Mobile phone xiaomi mi 4c. Review of the Xiaomi Mi4C smartphone, almost a flagship in a budget package! Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
Xiaomi initially tried to become a serious competitor for largest producers flagship smartphones, however, it was strategically important to occupy its niche in all price segments. Therefore, Xiaomi Mi4c has become popular in the middle class, mainly due to its low price and excellent hardware.
Equipment
Xiaomi Mi4c is a fairly typical smartphone in the line, and therefore its equipment is more than standard: the smartphone itself, instructions, warranty card, SIM card ejector, charger with adapter and USB Type-C cable. By the way, not all deliveries include an adapter for our sockets.
Design
If you have already seen Xiaomi Mi4i, then you will not see anything new. In fact, the design of the Mi4c copies the previous model in the line down to the smallest detail - the same dimensions, the same materials, the same shape. The only details that externally distinguish the Mi4c from the Mi4i are that an IR port has appeared on the top end, and a USB Type-C port has appeared on the bottom edge instead of the outdated micro-USB. However, we must describe the design to you in detail, since it became characteristic of Xiaomi smartphones before the large-scale transition to metal bodies.
So, Xiaomi Mi4c has a fairly simple design - there are 2 main parts: the front glass panel and the back plastic cover, which goes to sides. This plastic panel is pleasant to the touch and slightly rough, matte, which means it will not collect fingerprints. The design is not overloaded with any unnecessary elements - there are no outlines or frames. This minimalism is exactly what attracts.
This smartphone with a plastic body is surprisingly light - 130g, and at the same time it has a 5-inch screen. Even today, Xiaomi Mi4c can be considered a perfect example of a compact mobile device. It fits perfectly in the palm and does not weigh down your pocket. After quite a while for a long time After the announcement, it turned out that the polycarbonate case is practical and designed for different conditions.
On the left side there is a slot for two micro-SIM cards. You can remove the slot using a special clip, which is included in the package.
Unfortunately, there is no provision for use here microSD cards s instead of one of the micro-SIMs. Alas, you will have to calculate in advance before purchasing how much memory you will have.
The hardware volume and power buttons are on the right side. They are slippery and barely stick out from the body. Finding them by touch will be difficult at first. But they are located perfectly. It doesn't matter whether you hold the phone in your left or right hand - you can easily reach it with your finger. The buttons move elastically.
There are only two elements at the top end - a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an infrared port. To control compatible media devices, the Mi Remote application is specially preinstalled, however, you can mainly control equipment manufactured in China.
In the lower part of the case, everything is also ascetic - installed USB port Type-C, so you will no longer be confused about which side to connect the charging cable to. It’s a pity that this standard is still not very widespread and you’ll have to look for compatible accessories.
On the front panel above the screen there is a front camera, sensors, an LED element for notifications, and a speaker. Below the screen there are touch control buttons with dim backlighting. Xiaomi allows you to reconfigure the buttons in the settings or assign additional actions for a long press.
The rear panel has a main camera with dual LED flash. In a rare case, an additional microphone is installed to the right of the camera module and serves for noise reduction. Additionally, in the settings there is an option that regulates support for the operation of one or two microphones at the same time. There is a perforation at the bottom that hides the main speaker.
Display
By tradition, Xiaomi installs IPS screens quite good quality even in inexpensive smartphones. Mi4c has a 5-inch display with Full HD resolution and is protected by tempered Gorilla Glass 3. The frame on the sides is approximately 4 mm thick. Multi-touch supports up to 10 touches simultaneously. The screen wakes up with a double tap.
The image on the screen is obtained with high clarity - yet the dot density reaches 441 ppi. Regardless of the angle of inclination, the display does not distort the picture and the colors do not change. In addition, color rendition is also at the highest level. In the settings menu, you can select the color temperature according to your preferences. You can also adjust the contrast or leave the “automatic” option.
On the street at sunlight Xiaomi Mi4c's screen does not disappoint. In this price range, it is rare for a smartphone screen to remain readable. There's enough brightness to match.
Performance
At the beginning of our review, we already noted that Xiaomi Mi4c runs on a six-core Snapdragon 808 processor. This 64-bit SoC is produced using a 20 nm process technology, it has 2 clusters - 2 Cortex-A57 cores and 4 Cortex-A53 cores. Graphics performance is provided by the Adreno 418 accelerator with support for OpenGL ES 3.1.
Depending on the Mi4c version, you can get 2 or 3 GB random access memory type LPDDR3. Internal memory is also your choice - 16 or 32 GB. Remember, you will have to calculate in advance how much will be enough for you, since there is no support for microSD cards. The maximum that can be done is to connect a flash drive using a USB OTG adapter.
During the test, we received the following file transfer speeds (remember, this is a USB Type-C port):
- via USB 2.0 – ~22MB/s;
- via USB 3.0 – ~28MB/s.
