Hands on with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2!

Xiaomi certainly took everyone by surprise with the launch of its nearly bezel-less smartphone last year, with the Mi Mix proving to be a precursor to the dominant display and design trends in 2017. With its successor facing far more competition than the Mi Mix ever did, can Xiaomi manage to deliver once again in a segment that they jump started? We find out, as we go hands on with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2!

The Mi Mix 2 is a fairly predictable update to the highly anticipated and pretty well regarded Mi Mix, and continues the different approach to the display and design of a large smartphone that Xiaomi first introduced last year. For most people, the original Mi Mix was just too big, despite its near bezel-less design. But that has changed for the better with the Mi Mix 2, while still retaining what made the Mi Mix such a fascinating phone.

The updated design brings with it rounded corners and sides, a frame that is made with an aluminium alloy, and a ceramic backing that Xiaomi loves to use with their premium smartphones. All of this makes for a phone that is still really nice to look at, and feels much better in the hand due to its smaller overall footprint when compared to its predecessor. Another change from generation to generation may not be to everyone’s liking though, with the Mi Mix 2 not coming with a headphone jack.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 comes with a 5.99-inch display with a Full HD+ resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio. The display quality is excellent, and the absolutely minimal bezels around it let the screen really shine through.

Just like last year’s Mi Mix, the top portion of the phone is almost as thin as the side bezels, resulting in the front-facing camera being moved to the bottom right corner. The camera placement will definitely take some getting used to, but it doesn’t look out of place or stand out significantly, thanks to a black coating that has been used to make the camera unit blend in with the rest of the front.

When using the 5 MP front-facing shooter, the camera app actually tells you to turn the phone around to let you take a selfie in a more traditional manner.

Another issue with the original Mi Mix was that the replacement for the phone speaker just wasn’t the most effective alternative. With the Mi Mix 2, you now get an actual speaker with a tube unit that points upward and comes with a tiny slit at the top. However, the ultrasonic proximity sensor is still found around the the top area under the screen, so the phone still knows when it is next to your face or inside your pocket.

It’s not all about the design and the display though, with the Mi Mix 2 coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 platform under the hood, along with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB, 128 GB, or 256 GB of built-in storage. Keeping everything running is a non-removable 3,400 mAh battery, and the device comes with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support to be able to charge the phone in a short amount of time.

There is also going to be a special edition of the phone (see the second image gallery below) that features a ceramic unibody design without the aluminium alloy frame, and has a 18K PVD gold coating surrounding the camera and fingerprint sensor rim. This special edition Mi Mix 2 will also come with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in storage.

Taking a look at the camera, it is unfortunately not a dual camera setup as is available with some of Xiaomi’s other recent releases like the Mi 6. Instead, you get an IMX386 image sensor with 4-axis optical image stabilization and an f/2.0 aperture. As far as the camera app is concerned, things stay mostly the same when compared to what is found with other Xiaomi smartphones. We will certainly be putting this camera through its paces in our in-depth Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 review.

One of the other interesting features of the Mi Mix 2 is that it will come with support for global bands, and will include more bands this time around than the Mi Note 2 did when it was released. What this means is that you will now be able to use this phone in the US as well, even though it may not officially be released in that market. However, the Mi Mix 2 will see a wider release and far more availability than its predecessor, and will make its way over to Xiaomi’s main markets around the world, including India.

Overall, what we really like about the Mi Mix 2 is that it takes a lot of the same cues from its predecessor while making it more accessible. The phone is a lot easier to handle even with a 6-inch screen, which alleviates one of the major concerns from last year.

The rounded sides and corners, curves along the back, and ceramic body not only make for a phone that looks incredible, but feels very comfortable in the hand as well. Xiaomi continues to use ceramic to great effect, but the key here is the fact that it definitely feels like you are holding a device that is all display, all the time.

Interested in reading more about the Mi Mix 2?

• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 specs We’ve rounded up all the specifications of the Mi Mix 2 (standard and Special Edition). Spoiler: there are a few features that competitors offer that the Mi Mix 2 does not.
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 price and availability When, where, and for how much? We’re answering the essential questions about the Mi Mix 2 availability.