It was not the first all screen, but there is no doubt that the original Xiaomi Mi MiX marked the beginning of a trend by the reduction of frames that quickly spread through the mobile landscape. With the Mi MiX 2, the design was compacted down to 6 inches and the hardware was improved. Now, 6 months after the previous model, the Mi MiX series welcomes a new member: the Mi MiX 2S.
The Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S breaks the annual renewal cycle of this range and is presented as a continuous renewal of the Mi MiX 2S that focuses its improvements on updated hardware, software functions such as facial recognition, all of them seasoned with Artificial Intelligence, the buzzword of fashion, and a much-anticipated novelty in this range: the double camera. We have already been able to test the Mi MiX 2S and these are our first review.
The Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S comes with a design that does not differ too much from the previous one, at least as far as the front part is concerned, where we find again a panel of 5.99 inches that extends completely on the top and that has a lower frame in which the camera is housed. The rear does offer a somewhat greater appeal, despite remaining unchanged for the most part, with a camera that now becomes dual and that, finally, aims to offer the photographic quality that a flagship deserves.
If you look closely, you’ll be able to spot a small slit in the top portion of the handset above the display, which provides an opening for the earpiece and the audio jack is also missing, just like on the previous model.
On the back of the two cameras are positioned on the left, with a single body, interspersed with the flash, while in the middle of the back cover is the fingerprint reader and the rear cover part is still 4 curved ceramics, with a soft and comfortable touch, which can be distinguished from common 3D glasses all at once.
The middle frame part is still a 7-series aluminum alloy with a matte finish and a smooth transition.
Compared with Mi MiX 2, the most obvious change in the appearance of Mi MiX 2S may be the rear camera position. finally, Mi MiX 2S used a dual camera. The camera position was moved from the top of the Mi MiX 2S fingerprint recognition module to the top left corner of the back cover. The vertical arrangement of the “popular” is very recent. It would be nice to see everyone.
In addition to the black version, Mi MiX 2S also added a white version of the metal middle frame, the front, and rear panels are white, the back cover is also a 4-curved ceramic, and the middle frame is a 7-series aluminum alloy with a silver matte finish. It is worth noting that the two colors of the Mi MiX 2S are in the middle of the metal frame, and the Unibody all-ceramic version has not been introduced for the time being.
Taking into account that this is an “S” product, Mi MiX 2S’s appearance process using the same design of Mi MiX 2, so i think it is not surprising, and even now, the Mi MiX 2 ID is still fine enough and perfect, especially if you don’t like it. Although the progress in the appearance process is limited, there are two Mi MiX 2S experiences worth mentioning through software upgrades.
The first one is gestures.
In order to achieve a larger and more “complete” display area, gestures have become the “standard” feature of the recently-announced full-screen mobile phone. Xiaomi also added a full-screen gesture function to some mobile phones in the recent MIUI update.
However, unlike common logic that pulls up different functions from different locations on the bottom, MIUI 9’s full-screen gestures just “arrange” the return to the home page for the bottom pull-up function. The bottom pull-up hover is multitasking, and the frequency of use the highest return is to slide inward from the left and right screen edges.
This embarrassment does not seem to be “mainstream” and the threshold may be slightly higher when you first started. After I used the Redmi Note 5 and the Mi MiX 2S for a few days, it has become my favorite full-screen gesture. Sliding up from the bottom of the screen, MIUI’s return gestures use shorter finger strokes and are more convenient for one-handed operation.
The second is the front camera experience .
Limited by the size of the “chin” area, it is difficult for Xiaomi to equip the MIX with a very luxurious front camera, which is why Mi MiX 2S remains stuck at 5MP. Fortunately, the self-portrait and the front-facing camera’s hardware quality do not have a particularly high correlation. On the contrary, the algorithm occupies a larger proportion.
Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S also emphasized the improvement of the front camera algorithm, including the use of AI to more intelligent beauty, the use of AI to achieve a “false reality” portrait blur effect without a secondary camera.
