The Mi 4i is Xiaomi’s ‘mid-range flagship’. The phone was announced a couple weeks back in New Delhi, and has since become quite a popular device (although not many have managed to get their hands on one).
The phone is, in a way, an update AND a downgrade from the original Mi 4. For one, it doesn’t come with a metal frame like the Mi 4, but instead packs a polycarbonate body (which I must admit is a lot easier to hold). Another difference lies in the inside — the SoC.
The Mi 4i now has the octa-core 64-bit Snapdragon 615 (second gen), which features two core clusters with 1.7GHz and 1.1GHz clock frequencies respectively. This goes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of non-expandable storage on the device, along with a 13 mega-pixel rear camera and a 3120mAh battery. Xiaomi have never shipped a larger battery, and this includes the Mi Note series.
You can find more info about the internals on the Mi 4i here.
We finally received a review unit today… hands on time at the launch was rather short (Xiaomi limited it to just 3 minutes). I spent a good hour or so with the phone today, and am in a much better position to talk about it.
Xiaomi Mi 4i Unboxing
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Q_-jjg_hk]Packaging is the standard recycled cardboard box that Xiaomi seem to love. Inside you find the phone, a charger, a USB cable, some paperwork, and a SIM removal tool — nothing to fancy (no earphones, even) in true Xiaomi style.
This time, it is the white version that I’ve been sent — a myriad of color variants will later be joining the white version. White and black are the only ones with a matte rear, while the others feature a glossy texture.
The screen on the Mi 4i is easily much better than the one found on the Mi 4. Black levels are incomparable; the Mi 4 seems to only go down till navy blue. More on the comparison some other time!
Coming back the Mi 4i, like I said before, it is very comfortable to hold in the hand. I’m a sucker for one handed usage of phones, and this device here makes a strong case. The weight also seems better distributed than other phones. The rear itself feels like a slightly rubberized version of the OnePlus One’s Silk White texture.
The camera does stick out a tad on the rear, but I don’t think it’s a problem since a metal lip ensures the main lens and glass aren’t damaged. If you aren’t aware, this is the same camera sensor that appears on the more powerful (and more expensive) Xiaomi Mi Note.
The phone is also thinner in the flesh than it might look like in the photos. One issue that we were told was specifically taken care of — heating — doesn’t seem to have gone, however. More on this in the full review.
This is it for a very short hands on with the Mi 4i. We’ll be posting the full review of the phone in the coming few days, if there’s something you would like tested be sure to leave a comment below!
Nice Review. Looking forward to some low light camera pictures.
Stay tuned for the full review.
I Waiting Complete camera review please
Yes camera is a very interesting topic to me. Could you compare it with Z9 mini & Zenfone 2?
Selfie times, isn’t it?
Nope just wanted a phone with nice camera. This is more important to me than having e.g a very good processor
Andy please post about the differences in the screen!
From what I saw in a video it’s day and night difference.
Do you know if the new Mi Note Pro has the same screen technology?
The Mi Note Pro does have the same technology. From various hands on’s I have seen everybody says it does make a difference and the screen looks amazing.
Yeah, they call this ‘Sunlight Display’. We’ll be doing a direct comparison with the Mi 4 (hopefully also an Mi Note) and then a full review.
Thanks, but I’m actually referring to the LCD panel technology. Is it OGS like the one in the Mi4i?
Take a look at this video, at 2:50:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZKmnMxmIB4
If the Mi Note has the same screen with deep blacks like the Mi4I then it will be awesome!
All high end smartphones these days are OGS. But Xiaomis OGS is worse, because they use a glass with built in digiziter which will stop working if phone is dropped. Most other highend phones (not 1+1 or sony) use digitizier on lcd which will survive if glass gets cracked. If you crack a Xiaomi phone you have no choice but to replace whole display as touch will not work properly. Don’t fall for marketing bs, Xiaomi probably use this method because it is cheaper.
I wasn’t aware of this…
Thanks!
Yes, this is OGS too (if I’m not wrong, Xiaomi call it something else – they specifically mentioned that they worked with Corning to make a special tech for the Mi 4i). Blacks are WAY better than what you see on the Mi 4. In general, the screen is a little bit like a super AMOLED panel, just not crazily saturated.
OK I’m not telling you anything guys more before the review now 😉
Now you get me excited!
Waiting for the review!!! 🙂
Concore Glass, that’s what it’s called. Looking forward to the review!
Soon 😀
The Mi 4 uses Concore, but they didn’t mention any specific type for the Mi 4i. They just said that it comes from Corning.
Yash,
Do you know if there will be a review of the THL 2015? There was a hands on a while back nothing since. Always been a huge THL fan.
Andi would be in a better position to answer that. Will talk to him about this.
Sunlight display is software based. Miui developer already introduced it in mi3/mi4 long time ago.
On the Mi 4i, they’ve implemented it using hardware. The result is apparently a lot better (honestly I’m yet to be surprised).
so no 32gb version in the near future?
They haven’t mentioned anything about that yet. But it would only be sensible to have a 32GB version sooner than later.
They do mentioned will have 32Gb and 64Gb variants coming soon, I couldn’t remember it’s in the forum or Mi India fb, but yeah, no exact date.
Yash you have as many scissors as a surgeon! ?
Haha. I keep losing them.
I was planning to buy that phone but resellers like IBUYGOU sell it at $327 which is more than the MI4’s actual price. Honestly, I really don’t understand what these people smoke. Maybe I should buy a mail box in India and buy the MI4I on flipkart website (methodology called package forwarding). It is insane how chinese resellers love to rob money from the pockets of people.