Xiaomi Mi MIX official: 6.4-inch ceramic monster with high-end specs and a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio

posted by Ben R. / Oct 25, 2016, 3:26 AM

Xiaomi has just taken the wraps off a gargantuan 6.4-inch phablet with a 91.3 percent screen-to-body ratio

Following the launch of the Mi Note 2, Xiaomi has thrown in a massive surprise in every sense of the word with a 6.4-inch device comprised of ceramic. The handset, designed in collaboration with French designer Philippe Starck, offers an almost completely edge-to-edge finish that been two years in the design and what's more, it'll be available from next month.

Xiaomi has been quietly chipping away at the big guns of the market like Apple and Samsung for a number of years. But the Mi MIX makes a statement that suggests Xiaomi is not quite content with playing in the shadows, and wants to take the game to the industry leaders.

The Mi MIX includes a Snapdragon 821 SoC clocked at 2.35 GHz, 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128 GB storage. There's also a Pro model touting the same chipset, 6 gigs of RAM, 256 GB storage and an 18k gold trim around the rear fingerprint sensor and camera.

Many have asked for a 'true' edge-to-edge phablet, and boy, has xiaomi delivered

The Mi MIX includes a 4400 mAh battery under the hood which, whilst large, is seemingly necessary given the sheer size of the device's footprint. Said battery gets Quick Charge 3.0 support and like the Mi Note 2, the Mi MIX duo includes support for 192 kHz / 24-bit audio.

As is the case with the Mi Note 2, the Mi MIX duo includes NFC support and USB Type-C connectivity. As for the measurements, both models are 158.8 mm x 81.9 mm x 7.9 mm, and weigh 209 grams.

You may be wondering: how do I put this slab of ceramic to my ear and make calls? A nifty piece of tech described as 'cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology' takes place of the regular earpiece. In layman's terms, this new implementation beams vibrations right through the glass, so you can listen to a call without the traditional gap for a speaker. This, friends, is what you call innovation.

The Mi MIX also touts an ultrasonic proximity sensor beneath the display, as opposed to the usual infrared sensor. In short, the device will still know to dim the display when it's being held up against your face.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX is quite unlike anything seen in the smartphone industry before now

As well as being 6.4 inches in diameter -- comfortably larger than the display any other high-end phablet we could care to name -- the panel offers a 1080 x 2040 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio for viewing. There's a software-based Quick Ball feature for ease-of-navigation, which automatically hides when not in use.

The main camera is a 16-megapixel offering complete with PDAF. As we mentioned earlier, the rear shooter is also accompanied by a circular fingerprint sensor. The front-facing camera is not located in a traditional spot thanks to the display; the 5-megapixel selfie shooter is placed near the bottom, where a very lonely slice of bezel is retained.

unlike the global mi note 2, there's no mention of an int'l version of the mi mix

The 4 GB / 128 GB model will cost 3499 Yuan ($517) while the Pro variant with 6 GB RAM, 256 GB storage and gold trim will retail for 3999 Yuan ($590). It will be available to the Chinese market from November 4th, and will ship with a leather case in tow. Registrations have already begun, and we suspect this device will pique the interest of quite a few consumers.

Where the Mi Note 2 will offer a global edition that paves the way for an eventual launch in Europe, the United States and other locations, Xiaomi has given no indication that the Mi MIX will do likewise. If you're particularly keen on the device and don't live in China, you'll probably be able to score yourself a unit online when it becomes available. But once you consider the import fees on a device that will retail for $500-$600 anyway, you'll be paying a significant premium for the privilege.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX has definitely gotten us out of our chairs, but what do you make of it? Have a peek through the gallery below and be sure to share your first impressions in the comments.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX goes official

View more + 10 images

source: Xiaomi

Related phones

View Full specs

Display 6.4" 1080 x 2040 pixels

Camera 16 MP / 5 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, Quad-core, 2340 MHz

Storage 128 GB

Battery 4400 mAh

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99 Comments

1. abdoualgeria

Posts: 928; Member since: Jul 27, 2015

Mindblowing *_*

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 3:30 AM 26

6. shahrooz

Posts: 792; Member since: Sep 17, 2013

troll killer *_*

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 3:38 AM 0

12. Master_Oogway

Posts: 104; Member since: Oct 06, 2016

Just speechless.... I didn't expected it's real..

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 3:59 AM 17

74. neela_akaash

Posts: 1239; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

Awesomeness has a whole new definition....

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 7:24 AM 3

26. donrox

Posts: 204; Member since: Jul 18, 2014

It's a concept. It says Concept phone on the first picture!

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 4:24 AM 1

48. Master_Oogway

Posts: 104; Member since: Oct 06, 2016

This concept is available for sale from 4th of November...

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:19 AM 19

41. asirfaysal

Posts: 102; Member since: Jul 19, 2016

Eventually Xiaomi will take Samsung and Apples' position.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 4:57 AM 4

50. Guaire

Posts: 897; Member since: Oct 15, 2014

Seems like it has mindblowingly underwhelming camera pair for such an amazing design and otherwise top notch spec sheet not to mention for that price range.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:28 AM 1

68. GreenMan

Posts: 2698; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

Surreal... Yet... A reality... What's next, I wonder...? Oh well... G'Day!