In addition, although the face of the face when entering the screen is a little strange, but the Mi MiX 2S can also support face unlocking (Mi MiX 2 has also been added to the system update), the speed and accuracy of the unlocking are ideal, and other front cameras in the there is no obvious difference between the models at the top of the screen.
Hardware configuration is the first major upgrade of Mi MiX 2S.
Not surprisingly, Mi MiX 2S is equipped with a new generation of Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC coupled with 8GB of Ram and 256GB of internal storage. Compared with Snapdragon 835, Snapdragon 845 has about 30% advantage in CPU and GPU performance, and the power consumption under the same performance is also reduced, and there is a certain improvement in ISP, DSP, baseband, and process.
In addition to the individual upgrades of the different components, the Snapdragon 845 has an important upgrade that is native AI computing power. Different from the additional NPU chips used by Kirin 970, Qualcomm chose to use existing CPUs, GPUs, and DSP chips, and use the supporting NPE software framework to select the most suitable hardware. AI-related operations.
According to data provided by Qualcomm, Snapdragon 845’s performance in local AI calculations is 3 times that of Snapdragon 835, which means that mobile phone manufacturers can use Qualcomm’s AI engine (Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence Engine) to achieve more complex mobile-based local. The function of AI operation, and Mi MiX 2S also fully utilize these functions in the camera section, as detailed below.
There is nothing to say in terms of scoreAntutu. In addition to the Exynos 9810 which seems to have no one to “drive” in some projects, the Snapdragon 845 is in a silent state in the Android camp. I would like to share what I am using here. Mi MiX 2S real feelings.
In the game, whether it is the king’s glory, or the game test, or even the NBA 2K18, the Mi MiX 2S can be easily done. Perhaps more importantly, even if you don’t spend a lot of time on mobile games like me, in the opening and background switching of daily apps, I can clearly feel the fluency of Snapdragon 845 on mobile phones. When using Mi MiX 2, I never felt any “bottleneck” in the performance of Snapdragon 835, but Mi MiX 2S is indeed faster and smoother.
In all the Android phones I’ve used, the Mi MiX 2S is undoubtedly the smoothest one at the moment. Even if compared with the single-core performance “broken” iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, Mi MiX 2S will not fall into the wind when the app starts, cuts down the video and other operations, and in the multi-task switching, with a larger Ram memory, Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S can run 10 apps in the background without stress and without fear of being killed. It is better to experience the iPhone X that was killed in the background than the app.
Compared to the extremely good performance, Mi MiX 2S’s endurance performance is relatively ordinary. The battery capacity of Mi MiX 2S did not increase, and it was still 3,400 mAh. Given that the power consumption control of Snapdragon 845 was still outstanding, Mi MiX 2S had little problem in its daily moderate usage.
One of the best cameras in the history of Xiaomi
Compared to the “fever” performance, “exploration” of the process and outstanding cost-effective, the camera is not the traditional strengths of the Xiaomi phone until Mi MiX 2S.
Look at the traditional hardware part, Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S main camera uses Sony IMX363 CMOS, which is newer Sony introduced a partial high-end positioning of sensors, is to use a lot of the previous flagship, has now been Redmi,Meizu “decentralization” IMX362 thousand Yuan mobile to an upgraded version, the sensor size is 1 / 2.55 inches, 12MP, a single pixel area of 1.4 microns, supports full-focus pixels (each pixel can be split into two photosensitive elements involved in focus). In addition, the Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S main camera aperture f/1.9, 6P lens.
Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S is also equipped with a 12MP camera deputy, programs should Note 3, it’s equivalent focal length of about 50mm, to achieve about 2 times Lossless zoom, in the portrait mode, this “Telephoto” sub-camera will also be used as the main imaging, to achieve a more natural perspective.
From the point of view of parameters, Mi MiX 2S can be said to be full of sincerity, but historical experience has told us countless times: If you want to take a good picture, “stacking” is not enough, and what’s more important is that algorithm. The good news is that Mi MiX 2S also has many bright spots in the algorithm.