The benchmarks show the following results:
- AnTuTu 64 bit – 51827 points (55214 after software update);
- AnTuTu – 49106 points;
- GeekBench 3 – 1269/3308 points (1271/3569 after software update);
- Ice Storm Unlimited (3D Mark) – 19591 points.
To be honest, Xiaomi Mi4c surprised us with its performance, as we expected more modest results. The same Nexus 5X on the Snapdragon 808 processor turned out to be weaker. We can safely say that the performance of the Mi4c is enough for all everyday tasks and you can even play graphically demanding games on it. When under load, the smartphone heats up to a maximum of 38 degrees, and during games – up to 45 degrees.
Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi 4c
| Manufacturer | Xiaomi |
| Model | Xiaomi Mi 4c |
| Announcement date | 2015, September |
| Network support | GSM/HSPA/LTE |
| - 2G | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2 |
| - 3G | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| - 4G | LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500) |
| Bluetooth | v4.1, A2DP |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, access point |
| Dimensions | 138.1 x 69.6 x 7.8 mm (5.44 x 2.74 x 0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 132 g (4.66 oz) |
| Accumulator battery | Non-removable, Li-Ion 3080 mAh |
| Display | (~71.7% of the smartphone surface) |
| - permission | 1080 x 1920 pixels (~441 ppi) |
| CPU | Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808 |
| - CPU frequency | Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 and dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57 |
| - graphic arts | Adreno 418 |
| Memory | 16 GB, 2 GB RAM 32 GB, 3 GB RAM |
| USB | Type-C 1.0 reversible connector |
| Camera | Photo/Video |
| - main | 13 MP, f/2.0, 24mm, phase detection autofocus, dual LED dual-tone flash |
| - frontal | 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p |
| operating system | Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
operating system
All Xiaomi smartphones come with its own MIUI OS. Mi4c at launch runs on MIUI 7, which is based on Android 5.1.1.
The interface looks simple, neat, and the settings are arranged logically. If you are familiar with MIUI, then you will not find anything new. There is even an opportunity to reduce the working part of the screen if the 5-inch screen is too big for you. Depending on the firmware version, there may be a different set of pre-installed applications, but there are not many of them. MIUI still pleases with the possibility of customization, system speed, and optimization of energy consumption. It is difficult to criticize this OS for anything, since it is an order of magnitude better than stock Android.
Camera
The Mi4c has a 13-megapixel IMX258 camera from Sony, or a Samsung S5K3M2, but each with an f/2.0 aperture. Photos are clear, highly detailed, with bright and natural colors.
The Mi4c camera can shoot video with Full HD resolution, there is no 4k support. Slow-mo video can be recorded at 120 frames per second.
Example video from the camera of a Xiaomi Mi 4c smartphone
Autofocus is fast, the shutter lag is only about 0.1 sec. The dual LED flash is bright and easy to use in the dark. We won’t talk much about the camera application – there are a lot of settings, filters, and shooting scenarios.
Battery
Xiaomi has installed a 3000 mAh battery in Mi4c, which is enough for about 1 hour 50 minutes for fully charged, but this is taking into account Quick Charge 2.0. Hardware and software optimized well, so the smartphone shows excellent battery life.
With an average load of 4-5 hours, the smartphone will require connecting the charger after 16 hours, that is, Mi4c will work all day. If you don’t use the phone often, it will last up to two days without recharging. After 8 hours in standby mode, the battery loses 20-30% of its charge, depending on the functions running.
Video – Review of Xiaomi Mi-4c
Results
pros
- fast processor;
- high-quality display;
- fast and stable MIUI OS;
- good camera;
- long battery life.
minuses
- no support for microSD cards;
- choice between 16 and 32 GB of memory;
- non-removable battery.
Based on the results of the review, we see that Xiaomi has tried to satisfy the needs of the mass buyer. Mi4c turned out to be a compact, convenient smartphone with powerful hardware, its performance approaching the top segment of that time (September 2015). This smartphone has a small screen with Full HD resolution - the colors are bright, rich, pleasant, with high contrast. It is ideal for games, and is in no way inferior to smartphones that cost twice or even three times more. But there are a couple of complaints - despite the plastic case, there is a non-removable battery, and besides, there is no way to increase the memory.
Xiaomi or, as they are also called by Russian-speaking users, “Xiaomi” is a Chinese company that, perhaps, does not need a separate introduction. Despite the fact that the brand’s policy does not imply the distribution of its own goods through retail chains (like the policy of many other Chinese companies), their products sell in huge quantities not only within China and the Middle East, but also in European countries and, most importantly, - on the territory of our dear CIS. The device we will talk about today is called Mi4c and is one of the company’s newest devices. Today, within this hands-on review, we will try to find out: is the Mi4c worth our money and, if so, why?
UNPACKING AND EQUIPMENT
Big photo
Having first taken the Mi4c out of its packaging, I realized with regret that the times when Xiaomi could pleasantly surprise me are long gone: the phone is made of almost traditional plastic for all their products (but high-quality plastic), and its design is a kind of bright minimalism, designed apparently for the younger generation. In fact, if you take a closer look, this “new product” looks exactly the same as its predecessor - the previously released Xiaomi Mi4i.
