One of the most anticipated devices of the 2016 it was certainly the Xiaomi Mi Note 2, the successor of the lucky phablet of the Chinese company that many hoped was the real alternative to the now poco lucky Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
It will be like this? Maybe… Find out more in our full review!
Xiaomi Mi Note 2, the review of GizChina.it
Sales package
The sales package of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 takes the same design of the models launched recently, or rigid packaging in white hardcover with the company logo placed at the top and with the name of the device on both side profiles.
Inside we can find:
- Xiaomi Mi Note 2;
- Protective cover in rigid plastic;
- Wall charger with Chinese plug and 5V output = 2.5 / 9V = 2A / 12V = 1.5 A;
- USB cable - USB Type-C;
- manual for quick instructions;
- pin for the SIM slot.
Design and materials
The construction of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has been treated to the smallest details by the Chinese company, which has decided to adopt a broad dual edge display and very delicate materials.
Indeed, the smartphone is made entirely of glass, except for the perimeter frame in aluminum and the fine plastic bands for the antennas.
Il design it is certainly not very original, but it has been specially designed to offer a good grip and a good handling to facilitate the use of one hand, despite the slippery materials.
Lo Xiaomi Mi Note 2 it has the dimensions of 156.2 x 77.3 x 7.6 millimeters and a well-distributed weight of only 166 grams.
From the front we find the RGB LED for notifications, the brightness and proximity sensor, the ear capsule and the front camera, while at the bottom you can see two soft touch keys with the back and multitasking functions (which you can manage at your convenience) and the physical button central, which also integrates the very fast fingerprint reader (unfortunately by pressure and not by touch).
As already mentioned, you can customize the functions associated with the previously mentioned keys as you wish.
Sul right profile we find the volume rocker and the on / off button, unlike that left where is the slot for the two nano SIMs. Unfortunately, there is no possibility of expanding the internal memory by inserting a Micro SD card.
In Bass the main microphone, the USB Type-C input and the system speaker are located, while superiorly are the IR sensor, the second microphone used to reduce ambient noise and finally, the mini jack input.
We conclude with the rear in which we find the main camera almost flush with the body, flanked by the LED Dual Tone flash and at the bottom, the company logo.
Overall Xiaomi Mi Note 2 It is well made and cared for in details, albeit very delicate and with one poor oleophobic treatment. In fact, without using the cover you will notice how it is easily scratched and how easily retains the fingerprints.
Display
The display of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 it is a unit of matrix OLED with 16 million colors da 5.7 diagonal inches with resolution Full HD (1920 1080 pixels x) and pixel density of 386 ppi.
For the first time, the Chinese company adopts a panel Dual Edge which is certainly very pleasant to the touch and sight, but which does not integrate any gestures to facilitate the user experience.
Despite the beautiful curvature (minimal compared to similar solutions adopted for example on the Samsung Galaxy Edge S7), the display shows the usual defects of the technology OLED, or the mild trend to a color blu o yellow, but in this case accentuated even more, especially when viewing multimedia content.
Il white balance, therefore, it is discreet, but through the settings it will be possible to calibrate it to your liking, going to play also on the colors and the contrast.
Il automatic sensor it is reliable, while both the minimum and maximum brightness are very good. Furthermore, in order not to tire your eyes at night, you can set the "reading mode" and adjust it according to your needs.
Good and responsive touch screen even if it turns out to be less sensitive on the edges, in which it often happens that I can not detect the touch.
Hardware and Performance
Many innovations are also present on the hardware sector in which we find the new chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, including a CPU quad-core with architecture a 64 bit: 2 x 2.35 GHz Kryo & 2 x 1.6 GHZ Kryo.
To conclude the endowment we also find a GPU Adreno 530, 4 GB di RAM LPDDR4 e 64 GB di internal memory UFS 2.0.
Overall, the smartphone is a lot reactive, fluid and free from lag or various jamming. There are no slowdowns when opening apps or as regards the use of applications left in the background. Finally, also the multitasking It is managed well.
Also with regard to the Gaming we did not find any problems when playing the most demanding games like Asphalt 8 o Real Racing 3. The details are at best and the lag is absent, for a more than enjoyable experience of use.
No problem on the front of the web browsing after installing Google Chrome, in which the contents are displayed quickly. Very good also the reproduction of the video, with support for files in 4K.
Benchmark
Photo gallery
Also on the front of the camera we find several new features. In fact, a sensor is present at the back Sony IMX318 da 22.5 mega-pixels with lenses to 6 elements, aperture f / 2.0, digital image stabilizer (ICE CREAM), autofocus PDAF e Dual Dual LED flash.