Here we have to move out again Snapdragon 845, it has benefited Snapdragon 845 advances in ISP, DSP, and local AI performance, Mi MiX 2S camera joined two important algorithms: multi-frame noise reduction scenarios and AI camera.
Wherein the multi-frame noise reduction is followed by a plurality of continuous shooting when the shutter synthesized in order to improve image quality, a photosensitive member for small mobile phones, multi-frame noise reduction to improve image quality in a low light very efficiently ideas The AI scene camera is a mobile phone that can intelligently identify the corresponding scene when shooting and automatically optimize.
Strictly speaking, multi-frame noise reduction and AI scene cameras are not new, and many phones have used similar functions before Mi MiX 2S. Of course, the function is not only a basis, what is important is how it can be used, and this is where we are most surprised at the Mi MiX 2S camera.
As for the AI camera, according to Xiaomi, Mi MiX 2S can identify 25 kinds of labels, including 206 fine-grained specific scenes. In my experience, the AI camera feels a bit like a smart “filter”. When the corresponding scene is detected, the phone automatically “beautize” the photo to make the flowers and the sky more vivid. Blue, food is more attractive and the text is clearer. In some shooting scenes, the addition of the AI camera to the photo is obvious.
To be critical, Mi MiX 2S scene cameras occasionally have the same problems as other brands with similar functions. Of course, these problems will be further improved with the iterations of the later software, but even now, I am still willing to open the Mi MiX 2S camera features, at least not bad, and occasionally bring a little surprise.
In the camera experience, the performance of the Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S reflects the standard of a domestic flagship mobile. Focus, metering performance is no problem, especially focusing, thanks to full-pixel dual-camera focus and Snapdragon 845 powerful ISP, MIX 2S in low light focusing speed is very close to the industry represented by Galaxy Note 8/S9 Stronger than iPhone X.
After talking about the hardware, features, and experience, I finally got the exciting samples. (Frankly speaking, I was really excited when I saw the samples.)
Due to time constraints, we skipped the daytime and watched the night shot directly.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Samsung Galaxy S9
iPhone X
In this group of night scenes, Mi MiX 2S shows a surprising degree of tolerance through a multi-frame synthesis of violence. The buildings on both sides of the picture are clearly visible. The details of the shadows are even iPhone X and the “night vision monitor” Samsung Galaxy S9. Too many, but overly aggressive exposure strategies have made the highlights of the Mi MiX 2S a bit overexposed, slightly less than the iPhone X and Galaxy S9 (especially the Galaxy S9). As for Mi MiX 2, it’s not better than that.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Samsung Galaxy S9
iPhone X
The performance of this group of samples is similar. Mi MiX 2S has the rich details in shadows, but the details in the highlights are slightly lost. The performance of the iPhone X and Mi MiX 2S are not too much, but the details of the shadows of the Galaxy S9 are not much, but they show amazing resolving power. And the purity of the picture, you can’t look like this smartphone.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Samsung Galaxy S9
iPhone X
Lastly, in this group, in a similar exposure strategy, the performance gap between Mi MiX 2S, Galaxy S9, and iPhone X is not large, and the Galaxy S9 has a slight advantage in terms of cleanliness. Frankly speaking, even if I previously had a relatively high expectation of the Mi MiX 2S camera (after all, Xiaomi was really serious about taking pictures), Mi MiX 2S exceeded my expectations.
With the help of excellent hardware and multi-frame synthesis algorithms, the Mi MiX 2S night beat has almost a quantum leap compared to previous Mi MiX 2S, even in the face of the iPhone X or even the Galaxy S9. Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S can also move. In one sentence, Mi MiX 2S is the best Xiaomi Smartphone in history and is also the first Smartphone that Xiaomi can use to photograph the first echelon.
At the same time, Xiaomi also revealed the score of Mi MiX 2S on DxOMark. In the single shot (note that it was a single shot, not considering the video), Mi MiX 2S scored a bit of a daunting 101 points. This score has already tied iPhone X. It is second only to Samsung Galaxy S9+ (104 points) in all DxOMark tested phones, surpassing the highest score of Huawei Mate 10 Pro (100 points).
