Xiaomi mi note 2 black. Appearance and usability

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is a powerful, large and beautiful smartphone. This unit was announced in October 2016. This flagship device houses a curved display and powerful hardware.

Appearance and ergonomics

The design of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is dominated by symmetry. The display, curved on both sides, immediately catches the eye, which gives the impression of the absence of side frames. Below the screen is a physical Home button with a built-in fingerprint scanner, as well as two touch-sensitive navigation buttons. Above is a voice speaker, LED alert indicator, front camera and light sensor. The back side has curves along the edges, similar to the front panel, and the back is made of tempered glass. There is an elegant metal frame around the entire perimeter of the case.

It houses the popular USB Type-C connector, and a 4070 mAh non-removable battery is hidden inside. At the same time, the device is not felt in the palm of a bulky "shovel", although there is a very large screen. It is a very neat and comfortable device due to its effectively rounded side edges. This makes it possible to hold the gadget without problems with one hand. But the oleophobic glass coating could be better. Available colors: black and gray. Dimensions: height - 156.2 mm, thickness - 7.6 mm, width - 77.3 mm, weight - 166.

Display

Smartphone Mi Note 2 is equipped with a massive 5.7-inch screen with neat folds on the sides. A high-quality AMOLED matrix demonstrates a bright and juicy picture. At the same time, the system settings make it possible to adjust the shades at your discretion, making the colors warmer or colder. The same applies to contrast, which you can change yourself. The viewing angles turned out to be very good, but when deflected, the blue color starts to dominate. Due to the increased margin of maximum brightness, the device can be comfortably used even in sunny weather right outside. As for the minimum brightness, the display is hardly suitable for quiet night reading. The screen supports 10 touches at once, and double tap allows you to unlock it.

Iron and performance

Mi Note 2 hosts the Android 6.0 operating system, which has been modified using the MIUI 8 proprietary interface. There are exclusive applications from the manufacturer itself, as well as a dual account mode. Qualcomm's powerful Snapdragon 821 processor delivers amazing performance in terms of performance. This flagship chip is quad-core, and its maximum frequency reaches 2350 MHz. There is also a high-performance graphics accelerator Adreno 530.

The device has got 4 GB of RAM, as well as 64 GB of internal storage. It is impossible to expand the memory in any way, since there is no corresponding slot. The AnTuTu test confirms the excellent performance of the smartphone - over 160,000 points. If you run even the most demanding toy, then there will be no frame drops, and the picture will delight you with an abundance of effects and beautiful animation.

Communication and sound

Both speakers in the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 are louder. At the same time, the multimedia speaker also boasts extremely clear sound. Of course, there is a shortage of low frequencies, but this is more of a cost for the portable segment. In good headphones, the sound will most likely not disappoint. All this thanks to the presence of a dedicated DAC as well as a dedicated amplifier. The gadget supports 4G LTE, NFC and LTE-A.

Camera

The mobile device Xiaomi Mi Note 2 received a 22.56-megapixel main camera Sony IMX318, which has a greatly increased size of each pixel. Worth noting is the 80-degree lens and 2.0 aperture, as well as the dual LED flash. At the same time, focusing is carried out instantly, which saves time on creating a new picture. Against a dark background in the evening, there is noise in the photo, and in some frames you can see overexposures. But with the color reproduction, everything is in order, and in the daytime the pictures are juicy and bright. The HDR mode, which has learned to automatically determine the need for its use, also confidently manifests itself in everyday work. The smartphone also has an 8-megapixel front camera with built-in autofocus.

conclusions

For 22-25 thousand rubles, Mi Note 2 looks like a very intriguing smartphone with a large screen. He not only got a massive display, but also an advanced appearance with rounded edges. It is necessary to highlight the excellent performance, which is at the level of the best flagship devices.

Pros:

• Outstanding performance in all tasks.
• Nice and modern design.
• Large display with a rich image.
• High level of autonomy.
• A good camera in many ways.

Minuses:

• There is no way to expand the memory.
• The case is quite easily soiled.
• The probability of accidental clicks is high.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi Note 2

Prices

Video reviews

We were impressed with Xiaomi's performance when we first saw the new line of phablets. Because of this, we had inflated expectations on the eve of the announcement of Mi Note 2. It was necessary to try very hard to impress the many fans of the company, and Xiaomi did it by 200%. The new top-of-the-line phablet features a 5.7-inch curved display, a fast processor and a surprisingly attractive price.

Equipment

The package of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is no different from the previous phablet. We get the same white box made of durable cardboard, in which the smartphone itself is hidden, a silicone case for the back panel, a charger with a Chinese plug, a USB Type-C cable, a clip for a SIM tray and documentation.