It contained:
* in fact, the hero of our today's review;
* adapter for the now fashionable USB Type-C connector.
* Charger;
* instructions;
The package is, as they say, “no frills,” but, again, this is quite in the spirit of Xiaomi - minimalism and nothing superfluous. In terms of ergonomics, Mi4c showed itself well: light weight and dimensions (126 grams, 13.81 x 6.96 x 0.78 centimeters), the usual layout of the navigation elements of the case (the power button is on the right side of the smartphone, and just above is the volume rocker) and pleasant, slightly rounded edges. I was very impressed by the screen of the device - it takes up almost all the available space on its front side. Since we are not dealing with some kind of know-name, I think it’s unnecessary to talk about the build quality - it’s really here high level. Objectively, appearance Xiaomi Mi4c almost identical to that in Mi4i, with the exception of a couple of very small details. But there are enough differences inside.
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
To clarify: in everything related to characteristics, Xiaomi Mi4c is the “older” version of Mi4i, therefore (and since “c” is also the successor of “i”) there will be many analogies with this device. The role of the central processor of the Mi4c is played by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 - a more energy-efficient and, at the same time, cheaper version of the notorious Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 with “overheating problems”. The device uses the proprietary MIUI v7 software shell, developed on the basis of Android OS 5.1.1 Lollipop with all that it implies hence the consequences in the form of a mass of really useful pre-installed software and remarkable customization opportunities. I didn’t notice any problems with heat dissipation even with intense gaming, which is a big plus. Deus Ex: The Fall, Dead Effect and WoT: Blitz showed excellent results in terms of performance: 30-40 frames per second at maximum graphics settings (Blitz generally ran at a stable rate of around 60 frames per second). Synthetic tests show sky-high numbers (55k antu), recent thoughts have led me to the idea that it is not very advisable to pass these tests, due to the noticeable difference between the results obtained in benchmarks and the results that can be obtained in practice.
But for those who still want more numbers, I note: despite the fact that the Snapdragon 808 has never been a “high-end” chipset, its total graphics processing power is equal to 172 gigaflops, which approximately corresponds to the power of a stationary Microsoft XBox 360 console (220 gigaflops) and, even more, twice the 51 gigaflops produced by PSVita. The 808 is significantly superior in this indicator to the eight-core Mi4i chipset - Snapdragon 615, thanks to the more advanced Adreno 418 graphics accelerator (the 405 in the Mi4i produces only 59 gigaflops). It is worth noting that the amount of RAM and internal memory in Xiaomi Mi4c depends on its version: there is a regular one, with 2 gigabytes of LPDDR3 type RAM and 16 gigabytes of flash memory, and there is a so-called “Advanced Edition” (extended edition) with 3 and 32 gigabytes of memory. In addition, the device also has a Bluetooth 4.1 LE wireless interface, which has already become a standard for modern phones support for 2 SIM cards of “micro” format and support for 3G TD-SCDMA (TD2000) (TD1900), WCDMA (2100MHz) (1900MHz) (850MHz) (900MHz), CDMA 2000 and 4G (2100MHz) (1800MHz) (2600MHz) ) types of networks. There is no SD card slot.
CAMERA AND SOUND
Main camera Xiaomi Mi4c has excellent optics Sony IMX258 or Samsung S5K3M2 with 13 megapixel resolution and f2.0 aperture. I don’t know which of these two modules is in the Mi4c that I got, but the device produces picture quality at the level of the vaunted cameras of the recent iPhone 6s. Thanks to phase focusing, the image turns out clear and saturated - there is not the slightest hint of blur, which is inherent in low-quality camera modules, but in fairness I would like to note that in one photo, the color of the towel is not bright enough. The quality of the recorded video is at an equally high level: its maximum resolution can be up to 1920 x 1080 pixels, which in turn fits perfectly into the smartphone screen resolution.
The front camera, naturally, produces an image slightly worse than the rear one, but in general its capabilities can be successfully summed up in the capacious word “good”. Its aperture is f2.0, and its clarity is an honest 5 megapixels. And, by the way, she also knows how to shoot high-quality videos in 1080p resolution. As for the speakers, if we describe them in words, they are approximately at the level of cameras: basically, it’s not a shame to listen to a couple of musical compositions without using headphones, and conversational devices like a speaker and microphone simply do their job, reproducing the audio stream without any noticeable distortion or any other significant disadvantages. This time I didn’t even use my cheap headphones - I’ll have to buy something better for hands-on reviews, there’s also music. profiles for various types headphones.
Additional profiles
Taken as a whole, this device certainly cannot be called a music smartphone, but what it contains performs its function to at least a solid “B” grade.
