothing has changed since the publication of the material. The smartphone comes from Gearbest with partially localized firmware, which is characterized by increased RAM consumption and low stability. For the reviewed version of Xiaomi Mi Max, the official MIUI is available with full localization, Google Play services and support for OTA updates. The release for older modifications is scheduled for August.

Unfortunately, the presence of official Global firmware does not at all simplify the process of replacing the software. The most adequate instructions for switching from custom Chinese MIUI to the official one are on the English-language forum. For test purposes, I used (Russian) to install MIUI 8 Beta from multirom.me, but with this approach you will lose the ability to update the firmware over the air, which is important for the beta version.

▌Autonomy

A battery with a capacity of 4850 mAh in a fairly intensive mode of operation is enough for 6-7 hours of screen operation or 2-3 days. Intensive use means periodic GPS activity, Wi-Fi operation alternately with 3G, Bluetooth for pairing with Pebble watches. The screen brightness level is adjusted automatically. About 10-20 minutes a day are spent on World of Tanks: Blitz, which I use as a benchmark for gaming performance. Calls no more than 5-10 minutes a day, I don’t use SMS either. Mainly connecting to the network, instant messengers, social media. networks and surfing.

Mi Max comes with a regular 5V charger with a current of 2A, and a full charge from 0 to 100% takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes. In addition, the smartphone supports fast charging technology, which for some reason is silent on the official Xiaomi website.

When trying to charge a smartphone from the included LeEco Le Max 2 charger with support for QC 3.0 technology, the charging time of the smartphone was reduced by only 45 minutes, which means that the capabilities of the charger, which is capable of continuously delivering 24 W of energy, are not used to 100%. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a tester capable of working with QC 3.0 at hand, and the one that was available, according to the passport, is capable of measuring voltages within 3-7 Volts.

▌Cameras at the level of the latest generation of Redmi smartphones

And that's basically all that can be said about them. They shoot well during the day, but poorly in the evening. The rear camera is represented by a 16-megapixel sensor covered with an f/2.0 aperture lens. The front camera is 5 MP, the aperture is similar, and the viewing angle is 85°. Examples of pictures in different conditions: this link.

In MIUI 8, Xiaomi messed up the camera app. For some reason, the HDR mode activation button, which was previously in the place of the current “Modes,” was moved to the top of the screen, and even made it drop-down. Those. If you, like me, want to use HDR periodically and on your own, you will have to resort to using a second hand to expand the drop-down menu and activate HDR. The flash activation was moved there, and in its place was a filter selection key.

Chinese designers have a very strange vision of a user-friendly camera application interface.

▌Results

Xiaomi Mi Max is perhaps the only productive one of its kind with an adequate price tag. My short search did not find any serious competitors to this smartphone. The same Sony Xperia Z Ultra is already quite outdated in terms of performance, and the camera in it initially did not shine with results; Lenovo Phab Plus, with a comparable price tag, is also inferior in characteristics, and it certainly cannot be handled with one hand. LeTV One Max boasts a slightly more productive platform, but is much inferior in terms of autonomy, and it is not clear what it has with availability and software. Competitors include the relatively recent Sony Xperia C5 Ultra dual, but paying the same amount of money as the Mi Max for a display? No, please.

As practice has shown, the difference between a 5.7 and 6.44-inch smartphone is very noticeable after actively using the latter for 2 weeks. When I picked up the 5.7-inch one, the first thing I thought about was a 5, well, 5.2-inch display and I’m afraid to imagine my feelings if, right after the Mi Max, I got some device with a display up to 5". I was able to get used to such a diagonal and take advantage of its advantages, but it is not a fact that you will succeed, so I first recommend that you familiarize yourself with the device in person.

Finally, I do not recommend taking the version with 2 GB of RAM. Now for MIUI there is only so much RAM, but you haven’t been looking at a smartphone for a couple of months, have you?

What I liked

• Price
• Performance, particularly gaming
• Excellent autonomy
• Display with good brightness adjustment range
• fast fingerprint scanner, support for fast charging using QC 3.0 technology

What I didn't like

• Backlash of the case in the torsion test, protective glass of the rear camera protruding beyond the body
• Difficulties with flashing the firmware, which is so necessary for full use of the device
• Weak oleophobic coating

What would you like

• NFC support
• Separate memory card slot
• QC 3.0 charger included as standard

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Shooting in difficult lighting conditions:

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The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 does not cope well with shooting in difficult lighting conditions. Yes, there is no noise in the image, but this is an advantage not of optics, but of software processing - and due to the aggressive work of the local “noise reduction”, the image loses a lot of detail.

Front-camera:

The front camera of Xiaomi Mi Max 2 takes good pictures - it is enough not only for video calls, but also for selfies.

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Video examples:

Comparison with competitors Xiaomi Mi Max 2

There are very few models on the mobile market with a 6.44" display diagonal; in fact, you can count them on the fingers of one hand. And if you limit yourself to this price segment, then there is no choice at all. The hero of the review, and its predecessor already mentioned in the introduction, Xiaomi Mi Max - that's all.

Parameter	Xiaomi Mi Max 2 64Gb	Lenovo Phab 2 Pro
Screen	6.44", IPS, density 342 ppi dots	6.4", IPS, density 459 ppi dots
Permission	1920 x 1080	2560 x 1440
operating system	Android 7.1 + MIUI 8.5	Android 6.0
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 8 x 2.0 GHz, Cortex-A53	Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 4 x 1.2 GHz + 4 x 1.8 GHz, Cortex-A53 + Cortex-A72
GPU	Adreno 506	Adreno 510
RAM, MB	4096	4096
Flash memory, GB	64	64
Memory card support, GB	MicroSD, up to 128	MicroSD, up to 128
Cameras, Mpix	Basic 12.0 (flash, autofocus), front 5.0	Basic 16.0 (flash, autofocus), front 8.0
Battery, mAh	5 300	4 050
Dimensions, mm	88.7 x 174.1 x 7.6	88.6 x 179.8 x 10.7
Weight, g	211	259
SIM slots, pcs./type	2, NanoSIM + MicroSIM	2, NanoSIM
price, rub.	~16 500*; ~–**; ~15 500***	~25 500*; ~29 000**; –***

*When purchasing from “gray” suppliers;
**When purchased in official Russian retail;
*** When ordering directly from China.