Design

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 looks very unusual. Now the phablet has curved edges on the front and back panels. The glass blends seamlessly into the aluminum frame, creating a rather austere look. Xiaomi's design turned out to be noble. Apparently because of this, you can find a smartphone on sale only in black, white or gold versions.

The main feature of the flagship is its front part, or rather the screen curved on both sides. True, this feature will impress only those who see a smartphone for the first time. After a while, you will stop noticing this, since it does not carry a serious functional load, and the frame around the screen is quite noticeable. But the device turned out to be successful.

Despite the large screen, it fits in the palm of your hand in much the same way as phablets with 5.5-inch displays. Although with Xiaomi Mi Note 2, you need to be careful, because the glass is quite slippery and quickly becomes covered with fingerprints. Above the screen are proximity and lighting sensors, a front camera peephole and a notification LED, as well as an earpiece. The operation of the LED can be adjusted in the settings.

On the right side of the smartphone are the power and volume buttons. They are made of metal, securely fixed in the case. The move is distinct, there is no backlash.

On the left side there is only a slot for two nano-SIM cards. Unfortunately, there is no way to replace one SIM card with a microSD card.

Under the display is a hardware button "Home", on the sides of which there are two touch-sensitive keys. All buttons are programmable - in the settings you can choose actions by pressing.

A USB Type-C port was installed at the bottom of the case. On the sides of it are the speaker holes, as well as the main microphone.


An additional microphone, infrared port and 3.5 mm audio jack are located on the top edge of the case.

The rear, which has the same curved glass as the front, houses the main 22.5-megapixel camera. There is a metal ring around the lens that protects it from scratches. Nearby is an LED flash.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has turned out to be one of the most aesthetic smartphones that have appeared on the market lately. The build quality is good, and the curves of the body, the combination of metal and glass, give the feel of an expensive device.

Display

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has a 5.7-inch OLED panel from LG with Full HD resolution. It is quite possible that with such a diagonal the resolution is not the best and the picture will obviously be clearer on screens with Quad HD resolution. Compared to another flagship Xiaomi, the Mi5S display will be of better quality - it has both higher brightness and better font sharpness. But you will only see the difference when you compare it directly. With daily use, you will be satisfied with the image quality.

But the curved OLED screen of Mi Note 2 has a rather serious drawback - in places of bending, the image has a blue tint, especially if white should be displayed in that area.

However, the color saturation is high, and the blacks are just perfect. We have something to praise the OLED matrix for. Do not forget that this type of screen has increased energy efficiency.

The screen sensor can recognize up to 10 touches at the same time. Accuracy is perfect, there are no delays. In the settings, you can enable the function of waking up the smartphone by double tap.

According to some sources, Xiaomi still used Gorilla Glass 4 tempered glass. But it is not the manufacturer that is important to us, but the quality of the glass. It is not afraid of scratches, but it is not worth the risk. If dropped, there is a 100% chance of breaking the phone.

You can add a couple of subjective points: the maximum screen brightness is not enough to work with a smartphone in bright light, and at night the screen with minimum backlight will “hit your eyes”.

Performance

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 runs on one of the fastest processors - the top Snapdragon 821. On the market you can buy one of two flagship options - with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, or with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory. The memory itself is insanely fast - read / write speed at 419/162 MB / s. The RAM showed a result of 15.6 GB / s. The processor is powered by the Adreno 530 graphics accelerator, which together show amazing results not only in benchmarks, but also in real life.

No matter how hard you try to overload the Mi Note 2 system, the smartphone will work equally fast. The only thing worth remembering is overheating.

The case will be warm under serious load in games.

On AnTuTu, we saw a score of over 160,000 points, making the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 one of the fastest smartphones on the market with a perfect balance of performance. He copes with multitasking without any difficulty - it's not for nothing that he has 4GB of RAM in the minimum configuration.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi Note 2

Operating system

At the start of sales, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 appeared with only one firmware version - in Chinese with the ability to switch to English. Only a month later, the global firmware became available. Most of the pre-installed apps from MIUI can be removed or deactivated.

MIUI 8 is based on Android 6 and can be upgraded to Android 7. This system is perfectly adapted and optimized, but it does not have any features that reveal the curvature of the screen. The system works stably without any unpleasant surprises.

Camera

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 received a 22.5-megapixel Sony IMX318 camera with an f / 2.0 aperture and a six-element lens. Under good conditions, the camera will take excellent pictures with high detail, bright colors, and with macro photography, you can get a high-quality bokeh effect. There is also a hybrid autofocus, which has practically no false positives.

It is a pity that the camera reveals itself perfectly only on a clear day. As soon as high-quality lighting disappears, the camera raises the exposure, over-highlights everything in the background in the frame.

Noise appears, which will be more if you try to photograph at dusk or even at night.

There is only electronic image stabilization, but it does not always help. Frames can be blurry.

