Xiaomi Mi 6 to use a cheap motor underneath its home button?

We’ve all been expecting the official announcement of the Xiaomi Mi 6 flagship along with its larger sibling (Mi 6 Plus) and a lot of speculation has been made regarding some of its hardware like for example its dual camera, its main processor etc.

A new post today on Weibo however, deals with a different part of its hardware that could create massive problems for the device. We’re talking about the home button of the device, one that also doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

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According to recent leaks from analysts like Sun Changxu for example, the upcoming Mi 6 model is expected to use an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner similar to that of its predecessor, Xiaomi Mi5s. This small part is embedded under the front glass – just like the one iPhone 7 has and allows designers to create more impressive smartphones with better usability features.

However given its position, this fingerprint scanner also works as a home button, but with one small detail: it doesn’t press down. In order for it to perform its task, a a linear motor is needed to provide vibrational feedback, the same way iPhone 7 does.

This is where the news comes today, when another analyst called @Mocha RQ, mentioned that while the iPhone 7 uses a 10$ worth linear motor, the one on the purported Xiaomi Mi 6 costs a little under 1$, thus providing less vibrational feedback and perhaps lower reliability.

Do you think this could be an issue? (if the information is valid of course).

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Nick Papanikolopoulos
With some little over 20 years of experience in the Mobile Technology sector Nick is the EIC of Gizchina.com. He has a Masters’ degree in Wireless & Wired Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering and Computer Informatics and a PhD in Mobility QoS Measuring Techniques.

If you'd like to know more you can always follow me on Twitter.

Marius Cirsta
April 13, 2017
I would probably just disable the damn vibration anyway as I usually do. So maybe Apple uses some high end fancy stuff and this motor is not as good.
I’d rather they cut cost by putting in a cheaper motor to provide such vibration than by putting in other cheaper components.
I’ve always found even the Xiaomi Redmi series quality satisfying so I think Xiaomi phones don’t have major quality issues. Let’s now forget Apple had some significant quality problems over the years with their iPhones.
- Ronnie Katsie
  April 13, 2017
  Well said!
- Raky_b
  April 14, 2017
  For a Redmi line, i will always prise Xioami.
  But for a price that their flagships would cost me to inport, i just bought S5 (500$ with one year contract on network and tariff that i use anyways).
  And there is a big difference in what i am getting for my money in therms of quality and support, let alone fact that it actually comes with warranty.

Lazar Prodanovic
April 13, 2017
Do you know some Xiaomi phones that got that same standard vibration motor dropped dead? I don’t so who do fuck care how much it costs? Really bad article, especially title! Makes me wonder who paid you for it.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 13, 2017
  By who? Don’t tell me Apple really wants this VERY FAMOUS Gizchina, which talks about cheap Chinese phones and rarely famous brands to make an ad for them?
  rly nigga? XD
  - Lazar Prodanovic
    April 13, 2017
    Well certainly not a rotten NSA division (Apple) but someone from really bad competition, Ele, Ule, Doogee should ring some bells after all they are regularly paying for positive reviews of their shit products that regularly broke down & I don’t mean only vibration motor’s that regularly die in first six months. & I am pure you half Mongolian mongoloid fakir.
    - Ibrahim Bahakim
      April 13, 2017
      I am sorry I never meant to make a racist joke by saying “rly nigga”. In fact I say it as a joke ALL the time to all my white friends or black.
      Even though, what you said did not describe in anyway correct, I will stop here. I don’t like racism to continue.
      So I am sorry for all I said. 🙂
      - Lazar Prodanovic
        April 13, 2017
        Well it’s a “racist” one.
        Would also like to apologise for my behaviour & insulting you, I do that when provoked not pre destined to be a victim I guess. So sorry & selam.
        
