The popularity of Mi5x/Mi A1 showed that Xiaomi is good not only at budget smartphones, but also at mid-range devices. Is Mi6x as good as its predecessor? In theory, this has everything you need: modern design, updated hardware, and a camera with good performance. But it just so happens that there are almost no Xiaomi smartphones without nuances and compromises. Let's figure out what future Mi6x owners will have to put up with.
Xiaomi Mi6x line Smartphones and mobile phones on
Models in the line: 2
Price range: 4,128 − 4,790 UAH
Smartphone provided by NiSoMi
Equipment
In addition to the smartphone, in the box we found a USB Type-C cable, a charger with current parameters of 5V/2A, a transparent silicone case, a clip for the SIM card tray and an adapter from Type-C to 3.5 mm. Yes, the device does not have a standard audio jack. It seems that this fashion has reached the middle price segment.
Audio
Mi 6X uses a single mono speaker. The sound quality can be assessed as good. However, if you compare the speaker volume with Mi Note 3, the sound is not so loud.
See also: Redmi Note 9 and Note 9 Pro concepts
The gadget does an excellent job of listening to streaming music, thanks to the LDAC technology integrated into Android Oreo. There are no lags or delays in the audio track. For testing, we used the Mi Pistons Dual Driver headset and watched several good movies.
The gadget supports major video and audio formats. To listen to music on headphones, you can use the USB Type-C / Jack 3.5 mm adapter that comes with the kit, or any bluetooth headset.
Design
Compared to the previous generation, the Mi6x's appearance is a noticeable step forward. Xiaomi used a fashionable “full-screen” design, which definitely benefited the smartphone. The lower and upper frames have been noticeably reduced, and the edges of the screen have been rounded - everything as it should be in 2020. These features make the smartphone feel sleek, thin and modern, both visually and tactilely.
The body is all metal, the assembly is excellent. The thickness is 7.3 mm (excluding the camera module), and the weight is 168 grams. Due to the rounded edges, the case is a little slippery, but without a cover you can use it almost without any problems. Thanks to its thin bezels and 18:9 aspect ratio, the device can be operated with one hand, unless you need to reach for the top half of the screen.
There are 5 colors to choose from: black, blue, pink, gold and red. We tested a gold-colored version, but it has a pink tint, which made it difficult to understand what color it was—gold or pink—when comparing the device with official renders.
Nothing fundamentally has changed in the layout of keys and connectors, compared to other Xiaomi and the previous generation of smartphones. On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power key. On the top there is an infrared port and an additional microphone. On the bottom there is a conversational microphone, a speaker and a USB Type-C port. Above the display are the earpiece, front camera and light sensor, proximity sensor and LED event indicator. The buttons below the screen are now gone, replaced by virtual keys. You can also choose to control using gestures, which we will discuss later.
What I didn’t like about the device was the large camera module. Not only is it literally copied from the iPhone X, but it also protrudes beyond the body by a couple of millimeters, which is why the smartphone wobbles when lying on a flat surface.
The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel and, as always, works instantly.
Screen
Unlike the black version, all other color options come with a white front panel. Some people will like this solution. Other users, on the contrary, may consider this a disadvantage when you buy a gold Mi 6X, and the front will be white instead of gold. Redmi 5 Plus had the same disadvantage. But this is a matter of taste, since from a design point of view, white looks much more elegant.