SCREEN AND BATTERY
additional photo of the screen
Screen in Xiaomi Mi4c“IPS”, with a good viewing angle of 178 degrees, a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD), a diagonal of exactly five inches and a pixel density of 441ppi. In general, in my opinion, Full HD is currently the most relevant format for mobile devices, because it is capable of producing not only a clear picture without obvious “ladders”, but also does not consume 30% of the resources that are required for stable operation in 2K format. The brightness threshold (even when compared with AMOLED) is not small, so the display behaves well even in the sun: in bright light you won’t have to squint at the time, and in principle you shouldn’t expect anything more from IPS. The picture comes out quite saturated, but without bending - it is clear that the manufacturers have worked hard on setting up the matrix. Having had an unpleasant experience with the LG L90 D405, I prudently checked the screen operation at the minimum brightness level, but fortunately, no problems were found here, such as backlight rattling. Play games on this screen or watch movies on high resolution pure pleasure. Now - the battery. The battery in Mi4c has a capacity of 3080 mAh - this is enough for about a day of active use, which includes games, listening to music through the built-in speaker, watching online movies and videos (via Wi-Fi) and surfing the Internet. In addition, thanks to the Snapdragon 808, the phone supports Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging technology, the battery is not removable, and you can’t just open the lid.
RESULTS
In fact, this is an example of an almost exemplary smartphone. Yes, it lacks some technical innovations, such as a fingerprint sensor and a memory card, but what it does have is of exceptionally high quality. If you are looking for a smartphone that would adequately match its price, then the Xiaomi Mi4c with its capacious battery, clear screen and excellent performance may well be for you suitable choice for the next couple of years.Pros:
* excellent IPS screen with Full HD resolution and wide viewing angles;
* powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor;
* good multitasking and gaming performance;
* absence of any significant problems with overheating;
* Android 5.1.1 with proprietary user interface MIUI v7;
* excellent sound level and excellent build level;
* capacious battery;
* Availability of an IR port;
* Branded features unique to Xiaomi;
Minuses(with a taste IMHO :)):
* price ($280) for 32Gb, personal IMHO, I think that 16GB phones should only be in budget models, priced up to $150, in smart phones with a flagship focus, the memory should be from 32Gb;
* lack of a slot for SD cards;
* plastic case;
* old design;
* for that kind of money there could be a fingerprint scanner here; I'm planning to buy +3 Add to favorites I liked the review +6 +27
Delays in the development of the new flagship Mi5, caused by an overheating problem with Qualcomm's top processors, forced Xiaomi to create new budget and mid-range devices in order not to lose the market. In 2015, the company introduced several such gadgets, characterized by a good ratio of price, quality and functionality. One of them was the new Xiaomi Mi4c, to which our review is dedicated.
The device became a modified version of the top model presented in 2014. Some of its characteristics were improved, some remained the same, some were simply implemented alternatively, with the same capabilities. Xiaomi Mi4c was released in September 2015 in China, at a price of about 200 dollars for the younger model (2GB/16GB) and 250 (3GB/32GB) for the older one. Now you can buy it for about the same money, but from us, and in some cases you can even find it for 190 USD.
How the smartphone differs from its predecessor, and whether there are any deteriorations compared to its predecessor, our review will help you find out.
Xiaomi Mi4c has received updated specifications, but it cannot be said that they have undergone a radical improvement. This is simply an improvement to suit the trends of the times and reduce costs.
Design, materials, dimensions and weight
The Xiaomi Mi4c case is made of high-quality plastic. The regular Mi4 used metal and glass, so the changes here don't look too good. However, there are no complaints about the assembly, the smartphone does not creak in the hands, everything fits well. Externally, it differs little from other devices from this manufacturer. Rectilinear shapes, slightly rounded edges, no hardware physical buttons under the screen - all this has long been familiar. There are three touch control buttons.
The glass front panel is black. The speaker slot and camera eye are visible on it. The touch buttons are gray and not noticeable. The back panel can be white, gray, pink, yellow and blue. It has a camera with a flash in the top corner and a speaker grille in the bottom center.
On the right side there are buttons for adjusting the volume and locking the screen/turning on the device. On the left is the SIM card tray. At the bottom end there is a USB Type C connector, at the top there is a headset jack and an infrared port.
The dimensions of the device are slightly smaller than most five-inch gadgets. Because of this, the ratio of screen area to the entire panel is almost 72% (versus the traditional 70). A size comparison with other five-inch smartphones in this price category can be found in the video review at the end of this article.
Height – 138 mm, width – 69.6 mm, thickness – 7.8 mm. The weight of the smartphone is 132 grams, that is, in terms of this indicator it is no different from its competitors. But compared to the regular Mi4, it is 13 grams lighter.
CPU
The hardware has undergone noticeable changes: instead of the Snapdragon 801 processor (4 cores), the Mi4c has a Snapdragon 808 (6 cores). It consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 cluster (1.4 GHz) and a pair of Cortex A57 cores (1.8 GHz). The transition to a new technological process (20 nm versus 28 nm) had a positive effect on performance.