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 6:46 AM 1

83. zeeBomb

Posts: 2318; Member since: Aug 14, 2014

91.3!?

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 11:21 AM 1

2. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1412; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

Those who refuse to return note 7 you better regret now, 6gb ram 256gb storage bezel free yet half of price will crush every single flagship2017 instant

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 3:30 AM 18

29. Tyrion_Lannister unregistered

If the MI note was any indication, this phone will probably never see the light of day outside China. I don't see how anyone will regret over a device they can't buy. And you have no idea how good 2017 phones will be.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 4:29 AM 5

32. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1412; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

No 2017 flagship will able to reach 90% screen ratio and even if they successfully copy Xiaomi, it won't be cost less than $500 like this

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 4:38 AM 14

45. Tyrion_Lannister unregistered

It's a huge phone, 90% screen to body ratio or not. They just eliminated the top panel, which I see as weird. I need the top and bottom bezels to match in size.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:09 AM 8

49. BoardDWorld

Posts: 117; Member since: Aug 17, 2016

No the bottom is missing also. That black bit is still LCD, but used for soft keys. So if they give you the option to hide soft keys this is what it would look like:http://tech.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Xiaomi-Mi-Note-2-leaked-Weibo.jpg Official slides:http://en.miui.com/data/attachment/forum/201610/25/154318jb995j37f31be393.png.thumb.jpg Rotating the phone for selfies removes the softkeys:http://en.miui.com/data/attachment/forum/201610/25/102945i8avmgwag8wmo86n.jpg.thumb.jpg

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:27 AM 3

53. Tyrion_Lannister unregistered

Oh, this is good then. These slides make it confusing.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:40 AM 0

63. BoardDWorld

Posts: 117; Member since: Aug 17, 2016

You're right the slides are confusing, some clear photos below show that some of the black is bezel at the bottom:http://news.mydrivers.com/1/504/504600.htm

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 6:15 AM 1

66. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

I don't think the entire front of the phone is comprised of the only the screen. If it did, where will the front facing camera go? The description above said the front camera lies be low the thin slice of bezel, I think that makes more sense. And the link you posted are renders anyway.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 6:43 AM 2

51. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1412; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

Yeah yeah five years back you see Samsung fanboy spamming Galaxy SIII concept, full of ceramic and edgeless display and whole world crawling for this, until now not even a single Samsung device offer ceramic, and when Chinese manufacturer did it you all say it's weird. Suck it

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:29 AM 4

54. Tyrion_Lannister unregistered

I was never a Samsung fanboy. All I care about are powerful devices offering the pinnacle of technology. I don't give a rat's ass about a phone's design.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:41 AM 1

58. DoggyDangerous

Posts: 1028; Member since: Aug 28, 2015

It is an amazing phone. Xiaomi has taken the innovation to a new level. Now other companies will follow the suit and will claim it as if they have invented it.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:50 AM 0

67. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

I have a manufacturer in mind. XD

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 6:46 AM 3

75. iushnt

Posts: 3168; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Sharp already has one..But no one regrets

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 8:42 AM 1

84. Master_Oogway

Posts: 104; Member since: Oct 06, 2016

Yes Sharp had it. But it was just an entry level phone that cost like a midranger. Xiaomi has thrown almost every possible tech to make it a flagship category device. And that ceramic body looks just outrageous.... And forgot to mention that pricetag.....

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 11:29 AM 2

89. Anna1232003

Posts: 3; Member since: Oct 25, 2016

If Samsung,Htc,etc...will copy from Xiaomi then Xiaomi did copy from Sharp Aquos Xx: gsmarena.com/sharp_aquos_xx-pictures-7252.php

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 7:00 PM 0

98. BoardDWorld

Posts: 117; Member since: Aug 17, 2016

It's not about copying, bordless design goes back decades. It's about innovating in tech to make a borderless design work. Xiaomi now have 3 heavy handed patents (no doubt more) for the ultrasonic proximity sensor and ceramic piezo vibrator and using the body to resonate the sound through the screen into the air, then ear, and not out the back of the phone. Sharp have the bone speaker tech, but their proximity sensor was just a massive version of a conventional sensor that sits at the chin.

posted on Nov 01, 2016, 12:41 AM 0

46. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

It'll surely not going to reach US (at least officially) But they may eventually launch it in other country such as India. Anyway what they showed us today is that they are not merely just a copycat and follower but also they can innovate. I'll say They came a long way since they were called Apple copycat. I love tech and they really surprised me very well. I didn't expected this Mi MiX at all... Also the design is stunning....!

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:10 AM 1

47. Tyrion_Lannister unregistered

They didn't release the mi note in India. Heck, they didn't even release the top model of mi5 in India. Not to mention that 250-300$ devices become over 400$ in India and any country not China. So they are not as cheap as you think.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 5:19 AM 3

70. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

Right! I waited long enough for Mi5 pro to arrive in India, which didn't happen so I went for OnePlus 3 instead. Was kind of pissed but I'm glad it didn't land here, cause I'm happy with OnePlus 3.