It’s quite fascinating to see meteoric rises and dramatic falls in the tech world. Until a year ago, the term ‘Xiaomi’ would have been rebuked as an obscure name from a third world Asian country by most people outside Asia. Cut to the present, the smartphone manufacturer dubbed as the ‘Apple of the east’ has already beaten Apple and Samsung in China and is now among the top 10 smartphone manufacturers in the world. It was in the top 5 until a month ago.

And now folks, Xiaomi has its eyes set on Uncle Sam himself. If experts are to be believed, it is all set to deliver a sucker punch to the extremely volatile Android market in the US with its feature packed phones at ridiculously low price points.

America and the west can’t stop drooling but very little is known about Xiaomi’s phones in this part of the world. If you have been contemplating getting yourself a Xiaomi smartphone but had no idea which model to buy or what separates one from the other, then this guide is going to help you understand the basics of Xiaomi including its various smartphone ranges like MI and Redmi.

What makes Xiaomi smartphones so popular?

For a long time, the market for smartphones in China was dominated by phones in the two extreme ends of the price point. At one end, there were the Apples and the Samsungs fighting it out for dominance and at the other end, there were unnamed pirated phones which had no quality control or guarantees.  If it refused to work out-of-the-box, the best you could do was bear it with a smirk. What China (and the rest of the world to be honest) needed was a smartphone brand that could club quality components, a user friendly UI and rock-bottom prices without tradeoffs.

Xiaomi’s entry filled that void to such an extent, that the company has been setting new records for preorders.
There are two ranges of phones from Xiaomi that you need to be aware of.

1. MI Range: Often dubbed as the premium range of smartphones from Xiaomi, the MI range was the flagship range for the company in its initial years. The features of these phones include super fast processors, great quality cameras and an incredibly sleek design with a camera that nests inside the casing and does not protrude. The MI 1 was the first phone in this range and the most recent addition has been the MI 5.
2. Redmi: The Redmi range which became an overnight rage following the success of the Redmi Note is focused on the budget-minded customer without cutting too many corners. Everything from the MIUI interface to the customer-focused features, Redmi will give you the user friendliness of an Apple at less than half the price.

Today, we take a look at the best of Xiaomi’s offerings in the market circa 2017. These include smartphones from both the ranges that we spoke about and are considered to be the best smartphones at these price points even when compared against much higher priced brands like Google, Apple, Samsung and Motorola.

#1 – Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro 32Gb

The Redmi Note 3 is the smartphone that put Xiaomi in the spotlight at a global level. The world suddenly sat up and took notice for here was a phone that boasted of a 5.5 inch full HD display, a hexa-core Snapdragon 650, Xiaomi’s own MIUI 7, a 16 MP rear camera, a 5 MP front camera and yet, was priced just over $150.

There had to be a catch. But naysayers were soon disappointed due to the apparent lack of nits to pick as the Note 3 became one of Xiaomi’s bestselling phones ever.

Metallic Body

How many times have you seen an all-metal chassis in a budget priced smartphone? Xiaomi officially enters the turf that was reserved for high end smartphone models from Sony with the aluminum Ingot casing that weighs a feeble 164 grams.

Super fast processor

The Redmi Note 3 stays true to its brand promise and packs in a 1.4GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 which not only ensures super fast applications but also ensures that there are no lags while playing resource intensive games.

Excellent battery life

The recently launched Samsung S7 Edge which retails for over $750 has a 3600 mAH battery while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has a 4000 mAH battery. Need we say more?

Crisp and vibrant pictures

The 16 MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture produces razor sharp images with excellent color reproduction. The 4 MP front camera is not the best feature of the phone but the quality is good enough for both selfie crazies as well as business video calls. The HD display with the 1,920 x 1,080 and 403ppi make a vivid combo that results in crystal clear viewing.

Verdict: Unbeatable package! Until Xiaomi or some competitor manages to surpass the impeccably high standards set by the Note 3, this offers unbeatable value for money. Save yourself a few hundred dollars and grab the Redmi Note 3 while it is still available for purchase.

#2 – Xiaomi Redmi 3S 16Gb

With the Redmi 4 popping its head over the horizon, it was expected to be a bumpy ride for the Redmi 3S to carve a position for itself in the market. The fact that it is the last phone from the third generation of Redmi didn’t seem reassuring either. But as always Xiaomi pulled a rabbit out of the hat and the Redmi 3S has been a roaring success.