The graphics accelerator has also improved. Adreno 418 is slightly more powerful than Adreno 330. In AnTuTu 6, the smartphone scores not 50 thousand points, but the older version with 3 GB gets 55-60 thousand points (this variation is due to different firmware). This is enough to run any modern game, the same WoT will run on maximum graphics (with grass in sight), it gave a stable 40-50 FPS.
Memory
RAM in Xiaomi Mi4c is 2 or 3 GB, depending on the version. In comparison with the regular Mi4, a modification with 2 GB was added (it didn’t exist before), which we had on hand. At start, about 1 GB of RAM is occupied. But, again, it all depends on the firmware: there is no official Russian-language modification of the OS, and custom ones differ in the level of optimization, so the numbers may be different.
For data storage, the junior version is equipped with 16 GB of permanent memory, of which about 10 are available. More expensive model acquired a storage capacity of 32 GB (about 25 free). Both modifications do not have a slot for a memory card (just as the predecessor did not have one).
Battery
The battery in Xiaomi Mi4c has not undergone any changes. This is the same non-removable 3080 mAh battery, which is slightly more than the average 5" smartphone. The battery life indicators compared to its predecessor have increased slightly, but only after a software update. The first firmware was sometimes characterized by spontaneous battery consumption.
In games, the smartphone will be discharged in about 5 hours; in web surfing mode or watching videos (at partial brightness) it will last up to 7 hours. This is not much, but a little above average.
The included charger (with a Chinese plug, so you need an adapter for European sockets) has a power of 2 A. With it, Mi4c charges in about 1 hour 40 minutes. There is QuickCharge 2 fast charging technology, which allows you to charge quickly from the network. From the computer, the capacity is refilled from 0 to 100% in 5 hours.
Cameras
Depending on the production batch, Xiaomi Mi4c may be equipped with a camera with a Samsung or Sony matrix. In both cases, its resolution is 13 MP, the optical aperture is f/2, and the pixel size is 1.12 microns. There is a flash and phase detection autofocus is supported. There is no significant difference between the sensors; in both cases, the smartphone shoots approximately at the level of Redmi Note 2 and 3 (which uses the same matrix from Samsung). The quality of the images can be called good, but nothing more: it is far from the new flagships. We photographed the same frame, at the same time, on three smartphones in the same price category ($190-200). These are Xiaomi Mi4C, Samsung Galaxy J5 (2015) and LG K8 (in the same order from top to bottom):
As you can see, the Mi4c camera took the best picture, the colors are the most saturated, and the white balance is better than its competitors. The clarity is comparable to the Samsung J5, but the light dynamics in the Samsung image are narrow, and the sky is heavily overexposed. The LG K8 camera performed quite poorly in comparison. In general, Xiaomi can be given first place.
Another shot with the main camera:
The front camera of the smartphone is 5 MP and has an aperture of f/2; it is also identical to the sensor in Redmi Note 2 (which is not surprising, since the smartphones came out around the same time). Against the background of 8 MP, the regular Mi4 has a decrease in resolution, but there is no significant difference between the images. The viewing angles of the front camera are wide, you can take a full-length photograph of yourself from an outstretched arm. See example below:
The main camera records video in a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, with a frame rate of 30 FPS. The front camera can boast the same thing. The video quality is average: hand shakes are noticeable, detail is not ideal, but tolerable.
Screen
The Xiaomi Mi4c also exhibits a range of displays. In any case, the matrix has a diagonal of 5", a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (440 DPI) and a brightness of about 350 cd/m2. But its manufacturer changes in different batches. You can win this “lottery” and stumble upon an IPS screen from LG or Sharp ( considered to be of higher quality), but you can buy a smartphone with a matrix from AUO (also quite good, but unloved by some users).
The touch screen is covered with glass, but there is no data on its tempering (Mi4 without the letter C had Gorilla glass). It supports up to 10 simultaneous touches and has an oleophobic layer (of average quality and effectiveness, since stains still remain).
Connection
The smartphone is equipped with two SIM cards, but there is only one module, so only Dual Standby mode is supported. Supported networks include GSM, 3G and 4G. The LTE frequency range is large, but not complete: 3 and 7 are available, but 20 is not supported. So in Europe (including Russia, and especially Moscow) high speed internet will not be everywhere where there are fourth generation networks.
Internet access is provided by dual-band Wi-Fi, supporting frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz. To connect a headset wirelessly, there is Bluetooth 4.1 with stereo support and energy-saving functions. Of course, it can also be used to share files, but Wi-Fi Direct represented by MiDrop makes it faster and more efficient.
Navigation works with GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou satellites. The signal reception quality is excellent; during a cold start, a dozen satellites are present even when driving in the car. As usual, on site of Eastern Europe you can see 2 Chinese satellites, Russian and American - 6-8 each.