        Ibrahim Bahakim
        April 13, 2017
        No dude. Everyone makes mistakes. And I know in my heart there is good in everyone! It is just, sometimes people understands differently so I had to clarify it to see if you are the good apple and in fact you are :p
        Apology not accepted since nothing done 😛
        On a side note, MAN I JUST REPLIED BY MKBHD!! I am super happy lol
        Yes it is my first time :s
Oscar
April 13, 2017
Lol probably the worst article I’ve ever read. I’d prefer those elephone ads over this to be honest.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 13, 2017
  I hate Apple. I truly do, but let’s face it. I tried a lot of Xiaomi phones and I LOVE XIOAMI! I have so many of their devices, but Apple’s iPhone is not expensive for nothing.
  Yes it is overprice but it is worth a good cost of what Apple is asking for.
  I can see how good their vibration is…
  I tried my bro’s 6S Plus and compared it to my MiNote 2 and in almost every way, the iPhone is better. I think the only good thing is the battery. Mi Note2 charges much faster than iPhone!
  It is so much better than my Mi Note 2 even though 6S Plus is older!!! <= I don't there is a chance for my phone to win against iphone 7!
  I hate Apple and I am sure a lot of people do, but be fair. Try their products to see for yourself if they are worth your money or not.
  PS I am not an iSheep and I hope I never use an iOS I am just saying what I experienced when comparing the two phones :p
  - Lazar Prodanovic
    April 13, 2017
    I hate Apple from back the Mac day’s. It’s true hate meaning I once loved them & one of the reasons is this:
    https://youtu.be/2zfqw8nhUwA
    When you get using their “eco system” you will find out how ironic that is…
  - Oscar
    April 14, 2017
    I’m not an apple fan but I give credit where credit is due. They are well made – to an extent – and for the cost at which they sell their IPhones it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Xiaomi is excellent and obviously they would use cheaper hardware where available to keep costs down however looking at how many IPhones are sold worldwide the economies of scale favour IPhone greatly. In my opinion the vibration feedback has been declining over the years anyway, maybe due to cheaper motors, try compare the vibration in those old Nokia bricks to a current phone. In regards to the article I find it completely pointless, a whole article shouldn’t be dedicated to such a small thing. A small comment regarding the vibration motor should’ve been made in another article like the ones with all the leaked specs of the Xiaomi Mi6. I’ve used Xiaomis, got the Mi5 at the moment but I prefer Meizu and Nubia because of the build quality and camera performance.
    - Ibrahim Bahakim
      April 14, 2017
      haha yeeeeaaaahhh Gizchina gotten a bit lazy lately. They post so many useless articles haha
      Speaking of Nubia and Meizu, I did not try Meizu but I tried a lot of Nubias and man I love them all..
      Z5s Z7 Max Z9 Elite and X6 and all of them were amazing especially the camera, but the idea of me having to flash and root etc… is just bad. I don’t want the all the hassle just to get my phone to work lol
      - Oscar
        April 14, 2017
        I bought everyone in my family Meizus lol, all ranging from the M2 to the MX5. Meizu MX4 is probably the best I’ve owned. I get your problem with the rooting and flashing and boy that is a problem with the nubias released before the Z9. The Z7 max was a headache! However the Z9 is bloody amazing, no need to root, Nubia UI is clean and polished, hardly any bugs. Sometimes I feel like there were bugs so that I can root it and install a ROM or something but its just made me lazy with how well it performs. I’m just waiting for the next Meizu or Nubia flagship, hopefully its good but something tells me it won’t be. Meizu have lost the plot since last year and Nubia have separated from ZTE, Don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not yet. If both companies fail to produce something good I might have to jump ship to Xiaomi.
        
