Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 first impressions: Raising the bar for full-screen smartphones

Even before the Samsung Galaxy S8, Apple iPhone X and Essential PH1 embraced an edge-to-edge screen, Xiaomi shook the industry with its Mi MIX, a stunning smartphone with an all-screen front, a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio, and a ceramic body.

Even though the Mi MIX launched as a concept smartphone exclusively in China, it got a wide attention and mostly positive reviews.

Almost one year after the launch of the original Mi MIX, Xiaomi’s bezel-less smartphone has gotten a due successor, the Mi MIX 2. The phone is no longer a China-exclusive and launched in India today with a price tag of Rs 35, 999. The smartphone isn’t just an upgrade over the predecessor in terms of specifications, but also has a new design. At the same time it retains the essence of what the original Mi MIX stood for - a truly all-screen phone.

We have been using the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 for roughly a week, and here our first impressions of the device. Before we hold forth, note that the model which we were using was a China version, so the experience, especially the software bit, is most likely to be different on the India variant.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 does resemble the original Mi MIX, but that’s not a negative. Even if you haven’t seen the original Mi MIX, the new Xiaomi smartphone is going to grab your attention with its unique form factor.

The Mi MIX 2 is also quite different from what you most probably have seen on other 18:9 screen phones. While the likes of Canvas Infinity or LG Q6 bring a taller screen, but don’t really come close to becoming an all-screen smartphone.

We have extensively used the Galaxy Note 8, and we must say the Mi MIX 2, sheer in terms of all-screen front, looks a way lot better.

The Mi MIX 2 comes with a full HD+ resolution (2160 x 1080 pixels), which is pretty good. It renders pretty decent outdoor and indoor legibility. Colour reproduction is quite accurate. If you like more vibrant colours, you can always go to Settings and choose between warm, standard and cool modes. We mostly used the phone in standard colour mode. There’s also an option to optimise contrast so that the content is crisper.

While the original Mi MIX sported a larger 6.44-inch display, the MIX 2 has a more compact 5.99-inch display. A compact size makes it easier to fit in our palms and suitable for one hand usage. The front is dominated by the display, well, it covers 80% of the real estate. While there’s an ultra slim bezel on the top, the bottom has a relatively broader bezel.