From the front, the new product is completely reminiscent of the front full-screen panel of the Redmi 5 Plus. Therefore, if you want to buy a Xiaomi Mi 6X, but you doubt whether the screen will be convenient. Then you can go to any store and test the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus screen there yourself. Since according to their specifications, both displays have the same characteristics:
Network: GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA/HSPA (900/1800/1900/2100 MHz), FDD-LTE (B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B34, B38, B39, B40, B41), TD-SCDMA, CDMA Platform (at the time of announcement): Android Oreo with MIUI 9 Display: 5.99″, 2160 x 1080 pixels, 18:9, 403ppi, 1500:1, IPS Camera: dual, 12 MP, (Sony IMX486, 1.25 micron, f/1.75) + 20 MP (Sony IMX376, 2 micron with TetraCell, f/1.75), 4K@30fps Front camera: 20 MP, Sony IMX376, 2 micron with TetraCell Processor: 8 cores, 4 x 2.2 GHz + 4 x 1.8 GHz, Quаlcomm Snapdragon 660 Graphics chip: Adreno 512 650 MHz RAM: 4/6 GB LPDDR4X Internal file memory: 64/128 GB eMMC 5.1 Memory card: no GPS and GLONASS Bluetooth 5.0 HID Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), 2×2 MU-MIMO USB Type-C Two nano-SIM slots Fingerprint scanner Battery: 3010 mAh, fast charging QuickCharge 3.0 18W Gadget dimensions: 158.7 x 75.44 x 7.3 mm Gadget weight: 168 g
Display
A 6-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 2160x1080 manufactured by Tianma is one of the main advantages of the Mi6x. The quality of the picture made a very good impression. Color rendition is uniform, there are no obvious visual deviations in any of the shades, although measurements showed a slight advantage of blue. The measured contrast level was 1:1259.
Visually, the display cannot be called warm or cold; rather, it is neutral. I was also pleased with the brightness range, which according to measurements ranged from 1 to 384 cd/m² (contrast - 1:1259). On a sunny day with direct illumination, the brightness is no longer enough, but the image can be distinguished, and thanks to the very low minimum brightness, the smartphone is convenient to use in the dark. In terms of image quality and properties, the display is very similar to the Redmi Note 5, which we recently tested.
How do you remember the display?
The quality of the screen and its main parameters deserve only positive ratings, since it uses an IPS matrix with a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels. The aspect ratio in comparison with the Xiaomi Mi 5X has changed to 18:9.
The brightness remains at the same high level of 500 nits, the contrast ratio is 1:1259. The quality of color rendering also does not cause any complaints, since there are no deviations to any of the shades. The phone screen is also convenient to use in bright sunlight, as the image remains perfectly visible.
CPU
The long-lasting and well-proven Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chip, which was used in the Mi5x/Mi A1, is replaced by the Snapdragon 660. This system-on-chip is equipped with 8 Kryo 260 cores and Adreno 512 graphics. It includes two clusters of 4 cores, the frequency of the first is 2.2 GHz, and the second is 1.84 GHz. The technological process is also new - 14 nm.
Performance and hardware
The Xiaomi Mi 6X smartphone has a central processor SDM660 Snapdragon 660 AIE. The Adreno 512 video card is responsible for graphics in games. Eight cores ensure stable operation of the system.
6 GB RAM eliminates any glitches and freezes. This is the amount of RAM that is installed in all modern flagships.
Built-in memory - 64 GB. This is quite enough for the Xiaomi Mi 6X to fit all the user’s files.
To save space, you can use Mi Cloud - the application is built into all Xiaomi smartphones and allows you to store most data online, saving the physical space of the gadget.
Antutu test results
Checking the power of Xiaomi Mi 6X on the Antutu resource showed a result of 83,564 points. To catch up with Mi Note 3, the mid-range smartphone lacked only 727 points.
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Pcmark test
Xiaomi Mi 6 X scored 6085 points, which is considered a completely balanced result. For comparison, Mi Mix2 scored 6800 points.
xiaomitoday.com
Androbench test
Xiaomi Mi 6X works stably. The indicators are considered optimal for gadgets in 2020. Data recording and editing are fast.
xiaomitoday.com
Performance
As for heating, the smartphone becomes barely warm only in heavy games, and remains cold during all other tasks. As for throttling, it does occur, as demonstrated by the CPU Throttling Test.
High speed and performance in games are noticeable to the eye even without special tests. So, in Real Racing 3 you can get a frame rate close (by eye) to 60 with good graphics. The same applies to World of Tanks Blitz and Asphalt 8. PUBG can be played with acceptable fps on average graphics.