        Ibrahim Bahakim
        April 14, 2017
        I have tried Mx4 Pro sorta?
        You see I ordered one for mom and when I got it, it was original parts but not made in Meizu’s factory. Man the UI is smooth AF! But you need to get used to their weird navigation.
        Unfortunately since the phone is not really made by Meizu, the phone’s fingerprint just STOPPED for no reason and no longer chargers lol
        But it was a good experience to try it. I wish to try Meizu now but all their phones are MTK-based and I hate MTK mobiles 🙁

goodwill
April 13, 2017
People shouldn’t complain. Xiaomi’s flagships or phones in general has always been one of the cheapest. So, corners has to be cut. Still does the job for me. No complaints here

Marius Cirsta
April 13, 2017
I would probably just disable the damn vibration anyway as I usually do. So maybe Apple uses some high end fancy stuff and this motor is not as good.
I’d rather they cut cost by putting in a cheaper motor to provide such vibration than by putting in other cheaper components.
I’ve always found even the Xiaomi Redmi series quality satisfying so I think Xiaomi phones don’t have major quality issues. Let’s now forget Apple had some significant quality problems over the years with their iPhones.
- Ronnie Katsie
  April 13, 2017
  Well said!
- bojan radovanovic
  April 14, 2017
  For a Redmi line, i will always prise Xioami.
  But for a price that their flagships would cost me to inport, i just bought S5 (500$ with one year contract on network and tariff that i use anyways).
  And there is a big difference in what i am getting for my money in therms of quality and support, let alone fact that it actually comes with warranty.

Lazar Prodanovic
April 14, 2017
Do you know some Xiaomi phones that got that same standard vibration motor dropped dead? I don’t so who do fuck care how much it costs? Really bad article, especially title! Makes me wonder who paid you for it.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 14, 2017
  By who? Don’t tell me Apple really wants this VERY FAMOUS Gizchina, which talks about cheap Chinese phones and rarely famous brands to make an ad for them?
  rly nigga? XD
- Lazar Prodanovic
  April 14, 2017
  Well certainly not a rotten NSA division (Apple) but someone from really bad competition, Ele, Ule, Doogee should ring some bells after all they are regularly paying for positive reviews of their shit products that regularly broke down & I don’t mean only vibration motor’s that regularly die in first six months.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 14, 2017
  I am sorry I never meant to make a racist joke by saying “rly nigga”. In fact I say it as a joke ALL the time to all my white friends or black.
  Even though, what you said did not describe in anyway correct, I will stop here. I don’t like racism to continue.
  So I am sorry for all I said. 🙂
- Lazar Prodanovic
  April 14, 2017
  Well it’s a “racist” one.
  Would also like to apologise for my behaviour & insulting you, I do that when provoked not pre destined to be a victim I guess. So sorry & selam.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 14, 2017
  No dude. Everyone makes mistakes. And I know in my heart there is good in everyone! It is just, sometimes people understands differently so I had to clarify it to see if you are the good apple and in fact you are :p
  Apology not accepted since nothing done 😛
  On a side note, MAN I JUST REPLIED BY MKBHD!! I am super happy lol
  Yes it is my first time :s
Maik Spindler
April 14, 2017
gosh it goes down with giz day by day. wtf is this?
Guest
April 14, 2017
Lol probably the worst article I’ve ever read. I’d prefer those elephone ads over this to be honest.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 14, 2017
  I hate Apple. I truly do, but let’s face it. I tried a lot of Xiaomi phones and I LOVE XIOAMI! I have so many of their devices, but Apple’s iPhone is not expensive for nothing.
  Yes it is overprice but it is worth a good cost of what Apple is asking for.
  I can see how good their vibration is…
  I tried my bro’s 6S Plus and compared it to my MiNote 2 and in almost every way, the iPhone is better. I think the only good thing is the battery. Mi Note2 charges much faster than iPhone!
  It is so much better than my Mi Note 2 even though 6S Plus is older!!! <= I don't there is a chance for my phone to win against iphone 7!
  I hate Apple and I am sure a lot of people do, but be fair. Try their products to see for yourself if they are worth your money or not.
  PS I am not an iSheep and I hope I never use an iOS I am just saying what I experienced when comparing the two phones :p
- Lazar Prodanovic
  April 14, 2017
  I hate Apple from back the Mac day’s. It’s true hate meaning I once loved them & one of the reasons is this:
- Lazar Prodanovic
  April 14, 2017
  When you get using their “eco system” you will find out how ironic that is…
- Guest
  April 14, 2017
  I’m not an apple fan but I give credit where credit is due. They are well made – to an extent – and for the cost at which they sell their IPhones it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Xiaomi is excellent and obviously they would use cheaper hardware where available to keep costs down however looking at how many IPhones are sold worldwide the economies of scale favour IPhone greatly. In my opinion the vibration feedback has been declining over the years anyway, maybe due to cheaper motors, try compare the vibration in those old Nokia bricks to a current phone. In regards to the article I find it completely pointless, a whole article shouldn’t be dedicated to such a small thing. A small comment regarding the vibration motor should’ve been made in another article like the ones with all the leaked specs of the Xiaomi Mi6. I’ve used Xiaomis, got the Mi5 at the moment but I prefer Meizu and Nubia because of the build quality and camera performance.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 14, 2017
  haha yeeeeaaaahhh Gizchina gotten a bit lazy lately. They post so many useless articles haha
  Speaking of Nubia and Meizu, I did not try Meizu but I tried a lot of Nubias and man I love them all..
  Z5s Z7 Max Z9 Elite and X6 and all of them were amazing especially the camera, but the idea of me having to flash and root etc… is just bad. I don’t want the all the hassle just to get my phone to work lol
- Guest
  April 14, 2017
  I bought everyone in my family Meizus lol, all ranging from the M2 to the MX5. Meizu MX4 is probably the best I’ve owned. I get your problem with the rooting and flashing and boy that is a problem with the nubias released before the Z9. The Z7 max was a headache! However the Z9 is bloody amazing, no need to root, Nubia UI is clean and polished, hardly any bugs. Sometimes I feel like there were bugs so that I can root it and install a ROM or something but its just made me lazy with how well it performs. I’m just waiting for the next Meizu or Nubia flagship, hopefully its good but something tells me it won’t be. Meizu have lost the plot since last year and Nubia have separated from ZTE, Don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not yet. If both companies fail to produce something good I might have to jump ship to Xiaomi.
- Ibrahim Bahakim
  April 14, 2017
  I have tried Mx4 Pro sorta?
  You see I ordered one for mom and when I got it, it was original parts but not made in Meizu’s factory. Man the UI is smooth AF! But you need to get used to their weird navigation.
  Unfortunately since the phone is not really made by Meizu, the phone’s fingerprint just STOPPED for no reason and no longer chargers lol
  But it was a good experience to try it. I wish to try Meizu now but all their phones are MTK-based and I hate MTK mobiles 🙁

