Xiaomi Mi 4 Pro Reviews

Originality might not be Xiaomi's strongest suite, but execution sure is. This much has been made perfectly clear through the Mi 4 – a device that doesn't score perfect on each and every test, but nevertheless has ensured itself enough leeway through its affordable price tag. Indeed, the fact that the Mi 4 costs the equivalent of just $320 for the 16GB versions means that, even through scalpers, you can get the handset for less than $400, which is far less than you'll have to whip out for a flagship from a mainstream brand. Does this mean that the Mi 4's only saving grace is its pricing? Absolutely not, though it certainly helps. And why shouldn't it when you can literally get two of those for you and the missus for the price of a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge? In fact, if it weren't for the Mi 4's Achilles' heel, the rear camera and its lack of LTE, we'd have a hard time justifying anything less than a chart-topping score for the Mi 4 – it's superbly-crafted, has an attractive, speedy and feature-filled interface, and can last you for two days straight. In the end, the Mi 4 is, at worst, good enough for just about anyone on the planet, and that ought to give Xiaomi the confidence that it can come up with its own original designs and not borrow as heavily from Apple and others. Once it figures that and irons out a few details, the West will be ripe for the taking, granted that it sticks to the same formula.

Both feature 5”-ish 1080p displays, but we prefer the colors on the Mi 4; the performance potential with Snapdragon 801 on both is identical, but Xiaomi makes much better use of it with its MIUI skin that is surprisingly well polished and rich in features; and finally, the Mi 4 has a longer-lasting battery. The Mi 4 is not without its slight issues - the 13-megapixel camera - while good - is a step below the 16-megapixel shooter of the S5. The big drawback in the Mi 4 currently is the lack of 4G LTE support outside of China. If that does not bother you too much, though, the Mi 4 offers great value for the money - with an off-contract price of just around $370 for the 16GB version, it is a way better deal than the $520 16GB Galaxy S5. If you’re willing to deal with resellers and wait a couple of weeks for the Mi 4 to ship from overseas, chances are that you won’t be disappointed.