Xiaomi Mi Max 2 Review: Bigger And Better

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 has been launched in India with a price tag of Rs 16,999 after being launched in China a couple of months back. Xiaomi Mi Max 2 comes with SD 625, the same processor that powers Redmi Note 4 and 4GB Ram, which makes the specifications similar to other Redmi devices, however, the biggest USP this smartphone is the 6.44-inch display which is the ideal for consuming multimedia on the go.

Last year’s Mi Max was Xiaomi’s first attempt at a smartphone with a screen size of over 6 inches. However, Mi Max wasn’t the company’s first phablet as the 5.7-inch Mi Note made its debut back in 2015. While the latter was a flagship device, the Mi Max was targeted towards budget smartphone seekers and primarily catered to multimedia consuming owners.

And the plan worked. Over 3 million units of the Xiaomi Mi Max over the course of the last year as for millions of Indian a smartphone had become their primary gateway to the internet and they started preferring a device with a portable all-in-one large screen that was convenient for watching videos, playing games, and reading books on the go.

Coming to the present scenario, Redmi Note 4 has been selling like hot cakes and Xiaomi Mi Max 2 will have to offer even more than its own cousin to stand out in another segment. As for the other competitors, the Chinese manufacturer has been producing some of the best Value For Money devices and under the Sub-Rs 20,000 segment, there is not even a single player that can affect Xiaomi Mi Max 2’s sales.

So, is the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 a better option for multimedia consumers than Redmi Note 4? Let’s see!!

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 Specifications

• Full-metal body design with repositioned antenna lines (just like iPhone 7) to enhance looks and rounded edges for better ergonomics.
• Smaller bezels but not like Mi Mix, after all, it’s a mid-budget smartphone.
• 6.44-inch (1080×1920 pixels) full-HD IPS Display with 2.5D curved glass and Corning Gorilla 3 protection, offering 344 ppi
• 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC coupled with Adreno 506 GPU
• 4GB RAM, 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 128GB via microSD
• Android 7.1.1 Nougat with MIUI 8 on top
• 12MP rear camera with Sony IMX 386 image sensor, f/2.2 aperture, PDAF and a dual-LED (dual tone) flash.
• 5MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture and an 85-degree wide-angle lens for group selfies
• Fingerprint scanner at the rear and hybrid dual-SIM setup
• 5,300Mah battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 support, delivering up to 2 days of battery life
• IR blaster that can act as a universal remote for TVs and air cons.
• Front-facing and bottom-facing speakers (Stereo Sound) which automatically switch from mono to stereo in a landscape orientation.
• 4G VoLTE, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GPS/ A-GPS, Bluetooth v4.2, infrared, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB Type-C port.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 Review

What We Like About Xiaomi Mi Max 2

• The 6.44-inch screen uses an LCD panel and while colors aren’t as saturated as its AMOLED counterparts, there’s plenty to like here considering the budgeted price tag. Xiaomi Mi Max 2 offers good visibility under direct sunlight, accurate colors and excellent viewing angles. In short, this device is the closest you’re going to get to a tablet-styled smartphone while retaining calling abilities.

• The all-metal anodized aluminum chassis gives the smartphone a premium feel

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, Adreno 506 GPU, 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage do a good job by crunching through everyday tasks, and while users might notice an odd stutter in demanding heavy games, they won’t notice any slowdowns while browsing or in viewing videos.

• Biggest Battery in the segment and it can easily offer a full-day of moderate usage.

• On the software front, Xiaomi Mi Max 2 comes with Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box and other usual bells and whistles like multiples apps feature, built-in video editor, audio recorder, and a QR reader, scrolling screenshots (three-finger gesture) and Quick ball.

• Both cameras perform exceptionally under outdoor conditions and Auto HDR makes a noticeable difference, giving out detailed and saturated pictures. The rear camera comes with the same sensor as Mi 6.

• Stereo Sound offers improved video and gaming experience along with other entertainment purposes.

What We Don’t Like About Xiaomi Mi Max 2

• A bigger processor (SD 660) could have been even better

• While the rear camera struggles a little in low lighting and artificial lighting conditions, the front camera offers even poorer outputs. A front flash could have helped Xiaomi Mi Max 2 in this case.

• Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 takes ages to fully juice up the 5,300Mah battery

• No split-screen mode

Verdict

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 belongs to a selected niche of large display-smartphones that attract buyers seeking to consume a considerable amount of multimedia, but don’t have the pockets for premium tablets, that in many cases, lack even the voice calling feature.

While the users should not expect flawless gaming experience from Xiaomi Mi Max 2 while playing heavy games, the frame drops and lags will still be bearable if they put the smartphone to the challenge.

On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi Max 2 definitely manages to stand out against Redmi Note 4 with its focus on multimedia consumption and if you don’t have the moolah for premium tablets, this ‘bigger and better’ predecessor of Mi Max is the best option for you.

P.S This time around, Redmi Note 4 might suffer due to its new cousin.