Sound
There is no dedicated audio processor in the smartphone, so you shouldn’t expect spectacular sound. The speaker is loud, clear, and dry, like in 95% of high-quality smartphones. Everything is better with headphones, bass appears, and listening to music is comfortable. Some users may find the volume in their ears (also depends on the headphone model) to be excessive. Unfortunately, there is no radio in Xiaomi Mi4c.
operating system
Unlike the 2014 model, Xiaomi Mi4c runs on Android 5.1 OS (not 4.4). More precisely, a modification of MIUI version 7 is used, which is based on the kernel from Lolipop. The user interface has been significantly changed (for example, there are themes, but there is no familiar Android menu). Everything works quickly and without brakes. WoT Blitz and Opera running simultaneously with a dozen open pages quietly stand in the background.
The first versions of the OS (especially those hastily Russified by sellers) experienced premature battery consumption and minor bugs, but they were later fixed. However, now you need to be careful when updating the software: starting with version 6.14, the developers blocked the bootloader and removed root. So those for whom this is important will have to flash custom ones. Well, or contact the Chinese to unlock it.
Peculiarities
Unlike Mi4 2014, the smartphone received a USB Type C interface connector (instead of the traditional MicroUSB). But its functionality is not fully implemented: there is a connection to a PC, OTG is present, but MHL is not).
Xiaomi Mi4c is equipped with IR port for control household appliances. The database contains many modern devices (TV, tuners, air conditioners, media centers, etc.). But the port is not trainable (there is no IR receiver), so the remote control will not be able to work with exotics and some Chinese products.
An interesting feature is the “sensitive” body. By tapping its right and left corners, you can adjust the camera's autofocus or go back. However, this function does not work well and does not work the first time, so tap and take care of your nerves.
Pros and cons of Xiaomi Mi4c
- new, faster hardware;
- improved autonomy;
- good price;
- Not a bad (for the money) camera.
- no memory card slot;
- no support for the twentieth LTE band;
- poorly optimized software;
- cheaper body materials. compared to Mi4.
Who is a smartphone suitable for?
The smartphone is suitable for those who value the ratio of cost and functionality and are open-minded about “Made in China” brands. It is designed for people who do not like large 5.5" devices. Gamers will appreciate the performance in games and normal battery life, movie lovers and web surfers will be satisfied with the screen. A good camera will satisfy those who need normal photos with friends, and grain-level detail is not important. target audience approximately equal: it is suitable for both men and women (especially since the case is available in bright colors).
Phablet supporters, connoisseurs of large internal storage and fans of metal will not like the smartphone. It will not suit enthusiasts who like to “digging” the firmware either. In such cases (if you need Xiaomi), it is better to pay attention to Redmi Note 2 (almost identical in appearance and functionality, but the screen is 5.5", there is a memory card, the bootloader is not locked, the price is $50 less) or Redmi Note 3 Pro (5.5" screen, slightly faster, metal body and fingerprint scanner, same price).
Review from the website website about the Xiaomi Mi4c smartphone
Xiaomi Mi4c is a worthy update to the popular flagship 2014, which made the device faster, more efficient and cheaper. The review did not reveal any critical flaws in the smartphone; the device is good. The price of 200-250 dollars makes it interesting for those who are devoid of prejudices about Chinese technology. All modern challenges is possible, so the smartphone can be called universal.
As a drawback, it would be worth noting the crude early versions of the software, which is critical for those who want to update to a stable modification of the OS, but are afraid of losing the Russian language, Google applications and root. But practice shows that sellers usually install the latest Russian-language version of the software, so the disadvantage can be neglected.
Video review
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Review of affordable and high-quality smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 3
Hi all! After the release of a not very successful one, the company seems to be actively working on mistakes, realizing its guilt before the fans and trying in every possible way to please the buyer. The release of Xiaomi Mi4C after the successful Redmi Note 2 seems to confirm my words. But how good is Mi4C? Is it worth the money?
In my opinion, Xiaomi Mi4C has become not only a bug fix, but also an improved one. And at first glance, it would be more logical to call it Redmi Note 2 mini, but no. In fact, these are two completely different devices, from appearance to hardware. Therefore, it is not entirely correct to compare them.
Initially, I was very skeptical about the smartphone. As soon as it came out I called it an illogical purchase. Still, there is Redmi Note 2, and for those who don’t like it, the release of Mi5 is just around the corner and it’s better to save up for it. But then I realized that there was a price gap between them: Mi5 will be a flagship, which means the price tag on it will not fall below 400 bucks. Note 2, on the contrary, is a budget phone. And its price does not exceed 180. 400 or 180 - the difference is obvious.
But is there something that will be exactly in the middle? Cooler than, but cheaper than the upcoming Mi5? Certainly! Moreover, it is not just cooler than the second Redmi laptop, it is cooler than Mi4i and even in the top configuration is much cheaper than the existing Mi4!
Equipment and design
In addition to the smartphone and its waste paper, in a bright orange glossy box you can only find a needle for removing SIM cards, USB cable Type-C and charger with fast charging function 5V 2A (9V 1.2A / 12V 1A).
My doubts about the phone were completely cleared after I took it out of the box. Ergonomics, size, thickness, case materials - everything is top notch. And most importantly, it does not creak like the Redmi. There is nothing to creak, because the back cover is non-removable, and as a result, the battery is too.
