bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Ben Sin

If there’s one consistent rule in the history of consumer electronics, it’s that devices always get smaller and more compact from generation to generation.
In the smartphone world, however, there has been an anomaly between roughly 2014 to early this year. Pushed by consumer desire for larger mobile screens, smartphones increasingly grew in size.
Xiaomi aims to ship more than 100 million phones in 2018
This break from tradition is coming to an end thanks to South Korean tech giants LG and Samsung, both of which released flagship handsets this year that used small bezels and a new display aspect ratio to slim down in overall size without sacrificing much screen real estate.




Other phone makers including Apple and Huawei have all but confirmed its next devices will follow suit. That makes Xiaomi’s new giant phablet the Mi Max 2 the last of a dying breed.

Design and hardware
At 174.1mm tall, the Mi Max 2 towers over the iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S8+, but it’s the 88.7mm width that makes the device truly unwieldy. Unless you’re an NBA player, you’re not going to be able to grip the phone securely nor reach icons on the opposite side of the display with one hand (I even had trouble reaching the rear fingerprint reader at times).
First impressions of Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+: engineering marvels, with screens running from edge to bevelled edge
The Mi Max 2 is the first device I’ve accidentally dropped due to its sheer size. It survived the fall without a scratch though, thanks to the very well-built metal frame.
Those who still doubt the usefulness of bezel-less phones should look at the photo of the Mi Max 2 side by side with the Mi Mix (also made by Xiaomi).
Both devices have the exact same 6.44-inch display, yet the Mi Mix is much smaller. The Mi Max 2 is a good-looking device, but its bulk is the result of wasted space.
Considering the phone’s budget price point, we can’t fault the dated hardware too much.
Software and features
Other than being very big, the Mi Max 2 doesn’t have any stand-out feature. It’s only got one rear camera, so it can’t do fancy trick photography tricks like the OnePlus 5; it’s not waterproof or extra rugged like the Blackview BV8000 Pro; its display is neither curvy nor ridiculously hi-res.

But don’t mistake a lack of gimmicks for mediocrity: this is a very solid performer that works. Xiaomi’s custom software (MIUI 8.5) is highly customisable and enjoyable to use, though it does away with some useful Android’s built-in features such as quick jumping between apps by double tapping the “recent apps” button. Overall MIUI brings enough positives to the table, which is something you can’t say with most Chinese Android skins.

Performance and battery life
With a screen this big, the Mi Max 2 is excellent for gaming and watching videos. The 1080p LCD display panel produces vivid colours and sharpness, with a maximum brightness of 496 nits (which is sufficient for outdoor use under the sun).
More impressively, the display has a minimum brightness of just 1 nit, which is dim enough that you can use the device in a dark setting (such as inside a cinema or bedroom at night) and not annoy the person next to you.
Xiaomi edges past Apple in China’s Q2 smartphone sales, as local brands extend lead
The phone also has stereo speakers (with sound coming from a bottom-firing speaker grille and the earpiece) which adds to the immersion when watching NetFlix or YouTube.
The chipset inside the Mi Max 2 is only a Snapdragon 625, so don’t expect it to be as powerful as Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 6. But in real life use the 625 still held up pretty well. I did find that large apps (such as graphic-heavy games like Mortal Kombat X) took longer to load than on other devices, but overall performance was stable without apps crashing or dropped frames.
In line with previous Xiaomi devices, the Mi Max 2 has superb battery life but just a decent camera. The 5,300 mAh battery inside powered my device for nearly two full days. I’m a heavy user, so for many others, this phone can go 48 hours on a single charge.
The 12-megapixel camera produces detailed images with accurate colours in the day, but low-light shots suffer from noise and lack of light (even when compared to fellow budget devices like the now one-year-old OnePlus 3T).
Xiaomi’s camera software is a joy to use, however, with plenty of pre-installed filters. The optical image stabilisation when shooting videos is good, as videos come out mostly steady even when walking at a fast pace.
Conclusion
The Mi Max 2 is a niche device that’s not for everybody. Its size means you must use it with two hands for most tasks and it will have trouble fitting into some trouser pockets. But if you are okay with that, HK$1,900 (for the 64GB) is a good price for an excellent media consumption device.
Key specifications
Dimensions: 174.1mm x 88.7mm x 7.6 mm
Weight: 211 grams
Display: 6.4 inch, 1080 X 1920
Battery: 5,300 mAh
OS version reviewed: Android 7.1
Processor: Snapdragon 625
Cameras: 12-megapixel f/2.2 rear, 5-megapixel f/2.0 front
Memory: 64GB/128GB ROM, 4GB RAM
Colour: black
Price: HK$1,900 (64GB), HK$2,400 (128GB)


Hong Kong stocks rise to 2-week high on policy hopes, ‘Santa Claus’ rally

Xiaomi stock dips after co-founder Lin Bin unveils US$2 billion share sale plan

Robotic vacuum maker Dreame says untapped global demand to drive next phase of growth

Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra, backed by Leica, challenges Apple’s iPhone Pro Max in mobile imaging

Xiaomi

Tech review: Xiaomi Mi Max 2 – giant phablet too big for one hand, even if it is excellent for gaming and watching videos

The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 – a giant phablet that many users will struggle to hold in one hand, for all its qualities. Photo: Ben Sin

This handout image shows Xiaomi Mi Max (L) and Xiaomi Mi Max 2 (R). Photo: Ben Sin [07AUGUST2017 FEATURES DIGITAL]

This image taken by Xiaomi Mi Max 2, shot of a fruit vendor in Jordan. Notice the image has good details and accurate colours, but the sky is overexposed. Photo: Ben Sin [07AUGUST2017 FEATURES DIGITAL]

This handout image shows Xiaomi Mi Max 2, uses physical hardware buttons that are unfortunately not interchangeable. Photo: Ben Sin [07AUGUST2017 FEATURES DIGITAL]

This handout image shows Xiaomi Mi Max 2 USB-C port. The device’s bottom has a USB-C charging port and two bottom-firing speaker grills. Photo: Ben Sin [07AUGUST2017 FEATURES DIGITAL]

This handout image shows Xiaomi Mi Max 2 fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader is too high up on the massive phone, making it hard to reach. Photo: Ben Sin [07AUGUST2017 FEATURES DIGITAL]

This image taken by Xiaomi Mi Max 2, low light. Photo: Ben Sin [07AUGUST2017 FEATURES DIGITAL]

Apple, Samsung increase market share despite drop in global smartphone sales

Samsung was the biggest smartphone seller in the second quarter of 2017, delivering some 79.8 million handsets for a 23.3 per cent market share. Photo: AFP

A worker tests OPPO F1S smartphones at an OPPO smartphone factory in Tangerang, Indonesia, September 20, 2016. Picture taken September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta

Lifestyle

Tech

The last of a dying breed as bezel-free handsets take over, Xiaomi’s Mi Max 2 feels oversized, but it is great value for money, the software is a joy to use, and battery life superb


Smartphones

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Video | Tech review: Xiaomi Mi Max 2 – giant phablet too big for one hand, even if it is excellent for gaming and watching videos

Video | Tech review: Xiaomi Mi Max 2 – giant phablet too big for one hand, even if it is excellent for gaming and watching videos