In the MIUI 8 camera application, you can use a large selection of filters and settings, set a convenient shooting mode, manually reconfigure most of the parameters.

Video - comparison of cameras and Xiaomi Mi Note 2

The front camera of the smartphone is 8 megapixel and it is ideal for selfie lovers. It is better to take pictures with it during the day, because in the evening you can spend a lot of time for a good shot.

Videos can be shot at resolutions up to 4k, electronic stabilization will try to improve the quality. Autofocus also does a great job, and therefore Xiaomi Mi Note 2 shoots videos well.

Battery

This phablet has a 4000 mAh battery, which cannot be replaced. We said above that it would be nice to get a 2k display, but then the battery life would be greatly reduced and the performance would be worse.

After extensive testing, we got pleasant results. Recall that here, in fact, only 4070 mAh (determined by tests) is 330 mAh less than the giant Xiaomi Mi Mix. However, in benchmarks and in real conditions, we see the obvious - Mi Note 2 works much longer, and it is practically a record holder. The phone will last up to 2 days from one charge. So much for the MIUI optimization, an excellent AMOLED matrix with Full HD resolution, an energy efficient processor.

For example, in standard mono tests, the smartphone showed the following:

• at maximum brightness and looping Full HD video playback - 14 hours of operation;
• in continuous games - 9 hours;
• in PC Mark with medium brightness - 9 hours (2 working SIM cards) and 10 hours (1 working SIM card);

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 supports Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging. The battery charges 20% every 15 minutes. Up to 100% she needs a total of 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Video - Review Xiaomi Mi Note 2

Outcomes

pros

• slim stylish body;
• spectacular curved display;
• long battery life;
• a huge margin of productivity;
• high-quality camera during the day;
• high-quality sound;
• support for fast charging.

minuses

• glass gets dirty quickly;
• the display on the sides has a strong blue tint;
• heats up under heavy load;
• poor camera quality in low light;
• no support for microSD cards;
• no optical image stabilization.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 actually turned out to be an excellent flagship, if you close your eyes to a number of shortcomings: the camera disappoints in low light, there are copies of the smartphone with poor build quality, the display on the sides gives off blue. If possible, it is better to choose the Mi5S, which is closer to the ideal, even if it has a smaller display. If you like phablets, you can opt for the Mi5s Plus with a 5.5-inch screen. We hope that Xiaomi will quickly learn from its mistakes and the line will become truly flagship in all respects.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Is a smartphone that has set a new standard. Today, the young company Xiaomi sells more smartphones in China than Samsung and Apple. On the first day, over 800,000 Redmi Note 2 copies were sold in 12 hours. The reason for the success of this mobile device was the ideal price-performance ratio. For less than $ 200 we get a device with one of the fastest MediaTek processors, an excellent Full HD screen and a Samsung camera.

Equipment

There are practically no additional accessories included in the package. In addition to the smartphone, there is a line adapter, a micro-USB cable, and a Chinese user manual. If you want to get a cover, you will have to order it additionally.

Design

Outwardly, Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 does not look very attractive - it is an ordinary monolithic smartphone with slightly rounded edges. The only thing that can attract is the bright color of the case, although mainly gray and white models are sold. By the way, even between them there is a physical difference: the back cover of the gray Redmi Note 2 is smoother, the white model has slightly rough plastic. There are only 5 matte color options available: white, gray, yellow, blue and red.

Compared to its predecessor, Redmi Note 2 has become smaller and thinner.

On the right side of the case there is a volume rocker with a power button.

There is nothing superfluous on the left side.

The micro-SIM card slots are located under the rear removable cover. There is also a slot for microSD cards up to 128 GB under it. The battery can be replaced at any time.

The main camera is located at the top of the rear panel. The module protrudes from the surface by only 0.5 mm. There is an LED flash underneath.

Also on the back cover there is a mesh for the main speaker. The sound quality is good, the volume is sufficient.

At the bottom there is only a micro-USB port for connecting a charger and a microphone.

At the top, there is an additional microphone, infrared port and 3.5mm headphone jack. Below the display is a row of three touch-sensitive buttons with red LED backlighting - “Home”, “Back” and “Menu”. To open the last running applications, you need to make a single click on the Menu button. In the settings, you can reconfigure the assignment of all buttons.

Above the screen are the front camera module, notification LED, proximity and lighting sensors.

Case dimensions - 12 x 7.6 cm, thickness - 8.25 mm, and weight - 160g.

The back panel is resistant to fingerprints, however it glides on a smooth surface.

Display

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 received a Full HD screen, which immediately distinguishes it from its predecessor. Due to the high pixel density, this display is of the Retina type, which means that we cannot distinguish individual pixels.

