Xiaomi Mi Max 2 First Impressions: The Big Max Theory

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 first impressions. Looks big but doesn’t feel the same in the hands.

Big.. ‘Bada’... Ginormous... Colossal... When one talks about the Mi Max, two of these words are sure to pop-up.

The second iteration – the Mi Phablet – has been launched in India and it is garnering ‘Big’ attention. And, why not? The Mi Max was a hit and Xiaomi is expecting the same response with the new Mi Max 2. We got our hands on the device and here’s what we think.

Design & Display: Lesser Bulk with More to Look At

The phone is big, no doubt about that, but you don’t feel the same when you handle the phone. It sports a full metal unibody design which receives a smooth finish at the back. It doesn’t smudge which is something I liked. At 211 grams, the phone is a tad heavy, so be ready to use both the hands with the Max 2. The 6.4-inch full HD display is bright enough in dim lit conditions, but struggles under direct sunlight. It’s great for playing HD games and binge watching.

Performance & Hardware: Not a Race Horse but Gets You Across the Finish Line

The Mi Max 2 runs on the mid-tier Snapdragon 625 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. Yes, the same combination as on the Redmi Note 4. Performance is smooth enough, but heats up after a session of gaming. MicroSD expansion is available so you can always add more space when you want.

The phone now comes with type-C charging, which I feel is a good addition, considering this phone accommodates a big battery.

It also comes with a fingerprint sensor at the back which is very tough to reach, which forces me to think why did they even place it there. It also comes with an IR blaster so the remote control capabilities continue.

Camera & Battery: Ordinary Camera with an Extraordinary Battery

Wasn’t impressed with the camera performance of the Mi Max 2, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting it to do the same. The 12-megapixel shooter at the back lacks the crispness, while it also fails to balance light in harshly lit conditions. The front camera has the same story. Just average.

What is the headline making feature of the phone is that it comes with a mammoth 5300mAh battery inside that supports Quick Charge 3.0 (charges 68% of the phone in 1 hour).

There really aren’t many phone out there competing with the Mi Max in the phablet category. Priced at Rs 16,999 in the Indian market for the 4GB and 64GB variant, Xiaomi is giving us a brilliant deal.

The nearest competitor is the Oppo F3 Plus which crosses the 25k mark. This phone is clearly not for everyone, so only go for it if you are someone who consumes a lot of online content. As for Xiaomi, this is a ‘Big’ upgrade.

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