Analysis of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Xiaomi's beast to try to reign in the high-end

We have in our hands the one who is called to be the High Killer Range of this year 2018, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, a phone that arrives with first-class materials and exceptional performance. However, we are going to put it to the test to see if it really gives everything it promises and if it really positions itself as a true alternative to the high-end.

Therefore, we recommend that you stay with us to find out the more specific details of this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S and the reason why this terminal is currently on everyone's lips, which is below 500 euros and promises features and capabilities that only the most expensive terminals offer.

As always, we are going to review its main characteristics in every corner, and what better way than to accompany this note with a video, so we recommend that you first watch the video of our analysis, or stop by www.actualidadiphone.com If you want to see the face to face that we have made between the iPhone X and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, so that you can see first-hand if this Xiaomi is really capable of rivaling the high-end.

Design and materials: Xiaomi knows very well how to enter through the eye, and the touch

As soon as we take it out of the box we realize that it is really beautiful, if already when its first edition was presented a few years ago our mouths were open to us by the true claim that Xiaomi had to launch an all-screen phone, now we find all the details design that might not make it special fully corrected. We have a body of 150,9 x 74,9 x 8,1 mm in a total weight of 191 grams, the reality is that this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s is not much less light, I would say that it is heavy, but it is the price to pay to have a ceramic back. The truth is that it is extremely slippery to the touch, so the cover will make us feel much more comfortable. Visually it is much more attractive than it will be after day to day, why fool ourselves. The rear does not appear to have any oil-repellent coating at all, so there will be a lot of fingerprints that will reign.

On the front we find almost 82% of the total screen, the fingerprint reader is located at the back under the dual camera and followed by the signature of the brand and the model. The design is exceptional, it makes us feel in front of a high-end phone from the first moment, it is a reality that Xiaomi has known very well how to make an attractive phone that will capture absolutely all eyes from the first moment, inevitable. We will be able to acquire this terminal in white and black, in our hands, as you can see from the photographs, there is the terminal in black.

Hardware: The Mi Mix 2s doesn't skimp on power, it can handle anything

We are not going to cut ourselves in saying that this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s has shown the best performance through the user interface of all the terminals that have spent here these last two months. Although it may not even offer the best performance in AnTuTu's analytics, the reality is that video is not deceiving. MIUI 9.5 Maybe it has something to do with it, for that go through the video and see how it slides. Much of the fault lies in having a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 2,8 GHz eight-core and construction at 10 nm. In the same way we can choose the 6 GB of RAM that we have tested, accompanied by 64 GB of storage, or 8 GB of the most expensive version with 128 GB total storage, all expandable with microSD cards of up to 256 GB, that will depend on you.

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 64-bit 2,8 GHz and built in 10 nm
• RAM: 6 GB or 8 GB
• GPU: Adreno 630
• Storage: 64 or 128 GB
• LTE 43 global bands
• Wi-Fi 4 × 4 MIMO
• Dual nano SIM
• NFC
• Bluetooth Latest generation 5.0
• GPS
• USB-C

The truth is that it lacks absolutely nothing as we have seen in the list of hardware, we thus find, thanks to this tandem, a totally exceptional performance. I have not been able to find a single software that compromises this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s in any of its developments. The truth is that so far it is noted that the terminal fully complies, the most negative points will come later.

Camera: They have improved, but not enough

Xiaomi promises to have improved the camera of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s enough to rival the high-end. From the outset I have to tell you no. The camera is still slow to focus and performance when light conditions drop a bit leaves a lot to be desired, showing grain and poor definition. Therefore, The camera is the first blow of reality that this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s gives you, making it clear why it is not with all the law a high range. This is not to say that the camera is bad, it is quite good, but not enough to rival the Galaxy S9, iPhone X or even the Huawei P20.

• Sensor main: Sony IMX363 12 MP, 1,4 µm, wide-angle lens, f / 1.8 aperture, Dual Pixel AF
• Sensor secondary: Samsung S5K3M3 12 MP, 1 µm, telephoto lens, f / 2.4 aperture
• Camera selfies: 5 MP, 1,12 µm, f / 2.0 aperture

The portrait mode however makes us smile quickly, it defends itself quite well and gives excellent results, in fact, it seems to me the best of the camera. In the same way that the front camera, that of the selfie, beyond the fact of its strange situation and the controversy that it provokes, is not bad, it is very bad. The front camera completely takes away the desire to take an unexpected selfie.

The truth is that its four-axis optical stabilizer is noticeable when recording video and taking pictures, but the camera has not left us a good taste in our mouths, although it is rather a reality check, it is not bad, it is the best in the mid-range, but When you have a good time with this terminal in your hands, it is hard to remember that it costs only € 499.

Screen and autonomy: They are a pro and a con

The screen is the second negative point that I am able to find in this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s, We find a panel with a FullHD + resolution, so far correct, the problem comes when we find an IPS LCD panel, that said, we quickly discover that this type of panel is quite far from what other panels that mount AMOLED technology offer or derivatives. Specifically, we find a 5,99-inch panel -Xiaomi loves 0,99 in its technical data- in 18: 9 format with a density of 403 pixels per inch and a fairly high brightness, 585 bits. The contrast ratio is 1500: 1 and offers 95% of the NTSC.

This front glass is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 technology and it feels quite comfortable and easy to use, although to my taste it would lack a better oleophobic layer to be totally perfect. Now speaking in terms of autonomy, taking into account the screen the reality is obvious, offers good autonomy, At the height of any high-end or better, in fact it has offered me more than a day of autonomy in normal use, that is, it more than equals the autonomy, for example, of the iPhone X and exceeds that of the Samsung Galaxy S9 +. The surprising thing is that it uses "only" 3.400 mAh for this.

Experience of use with MIUI 9.5 and its performance

Our experience has been really satisfactory, MIUI 9.5 it literally moves flying, in fact, and I think I repeat myself, this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s has beaten the high-end phones with which we have faced it in everyday use. The reality is that the gestural system added by MIUI, which is still a carbon copy of the iOS gesture system, moves really well, is effective and does not give rise to errors. You will not find limits in this Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s of any kind, its processor and the marriage with the software ensures exceptional performance.

Editor's opinion: A real alternative to the high-end?

I'll start by saying no, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S not a total alternative to the high end, because the high-end terminals stand out for the camera and the screen, just the two weakest points of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s. However, in other factors this phone not only equals them, but in many cases exceeds them. That said, if what you are looking for is those characteristics that differentiate a really expensive mobile from a mid-range, this is not it. With the Mi Mix 2s what we find is the perfect value for money, the phone directly behind the high-end, but far surpassing all the alternatives of the mid-range. So far I can say that it is the best quality / price phone that has passed through my hands.

You can buy them on Amazon from 499 euros,Although we recommend you go directly to the Xiaomi website in Spain or to any of its points of sale and live the full experience.