The Apple of the East pulled off an Apple by launching the 4s along with the 5.
What I’m talking about is the company Xiaomi, and their new phones, the Mi 5 and the Mi 4s. This is the first time that Xiaomi launched an ‘S’ version of an ex-flagship, and have restricted availability to China probably to test the waters.
That said, the advent of internet will make sure that anyone in any part of the world with a credit card and an internet connection can get hold of the phone.
We took receipt of the Xiaomi Mi 4s yesterday, after it spent more than a month moving from city to city in a continent where neither the shipper or the addressee happen to be present. Anyway, moving on to the device now.
The Mi 4s is very similar to the Mi 4c with its spec sheet, but is intended to be more of a premium phone than the latter.
Here is what the Xiaomi Mi 4s comes with:
- 5-inch 1920 x 1080p display
- Hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor
- 3GB RAM
- 64GB on-board ROM (plus microSD support)
- 13 mega-pixel rear camera
- 5 mega-pixel front-facing camera
- 3260mAh battery
- USB Type-C port
Xiaomi Mi 4s Gallery
The Mi 4s also features glass on both the front and rear of the phone.
Right out of the box, the phone feels extremely different from the Mi 4 in the hands for some reason. Probably because of the curved edges (the Mi 4 has uncomfortable sharp edges).
The front of the phone looks more like the face of a budget Redmi series device than an Mi-series phone.
The USB Type-C portΒ is a refreshing change. The shift to this new interface is taking longer than it should’ve, causing people a great deal of harassment. Okay, I might have exaggerated a bit there, but we need one single standard.
The display seems to have a slight yellow tint… which was confirmed by placing the phone against the Mi 4. Wonder if it’s a conscious decision by Xiaomi to have a slight yellow tint on China-only phones?
Very much like the Redmi Note 3, the Mi 4s has a fingerprint sensor on the back. This one though, seems a little faster.
Anyway, stay tuned for the full review of the Xiaomi Mi 4s in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, head over to Banggood.com if you wish to buy one. That’s where we got ours from!
for some reason the 4s an and the mi5 just doesnt grab me
yes theyre too small
Same here.
If I had to pick one between them I would probably go with the 4S though
I like the Mi4s a lot, if it had an upgraded camera I would be very interested.
I heard its average at best. The whole latest line up from xiaomi is basically stinking of mediocrity. Mi5 being the biggest disappointment of them all. Wish one of these chinese manufacturers would just smash it out the park one time. I’m still eying up the pro 6 but i think camera wise it is still likely to fall short of competing with the big boys.
Yea I haven’t been as impressed with Xiaomi over the last year or so as I was in the past. Although I do love my Mi Pad 2 I just got. I am still undecided about the Pro 6, I really like the MX5 I have been using this past year but something is telling me the Pro 6 is going to be a letdown like the Mi5. From my limited hands on time with it the Gionee S8 ticked all the boxes especially for the camera but historically their software has been terrible and it doesn’t get updated.
But the back of the Gionee S8 is fugly. I am the werid person who really loves my mi4i it’s a nice size I have the Redmi note 3 pro and killing the battery is hard and the build is not bad and the finger print scanner works well. But I did order a black mi4s
I love the back of the S8, especially holding it in person. It felt so natural in the hand.
I agree with you, moreover I would say that Xiaomi should release a version with either SD652 SOC with upgraded camera or keep the one used in MI4C. Then it will justify its actual price in the market. I have seen that the phone get warm for intensive usage. If it was around 250β¬ shipping costs included I would have gone for it.
I am hesitating between MI4S and Note 3 Pro.
If you ever end up with an Mi 5, do get in touch, we’ll trade π
Ha! You know what I mean. π
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro is a way better deal then both Mi4s a Mi5.
Are the buttons backlit?
Yup!
This should have been the Mi5. This looks elegant and beautiful, the Mi5 is fugly.
Yep. We seem to be agreeing about a lot of stuff lately. Bizarre haha
Two bizarre things happened this year, Xiaomi released a flagship I wasn’t in love with and you and I started to agree on things haha.
both disaster photo camera, elegant phone = ulefone power wooden
Keep telling yourself that, someone might believe you
maybe meizu and xiaomi can make something different than iphone, i think it only rest of copy design
Name the iPhone model that this looks like?
xiaomi SE and iphone SE , π
Dont think so sorry does not look anything like the iphone SE
for some reason the 4s an and the mi5 just doesnt grab me
yes theyre too small
Same here.
If I had to pick one between them I would probably go with the 4S though
I like the Mi4s a lot, if it had an upgraded camera I would be very interested.
If you ever end up with an Mi 5, do get in touch, we’ll trade π
Ha! You know what I mean. π
I heard its average at best. The whole latest line up from xiaomi is basically stinking of mediocrity. Mi5 being the biggest disappointment of them all. Wish one of these chinese manufacturers would just smash it out the park one time. I’m still eying up the pro 6 but i think camera wise it is still likely to fall short of competing with the big boys.
Yea I haven’t been as impressed with Xiaomi over the last year or so as I was in the past. Although I do love my Mi Pad 2 I just got. I am still undecided about the Pro 6, I really like the MX5 I have been using this past year but something is telling me the Pro 6 is going to be a letdown like the Mi5. From my limited hands on time with it the Gionee S8 ticked all the boxes especially for the camera but historically their software has been terrible and it doesn’t get updated.
I agree with you, moreover I would say that Xiaomi should release a version with either SD652 SOC with upgraded camera or keep the one used in MI4C. Then it will justify its actual price in the market. I have seen that the phone get warm for intensive usage. If it was around 250β¬ shipping costs included I would have gone for it.