There are no protruding screws on the case. Only smooth lines, beveled corners, charm and beauty.
Radical aesthetes can immediately attack me with their fists: how is he praising the back cover!!! It's plastic!
Trust me, it's not just plastic. To the touch, the material of the back cover resembles a mixture of the velvet skin of a newborn angel and multiple orgasms rather than ordinary plastic.
It flaunts on the bottom end USB connector Type-C USB 2.0 standard and microphone hole.
On the right side there is a volume rocker and a lock button, made of metal-like plastic.
On the top there is a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones, and on the left there is only a dual tray for two Micro SIM cards.
On the back there is an external speaker grill with a small protrusion, the Xiaomi logo and the main camera with dual LED flash and a separate microphone for noise reduction.
On the front side there are traditionally touch-sensitive programmable home, back and menu buttons.
At the top is the Xiaomi logo, sensors, earpiece, front camera and an indicator for multi-colored and customizable LED notifications.
Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Mi4C:
- Snapdragon 808 processor with a maximum frequency of 1.8 GHz
- video accelerator Adreno 418
- RAM 3 GB LPDDR3
- permanent memory 32 GB EMMC 5.0
- no memory card support
- 5″ IPS Full HD display, pixel density 441 ppi
- main camera: Sony IMX258 / Samsung S5K3M2 13MP module, f/2.0 aperture, phase focusing, writes 1080p video
- front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0 aperture, records 1080p video
- light, hall, proximity sensors, gyroscope, IR and accelerometer, compass
- connectors: USB Type-C (with OTG support), 3.5 mm mini-jack
- Bluetooth: 4.1 HID
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n/ac 2.4 / 5 GHz + MU-MIMO
- Navigation: GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Beidou
- SIM: 2 slots, one radio module
- OS: Android 5.1.1 with MIUI V7 shell
- 3080 mAh battery, support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging
- dimensions: 138 x 169 x 67.8 mm
- weight 132 grams
Supported frequencies:
- FDD-LTE bands: 1 (2100 MHz) / 3 (1800 MHz) / 7 (2600 MHz)
- TD-LTE bands: 38 (2600) / 39 (1900) / 40 (2300) / 41 (2500)
- 2G, 3G
Display
It has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which at 5 inches turns into an impressive 441 ppi. To catch the individual pixels you need to use a magnifying glass. The display is made using OGS technology. The IPS matrix is covered with protective Gorilla Glass with a good oleophobic coating.
Viewing angles are excellent, but there are some places where colors look darker. There is no inversion, black is as black as possible on an IPS screen.
The minimum brightness of the display is so low that it is dark even in the dark, and the maximum brightness allows you to easily see small details in the sun. On a 10-point scale of handy Chinese, the screen can be rated 8.5 out of 10. For excellent minimum brightness, I’ll give it another half a point.
You can programmatically tweak the color tone: make the tones warmer or cooler, enable reading mode for the entire system or for individual applications, as well as force the screen to adjust the contrast to the conditions environment. And, of course, awakening by double tap is also present.
No matter how strange it may sound, just like in the ZUK Z1, I see a small rainbow on the screen and in the same way the camera cannot convey it. The fact is that at some certain tricky angle a subtle rainbow halo appears on the white. I assume that this is a feature of the newfangled GFF matrix, but I have no evidence for this.
Iron
Xiaomi Mi4c has a processor from Qualcomm. This is Snapdragon 808 (model MSM8992). And for me personally, it raised a lot of questions. And the first of them is what is it anyway? That is, it is clear that it is top-end and all that, but why was this particular solution used in this smartphone?
First, Qualcomm had the Snapdragon 800, which made a huge breakthrough and was almost the most fashionable processor of its time. Then 801, which became even more powerful and created a much greater sensation. And then somehow it didn’t work out. The dubious 805 came out, which all manufacturers passed by, and then they rolled out the expensive 810, which overheats, throttles, and generally sucks. There is so much negativity and hype around it that everyone has forgotten that Qualcomm has its own ace up its sleeve. The MSM8992 model, better known as the Snapdragon 808, was released at the end of 2014, but the first ones began to appear on it relatively recently. And somehow not very active. Devices based on the 808 Snap can be counted on one hand, and the price tag on them is a separate sad story. This is very strange considering that it is quite productive, and in many respects it is not inferior even to the 810. Moreover, if you do not take into account the little things, this is almost the same as the Snapdragon 810, only instead of 8 cores it uses 6: four energy-efficient Cortex-A53 at a frequency of up to one and a half gigahertz and 2 productive Cortex A-57 with a frequency of up to 1 .8 GHz.
Plus the Adreno 418 video accelerator. It belongs to the 4th generation of proprietary graphics and, according to the manufacturer, is 30% more powerful than last year’s solutions of the three hundredth series.