The display of Redmi Note 2 shows a very high quality picture with nice colors. Even considering the low cost of the smartphone, the screen has good color rendering. The colors are bright, the contrast is high. The brightness range is from 1 to 5 cd / m2. Viewing angles are close to the maximum for IPS displays. In the sun, the picture is clearly visible. There is also a good oleophobic coating. If you do not like the color rendition, then in the settings you can "tweak" it.

The display has only one obvious drawback - automatic brightness control works poorly, constantly underestimating the display backlight to uncomfortable.
The surface of the display is polished using a special technology, making the screen smoother and more high-quality. The tactile impression is very noticeable - the touch is softer and the sensor works better.

There are several additional modes in the settings - including reading and night. When enabled, blue radiation is reduced.

Performance

Powered by Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 on 64-bit eight-core processor MediaTek Helio X10 MT6795. Its Cortex-A53 cores operate at frequencies up to 2.0 or 2.2 GHz, depending on the version of the smartphone. Graphics performance is provided by the PowerVR G6200 accelerator. The performance of the Helio X10 MT6795 is almost on par with the Snapdragon 810.

Xiaomi offers two versions of Redmi Note 2: the standard version with an eight-core processor up to 2.0 GHz and the Plus version with an eight-core processor up to 2.2 GHz.
This smartphone has excellent performance. Redmi Note 2 works very quickly, responds instantly to commands. No waiting time when downloading apps. In games, the smartphone also shows itself great. Even games such as Asphalt 8, Real Racing, Modern Combat 2 did not become a problem for him. And today his performance is enough for any task.

There is only one problem that can make the experience worse - there is only 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM installed. If the system takes about 1 GB for its work, then only 1 GB is allocated for the work of other applications. For most users, this should be enough and they won't notice multitasking issues. If you open several applications at the same time, then they will work in the background for a short time - in order to maintain performance, the system will begin to close them.

You can also notice that the smartphone heats up when working even with standard applications, not to mention demanding games.

In various versions of the AnTuTu benchmark, the smartphone is gaining from 46,000 to 55,600 points.

Specifications Redmi Note 2

	55632
	Xiaomi Hermes
Date of announcement	2015, August
Network support	GSM / HSPA / LTE
- 2G	GSM 900/1800/1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
- 3G	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100
- 4G	LTE band 1 (2100), 3 (1800), 7 (2600), 38 (2600), 39 (1900), 40 (2300), 41 (2500)
Bluetooth	v4.0, A2DP, LE
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
Dimensions (edit)	152 x 76 x 8.3 mm (5.98 x 2.99 x 0.33 inches)
The weight	160 g (5.64 oz)
Accumulator battery	Removable Li-Po 3060 mAh
Display	(~ 71.5% of smartphone surface)
- permission	1080 x 1920 pixels (~ 403 ppi)
CPU	Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10
- CPU frequency	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 - Redmi Note 2 Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 - Redmi Note 2 Prime
- graphics	PowerVR G6200
Memory	16 GB, 2 GB RAM - Redmi Note 2 32 GB, 2 GB RAM - Redmi Note 2 Prime
USB	microUSB v2.0, USB On-The-Go
Camera	Photo / Video
- the main	13 MP, f / 2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
- frontal	5 MP, f / 2.0, 720p
Operating system	Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)

Android 5.1 / MIUI 7

Redmi Note 2 originally received the firmware version MIUI 7. In fact, this is a very heavily redesigned Android, with a lot of additional proprietary features from Xiaomi and a completely redesigned interface. The design may partly resemble iOS, but over time there are fewer such elements.
In our opinion, MIUI is one of the most important advantages of Xiaomi smartphones. If you've tried this firmware once, you probably won't want to go back to stock Android. There is a huge number of additional settings, available root rights, a security center, changeable themes, and more.
From the comments we have only one - limited support for the Russian language. Not all menus and not all settings are correctly translated or not translated at all, there is a difference in the display of fonts. Experienced users will probably want to manually reflash the device.

Camera

The camera is another important plus of the Redmi Note 2. The main camera of the smartphone is 13-megapixel, with an aperture of f / 2.2, a wide-angle lens and 5-lens optics. In the video shooting mode, autofocus is independently reconfigured, there are Slow-mo and Timelapse modes.

The camera module was created by Samsung engineers and they did a very good job. During the day, Redmi Note 2 takes photos of good quality, with the correct white balance, good detail, good sharpness, almost no noise.

Video - camera test Xiaomi Redmi Note 2

Indoors, the camera is no longer so good - artifacts and monochrome noise appear. The image comes out with normal sharpness, but the auto correction tries to blur the noise unnecessarily.
In low light, it's even worse - neither autofocus nor the camera software can correct the picture.

An example of a video shot on Xiaomi Redmi Note 2

Videos can be shot in Full HD resolution at 30fps, at night at 15fps. The sound is good, stereo.