The memory speed also turned out to be high, but not much higher than that of the same Redmi Note 5. In the test configuration, the smartphone’s RAM capacity was 6 GB, and the storage capacity was 64 GB. 4/64 and 6/128 GB versions will also be available for sale. There is no option to expand the memory. The SIM card tray only supports the installation of two NanoSIMs. By the way, the tray itself is metal, not plastic.
Xiaomi Mi 6X review
The Xiaomi Mi 6X smartphone was presented in mid-spring 2020. In terms of popularity and quality, it is not inferior to the company’s previous models.
Design and ergonomics
The Mi 6X does not stand out in terms of design. This is a frameless camera phone with a metal body and plastic inserts on the bottom and top of the device.
On the back of the case there is a fingerprint scanner and a protruding camera, which makes it difficult to position the device evenly.
The position of the volume and lock buttons is on the top right. On the left side of the case there is a tray for SIM cards. Installation of a memory card is not provided.
The smartphone has a USB Type-C port, a rarity for frameless Xiaomi devices. To accommodate the innovation, we had to remove the 3.5mm Jack connector. You can connect wireless headphones or purchase an adapter.
Display
Xiaomi Mi 6X has an IPS display with an aspect ratio of 18 by 9 inches and a resolution of 2160 X 1080 pixels. Thanks to the IPS matrix, the viewing angle does not affect the display of colors. The oleophobic coating on the screen - a modification of the Xiaomi Mi 6 model - protects against palm marks.
The font and display colors can be adjusted in the settings.
Performance
The smartphone has an eight-core Snapdragon-based processor with a maximum clock frequency of 2.2 GHz, which will allow you to install demanding applications and games.
The user is given a choice between four and six gigabytes of RAM; the price of the device will depend on the difference.
The installed LPDDR4X RAM allows you to work comfortably and helps the processor handle powerful games with maximum settings.
Communication and sound
The stereo speakers in Xiaomi Mi 6X are located on the bottom edge of the body. At high volumes the sounds do not overlap each other. In the headphones, low frequencies are heard with high quality, and high frequencies do not “wheeze”.
Unlike other Redmi, there are no problems with the speaker in the Mi 6X: the interlocutor can be clearly heard.
Camera
Mi 6X has a camera protruding from the body. This is due to the width, which did not accommodate a double module.
The photo quality of the Mi 6X outperforms previous Xiaomi and iPhone models. The smartphone takes “smart photos” thanks to improved and updated AI.
Equipment
Wireless interfaces include Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX HD, LDAC codecs are supported), as well as an infrared port for controlling household appliances. There is no NFC module and this is a minus. The smartphone supports LTE bands 3 and 7, that is, with 4G support in Ukraine everything is “ok”. There were no complaints about the quality of communication during use.
The speaker has a good volume reserve, which allows you to clearly hear your interlocutor even in noisy places. There are no questions about the microphone's performance either. The quality of the main speaker is good, it is loud, and at the maximum level there is minimal distortion. The vibration alert is not the strongest, but it is noticeable in your pocket. Searching for satellites, even in densely built conditions, is fast.
Cameras and photos
The main camera is a tandem of Sony sensors, 20 and 12 megapixels. The aperture of each of them is the same, only the lens angle differs - the first is a telephoto for maximum zoom, as it supports 2x optical zoom, the second is wide-angle.
The detailing is not bad, but due to the pixel size it suffers from the fact that it does not let in enough light when it is in short supply. As a result, pictures in the dark become noisy, and the software algorithms that stop this joke mercilessly cut out small details, making the photo less interesting.
Portrait mode is good, but sometimes it doesn't blur the background as well as it should. The more disheveled a person’s hair is, the more aggressively the algorithms will consider it as the background and also blur it out.
A similar function in the front camera works even worse, but not by much. The matrix itself produces good images, but it is better to turn off all automatic beauty filters in advance - with them the images will be too sleek.
operating system
The test smartphone ran Android 8.1 and MIUI 9.5.7.0. There was no global version of the firmware at the time of publication of the review. There were no complaints about the stability and speed of operation. The interface is smooth and responsive, using the smartphone is a pleasure. In this regard, the difference with models on Snapdragon 625 is noticeable to the naked eye.