goodwill
April 14, 2017
People shouldn’t complain. Xiaomi’s flagships or phones in general has always been one of the cheapest. So, corners has to be cut. Still does the job for me. No complaints here
Raky_b
April 14, 2017
There is no one that uses Xiaomi phone for more than a year, so reliability won’t ne a problem.
Anyway, what is there to surprise us in news that Xiaomi will use cheaper parts!?
They always do…. Just look at their first Amoled screen phone, Redmi Pro.

Maik Spindler
April 14, 2017
gosh it goes down with giz day by day. wtf is this?
bojan radovanovic
April 14, 2017
There is no one that uses Xiaomi phone for more than a year, so reliability won’t ne a problem.
Anyway, what is there to surprise us in news that Xiaomi will use cheaper parts!?
They always do…. Just look at their first Amoled screen phone, Redmi Pro.

Ionut Johnny
April 14, 2017
My redmi note 3 pro got better after one of the biggest updates,the fingerprint didn’t used to work if your hand was oily, swetty or wet, now it does, so what’s this article all about, I have no idea.
Ionut Johnny
April 14, 2017
My redmi note 3 pro got better after one of the biggest updates,the fingerprint didn’t used to work if your hand was oily, swetty or wet, now it does, so what’s this article all about, I have no idea.

Parth
April 15, 2017
You can change 10 phones in 10 years with Xiaomi for the same value as Apple and we need not keep an Apple till death. The cheaper the better provided you can use it.
Guest
April 15, 2017
You can change 10 phones in 10 years with Xiaomi for the same value as Apple and we need not keep an Apple till death. The cheaper the better provided you can use it.

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