The shots made in good lighting conditions have excellent details, thanks also to the high resolution, with a good dynamic range and a decent work of theHDR Cars which, although well implemented at the functional level, is slightly lazy in activation.
La focus it is rather fast even if in the shot of the Macro the sensor fails to focus easily until after several attempts at a greater distance than its competitors.
In difficult conditions, however, the sensor does not suffer poco. In the point and shoot the camera turns out to be below the competing solutions both in terms of digital noise generated and in terms of white balance.
Twice Flash LED Dual Tone it is very powerful but in some cases due to a not excellent software optimization it tends to burn the shots made.
Our shots with the Xiaomi Mi Note 2:
On the front, however, we find a sensor Sony IMX268 da 8 mega-pixels with lenses a 5 items, aperture f / 2.0 ed autofocus.
The results obtained with the front camera are of excellent workmanship especially with good light conditions. There is the usual beauty mode that allows you to smooth the skin defects making poco natural shots taken.
Therefore, in part, the photographic sector was promoted, awaiting the necessary updates by Xiaomi.
4K and Full HD video tests
Videos can be recorded in 4K a 30 fps and 1080p a 30 / 60 fps with the support of the digital image stabilizer (EIS) that performs its work very well. There quality general of the video is very good, even if not at the top of the sector.
Audio quality
Positioned on the lower profile of the smartphone, the speaker is powerful and faithfully reproduces the range of frequencies, even more privileges higher to the detriment of low.
The situation improves further while listening to headphones, ensuring more quality and greater balance.
As far as the 'telephone listening, the audio is good and defined both in the ear capsule and in hands-free. The microphone it works well and we have not encountered particular problems during the conversation with our interlocutor.
Connectivity
Lo Xiaomi Mi Note 2 presents the support in Dual SIM Dual Stand-by with support to 4G LTE Cat.12, but without being able to count on the band from 800 MHz (in this variant, as a Global variant with full 20 band support from 800 MHz is also available for purchase).
Despite this, the reception is very good, in fact, I managed to hook the connectivity several times 4G, even in areas where other smartphones could not do it.
I did not find any particular problems during the conversation with our interlocutor, the signal is very stable and the audio is clean.
As regards the Wi-Fi ac Dual band, the connection is excellent and is hooked very quickly. The switch between Wi-Fi and the data network is almost instantaneous.
To complete the department we find the Bluetooth 4.2, NFC e infrared sensor. Satellite navigation is entrusted to the sensors GPS / A-GPS / GLONASS, with a signal always responsive and with excellent precision thanks to the integrated compass.
Software
In terms of the operating system, we find the new version of the interface Xiaomi, Or the MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Our sample presents on board the stable Chinese version, therefore the Italian language and services are absent Google, which can be easily installed through theApp Store di Xiaomi.
However in daily use it Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is very fast e fluid and free from bugs and clashes. The optimization carried out on the MIUI 8 is excellent, which reaches the perfect combination thanks to the hardware sector offered.
By now we have already seen this version of the software on other devices produced by the Chinese brand, but we repeat again that the 8 version of the MIUI is very Assessment e renewed positively in design. Excellent customization of the keys and the central key, as well as the ability to add a dual Space, or to create a second space to separate the working life from the private one.
The "Dual App”Through which it will be possible to split applications and connect with two different accounts.
Then you can not miss all the various settings dedicated to graphic customization like the classic themes, or those dedicated to the optimization of the battery.
Interesting to use the central physical button in style is interesting mBack to go back with a tap and Home and with a physical pressure.
Autonomy
Under the body of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 we find a battery from ben 4070 mAh, which manages to guarantee excellent autonomy.
With an intense use you can reach between the 5 and 5h 30 of active screen, medium / intense 6h and with bland use with social and web browsing we could perform safely 6h 30 of active display.
All this thanks to the well optimized software and the processor poco energy-intensive, which together guarantee excellent performance.
The complete charging of the device takes place in approx 1 45 hours and minutes thanks to technology Quick Charge 3.0.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2, therefore, absolutely promoted under this profile with an excellent level of autonomy.
PROJECTED IMPACT
Lo Xiaomi Mi Note 2 It is a device that offers high-level performance, a very elegant design and a range at the top of its category. Personally I expected more from the photographic industry and the display that even if they offer positive results and impressions do not reach or exceed the direct competitors.
The device is available for purchase at approximately 485 euros su Spemall with discount code GIZITSPE it's about 550 euros on Italian stores. Is it worth the shopping? Probably yes but only a 50 € in less as the goal of reaching the Note series di Samsung it is still far away.