Of course, DxOMark has a complex score behind it. Its scores combine many factors such as focus, color, texture, flash, zoom, and blur. For ordinary users who are not so concerned about, DxOMark is a little bit different. It often cannot be reflected in the actual experience. However, the excellent performance of the Mi MiX 2S in photography is beyond doubt.
Built-in “Xiaomi AI” can send voice messages directly
It is worth mentioning that Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S also has built-in intelligent AI voice assistant – “Xiaomi AI”. The actual experience is basically the same as that of the Xiaomi AI speakers. The awakening hot words are still the familiar “Xiaomi AI”, support voice recognition (only recognize the user’s own voice) and wake up in standby mode, the success rate of wakeup is very high and basically not. There will be false awakening, quiet environment, about 3 meters from the phone can still wake up normally.
Functionally, in addition to checking commonly used functions such as weather, checking routes, setting reminders and to-do items, setting alarm clocks, voice search songs, etc., Mi MiX 2S’s “Little Lovers” can also complete instructions that contain multiple consecutive operations, such as “Xiaomi AI, send a 10 yuan WeChat red envelope to the monkey and say you are fat “, this sentence contains a voice wake up, open WeChat, search for “monkey” in the contacts, open the dialogue interface, choose to send red envelopes, in order Enter “10” and “You are fat”. The whole process is still very complicated. Prior to this, the Bixby Chinese version was only possible for mobile phone voice assistants to achieve similar functions.
7.5W Wireless Charge
Wireless charging is a new feature of Mi MiX 2S. There is nothing to say about the function. Xiaomi Mi MiX 2S has a small optimization on the experience. When the Smartphone deviates from the wireless charging coil, the mobile phone will pop up a reminder. In order to cooperate with wireless charging, Xiaomi naturally also introduced a wireless charging board of its own, disc design, white body, the surface is a comfortable touch of silicone material, cable input is USB Type-C, wired input 5V2A, 9V2A.
With QC3.0 fast charge, Mi MiX 2S can achieve 7.5W wireless fast charge. Measured in the case of 10% of the remaining battery power, using the original Mi MiX 2S original 18W fast charging head, 1 hour can be charged from 20% to 65%, taking into account the battery capacity of the Mi MiX 2S, this speed belongs to the wireless charging Faster. Of course, you can also use the included USB Type-C data cable and QC3.0 charging head for fast cable charging, which can be filled in one hour.
Xiaomi’s wireless charging board sells for $99. Considering its process and charging specifications, this price can be said to be very good value. In addition, if you purchase a top-mounted 8GB+256GB version of the Mi MiX 2S, you will receive a wireless charging board.
If you have already used MIX 2, when you just saw Mi MiX 2S, you may feel a little lost in its basically unchanged appearance and design. Of course, this is not because the appearance of Mi MiX 2S process is not good enough, even now, Mi MiX 2S’s ID is still relatively leading, especially if you are not interested in “Notch”.
However, when you really use Mi MiX 2S, you will feel this is a very “new” product. The Snapdragon 845, the maximum 6GB/8GB of Ram memory and MIUI 9 make the Mi MiX 2S the most fluent Android phone on the market. The addition of new hardware and new algorithms has improved the camera performance of the Mi MiX 2S. To challenge the strength of the industry’s highest photo-capturing opponent.
Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S will be available in black and white for the price of 3,299 yuan ( about $524.54 ) for the 6/64 GB version (same price as the previous Mi MIX 2), 3,599 yuan ( about $572.24 ) for the 6 / model 128 GB, and finally 3,999 yuan ( about $635.84 ) for the top of the range, with 8/256 GB and with a wireless charging base included. The latter obviously also supports competing smartphones, such as iPhone X and Galaxy S8 / S9, and costs just 99 yuan, not even $15.74. Right now you can preorder it to use coupon code: VMSZDMWM at $589.99 for Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S 6GB-64GB Black version.
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