Available in two versions, the Redmi 3S and the Redmi 3S Prime, the smartphone boasts of Redmi’s trademark metal shell, an all new MIUI 8 and a whopping 4100 mAh battery.

A worthy upgrade to the Redmi 3

When you are working to upgrade a successful smartphone, you are treading a thin line. But Xiaomi’s Redmi 3S is every bit worth the upgrade. They have tweaked the design a tad, added a swanky new processor and a fingerprint scanner. At the price point, this is a steal.

The 5 inch HD screen remains unchanged in the 3S and despite the lower resolution, the IPS tech delivers a great viewing experience with realistic color representation and flawless viewing angles.

Good battery, Responsive performance

A review of the Redmi 3S would be incomplete without mentioning the 4100 mAh battery. There’s more juice in the phone than most $1000 smartphones in the market. You wont be left groping for your power bank in the middle of performing important tasks for sure.

The all-new Snapdragon 430 with the 64-bit octa-core chip and the 2GB RAM make this one of the fastest smartphones. The apps load fast, the camera responds at a touch and there are no jitters or delays during games. Cannot ask for more.

Verdict: The best smartphone under $100! That’s what GSM Arena rated it too. Do yourself a favor and gift yourself one of these. It will be the best $100 you will ever spend on a smartphone.

#3 – Xiaomi Redmi Pro 64GB

Just when we thought that Xiaomi couldn’t better itself, it comes up with the Redmi Pro, which is a beast of a phablet by any standards. This is as feature rich as they come but yet, is surprisingly different from most of Xiaomi’s Redmi and MI range of smartphones. At the forefront of the laundry list of features is a dual camera, 5.5in OLED display, 10 cores and USB-C connectivity, once again at a mid budget range.

A commanding presence

The Redmi Pro is not petite. But it was never intended to be so. The brushed metal chassis is 8.2mm in thickness and it weighs 174 grams. But the beautiful curves which is retained from the Xiaomi MI 5 ensures that the ergonomics are taken care of. You can hold, lift and click pictures with ease without the risk of the phone fumbling out of your hands. Also, despite the size, it slips effortlessly into your pockets.

The iPhone Turf

When HTC started the dual camera trend, it quickly caught on and the latest one to sport it is the iPhone 7. Redmi Pro is Xiaomi’s first phone to feature this with a 13 MP main camera and a 5 MP second camera which club to give you excellent pictures with depth of field. You can mimic the bokeh effect that DSLR cameras are famed for.

There’s ample scope for playing around with the images to achieve the results that you desire. This alone is one reason to put this on your wish list.

Also, this is Xiaomi’s first foray into the world of AMOLED screens and we are certainly not complaining. The 1,920 x 1,080 resolution delivers an excellent viewing experience for both streaming videos as well as games.

Last but not the least; the MediaTek Helio X20 with 3GB and 10 cores delivers a smooth and fluid experience with apps and games.

Verdict: If you wanted a phablet that is packed with featured but priced under $300, you’ve just found your best choice. The Xiaomi Redmi Pro 3 is truly a beast.

#4 – Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 64Gb

To push the envelope on a premise that has been a wild success is no mean feat. But count it on Xiaomi to make it happen every single time. The Redmi Note 4 is another amazingly feature rich smartphone from their stable with a very desirable price tag.

The feature set is highlighted by 64GB storage and 3GB RAM, a 5 megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture, an IR blaster and 4,100mAh battery.

Sturdier metal body

Ever since the Note 3, there has been an upgrade in the manufacturing procedure at Xiaomi which is evident in the metallic body (solid aluminum ingot) which is clearly better quality. The trade off is that it’s slightly heavier too at 175g but the difference is only meager. And it is still lighter than the iPhone 7 Plus.

Crisp and colorful display

The 5.5-inch display with the 2.5D arc glass makes for a pleasurable viewing experience with great colors and perfect angles. Even when tested in bright outdoor sunlight, the display is on par with what you’d normally expect from high end phones.

Fast processor

On the 3GB Ram version, the MediaTek Helio X20 processor is lightning fast. Everything from multi-tabbed browsing to multitasking with apps is a breeze. You wont experience lags or delays even while enjoying graphic-heavy games.

