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Xiaomi Mi4 or Xiaomi Mi4C, which is the better buy?

Robin MaxwellNovember 18, 2015

With the release of the Xiaomi Mi4C and the recent Xiaomi Mi4 price cuts, we have been wondering which is the better buy? Which phone represents better value for money?

The Xiaomi Mi4 has been on the market for over a year now, it was the first Xiaomi phone to move from plastic to metal construction and it is still the flagship Xiaomi smartphone. The Mi4 might not have the grunt that the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro has, but it is Xiaomi’s workhorse phone, the device that gets the latest updates and can even run Windows 10 is you should ever wish.

Shop for the Xiaomi Mi4 from $249.99

The Xiaomi Mi4C is often seen as the budget Mi4, but that’s rather unfair. International pricing has the phones almost level pegging on price and the Mi4C is a very competent phone. The Xiaomi Mi4C has a slightly thinner body, a more modern Snapdragon 808 chipset, and although it is made of plastic it is (in my option) better looking and more comfortable to hold. The Mi4C is also the first Xiaomi phone to feature the new innovative side tap gesture control system.

Shop for the Xiaomi Mi4c from $239.99

Xiaomi Mi4 Vs Xiaomi Mi4c – Specifications

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Xiaomi Mi4 Vs Xiaomi Mi4c – Conclusion

With only $10 difference between the 2 phones it is a tricky choice, but there are difference that make choosing one phone over the other a little easier.

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If you require running dual SIM cards then the Xiaomi Mi4c is the only choice, the Mi4 can only support a single SIM. The Mi4C also uses a new standard USB Type C, but this really adds very little benefit to the phone.

On the other hand if you want the option to run alternate ROMs and even Windows 10 then the Xiaomi Mi4 is the phone to choose. The source code has been open for a while now and Cyanogen has even made it on to the flagship Mi4.

Camera specs are also a consideration. The Mi4 has a a very large aperture of F1.8 and should (on paper) offer better low-light photography, but as we found in our recent camera shootout, the Xiaomi Mi4C has very capable camera hardware too.

If you prefer metal over plastic, that is another win for the Mi4, but in my opinion the smooth to the touch, slightly thinner, plastic body of the Mi4C is more desirable.

Its not an easy choice, which would you choose?

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

About the author

Robin Maxwell
Hi, Robin Maxwell here! Mobile technology is my passions, and while I've been known to dabble with iOS devices I'm a firm Android convert, currently waiting for the Oppo Find 5 to launch!!

- Xali
  November 18, 2015
  Yeah if you’re missinformed.
  You can actually get de Mi4 3GB RAM version for has little has $210 from resellers.
  I would pick the cheaper Mi4 with one extra GB of RAM over de Mi4c unless I needed Dual SIM.
- balcobomber25
  November 18, 2015
  Android is so poorly optimized for 64 bit at this point that there really is no clear advantage to it. In reality we are still at least 2 years away from 64 bit being the clear winner, even the majority of apps are still written in 32 bit.

Jack
November 18, 2015
- Xali
  November 18, 2015
  Way better? Because de mi4 screen is a real pleasure to look at, i can’t imagine how some other screen could be way better.
  - balcobomber25
    November 18, 2015
    It’s not way better. Using them side by side most people would never tell the difference. The JDI screen the Mi4 uses is excellent.
balcobomber25
November 18, 2015
I have used both and in my opinion the Mi4c is close but not close enough. I prefer the camera on the Mi4 and it feels like more a solid phone thanks to that metal chasis.

