Xiaomi Mi 9 assembled on the day of presentation 650 thousand orders. But is this smartphone really that good? What is this: the king of smartphones of 2019 or a hyped-up dummy on the wave of hype?
Let's try to figure it out, because the answer is not as clear as it might seem.
Scarce among the first
Xiaomi Mi 9 presentation drowned after the announcement of the Galaxy S10 family
Oddly enough, Xiaomi encountered the main problem of the new flagship already at the start. In order for Mi 9 to become the first flagship on the Snapdragon 855, the company had to hold a presentation almost immediately after the Chinese New Year.
The date turned out to be extremely unfortunate, as it coincided with 3 (!) presentations: Meizu 16s (direct competitor), Samsung S10 and modifications, Iqoo from Vivo.
The new generation of Samsung S10 has categorically eclipsed all impressions of the new Xiaomi product in the eyes of the main buyers.
Compare: Xiaomi renders and real Samsung samples
It is likely that they will choose Xiaomi because
low price, but with an eye on Samsung's unique innovations. The results are unpredictable: last year, at the start of sales of the Samsung S9, you could catch discounts that made it equal in price to the Xiaomi flagship.In addition, the shortage of processors limits Xiaomi's ability to release new products. To ensure current pre-orders will take considerable time, users outside of China will face increased prices.
The start of delivery on March 1 for China will turn into April 1 for fans of “gray” technology, and The international version and firmware will shift to June-July.
This will not work in your favor Mi. The choice is extremely wide, despite its quality.
The design is simple and familiar
Another iPhone clone with a touch of Sharp
One of the most important problems Xiaomi Mi 9 — lack of corporate identity. The company no longer hides copycatness, even from several smartphones: the backdrop is inspired iPhone, front side - Oppo and Sharp.
Trying to stand out with a solid glass body without a traditional metal frame can play a cruel joke on users. It's one thing to change only the lid, and quite another to change the entire fragile body.
In addition, the glass on the sides is not protected from impacts in any way, even when in a soft bumper. Usually it is the frame that takes these blows.
Of course, the screen made by Samsung will make the Mi 9 more pleasant to look at than the OnePlus 6T with the same waterdrop notch, or its ancestors from Oppo. But S10 offers support for display standard HDR10, and this cannot be ignored.
600 nits of brightness is incredible, but the S10 outshines the Mi here too
Therefore, no matter how high-quality the matrix of the new Xiaomi turns out to be, it is only in the middle. Like last year's, later flagships.
Appearance is not the only problem: Mi 9 no eye-catching elements. On the one hand, this plays into the hands, on the other hand, direct competitors offer, for example, additional keys or scanners on the side.
Oh yes: Mi 9 has a dedicated key for Google Assistant. Seriously, for a voice assistant? And as practice shows, today it is possible to create original designs.
The first on the powerful Snapdragon 855
Composition of Snapdragon 855
Xiaomi needed an early announcement a week before the start of real sales for the purpose of another self-PR: "The first flagship on the new Qualcomm processor" sounds impressive.
The statement does not entirely correspond to the truth: long before the announcement, Lenovo announced its readiness to release a similar smartphone, a little later Vivo emerged and there are rumors about OnePlus 7.
Version Samsung Galaxy S10 on Snapdragon for the American market, which is already ready to hit the shelves, also cannot be written off.
It is also known that it is already March 1st will be announced and go on sale notorious Meizu 16s on the same platform. By the way, Xiaomi could learn from this developer to create original smartphones.
Why should you take the iPhone as a standard when there is Meizu?
As a result of such a race, we can expect a serious shortage of processors, which will lead to delayed delivery dates, as was previously observed with Snapdragon 845.
The chipset is based on processor cores Kryo 485, divided into three clusters: a productive one with a frequency of 2.84 GHz, the second runs at 2.42 GHz, and the third is activated for low-capacity tasks at 1.8 GHz.
The GPU is responsible for graphics processing and gaming capabilities of the model. Adreno 640.
Snapdragon processor comparison test
The platform promises greater productivity and energy efficiency Compared to its predecessor, however, it is more expensive. Are there any fundamental differences, other than conditional ones? 387 000 points in AnTuTu?
Unfortunately no. The promised 5G modem, as well as advanced AI, did not appear. In return, the user will receive the absence of a SIM card slot, the usual UFS 2.1 memory and from 6 to 12 GB LPDDR4x.
It's only tempting to update last year's flagship.