Control Gestures
One of the features of MIUI on smartphones without physical buttons is gestures, which are designed to replace the standard functions of calling the multitasking menu, going to the home screen and going back. It’s done very intuitively and clearly, you get used to the gestures very quickly and don’t want to go back to the buttons.
To exit to the desktop, just swipe up from the bottom of the screen; to access running programs, you need to perform the same gesture, but at the final point, hold your finger for a second, and go back by swiping from the right or left side of the screen.
Appearance and ergonomics
Manufacturers left the lower part of the Xiaomi Mi 6X smartphone for the microphone and loudspeaker speaker. They placed the Type-C connector in the center. The Chinese brand has abandoned the headphone input, so Mi 6X owners will have to use a special adapter that comes included.
youtu.be/aCPbcjxHZWQ
On the top panel of Mi 6X there is an infrared sensor for using the gadget as a universal remote control. There is a microphone nearby that suppresses noise during conversations. On the left side there is a slot with SIM cards. On the right is the power button and volume rocker.
On the outer panel of the Mi 6X there is a dual camera with flash. It protrudes slightly from the body, so manufacturers recommend wearing a case: this way, the corners of the lenses will be protected from bumps and scratches. There is a fingerprint scanner in the center of the back panel of the Xiaomi Mi 6X.
Camera
The photographic capabilities of the Xiaomi Mi6x are represented by two main Sony sensors - IMX376 (20 MP, f/1.75) and IMX486 (12 MP, f/1.75). The second 20 megapixel module is responsible for 2x optical zoom.
The cameras demonstrate good shooting quality in daylight, but in low light there is a noticeable loss of detail. With artificial light and its lack, detail is also lost, “soap” appears, but moderately.
There is a portrait mode that blurs the background and thus simulates shooting with an open aperture, but in practice it works overly aggressively. In general, the quality of the camera can be called quite good, but nothing more.
The front camera is a Sony IMX386 module, the shooting quality is not bad, but I recommend immediately disabling all photo quality “enhancers”, as they cause the photos to lose detail.
Video recording is available in a maximum resolution of 4K. Slow motion and timelapse modes are supported. There is digital image stabilization. The picture quality is good, but the same cannot be said about the sound. You can hear artifacts on the recording, and the quality itself is not very high; This is probably due to the aggressive action of the noise reduction.
PV module capabilities
In terms of the quality of sensors and optics, the Xiaomi Mi 6X is significantly superior to its direct competitors. Thus, the dual main camera has IMX 376 modules (resolution is 20 megapixels and is responsible for 2x digital zoom) and IMX 486, but already 12 megapixels. The aperture of both cameras is f/1.75 and there is no telephoto lens.
The product is equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms, thanks to which it is possible to automatically determine the optimal settings for taking photographs. The camera's capabilities are more than enough to create bright and rich photographs in daytime conditions. At night, there may be a slight loss of detail and blurred images.
The front camera also deserves attention, because its resolution is a respectable 20 megapixels and its aperture is f/1.8. Also, there is an HDR option and portrait mode, so getting a high-quality selfie is guaranteed. And another bonus is the implementation of facial recognition technology, which can be used to unlock the device.
Autonomy
It’s hard to expect a miracle from a combination of a 3000 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 660. It didn’t happen here. Under average load, the smartphone lasts approximately 1.5 days. During this time, you can surf the Internet for several hours, text, listen to music for several hours, take photographs and play for up to half an hour. By excluding games from this list, you can hardly get two full days of work. But if you use your smartphone to the fullest, then the day is the result you should count on. 8 hours in PCMark is also not something outstanding.
Fortunately, there is support for Quick Charge 3.0, thanks to which the smartphone can be charged in 1 hour and 20 minutes from a suitable charger. The included charger charges the smartphone in about 2 hours.
