The Xiaomi Mi4 is currently the closest we have to a OnePlus One rival, so how do the two phone stack up against each other on paper? Which one would you take home with you?
At the launch of the OnePlus One we were all amazed by the price and the hardware, but also all secretly knew it would only take a matter of time before a worthy rival would arrive on the scene. In fact with the time it has taken for OnePlus phones to start shipping in any serious numbers, a few rivals have come out to play, but could it be Xiaomi who are going to unsettling things once again?
The Xiaomi Mi4 costs the same as the OnePlus One, has similar features but some might argue a slightly better, more premium design! We will have an Mi4 on review very soon, but before we take a look at the phone in the flesh lets look at the specs on paper.
Xiaomi Mi4 Vs OnePlus One
[table id=154 /]Advantages: Xiaomi Mi4
From the table above we can see that the Xiaomi Mi4 lacks NFC, but it makes up for it with an IR blaster which will allow you to use the phone as a universal remote. The smaller display makes it more pocketable and the fact that it has the same resolution as the OPO means a high pixel density on the smaller panel.
We can see that the Mi4 has a slightly smaller 3080mAh battery, however the small display will mean battery life on the Xiaomi should be better than the OnePlus One. The Mi4 also features F1.8 apertures on its cameras for better low light photography and the front camera is 8 mega-pixel.
Advantages: OnePlus One
The OnePlus One has a larger display which might will be of preference to some users. The fact that OnePlus also allow customers to root their device under warranty is good for anyone planning to do so too. The OPO has NFC, however in our tests we have found that it is only compatible with certain systems.
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Some might also feel that Cyanogenmod is an advantage over MIUI, but again this comes down to personal preference.
Xiaomi Mi4 vs OnePlus One: Conclusion
Purely going off the specs on paper I would say I would be taking the Xiaomi Mi4 home with me over the OnePlus One for the following reasons. The f1.8 cameras promise better low light photography, the smaller size and stainless steel construction are preferable to me over the plastic body of the OnePlus One. I have found the NFC on the OPO not to work where I actually want to use it (for my gym card) so I won’t miss the lack of NFC, but I will probably use the universal remote feature on a daily basis.
Another factor is accessory costs. We have already seen that a Bamboo OPO cover will cos $49, I don’t think Xiaomi will be selling their accessories anywhere near this price.
Our Xiaomi Mi4 review sample is on the way to us now, so let’s see if I stick to my choice after actually using the flagship Xiaomi side by side with the OnePlus One.
Which of these two amazing phones would you take home and why?
This is hard to say. But if mi4 has that flat style icon look like apple then I’m sold lol. But cyanogen can make it like that too with themes. So I’m on the fence
Omg…
MIUI is heavily based around themes. I guarantee you there’s an iOS 7 theme for MIUI if you so desire it.
There is one.
I don’t like miui it feels generic
If you have an iOS theme, it should feel like an iOS device. I guess you don’t have as much control with MiUI as Cyanogen, if that’s what you mean. Mi4 runs MiUI anyway, and you said if that had flat icon look you’d be sold.
actually if u root for the ui looking like ios why nt just opt for an iphone itself..dislike cloners or should i say copiers
Miui is alot like iOS even better in my opinion and is much closer to iOS than cyanogen
Cyanogen theme makers make the iOS theme so closely to apple on a android phone its crazy. I like the simplicity (ios) with creativity (android) which is why I like the iOS design on an android phone.
Definitely Mi4, design, smaller screen size (Mi4 mini would be ideal, with same specs of course)
Anyone knows a place where they maybe sell wodd covers for Xiaomi Mi2S?
Both smartphones are awesome 🙂
Definitely MI4 for better camera(f1.8 aperture and 8MP front for good selfie), Better build, more vivid display(as promised in the homepage of MI), fast charging and ofcourse better availability.
Availability is also major concern
I’ll take …. the Oppo Find 7a … almost same specs, also a fast charger AND AVAILABLE in Europe 🙂 (And runs great with CM 11 )
And it’s got nothing to do with these since it’s way more expensive.
“Expensive” is when you can compare …..
So give a link where I can buy one of those above in Europe….
(Grey import prices are higher then a normal Oppo find 7a avaible here in the EU)
I’d give you the Xiaomiworld link, but that’s the TD-LTE version. Guess we’ll have to wait for the FDD version. Here in Malaysia though, the Mi4 is significantly cheaper.
Also, if I’m not wrong, doesn’t the Mi4 also have fast charging?
Nubia Z7 because of dual sim
Yeah I need a DualSIM Flagship
the $320 is that the 16gb price then? how much is the 32 and the 64gb?
how do you use NFC with your gym card??
I took OnePlus One jajaja
Nice article Andi.
Unfortunate, after OPO went south of declaring “Never Settle”! The phone specs actually settle on a lot of things, especially given that the internals are nothing but a scaled down OPPO Find 7.
Though I bought OPO a while back, I’m going to be recommending Xiaomi to people I know. Especially given OnePlus’s dishonesty on a lot of things.
it sims the mi4 has nfc.
Doesn’t seems to have the contact to me. No gold contact means it’s useless.
look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXOpp-wljns
at 3:12
I am sorry but it seems i cannot post the screenshots…
I want Mi4, but the reason I want an Android device in the first place is because NFC, unfortunatelu Mi4 dropped NFC support. But if I really have to choose, Mi4 is obvious choice. IR > NFC, 13mp f/1.8 > f/2.0, 8mp > 5mp, metal frame, etc.
I am with you on this Andi so its the mi4. I like the fact that its a 5inch screen but it does not appear to be to big I have never used NFC in my life so I don’t really care about it. I am really waiting to see what miui v6 looks like
I will go for the Mi4, already using Mi3, I trust on Xiaomi , Opo sucks, don’t want to buy a phone with piss tint can’t fix, don’t use NFC and IR will be cool, always wanted that feature. Nubia Z7 is cool, but like MIUI too, so later this year hope to have Mi4
As I understand it, the OnePlus One has Gorilla glas and the Xaomi hasn’t. This info should be in the specs list and isn’t. I think it’s an important difference.
Yes, an important detail
I have a OnePlus, and I really like the materials of it. Even more than my previous metal-clad HTC One.
Had the Xiaomi been 5.5″ I would consider it, but for now the OPO is the perfect device for me.
Hi,
I prefer OnePlus One for several reasons:
5.5″ screen size vs 5″
Cyanogen Mod vs “basic” Android
Stereo Speakers vs mono speakers
2 led flash vs 1 led flash
very high level of photo application
No brand near of the screen
Make the good choice guys!
The Oneplus One gets it for me because the screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 3?? Is that not kind a bit of an oversight of this comparison??
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Wrong prices listed for the phones. OPO 64 gb sells for 349, the Xiaomi Mi4 is over $500
Xiaomi have the best OS and great phones … but they are so “small” … i mean they present a mobile on Aug. and you can buy it 1 year later ! too bad, small company