Mediocre camera

We hate to say this, but the camera on the Redmi Note 4 is a letdown especially when you pit it against the amazing camera on some of its predecessors. That’s despite the dual LED flash. But if clicking photographs is not your primary use of your smartphone, you’d have no nits to pick with the Redmi Note 4.

Verdict: The Redmi Note 4 is a worthy successor to the Note 3. The beefed up storage, the faster processor and the improved design make it a great buy for a few dollars more.

#5 – Xiaomi Mi Max 32Gb

The Mi Max is Xiaomi’s entry into official Tablet territory that was for long dominated by Samsung’s Tab series. It sports a massive 6.44 inch HD display, dual LED flash, a fingerprint sensor, hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 and 3GB of RAM.

It borrows some of the specifications from the immensely popular Redmi Note 3 and amps it up to create one beefy phablet that you’d love to carry for both professional as well as leisure uses.

Practical Design with a great display

The all-metal construction clubbed with the massive screen make the Mi Max a beefy phone. It is a tad heavier than normal smartphones too at 203g.

But to make up for the bigger size, Xiaomi gives it a minimalistic design and slim profile (7.5mm) with rounded edges that make for comfortable carrying and one-handed typing. Xiaomi has integrated a ‘One handed mode’ in the settings which makes it easier to type with one hand by shrinking the contents of the screen to a smaller area.

The display with Xiaomi’s Sunlight Display tech makes for crystal clear viewing even on a bright and sunny day outdoors.

4K video recording and a massive battery

Both, the rear 16 MP camera as well as the 5 MP front cameras deliver amazing picture quality. The images are sharp with excellent detailing around the edges. Xiaomi has clearly put some work behind this, which was one of the features where it was found lacking.

Powering this huge phone is a massive 4850mAh battery which will keep the phone running for two to three days even with active usage. On the usage front, both the MIUI 7 and the Snapdragon 650 keep things pleasing and blazing fast.

Verdict: With an excellent build quality, great display and a massive battery, the Mi Max is a dream come true for people looking for a big sized phablet with a budget price tag.

The post [Review] Top 5 Best Xiaomi Smartphones appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

Now, let’s discuss the technical features of this popular and affordable tablet.

Key Features of Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 Windows 10 Tablet

This design features an IPS screen which measures 7.9 inches and it also has a Quad Core processor with 1.44GHz. When you choose this model, you’ll access 64GB ROM, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability. As well, you’ll find that this tablet has a 4.1 8.0MP + 5.0MP camera.

This Tablet Offers Excellent Value

This is an energy-conscious model which reduces typical tablet power consumption by a whopping sixty percent. Thanks to its powerful, 32-bit processor, it’s ideal for playing games and watching films. Also, thanks to Intel HD graphics and sufficient RAM and ROM, this tablet makes it easy to enjoy quick and hassle-free Web browsing.

The tablet comes with LPDDR3 memory, which means that it runs apps in a fast and flawless manner. This XiaoMi Mi design is all about your enjoyment of the Web, games and everything else that you want to do with your tablet.

As well, this design comes with a system which senses gravity. This helps the tablet to run apps in a fluid and sensitive manner. Its display screen provides great resolution, so it will make viewing of videos and other Web content a total breeze.

Windows 10 comes pre-installed and you’ll find that this ultra-modern version of Windows is a great interface which runs well and offers the highest degree of compatibility. The tablet also has a 6190mAh battery which manages power, current and temperature efficiently, while also boosting dynamic performance. As well, since the tablet has Bluetooth 4.1, it makes quick transmission of information, photos and files a total breeze.

Is This Tablet Right for You?

Now that you know more about the XiaoMi Mi Pad 2 Windows 10 Version tablet, you’ll be ready to decide whether or not it suits your needs. Designed with care in order to offer excellent features for a low to mid-range price, this high-quality tablet has all of the bells and whistles that most people need. As well, it comes from an electronics brand which is trusted and respected.

The post Discover the Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 Windows 10 Tablet appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

You deserve to take a closer look at the HOMTOM HT3 Pro 4G Smartphone.

Far and away one of the most impressive lesser-known flagship smart phone devices available right now, this smart phone is as quick as any other, loaded with special features and impressive hardware, and also happens to be one of the most beautiful phones money can buy today.