MaxPower
November 18, 2015
if you pick these specific models then the choice is hard, but….
they make the white wcdma version of MI4 (whose price has been cut recently) with 3GB but NO Lte and you can find it for as low as $200.
This is a good deal if you need an extra GB of ram and you don’t care of LTE (let’s say you live in North America, or you need European band20).
From the other side they make a 3GB/32GB version of the MI4C but the price is close to $300.
So if you need LTE, extra ram, bigger storage this is the way you go.
So the choice is between those specific models I’ve listed above.
like Balcobomber says, 64bit or Lollipop shouldn’t affect your choice.
Different story is about plastic and metal.
I own a regular MI4 and the metal gives you a premium feeling but it makes the phone pretty heavy as well, and it is subject to scratches and denting, so if you don’t take good care of it then it will look trashy after a couple of months.
I’ve never seen a MI4C, so i can’t really speak about it, but I’ve heard that, despite the plastic, it gives you a premium feeling as well.
- Filipp
  November 18, 2015
  mi4 has a steel chassis, not cheap plastic
  yes, there can be some scrathes on the plastic back, but everybody can change the panel
  but steel chassis is much more durable – mine: half a year and no scratches at all, while back is not ok
  - MaxPower
    November 18, 2015
    mine:over a year later the frame is dented and scratched while the back panel looks like new.
    i guess we had different experience

Henrique Alves
November 18, 2015
- Guest
  November 18, 2015
  Yeah if you’re missinformed.
  You can actually get de Mi4 3GB RAM version for has little has $210 from resellers.
  I would pick the cheaper Mi4 with one extra GB of RAM over de Mi4c unless I needed Dual SIM.
- balcobomber25
  November 18, 2015
  Android is so poorly optimized for 64 bit at this point that there really is no clear advantage to it. In reality we are still at least 2 years away from 64 bit being the clear winner, even the majority of apps are still written in 32 bit.

Guest
November 18, 2015
- Guest
  November 18, 2015
  Way better? Because de mi4 screen is a real pleasure to look at, i can’t imagine how some other screen could be way better.
- balcobomber25
  November 18, 2015
  It’s not way better. Using them side by side most people would never tell the difference. The JDI screen the Mi4 uses is excellent.
balcobomber25
November 18, 2015
I have used both and in my opinion the Mi4c is close but not close enough. I prefer the camera on the Mi4 and it feels like more a solid phone thanks to that metal chasis.

MaxPower
November 18, 2015
if you pick these specific models then the choice is hard, but….
they make the white wcdma version of MI4 (whose price has been cut recently) with 3GB but NO Lte and you can find it for as low as $200.
This is a good deal if you need an extra GB of ram and you don’t care of LTE (let’s say you live in North America, or you need European band20).
From the other side they make a 3GB/32GB version of the MI4C but the price is close to $300.
So if you need LTE, extra ram, bigger storage this is the way you go.
So the choice is between those specific models I’ve listed above.
like Balcobomber says, 64bit or Lollipop shouldn’t affect your choice.
Different story is about plastic and metal.
I own a regular MI4 and the metal gives you a premium feeling but it makes the phone pretty heavy as well, and it is subject to scratches and denting, so if you don’t take good care of it then it will look trashy after a couple of months.
I’ve never seen a MI4C, so i can’t really speak about it, but I’ve heard that, despite the plastic, it gives you a premium feeling as well.
- Filipp
  November 18, 2015
  mi4 has a steel chassis, not cheap plastic
  yes, there can be some scrathes on the plastic back, but everybody can change the panel
  but steel chassis is much more durable – mine: half a year and no scratches at all, while back is not ok
- MaxPower
  November 18, 2015
  mine:over a year later the frame is dented and scratched while the back panel looks like new.
  i guess we had different experience

Mujahid Abbas
November 19, 2015
I would like to see a comparison b/w LeTV X600 and LeTV Le1
Mujahid Abbas
November 19, 2015
I would like to see a comparison b/w LeTV X600 and LeTV Le1
waterresist
November 19, 2015
Can you confirm the type of scratch resistant coating on Mi4c’s screen? Dragontail, Gorilla, or … ? I belive Mi4 has Gorilla, hasn’t it?
- waterresist
  November 20, 2015
waterresist
November 20, 2015
Can you confirm the type of scratch resistant coating on Mi4c’s screen? Dragontail, Gorilla, or … ? I belive Mi4 has Gorilla, hasn’t it?
- waterresist
  November 20, 2015