Xiaomi is known for aping the designs of big-name phones, and with its latest device it’s continued this trend, unveiling the Mi Note 2 complete with Galaxy Note 7-esque curved edges.
The new version of last year’s Mi Note, the new phablet keeps some of the best features from the previous model, while adding some new extras.
First, there’s the new “piano black” colour option, which is more than slightly reminiscent of Apple’s new “jet black” hue on the iPhone 7.
Related: Redmi Note 3
And when it comes to specs, the phablet is packing some pretty impressive hardware, if not the best available, including a 5.7-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, which also comes with 3D touch capabialities.
Powering the whole affair is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, the same chip used in the new Google Pixel, giving the Mi Note 2 an edge over a lot of other top-end handsets announced this year, most of which use the 820 version.
Alongside the Snapdragon there’s either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of non-expandable storage, with Android 6.0 Marshmallow handling the software side of things – no Nougat, unfortunately.
However, Xiaomi will overlay its EMUI 8.0 skin on top of the OS, so you won’t be getting standard Android with the new Mi Note 2.
Camera-wise, there’s a 22.5-megapixel rear shooter, with dual LED flash which is capable of shooting 4K video, but comes without any optical image stabilisation (OIS).
Other specs include a 4,070 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 capability and a USB Type-C port, adding some future-proofing to the mix.
There’s no confirmed UK pricing as yet, and as with all Xiaomi phones, you won’t be able to pick the Mi Note 2 up at Carphone Warehouse.
That said, the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model will reportedly start at around $415 (about £340), while the 128GB storage, 6GB RAM option with global 4G band support will go for $515 (about £420).
The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is expected to be available from next month.
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Let us know what you make of the Mi Note 2 in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