4
ITC.UA rating
Pros: appearance, display, performance
Cons: no NFC, poor battery life, protruding camera module
Conclusion: I'll start with what I didn't like. The absence of NFC can no longer be forgiven. The camera could potentially be better, because from a technical point of view everything is there. I really liked the design and the body, but Xiaomi managed to spoil this impression with the camera module protruding almost 2 mm. I would like to get longer battery life and for this I could sacrifice a millimeter of body thickness. Fortunately, this is where the shortcomings end. The screen, design, speed of operation - all this deserves high praise, especially considering the stated price. We must not forget that a version of the Android One program with a “clean” OS should soon be released, and in combination with the above-mentioned advantages, the device will definitely become a bestseller, which will be forgiven for a number of shortcomings.
Specifications
| Xiaomi Mi6x 6/64GB Gold Notify when on sale | |
| Type | Smartphone |
| Pre-installed OS | Android 8.0 |
| RAM, GB | 6 |
| Built-in memory, GB | 64 |
| Expansion slot | — |
| SIM card type | Nano-SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 + GPU Adreno 512 |
| Number of Cores | 8 |
| Frequency, GHz | 4×2,2+4×1,84 |
| Battery | Li-Pol, 3010 mAh (non-removable) |
| Diagonal, inches | 5,99 |
| Permission | 2160×1080 |
| Matrix type | IPS |
| PPI | 403 |
| Dimming sensor | + |
| Display Features | 2.5D glass, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Main camera, MP | 12 (f/1.75) + 20 |
| Video shooting | 3840×2160 (30 fps) |
| Flash | + (double LED) + front (LED) |
| Front camera, MP | 20 (f/2.0) |
| Camera Features | electronic stabilization |
| Communication standards | GSM 850/900/1800/1900; WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100; FDD-LTE 850/900/1800/2100/2600; TD-LTE 1900/2300/2500/2600 |
| WiFi | 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
| GPS | + (GLONASS, Beidou) |
| IrDA | + |
| FM radio | — |
| Audio jack | + |
| NFC | — |
| Interface connector | USB Type-C |
| Height, mm | 158,7 |
| Width, mm | 75,4 |
| Thickness, mm | 7,3 |
| Weight, g | 168 |
| Protection from dust and moisture | — |
| Type of shell | monoblock (non-separable) |
| Housing material | aluminum |
| Keyboard type | screen input |
| More | fast charging support, fingerprint scanner |
Advantages and disadvantages of the Mi 6X phone
The dimensions of Xiaomi Mi 6X are 75.4 mm wide, 158.7 mm long and 7.3 mm thick. With such dimensions it is convenient to operate the device with one hand. The weight of Xiaomi Mi 6X is about 168 grams, this weight is quite noticeable if you hold the phone in one hand; when working with the phone with one hand for a long time, your hand may well get tired.
If we evaluate the overall ease of use of the phone taking into account the size and weight, then there will be no problems with everyday use.
The smartphone is equipped with an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 MSM8976 Plus processor, which is made on 14 nm. technical process.
The smartphone has 4 GB. RAM, which is quite enough. In very rare cases it will not be enough, but with this amount of RAM, you will rarely have problems.
The device's data storage capacity is 32 GB, and while this is enough for photos, it may not be enough for video shooting and a large number of games.
Since the phone does not support SD cards, you need to ensure that the device has enough memory for your needs.
Mi 6X has a display diagonal of 5.99 inches. It's quite big. Photos, videos and games will look great on this screen. It is also suitable for productive use, such as creating a business document.
The smartphone has a high-end display and any graphic content you display on it, including videos and games, will be displayed clearly.
The main camera of the phone has 12 megapixels, which should be enough in most cases. However, you may be slightly unsatisfied with the quality of the photos.
Also, the smartphone has a 20.2 megapixel front camera, which is an extremely high figure. Since this camera can take high-quality photos, you will rarely be disappointed with its resolution. You can rely on the camera quality of this smartphone.
The battery capacity of Xiaomi Mi 6X is 3030 mAh, which is a relatively large indicator. Compared to other smartphones, the battery life of the Xiaomi Mi 6X is good. With this capacity, you won't experience any problems even if you spend time on the Internet or Twitter for a long period of time. Even while playing games or watching videos, you can do so comfortably without worrying about battery life. However, some caution should be exercised when watching movies or playing games for too long.
