Hands on with Xiaomi Mi 4 original wooden rear covers!


The Xiaomi Mi 4 isn’t regarded as the best looking phone, but the form factor and build quality of the device are the reasons it is as popular as it is. In an age where phablets dominate, Xiaomi’s Mi 4 is quite the exception with its 5-inch display.

At the launch event last year, Xiaomi also announced that it would be offering wooden rear covers for the phone at a later point. The covers did take their own sweet time getting on to the market (they’re still pretty hard to get hold of), but they are finally here.

If you were wondering how they pair up with the phone, look nowhere else… for here’s the hands on and review (sort of) of the wooden rear covers for the Xiaomi Mi 4! We got the covers right in time before the Chinese New Year, and spent time with them to see just how good they are.

The rear covers on the Mi 4 require you to use a suction cup for removal… and there are chances you don’t have one lying around. Which is perhaps why Xiaomi also sells a suction cup which also doubles up as a (rather weird looking) stand which is actually quite a handy tool.

Photo Gallery

Contstuction

The covers themselves are made out of high grade material, and comprise of actual wood on the outside. Trading Shenzhen also did a test to verify the fact, and the results are here for all to see. The video is in German though, but you get the gist. Skip to 4:30 to see the case being broken into two pieces:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pPGLW9Qfb8]

Conclusion

If there was a weak link, in terms of looks, on the Mi 4, it has got to be the rear of the phone, which looks surprisingly pale in comparison to the rest of the phone. Thanks to these covers though, you can give your Mi 4 a new lease of life, eye-candy wise. Also, the added texture is certainly a welcome change!

ALSO SEE: Xiaomi Mi 4 Review

The covers can be bought from Trading Shenzhen for 16 EUR a piece… apart from the wooden rear covers, Trading Shenzhen also ship rear skins for the phone. In fact, I like the Carbon Fiber-styled rear skin more than any of the wooden rear covers!

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22 Comments

  1. trapchan
    February 24, 2015

    and why do oneplus wood cover cost twice as much?

    • balcobomber25
      February 25, 2015

      Probably because the One Plus is a bigger phone which means they cost more to make.

  2. David Košič
    February 24, 2015

    I don’t think wood will help this generic phone look any better IMO. Still have a hard time believing that the great design of the mi3 was followed up by this generic Apple copy.

    • Bailey
      February 24, 2015

      You mean the great design of the mi3 which was just a copy of Nokia phones

      • David Košič
        February 24, 2015

        was still better than the mi4

    • balcobomber25
      February 24, 2015

      I love the design of my Mi4, think its one of the best looking flagships available. Never really got the Iphone comparisons. The Mi3 was a great phone but design wise it was ugly.

  3. MaxPower
    February 24, 2015

    MI4 is not one of the best looking phone but those covers won’t make it any prettier.I actually find them as ugly as those furry cheetah steering wheel covers.

  4. trapchan
    February 24, 2015

    and why do oneplus wood cover cost twice as much?

    • balcobomber25
      February 26, 2015

      Probably because the One Plus is a bigger phone which means they cost more to make.

  5. David Košič
    February 24, 2015

    I don’t think wood will help this generic phone look any better IMO. Still have a hard time believing that the great design of the mi3 was followed up by this generic Apple copy.

    • Bailey
      February 24, 2015

      You mean the great design of the mi3 which was just a copy of Nokia phones

    • David Košič
      February 24, 2015

      was still better than the mi4

    • balcobomber25
      February 25, 2015

      I love the design of my Mi4, think its one of the best looking flagships available. Never really got the Iphone comparisons. The Mi3 was a great phone but design wise it was ugly.

  6. Akimitsui
    February 24, 2015

    I have one of these covers, and if you like the look then I highly recommend them. Aliexpress also sells “unofficial” rear covers for the Mi4 with various designs if the wooden look doesn’t suit you.

  7. iKosh
    February 24, 2015

    That is a nice addition to an otherwise dull looking phone.

  8. MaxPower
    February 24, 2015

    MI4 is not one of the best looking phone but those covers won’t make it any prettier.I actually find them as ugly as those furry cheetah steering wheel covers.

  9. Akimitsui
    February 24, 2015

    I have one of these covers, and if you like the look then I highly recommend them. Aliexpress also sells “unofficial” rear covers for the Mi4 with various designs if the wooden look doesn’t suit you.

  10. iKosh
    February 24, 2015

    That is a nice addition to an otherwise dull looking phone.

  11. February 27, 2015

    Xiaomi Mi4 16 GB is available today in 20K get Rs 800 to 2000 discount through this link: http://www.dubli.com/T0WW4JH4

  12. PK Kadam
    February 27, 2015

    Xiaomi Mi4 16 GB is available today in 20K get Rs 800 to 2000 discount through this link: http://www.dubli.com/T0WW4JH4

  13. carol
    April 1, 2015

    perfect black cover ,more choice for the customers,i bought one for my mi4, perfect fitting,you can see them herehttp://flosmall.com/accessories/xiaomi-mi4-original-bangkok-bamboo-back-cover-detail

  14. carol
    April 1, 2015

    perfect black cover ,more choice for the customers,i bought one for my mi4, perfect fitting,you can see them herehttp://flosmall.com/accessories/xiaomi-mi4-original-bangkok-bamboo-back-cover-detail