Battery

The Redmi Note 2 has a 3020/3060 mAh battery. For a smartphone with a 5.5-inch screen, this is quite enough. If you do not strain the phone too much, then without recharging it can work up to two days. In fact, the battery life is limited to one working day.
For example, if you leave the display on and some applications in the background, the battery will be reset in just 1.5 hours. Even with the screen off, Redmi Note 2 drains battery quickly. Interestingly, the system itself consumes the most energy.
The smartphone takes 2 hours and 40 minutes to fully charge.

Video - review of the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 2

Outcomes

pros

• fast processor;
• very good Full HD screen;
• removable battery;
• support for memory cards;
• fast shell MIUI.

minuses

• limited LTE support;
• Russification of the system is required;
• weak conversational speaker;
• poor battery life.

After testing, it becomes clear why Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 has become almost a phenomenon in terms of sales. The only major drawback that buyers outside of China may face is the limited LTE support. When it comes to display and performance, there is no alternative on the market for the same money.

Now Xiaomi Mi Note 2 costs about $ 500. Just think about it! 500 bucks and Xiaomi - all in one sentence. Lived! Be that as it may, we have a real flagship in front of us. Uber design, the most advanced features, a worthy replacement for the deceased Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Or not? Let's figure it out now.

Bundle or where is the premium?

Do you think some premium packaging will await you, since you spent as much as $ 500 on a smartphone? No matter how it is! Before us is the same box that we have already met in. That smartphone, by the way, costs about $ 160. I think no comments are needed here.

Inside, in addition to the power supply (5-12 V and 1.5-2.5 A) and the USB Type-C cable, there was a simple plastic case. It is exactly the same quality as the regular case in the case of.

Suitable only for the first time, flimsy and scratches very quickly. Take a look at the photo below. This scratch appeared 30 seconds after I peeled off the factory films from the case.

The scratch appeared after 30 seconds!

Design for all iPhones

Well, that's just wow! Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is gorgeous.

From this point of view, this is the best device I have held this year. Here's the best! Yes.

Neither the iPhone 7 Plus (I have not tried Jet Black, to be honest), nor the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, nor any other devices caught me as strongly as the appearance of this pepper.

Smooth, large, pleasant to the touch, brushed metal on the sides, smoothly curved glass on the front and back, the main camera looks at you like a Canon 1D X Mark II lens - all this is our hero.

The smartphone looks really expensive and high-status.

It is hard to imagine that it was created not in Cupertino or Samsung laboratories on the 78th floor underground, but somewhere in China and a company that is not even one of the five suppliers of smartphones. It is even more difficult to imagine that there are people who do not know and have never heard of Xiaomi. After such a device?

You turn on your smartphone, and the magic continues.

It seems that screens without an air gap have been used for a long time. They are as close as possible to the protective glass, so you get the feeling that you are touching your finger directly to the icons, to menu items, touching the text and so on. So, if you have already experienced this, then Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will prove to you that no, you have not experienced it. It is on the example of this device that you rediscover the mobile display.

It sounds loud, but that's how my acquaintance with the device went. The screen here seems to be printed on the front panel and fits neatly onto the rounded sides.

The manufacturer made a black welcome screen and rightly so!

If you are in a room, then its boundaries are not visible. They imperceptibly pass into the glass body of the smartphone, the smooth edges of which nobly reflect the incident light. It's just space!

Hence, immediately a fair comment about the color of the case. Should I choose an alternative color - silver blue? No! Just forget about it. Black and only black!

In general, I'm not a supporter of dark smartphones, because it's boring. Most users have just such devices, so they want a breath of fresh air, colors and life among the gloomy "variety" of smartphone colors. However, this is not the case with the Mi Note 2.

For such an appearance, the smartphone wants to forgive everything. Believe me, he has something to forgive.

There is a physical home button under the screen. Thank you Xiaomi! Thank you for not putting those wretched crutches that we saw in your flagship. Our hero's physical Home key with a built-in fingerprint scanner works exactly the same as on Mi 5. And there the button was good.

On the sides there are neat dots of illumination of the touch keys. They look decent too.

You get even more imbued with quality when you turn your attention from glass to a metal frame. Brushed metal, perfectly chamfered corners, no gaps and backlashes - the assembly is as solid as possible.

The only thing is that, as always, the volume control and screen turn-on buttons are slightly backlash. However, this is completely normal and occurs in all modern devices.

The peephole of the main camera protrudes just a little above the surface of the rear window. I don't think this is critical. At least I wasn't offended by that.

The device is really large, but if it were smaller, I think it would be perceived somewhat differently. Big, wide, black, male smartphone.

It is slightly larger than the Mi5S Plus, but due to the sharply beveled corners in the front and back, it fits better in the hand.

It's slippery, of course. Be careful when using it and especially when photographing. The side ends are thin, they do not rest in the palm of your hand, and therefore the phone can easily slip out of your hands.