Combine all of that with a ridiculously low price tag and you’re talking about a winning combination here!

Design

The first thing that you’ll notice about the HOMTOM HT3 Pro 4G Smartphone is that it looks as though it has been designed by the same kinds of top-tier professionals at companies like Samsung, HTC, and Apple.

This is one of the most impressive looking smartphones we’ve seen in quite a while, and the high-end finish is accepted by the unique pink hue of the backside case.

On top of that, the phone utilizes a quad core 1.0 GHz processor with 2 GB of RAM, a beautiful 13 megapixel camera, and fast charging battery systems that give you access to all ports of 16 hours of full battery life without having to charge your phone along the way.

There is some very impressive engineering going on “under the hood” of the HOMTOM HT3 Pro 4G Smartphone.

Software

Running the latest version of Android, the world’s most popular mobile operating system, you are going to have full and complete access to the entirety of the Google Play network.

You be able to download any legitimate apps directly to this phone, you’ll be up to play all of your favorite pieces of content, and you’ll be able to access all of the tools that Google makes available with the Android system.

Smart charge battery technology software is also built right into the firmware, and because this phone is unlocked and available to be used on any major network around the world (thanks to the dual SIM card technology) you’ll be able to get the latest updates for your phone just as soon as they become available.

Final verdict

At the end of the day, you are going to have so many different options to pick and choose from when it comes time to purchase your next smart phone.

However, if you’d like to flagship power and design at a price point that is almost impossible to beat, you need look no further than the HOMTOM HT3 Pro 4G Smartphone.

The post HOMTOM HT3 Pro 4G Smartphone Review appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

This phone has been completely unlocked for global use and can be operated on both GSM and CDMA networks, opening up a lot of flexibility on your aunt to begin choose the cellular provider you wish to use it on. The Oukitel K6000 Pro 4G Phablet also uses the latest version of the most popular mobile operating system on the planet Android, and gives you instant access to the entire Google Play network of mobile applications and content.

Lightning fast, beautifully designed, and 100% waterproof, you are really going to enjoy everything that the Oukitel K6000 Pro 4G Phablet brings to the table!

Specifications:

• 6000mAh
• 5.5 inch
• 2.5D Arc Dragontrail Glass Screen
• Android 6.0
• MTK6753 64bit Octa Core
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB ROM
• 8MP + 16MP Cameras Fingerprint Sensor

Oukitel K6000 Pro 4G Phablet Short Review

“Super phone that I was very surprised. Great design, perfect workmanship and the battery is good.”

Design

At 5.5 inches, the Oukitel K6000 Pro 4G Phablet isn’t the world’s largest smart phone but it definitely isn’t a baby sized device, either. It hits that real sweet spot between large enough to use on a daily basis without pinching all of your content but small enough to feel comfortable in one hand and as though you weren’t talking into a paperback book.

The industrial design of this phone is absolutely beautiful, and it can go toe to toe against all other flagship devices without looking out of place. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the entire phone has been constructed to be waterproof, giving you a lot of confidence to keep your new smart phone safe in any weather condition.

Running an octa core processor at 1.3 GHz and featuring 3 GB of RAM, this phone is over there as we mentioned above) lightning fast. You can run multiple applications at the exact same time without ever feeling any slowdown whatsoever.

Software

Running Android 6.0 right out of the box (and capable of updating to the latest version of Android as it is released), you’ll be able to take advantage of the world’s most popular mobile operating system.

You will have full access to the entire Google Play network of mobile applications, games, and other pieces of content Kelly and you’ll be able to completely customize your Android experience to your hearts content.

The camera software that powers the 13 megapixel dual flash camera is absolutely top-notch, and smart battery technology guarantees that you get at least 12 hours of run time out of this phone before you even need to think about charging it.

Final verdict

If you are on the hunt for a top-tier smart phone that isn’t coming out of the biggest brands in the business, and want a smart phone that isn’t going to break your bank account along the way, the Oukitel K6000 Pro 4G Phablet device is going to be right up your alley!

The post Oukitel K6000 Pro 4G Phablet Review appeared first on Xiaomi Firmware.

It now has a Snapdragon 820 processor which is the fastest you can get on android at the time of this review. It now has NFC support, as you can see no more glass and what we have lost is the IR blaster from the top.