I am hesitating between MI4S and Note 3 Pro.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro is a way better deal then both Mi4s a Mi5.
But the back of the Gionee S8 is fugly. I am the werid person who really loves my mi4i it’s a nice size I have the Redmi note 3 pro and killing the battery is hard and the build is not bad and the finger print scanner works well. But I did order a black mi4s
I love the back of the S8, especially holding it in person. It felt so natural in the hand.
“Wonder if itβs a conscious decision by Xiaomi to have a slight yellow tint on China-only phones?”
Is that a not-too-subtle reference to the Chinese skin color? Are you saying that the phone will blend in?
that would offend a lot of my friends and colleagues from China, so… No. π
Not to mention most of Xiaomi’s customer base.
Why not just get a mi 4c? Sure the mi 4s has metal unibody and fingerprint scanner but mi 4c has excellent camera and excellent display and not to mention it’s also cheaper as well.
For me if I had to pick between the two I would go with the S. Slightly bigger battery, higher storage capacity (plus SD for those who need that), VoLTE support and the metal frame are all added bonuses. But what really sets them apart for me is the fingerprint scanner, after using a phone with one I don’t think I can ever go back to one without it.
Are the buttons backlit?
Yup!
This should have been the Mi5. This looks elegant and beautiful, the Mi5 is fugly.
Yep. We seem to be agreeing about a lot of stuff lately. Bizarre haha
Two bizarre things happened this year, Xiaomi released a flagship I wasn’t in love with and you and I started to agree on things haha.
both disaster performance and photo camera, elegant phone = ulefone power wooden π
Keep telling yourself that, someone might believe you
maybe meizu and xiaomi can make something different than iphone, i think it only rest of copy design
Name the iPhone model that this looks like?
xiaomi SE and iphone SE , π
Dont think so sorry does not look anything like the iphone SE
“Wonder if itβs a conscious decision by Xiaomi to have a slight yellow tint on China-only phones?”
Is that a not-too-subtle reference to the Chinese skin color? Are you saying that the phone will blend in?
that would offend a lot of my friends and colleagues from China, so… No. π
Not to mention most of Xiaomi’s customer base.
Why not just get a mi 4c? Sure the mi 4s has metal unibody and fingerprint scanner but mi 4c has excellent camera with an excellent display and not to mention it’s also cheaper as well.
For me if I had to pick between the two I would go with the S. Slightly bigger battery, higher storage capacity (plus SD for those who need that), VoLTE support and the metal frame are all added bonuses. But what really sets them apart for me is the fingerprint scanner, after using a phone with one I don’t think I can ever go back to one without it.
If this phone had SD652, I would have gone for it without any hesitation. I think it is a bit expensive and its camera is not great!!
SD652 > SD808?
Yeah a lot better but in my case I would have preferred an SD650 SOC which would have reduced the costs.
If this phone had SD652, I would have gone for it without any hesitation. I think it is a bit expensive and its camera is not great!!
SD652 > SD808?
Yeah a lot better but in my case I would have preferred an SD650 SOC which would have reduced the costs.
For that price just buy a Mi5.
For that price just buy a Mi5.
Check MIUI Tweaks from Play Market. It is pure magic!
Will do! Thanks π
Check MIUI Tweaks from Play Market. It is pure magic!
Will do! Thanks π
I can confirm the existence of yellow tint on the screen. There’s also one more important thing about this phone that you have to know, this phone gets hot easily. You don’t even need to push it with heavy games to make it hot. The phone is very light and the metal frame doesn’t feels like metal, it lacks the cold metal feeling. Also the gold color is tinted towards rose / pink instead of yellow in my opinion.
I saved my money thanks to you. It confirms that the phone is a bit expensive and has some minor downsides. Maybe the heating you mention will be fixed when the ROM will be updated. That being said, I have seen some reviews pointing that the phone gets indeed warm when using it intensively but no one mention an heating problem. The screen quality is below the MI5 but offers great experience for the user. I think a price drop of $50 (coupons + price reduction) would push me to get the black version.
I can confirm the existence of yellow tint on the screen. There’s also one more important thing about this phone that you have to know, this phone gets hot easily. You don’t even need to push it with heavy games to make it hot. The phone is very light and the metal frame doesn’t feels like metal, it lacks the cold metal feeling. Also the gold color is tinted towards rose / pink instead of yellow in my opinion.
I saved my money thanks to you. It confirms that the phone is a bit expensive and has some minor downsides. Maybe the heating you mention will be fixed when the ROM will be updated. That being said, I have seen some reviews pointing that the phone gets indeed warm when using it intensively but no one mention an heating problem. The screen quality is below the MI5 but offers great experience for the user. I think a price drop of $50 (coupons + price reduction) would push me to get the black version.
Today, I have noticed that the MI4S got a price cut from well known resellers like Ibuygou. From $325 to $289, just wondering why…does the phone has huge downsides? Like heating issues? Bad camera?
Just asking because I am going to buy one. Those who own that phone please let me know if you are happy with it.
Yash, this message is for you. Can you confirm that the MI4S is an excellent phone and is it worth to get it at $289?
I need a phone, maybe the Redmi 3 Pro will be more than enough for a couple of months.
Today, I have noticed that the MI4S got a price cut from well known resellers like Ibuygou. From $325 to $289, just wondering why…does the phone has huge downsides? Like heating issues? Bad camera?
Just asking because I am going to buy one. Those who own that phone please let me know if you are happy with it.
Yash, this message is for you. Can you confirm that the MI4S is an excellent phone and is it worth to get it at $289?
I need a phone, maybe the Redmi 3 Pro will be more than enough for a couple of months.