Of course, the 808 has a worse video accelerator compared to the 810, and support for screens is only 2K versus 4K, but this is so insignificant that it’s even kind of funny to talk about it, since most manufacturers have long stopped the race in resolutions to Full HD anyway , because the human eye does not see the difference in pixel density, and no one other than a person uses smartphones. Usually.
Plus, don’t forget that this is a smartphone, which means there can be no possibility of a hardware upgrade.
Therefore, the 808 model is enough for a mobile device. However, in addition to the obvious advantages such as productivity, there are other advantages that are not noticeable at first glance, but are more significant.
For common tasks like surfing the Internet, reading or using programs, energy-efficient cores work. More powerful cores are used for heavier tasks like games. This allows you not only to process software faster, but also to evenly distribute the load on the processor, and as a result, it is very difficult to heat the device to unbearable temperatures.
The processor is supported by 3 gigabytes of 933 MHz LPDDR3 RAM and 32 GB of high-speed eMMC 5.0 ROM. There is also a version of this smartphone with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of non-expandable storage.
After loading the system on my firmware, 1.9 GB of free RAM out of 3 is available, after several hours of work 1.7-1.6 GB becomes available, less often 1.1. Of the 32 GB of permanent memory, only 26 GB are available, but this amount is quite enough for a smartphone. It is likely that more will be available with future firmware updates.
Throttling, benchmarks and heating
According to the benchmarks, the picture is quite expected from this hardware, but there are screenshots online where there are many more parrots in AnTuTu. Perhaps things will be different on different firmware, but I was quite happy with this result.
When stress testing the battery with 100% screen brightness, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth turned on, I downloaded batches of heavy games from Google Play and at the same time played Epic Citadel on ultra graphics settings. In this mode, on my first run it worked for exactly 3 hours and 2 minutes, after which I took a screenshot and successfully deleted it. I had to do the test a second time. Then he showed 2 hours 43 minutes.
Moreover, at the beginning of the test, when the device was still relatively cold, the Epic Citadel showed 44.1 fps at “ultra” and 58.9 fps at low.
CPU Z reported a battery temperature of 44 degrees, the core temperature was around 50 degrees.
At the end of the test the indicators changed. Ultra settings produced 31 fps, and low 55 fps.
CPU Z: battery temperature 46.2 degrees, core temperature average 58.
It doesn't even feel hot. It's so, barely warm. During the test, the device warmed up by only 2.2 degrees. To be honest, I expected that Mi4C, like all its modern brothers, would burn my hand, but the result amazed me. A solid five!
There was throttling, but within normal limits; during the time from the beginning of the test to its end, the smartphone lost 13 frames per second at maximum settings and 3.9 fps at low settings.
Canalys analysts predict a great future for Xiaomi, since by mid-2015 this manufacturer topped the list of leading smartphone sellers in the Chinese market. Now competitors have new reason for anxiety - gadget Xiaomi Mi 4c, equipped with a powerful 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, with an Adreno 418 video accelerator. It is believed that Xiaomi Mi 4c will be able to thoroughly tease the owners of LG G4, which does not hide its flagship claims, and even reduce the popularity of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 tablet, which is why the first batch will not exceed 100 thousand units.
Appearance
Since the letter “C” is in the name, the smartphone will mostly be sold in the domestic market, although an export version of the device is also planned. The design and dimensions (138.1 x 69.6 x 7.8 mm) of the model completely duplicate those of the Xiaomi Mi 4i, intended mainly for the Indian market. The body is made of plastic in white, blue, pink, black and yellow color. Weight – 132 g.
Display and camera
The display is 5 inches with a resolution of 1080p FullHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) with an IPS matrix. The eyes of the device are the 13 MP main camera with autofocus on a module from Samsung S5K3M2 or Sony IMX258. In both cases, the maximum aperture is F/2.0, and the optical system consists of 5 lenses. LED lighting is also a good help. Front camera, 5 megapixels, will satisfy your needs more selfie lovers.
Equipment and functionality
The highlight of the model is Edge Tap technology, which allows you to use the side surface to control your smartphone. A double tap can return the device to the menu or browser, and a single tap (in camera mode) allows you to capture a frame. The device is controlled by a completely recent version of the Android 5.1 OS, in the MIUI 7 shell. A noticeable detail Xiaomi mi 4c is the presence of a USB Type-C interface, which, due to the planned sales volumes, will most likely attract considerable attention to the new connector in other countries.
Equipment and memory
An interesting fact is that the phone comes with a charger and a standard MicroUSB connector, connected via an adapter. The built-in memory, although decent, is 16 GB with 2 GB of RAM, the absence of microSD is still somewhat surprising. Some compensation is the ability to use USB OTG, with expansion up to 32 GB. The model supports 4G/LTE and is equipped with slots for a pair of SIM cards. Resource battery 3000/3080 mAh.
The starting point of the price for the gadget is fixed at around $200.
The bottom line is this: whoever, despite such obvious compactness, appreciates style supported by powerful filling will find in Xiaomi Mi 4c what you were looking for.