Let’s have a look at it in greater detail.

We have the new ultrasonic fingerprint reader, USB type-c port microphone and loudspeaker on the left side. We have a dual sim, that takes to nano. I assume that device support 4g. On the front we have 4 2.5 d glass or dragon tail that hasn’t actually been confirmed. 4 megapixel front-facing camera, ambient light sensor, an earpiece and on the rear the new alloy body. No more glass and we do have the volume up and down balance. Made out of metal jewel tone, LED flash, secondary microphone and the 12 megapixel camera. 1080p panel at all with good colors deep blacks.

But you will notice that there is still the black bezel around the screen and it’s perfectly viewable in the shade. I can still make out what is on the screen. Launch applications, send a text message and use the phone without too much difficulty. Quality of it isn’t bad.

It has a premium feel to it. The new rear housing that it has on it does feel more solid than the glass that was used in the previous Mi5 and inherently easy access to those volume on and power buttons feels nice. Only a hundred and fifty grams. I do like the build of it. It’s not bad but still not quite up to speak of the latest Samsung and Apple flagships. So the ultrasonic fingerprint reader works really well. I find it works actually flawlessly that entity in times. It’s gonna work for me even with the sweetie finger. It will unlock the screen without any problems. So it does perform very well. I haven’t experienced any lags or anything. Now what is not going to be for everyone – this is Ace custom skin that is over android 6.0. One either love it or hate it. You see that I run it because its the chinese and english only version. I’ve got some apps that keep popping up with all those Chinese everywhere. That’s something to bear in mind. If you’re gonna get it early like I did when I would say wait for the global rom.

Some features that are quite handy:

It is double tap to wake you. It can actually run dual applications. So it has a Snapdragon 820 one is mentioned and Adreno 530 graphics. So it’s very easy for the CPU to get a smooth fluid 60 frames per second. Literally every single game I have tested I haven’t noticed any micro lags that I sometimes see on the Snapdragon 650 or 652. It works very quickly, super smooth and extremely playable every game out there. GPS performance is perfectly fine, getting very quickly. So we got camera modes, the typical that you see in the UI. 8 manual settings, focus, exposure, time control. But unfortunately no control of the shutter speeds. We do have various different filters. Camera records in slow mo which is 720p and that records a hundred and twenty frames per second. I found the quality to be quite disappointing. We can adjust a few settings in here so video quality goes all the way up to 4k now. 4k video does not have image stabilization as digital. There is no optical image stabilization.

If you drop that down to full HD, then it needs to get to the stabilization. I find that the audio quality is quite disappointing. The rate is only 96 kilobytes per second. Definitely lacking compared to other flagships and with no optical image stabilization images tend to be quite shaky. You’re probably going to need a tripod if you want to get any decent kind of video. It does have face detection & autofocus which does work but there are some issues now.

Then you’ll notice with the focus going in and out and now 18 ATP sample with 1080p you can enable digital image stabilization. It does a really good job of keeping steady and taking shake out of the image. Front camera has an if 2.0 aperture and it can record up to 1080p max. The video quality isn’t bad at all. But once you get into low-light the frame rate will drop down and it does get a bit choppy.

Conclusion:

I find that this is a very fast phone. SnapDragon 2.1 performs really well this place. All the latest games run super smooth. You’re going to experience no light whatsoever and the ufs 2.0 storage that it has is blazing fast for mobile. So performance-wise it is really good. The build quality is good. I find it slightly better than Mi5 because it does now have a stronger material. As much and it just feels more solid in hand and better overall now the performance of the camera I find to be very disappointing. They hype the sub to be an amazing camera and it is an amazing piece that it does have the sensor but we lost optical image stabilization which is a real shame. And it results in very shaky 4k video. Now 4k video also has a lot of artifacts in it. Focusing issues and the bitrate of audio and video I find to be too low for a flagship. It does charge very fast. The call quality is excellent. Wireless range and speed to really good. So it’s not a bad. That show me really needs to step up their game when it comes to camera performance. They have a lot of tweaking to do. The hardware is there. They just need to focus on improving that and hopefully they will.

Thanks so much for reading this review. Now I will have the review of the only 5S Plus coming up hopefully next week or so. Keep an eye out for that if you haven’t already. See you soon.

Check out best deals on Xiaomi Mi5S!

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