This especially applies to the gaming capabilities of the new Xiaomi device. A thin case will still not provide high-quality heat dissipation, so for long-term gaming it’s worth looking at something else.
Suddenly a very serious camera
Important: 3 modules - good, but terribly ugly
Perhaps, the most important achievement of Xiaomi Mi 9 it's worth mentioning the camera. 3 modules at once in the main one are really ready to solve user problems.
Not fictional, but real: a huge 48-megapixel matrix of the main Sony IMX586, equipped with a coated lens with f/1.75, combines 4 pixels into one subpixel (as in Redmi Note 7), which should guarantee a huge amount of light and incredible picture quality.
Two remaining cameras, 12 MP Samsung S5K3M5 and a 16-megapixel module respectively provide today's standard combination of telephoto (2X zoom, 1 micron, f/2.4) and wide (1 micron, f/2.2, 117-degree field of view).
The numbers are amazing. And then there’s the minimum shooting distance of 4 cm, and 900 fps video... The complete set of a mobile photographer!
Is it just me that reminds me of the P20 Pro?
But, as practice shows, Xiaomi will be able to fully utilize the quality of optics about six months after release.
Until then, everything will be spoiled by crude, unfinished software. And what then from the top place in DxO next to Huawei P20 Pro and iPhone Xs?
However, a combination of 3 modules at the start seems real killer features of Xiaomi Mi 9. It is for this reason that I will not only write a detailed review for you, but also conduct several detailed comparative tests.
What if it turns out that in the main shooting modes, Mi 9 shoots the same way as the old Mi 8 after a firmware update (with the Camera program from Mi Mix 3)?
What are the disadvantages?
Maximum version of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer Edition
And finally we get to the most interesting part. In addition to the excellent camera and platform, the capabilities of which Xiaomi engineers have yet to reveal, the new smartphone has a lot of interesting functions. And compromises.
Let's start with the sad thing: since the developers were never able to bring face unlocking to fruition, Mi 9 lacks both infrared and 3D front cameras. Selfie module only (Would you buy a smartphone without it?).
So Xiaomi confirmed its inability to copy the iPhone. Maybe for the better. Although they could master not optical, but ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint sensor: This is exactly what the Samsung Galaxy S10 and new Oppo models will be equipped with.
Unlike them, the Mi 9 scanner will work only at a certain point. And not so fast, not so accurately. Another concession?
Autonomy is very good
Finally, for the sake of minimal thickness, the developers have once again reduced the volume of the battery. Thanks to the updated platform (Snap 855 should consume less than Snap 845), autonomy will not decrease.
But hasn't Xiaomi itself time and again defeated its competitors by offering thicker smartphones with a 4000 mAh battery instead of the current 3300 mAh of the Mi 9? This tradition should be broken.
Most likely, the bet is made on 27-watt wired and 20-watt wireless charging. For which you will have to purchase additional accessories, which will increase the cost to 50-100 dollars.
By the way, the presence of a wireless charging module has finally equalized the Mix and Mi families. This is exactly what the basic flagships lacked.
Instead of a conclusion. Should we wait for Mi 9 SE?
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE compared to iPhone XS
It is worth discussing the new Xiaomi Mi 9 SE. Unfortunately, the Mi 8 SE never entered the international market, remaining exclusively a Chinese device (although there is translated firmware for it).
Perhaps, like its predecessor, it will be released as a separate Lite version (the presence of NFC, which is useless in China, hints). But even without this, there will definitely be unofficial firmware.
The module for wireless payment makes us show special interest in this model: there are few compact smartphones with it, and on the new platform Snapdragon 712 and none at all.
Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE: price versus size
So, the screen is AMOLED, but smaller, 5.97 inches; the main camera module is the same, Sony IMX586 48 MP; memory is the same in the same volumes.
The only differences between Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE are the absence of wireless charging, smaller dimensions and a simplified camera. Are they necessary, strictly speaking? Not everyone.
Let's remember the difference in price, which is $150 - we get an ideal device in the price range of up to 20 thousand. rubles" ($300).
Ideal balance of price and quality
This time Xiaomi released an ugly device
Despite all the announced problems of Xiaomi Mi 9, real and probable, this is a very promising smartphone. Processor, camera, screen - there are no complaints about them now.
At least considering the price of $450 dollars for the low-end 6/128 GB configuration. None of the competing brands offer analogues.
The new Xiaomi flagship is worth waiting for and considered as a very interesting purchase and an honest “flagship killer”.