Also, do not place the device on an uneven surface. He will definitely leave her to meet the floor.

And there already will be no one to blame except himself. Repairing the screen in the same iPhone is expensive, but at least it is possible to do it, which cannot be said about our character. Where to repair it then?

The glossy surfaces of Mi Note 2 also have a downside - prints. Yes, the glasses here have a high-quality oleophobic coating, but nobody canceled physics, so traces of use still remain. Yes, they are easily removed, but they are there and will haunt the device constantly.

Should I carry my device in a case? It's a matter of preference. Personally, I am against it, because the smartphone needs to be used exactly in the form in which the manufacturer came up with it. With all its advantages, edges, glass and, most importantly, thickness. Especially when it comes to such a unit.

Hide such beauty in a case, and even with a miserable flip? Well then, get a better Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. It is better to use a cover there, because the original appearance is so ... South Korean.

In general, I give the design of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 a plus, because this device evokes really strong emotions. At the same time, I had Mi5S Plus (), LeEco Le 3 Pro (review will be), Asus Zenfone 3 () on my test and after the second "min-note" they all looked kind of faded. Asus, admittedly, is also all so glossy and iridescent, but still it's not that. It’s not the same.

Fingerprint scanner and button

The most important thing is that here we have a normal, physical button that needs to be pressed. A fingerprint sensor is built into it, respectively, there is a touch pad. Touched - a step back, pushed through - went to the main screen. Of course, there is also a hold function, but it is additionally configured in the menu. Optional.

On one forum, someone complained that she was tight. By the way, maybe. On the other hand, its course is very clear, with a characteristic click, which is nice.

The recognition itself is fast and confident. There are no problems with him.

Not at all the same fear that was in. There is no scanner there, because it is impossible to use it.

There is additional functionality. You can block not only the device itself, but also individual applications. Basically, this is standard functionality for Xiaomi devices.

I would also like to tell you about the vibration of Haptic feedback while typing on the keyboard. It's thin, soft and perhaps the closest I have ever tried to Apple's Taptic Engine. Believe me, this is a praise, because in and 7 vibration feedback is just fabulous.

The most important thing is that such a response works not only with a proprietary keyboard that is unsuitable for a Russian person, but also with a solution from Google. And there is a familiar language to us, familiar chips and so on. If the device is black, it uses a dark theme. How else?!

Not a display, but a disaster

If the screen is curved, and we have it that way, then it is most likely an OLED matrix. This rule applies in our case as well. There is, however, a South Korean development POLED (Flex series from LG), but everything is quite scary there. We will not go into details.

• diagonal 5.7 inches
• resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
• pixel density 386 ppi
• contrast ratio 100000: 1
• NTSC color gamut match 110%

The numbers, of course, are good, but they are not alone in happiness. Many will probably be confused by some kind of Full HD in the flagship, but personally I think that Quad HD in devices with a display diagonal of up to 6 inches is completely unnecessary. Excessive load on the processor and power consumption to nowhere.

But installing a high-quality, beautiful screen in Mi Note 2, at the level of some IPS, would be very nice from Xiaomi. But it didn’t happen.

The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 display is just a flop.

First, PenTile. These halos, looseness of the text and other "charms". Mmmm! ..

Let's go further. Only at an absolutely right angle, the picture remains normal for perception. How to say? It is green, which is typical for the matrixes of Samsung's flagships from 2012-2013. There are no natural flowers here and this is very sad.

It is worth at least slightly to deviate to the side and the colors floated.

There is not just an inversion, the colors shimmer two or three times from the bottom edge to the top.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 (top) and Xiaomi Mi5s Plus (bottom) 2

You open a white picture, deviate, for example, by 120 degrees and observe the next "beauty". The upper third is ordinary, seemingly white. The middle is either pink or green, and the lower third is distinctly green, and maybe it gives off blue - something in between.

You lean towards the transverse axis, the whole screen turns blue. In general, a rare horror.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 (top) and Xiaomi Mi5s Plus (bottom)

Even a smartphone that costs half the price (Xiaomi Redmi Pro) has a much better panel. There are bright, contrasting and very saturated colors. Let me remind you that an OLED matrix is ​​also used there.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 (left) and Xiaomi Mi5s Plus (right)

Moreover, such a screen curved at the edges also has a reverse side. Two luminous stripes, rounded on the sides, are constantly visible. Not a white background, they cast a bluish tint and even with a certain mirror effect. In the photo below, I tried to reflect this. I marked the beginning of this "disgrace" with a red line.

Fortunately, after a couple of days of use, you don't pay attention to it.

The matrix has one single merit - the display is black.