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is noticeably more expensive than the new Xiaomi product. It is proposed to overpay for a screen with a 2K resolution, as well as for a slightly more powerful SoC. However, the battery capacity of the Lenovo model is lower, and given the more power-hungry hardware platform, the battery life is also lower.

for 10,000 rubles: does the stingy pay twice? Do you want a lot of smartphone for little money? After all, the larger the diagonal of the display, the better the information on it is perceived. With such a device it is more convenient to read, watch videos, play or simply communicate on social networks. Budget "tablet phones" exist, but they are often one big compromise. We have selected the most interesting solutions for you.

Choosing an android “tablet phone” for 20,000 rubles: Xiaomi Mi Max 2 against everyone We continue to choose the optimal “tablet phone”, now within the framework of a doubled budget. They are usually uncomfortable or even impossible to use with one hand! The real star here is the recently announced Xiaomi Mi Max 2. But does it really deserve so much attention?

Choosing an android “tablet phone” for 30,000 rubles: retail versus China Many companies have stopped paying attention to the mid-price tablet market. Let us remember that such models mean smartphones with large screens. There is no clear gradation, but it is generally accepted that the border is somewhere around 5.5 inches (although many will disagree with this). But we still found a lot of interesting offers, so there is plenty to choose from.

Conclusion

The new Xiaomi smartphone turned out to be successful: one of the weakest points of its predecessor - the main camera - was replaced with a more successful module, which, although there are not enough stars in the sky, is capable of producing good pictures.

But replacing the SoC with a less productive one will not be to the taste of everyone - after all, when buying a new model in the line, you believe that it will be at least as good in performance as the previous one. Here the situation is different - the new SoC is precisely less productive. During everyday use this is not noticeable at all, but when playing “heavy” games it is quite noticeable. But the new SoC is more energy efficient, and thanks to this, as well as the increased battery capacity, Xiaomi Mi Max 2 provides excellent battery life.

To be honest, the new Xiaomi product belongs to a specific class of devices, and if you need a “tablet phone” with a very large screen diagonal, then the choice is not so great - in its price category the device has no equal in terms of price/quality ratio. But for owners of the previous generation version there is no point in switching to a new smartphone - the changes that have occurred are not so important.

One-handed operation is excellent. You can choose a convenient diagonal for the location of control elements or enable Touch Assistant - an additional floating multifunction key.

Cameras

The main camera uses a 16-megapixel module from an unnamed manufacturer. Fans of artistic mobile photography should take a closer look at the flagship model. The rear camera will not leave everyone else indifferent. Examples of photographs both under artificial light and in bright sun can be seen below.

The native shooting application pleases with a large number of settings. Supports filters, blur, fish-eye effect, face detection, age and gender. And even - eliminating flickering of screens, and you can choose the refresh rate.

The flash is sufficient not only for shooting, but also for use as a flashlight. Maximum video quality is 1080p (Full HD, 30 frames per second). The front camera allows you to take great selfies.

Autonomy

Xiaomi representatives promised phenomenal operating time of the device. In fact, Mi Max does not set any records, but its results cannot be called bad either.

When playing Full HD video with average screen brightness, the operating time is 10 hours. At maximum brightness - 8 hours. Half an hour of playing World Of Tanks over Wi-Fi reduces battery charge by 7%. With mixed use (with LTE/GPS/Wi-Fi turned on and medium brightness), the smartphone lasts for 4 hours of surfing the Internet and messaging in instant messengers, 1 hour of gaming, 3 hours of listening to music on headphones. If necessary, the gluttony of the gadget can be reduced directly in the system.

A full charge takes over 4 hours. However, the process can be accelerated. Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology allows you to charge the battery by 80% in 30 minutes due to increased voltage and current. True, you will have to use a proprietary or Qualcomm certified charger.

Wireless Interfaces and Communications

Voice communication works great. The interlocutor can be heard clearly, and he doesn’t complain either. There were no interruptions in cellular communications during testing; the operation protocol corresponds to the coverage areas. If there is LTE coverage, the smartphone consistently shows good Internet speed, and, if necessary, instantly switches to 2G to make calls. Unfortunately, VoLTE, a promising standard for voice transmission in fourth-generation networks, has not yet been implemented in Russia, so it was not possible to test it.

Communication with satellites is stable. GPS turns on in 20 seconds if there is no information about the location of satellites and in 3-5 seconds if there is such information.

Using the infrared port and the MiHome or ZaZaRemote (“Telecontrol Master”) applications, you can control home appliances: both Xiaomi gadgets and conventional TVs or air conditioners.

Results

Despite the huge diagonal, Xiaomi Mi Max turned out to be an extremely convenient smartphone with good hardware and optimized software. In the near future, we can expect firmware updates that will increase autonomy. But now, taking into account the current exchange rates, this is a replacement for the Xperia Z Ultra.

The basic version reviewed today costs about $250. The flagship Mi Max (4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory) will cost a Russian buyer about $305. The intermediate 3/64 GB option costs $251.

The smartphone's performance will last for another couple of years. In general, if you need a phablet, choose Xiaomi.