It is as deep as possible, the screen seems to be turned off and it is really difficult to compete with this (and only this) IPS panels.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi Note 2

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, four Kryo cores @ 2.35 GHz
• video chip Adreno 530
• 4 RAM (2380 MB free after reboot) or 6 GB LPDDR4 type
• built-in memory 64 (actually 55.20 GB available) or 128 GB of UFS 2.0 standard
• Micro SD cards are not supported
• 5.7-inch diagonal OLED display, curved at the edges (true 3D glass), resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels, 386 ppi, contrast ratio 100000: 1, NTSC color gamut 110%
• 22.56MP rear camera (Sony IMX318 1 / 2.6 '' sensor, f / 2.0 aperture, 80-degree, 6-element lens, electronic stabilization, 4K video recording)
• 8 MP front camera (f / 2.0, lens with a viewing angle of 76 degrees, autofocus, Beautify 3.0 face enhancement technology, Full HD recording, 15 fps)
• 4,070 mAh battery with QC 3.0 fast charging (9V, 2A)
• Android OS 6.0.1 (update to 7.0 will be)
• proprietary shell MIUI 8.0.12.0 Stable
• Ports: USB Type-C (OTG supported), 3.5mm headphone jack
• sensors: accelerometer, light and proximity sensor, gyroscope, infrared port, fingerprint scanner, Hall sensor (for case), electronic compass, barometer
• dimensions: 156.2 x 77.3 x 7.6 mm
• weight 166 grams

Wireless capabilities:

• 2G, 3G, 4G + (Cat. 13 up to 600 Mbps)
• Wi-Fi (802.11 ac), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC (full functionality)
• support for two Nano SIM-cards
• GPS, Glonass, Beidou

An important clarification needs to be made here. In nature, there are two versions of a smartphone, or rather, even three.

The first is the standard model. It will only be sold in China, with 4 + 64 GB of memory installed inside. I have it on the test.

This inscription means that the model for China

The second is premium. Here we have 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. This modification is also sold only in the Middle Kingdom.

The third is a global modification. She only has 6 and 128 GB of memory on board, there will be no other editions. In addition, only this model can boast of support for the following LTE frequencies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38 , 39, 40, 41.

Chinese models can only work in the following 4G bands: 1, 3, 5, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41.

If you ordered a smartphone from China without specifying that this is the global version, then you will receive a smartphone intended for China, that is, without support for the 20th band. He has this inscription on the box.

The forums are wondering if it will be possible to unblock the 20th lane after the release of the global firmware. I think it will work, because similar precedents have been encountered on other models. And I doubt that Xiaomi produces two different phones from the point of view of "hardware". It's easier to "block" unnecessary functionality programmatically.

Powerful but stupid

Definitely, this is not to be found fault with. The smartphone is just reactive. Despite the fact that the product was released quite recently, the system is optimized perfectly. Nothing slows down, does not lag, does not upset the psyche.

Despite the fact that Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 is faster than its 820th predecessor by about 5-10 percent, it currently remains the top solution on the market from the Android camp. It is not yet fully clear what kind of solution this Huawei Mate 9 (Kirin 960) is, wait and see.

The chipset will remain relevant until the spring of 2017, when the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be released on the Snapdragon 835 processor. Qualcomm has already shared information that the new product will overtake the previous generation by 30%. Does this mean that everything is gone? Far from it!

The "stone" has an excellent safety margin, which will definitely be enough for two years in advance. Thus, having bought Mi Note 2 now, you can score on updating your animal for the same period.

But from the point of view of the operation of RAM, everything is not so rosy.

I opened 5 tabs (, one of my reviews, the site of a Russian newspaper, tape and kinopoisk). After that, I opened in turn each application that was on the main screen. CPU-Z showed that about 1,400 MB of RAM remained free, but when I returned to Chrome, I found that every (!) Tab was reloading.

I don't think 6 GB of RAM will change the picture much. The point is in the system, in the optimization of MIUI, which in terms of the distribution of "RAM" leaves much to be desired.

The other day I did exactly the same trick on LeEco Le 3 Pro (QS821, 4 GB of RAM). So there the tabs did not reboot after sequentially opening about 40 applications by me! The system cleverly unloaded utilities that were opened earlier than others, but the tabs in Chrome held on to the last - up to 750 MB of free RAM. So that!

In addition, there are some childhood diseases with navigation.

Maps from Google either cannot find the location of the device for a long time, or they simply go astray and I suddenly start walking not along the street, but, for example, on the roofs of houses. Interestingly, there is no such problem with Yandex.Maps in principle.

By the way, the always-on screen and cross-country navigation can “eat up” the entire battery charge in about 3-4 hours. Be careful.

When you go with some novelty, friends and acquaintances usually ask: what is it, what kind of model, how much does it cost, and so on. Of course, you tell what and what. In the case of Xiaomi Mi Note 2, I was rarely asked such questions. Not because it's not bad, people took it for the good old Samsung Galaxy S7 edge.

Perhaps, for such words, Xiaomi fans will take offense at me and say that you can find 7 differences between a Chinese and a Korean smartphone without a magnifying glass. But there are ordinary people around, not fans, such are the majority. So they consistently reacted to Xiaomi like they did last year's Samsung. They say, why did you suddenly switch from Apple to Galaxy, have very harsh times come?

You begin to explain that this is not Samsung, but Xiaomi, made in the same spirit: glass panels on the front and back, curved screen, thin body, excellent assembly. You give it to hold it in your hands, try it - the reaction remains the same, people perceive it as a clone, and not as an original model. And that's the problem.

Why didn't Xiaomi begin to invent anything new and add its own features to the smartphone? You could play around with the back, add a pattern or custom colors to avoid the Galaxy S7 edge resemblance. But, as you can see, they did not become wise.

Big and slippery

Is it convenient to use a large smartphone with a 5.7-inch screen in a "bezel-less" style? Yes, quite, a matter of habit, but you get used to it quickly. There are no false positives when you hold the phone in your hand, although at first such narrow edges are confusing. The palm of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 does not cut when you use it, but the phone is slippery, requires habit, otherwise it is easy to drop it, falls are fatal for the glass case.

In principle, at this point, the whole story could be completed, because the main feature of the phone is its curved screen. But the Chinese couldn't figure out how to simplify the shopper's life with beveled edges.

What is the use of a curved screen? Yes, in the same way, what is the use of a rigid sports suspension in a car for driving on broken Moscow asphalt. Understated cars look more impressive, and the curved display phone attracts attention. We haven't added any functional bells and whistles in this regard, you will not display lines with service notifications or a music player track here, this is not provided.

If Samsung has tried and added additional functions to the shell, then this is not the case. Just a curved screen and everything. Sad? It depends on what you want from the smartphone, I think that the wow effect, and he will give it to you. Well, the characteristics are the tenth thing, although it's not at all a shame for the filling here.

The Chinese did not bother with additional features, put an OLED display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and a 5.7-inch diagonal. In my opinion, the screen is even too bright and hits the eyes even at minimum brightness in the dark, otherwise it is good.

Everything with him

Let's go over the filling. The under-screen fingerprint scanner is quick to touch and can remember up to 5 fingers. Somehow not enough for a flagship, usually they offer to save 10 prints, but oh well, we are not octopus people, we will survive.

In terms of filling, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is no longer the top, but when it came out, it was among the best. Nevertheless, by the standards of 2017, a smartphone with excellent filling. Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 with 4/64 GB of memory or 6/128 GB, but in any case without support for memory cards. It works quickly, there are no lags in principle, everything is fine.

I was surprised that despite the built-in NFC chip, the phone did not work with Android Pay, although this is a smartphone from the official delivery for the Russian market. But 2 SIM cards worked fine here, with Wi-Fi everything is also fine.

Works for a long time, that's good

The Chinese did not chase the screen resolution, so a 4000 mAh battery paired with a Full HD display shows, if not miracles, then at least decent results. With active use, charging is enough for half a day of vigorous work, and in normal mode it turns out a day and a half, depending on the load. The results for the flagship device are good, one of the best in the class. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 supports fast charging: it charges 50% in 30 minutes, but the charging process to 100% will take another 90 minutes.

Just a good camera

The camera of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is not as cool as that of the other top-end Xiaomi Mi 6, it shoots very well during the day and so-so in the evening. If the quality of the photo is important to you, then I would look towards Mi 6, I liked it more in terms of the camera.

What is the price

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 costs 34,990 rubles, this is its official price in Russia, if you order it directly from China, it will cost 6-7 thousand rubles cheaper. Its main alternative is the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. It costs about 42 thousand rubles in Russia, but again, you can order yourself from Europe or China and save money. In any case, Samsung will turn out to be a little more expensive, is it worth overpaying? In my opinion, yes, if you want a more sophisticated camera. Otherwise, they are more or less the same, Samsung, for example, wins in terms of screen quality and software, where additional settings are provided to reveal the potential of a curved display. But Xiaomi worked for me longer than the S7 edge, which I really liked.

If you bother on a curved screen, there are even more options: this is the "flagship killer" OnePlus 3T, and the top Huawei P-series.

Opinion

I liked the Xiaomi Mi Note 2, although it turned out to be a strange smartphone - I still got the feeling that Xiaomi was making it with a great desire to copy Samsung and show fans its capabilities.

The curved screen gives a spectacular shape, but does not offer additional functions, everything depends only on the design. But the appearance is secondary here, because in fact the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is a high-quality replica of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. But, as befits a replica, it costs less, which means there are no questions. Choose a copy, buy the original if you feel like you'll be enjoying all the bells and whistles of Samsung's shell.