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Is the Xiaomi Mi Note still worth buying?

By Liu Hongzuo - 6 Aug 2015

Is the Xiaomi Mi Note still worth buying?

How does the Mi Note (center) compare to Oppo's R7 (left) and Samsung's Galaxy A8 (right)?

Overview

There's been a recent flurry of mid-tier priced phones and phablets, which can be a little tough to keep up with. The most high-profile of these has been the long awaited Singapore release of the Xiaomi Mi Note, Xiaomi's first 'premium' high-end smartphone. We've put together a spec-for-spec comparison of the Mi Note with two other recent releases, the Oppo R7, and Samsung Galaxy A8, to see which offers the best value overall.

  Xiaomi Mi Note Oppo R7 Samsung Galaxy A8
  Xiaomi Mi Note Oppo R7 Samsung Galaxy A8
Operating system
  • Android 4.4.2 Jelly Bean with MIUI 6
  • Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Color 2.1 OS
  • Android 5.1 OS (Lollipop)
Processor
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core 2.5GHz
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core 1.5GHz processor
  • Samsung Exynos Octa-core (1.8GHz Quad Core + 1.3GHz Quad Core)
Built-in Memory
  • 3GB RAM
  • 3GB RAM
  • 2GB RAM
Display
  • 5.7-inch / 1920 x 1080 pixels (386 ppi) / 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3
  • 5.0-inch / 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (445 ppi) / AMOLED
  • 5.7-inch / 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (386 ppi) / Super AMOLED
Camera
  • Rear: 13MP w/ Sony sensor / F2.0 aperture / dual-LED flash / optical image stabilization
  • Front: 4MP / F2.0 aperture / 2μm pixel size
  • Rear: 13MP, f2.2, 4128 x 3096 pixels, Samsung 3M2 with ISOCELL technology, Schneider-Kreuznach optics, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
  • Front: 8MP
  • Rear: 16MP / 5312 x 2988 pixels / autofocus / LED flash / 4x Digital Zoom
  • Front: 5MP
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, dual 4G LTE
  • Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5GHz), NFC, DLNA, Micro-USB 2.0,
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4+5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, GLONASS, Quick Connect5, Mobile hotspot, Quick Connect
Storage Type
  • 16GB / 64GB
  • 16GB ROM
  • MicroSD, up to 128GB
  • 32GB ROM
  • MicroSD, up to 128GB
Battery
  • 3,000mAh
  • 2,320mAh Li-polymer
  • Non-removable
  • 3,050mAh / Li-Ion
  • Non-removable
Dimensions
  • 155.1 x 77.6 x 6.95mm
  • 143 x 71 x 6.3 mm
  • 158 x 76.8 x 5.9mm
Weight
  • 161g
  • 147g
  • 151g

Operating System

All three phones run on Android but only the Samsung Galaxy A8 is up to date with Android 5.1 Lollipop. Both the R7 and Mi Note are running Android 4.4 KitKat. Having said that, Oppo says that an update to Lollipop should be available soon. As for the Mi Note, there don't appear to be any plans to upgrade it to Lollipop anytime soon.

Processor

The A8 uses a mid-range, octa-core Exynos processor, while the R7 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615. On paper, these two processors seem comparable (the A8 actually uses the 615 processor in other markets). On the other hand, the Mi Note is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, which was Qualcomm's flagship processor before it was succeeded by the Snapdragon 810. Based on our previous benchmarking tests, the 801 is still quite a bit more powerful than the 615, especially when it comes to graphics and gaming performance.

As for RAM, both the R7 and Mi Note are armed with 3GB RAM, while the A8 has just 2GB.

Display

All three phones have Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution displays, but due to their different screen sizes, they have different pixel densities. On paper, the sharpest screen here is the Oppo R7's 5-inch display, which gives it 445ppi. Both the Mi Note and A8 have 5.7-inch displays, giving them 386ppi. In reality, all three displays are plenty sharp, and you'll be hard pressed to see much difference between them. What does make a difference is the display technology used. Both the R7 and A8 use an AMOLED display with a vibrant 16-million color range and deep contrast. The Mi Note on the other hand uses an IPS LCD display, so the blacks aren't quite as dark.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A8 packs a 16-megapixel rear camera with slightly higher resolution and 4x Digital Zoom to abuse its clarity. Interestingly enough, the Oppo R7 actually uses a Samsung module for its 13-megapixel camera, albeit at a lower resolution. The R7 is also the only phone out of the three with phase detection autofocus. The Mi Note has a 13-megapixel camera too, but uses a Sony module instead. It's also the only one with optical image stabilization and a neat Manual Mode with the option of having up to 32-second long exposure. The Oppo R7 has the best front-facing camera amongst the three for selfie addicts; so, this entirely depends on what kinds of shots are more important to you.

SIM Card Types

Both Oppo R7 and Samsung Galaxy A8 can do a single-SIM, single-MicroSD layout, as well as a dual-SIM configuration, while the Mi Note is dual-SIM only. It's also worth noting that the Xiaomi Mi Note and the Oppo R7 can hold 4G networks on both slots, while the Samsung Galaxy A8 takes only Nano-SIM in both slots, and one of those slots only has 2G network connectivity. Don't forget that 2G network connectivity will cease in Singapore in 2017, so if you plan on holding onto the A8 for that long, it will effectively lose its Dual SIM functionality (you can still use the second SIM as a MicroSD slot).

Storage

The Oppo R7's 16GB internal storage is way too little even with an MicroSD slot, especially when you take into account how the OS already occupies a few GBs, and larger game apps that require the bulk of the data to run on internal storage. It's also counter-intuitive since it offers more RAM for games, but it lacks the space to hold said games. The Samsung Galaxy A8 has a relatively comfortable 32GB internal storage space and the option to expand externally with a Micro SD card. For the Mi Note, it lacks a microSD slot for expandable storage, which should not pose any challenge if you were an iPhone user at some point, but an Android phone with no MicroSD slot is lackluster, even with a relatively large 64GB storage. 

Battery

It’s no secret that the both the A8 and Mi Note will require more power than the R7, thanks to their larger displays, and both have reasonably large batteries to compensate, with the Samsung using a 3,050mAh battery and the Mi Note a 3,000mAh battery. While the R7 has a smaller 5-inch screen, it also has a significantly smaller 2,320mAh capacity, but it's also armed with Oppo's VOOC Flash Charge system that charges the phone at 25W over a peak of 5-amperes (which means its even faster than Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0). This is a toss-up between significantly faster charging, over more battery capacity (which might be negated by higher power consumption anyway).

Design

Samsung Galaxy A8 sports a uni-body metal frame. It definitely feels premium, and the materials are reflected in the price tag. Its narrow bezel also makes the display look larger. The Oppo R7 and Xiaomi Mi Note both have a fitted metal body too – it’s not perfectly snapped together but there are no major flaws or gaps. The Mi Note and Oppo R7’s come with 2.5D curved display that’s rounded upwards. Raised glass does add a little more premium feel - Mi Note takes it slight further with the same curved glass back as well. If these subtle design cues aren't your cup of tea, it's still worth noting that smartphones that sit at this price range rarely come with full-metal frames. That makes us pleased.

The weight difference between the A8 and R7 is negligible, but the A8 is much thinner at 5.9mm – the Samsung Galaxy A8 does tout itself to be the slimmest Galaxy phone thus far.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi Note is both heavier and thicker at nearly 7mm thickness.

Availability and Price

The Oppo R7 and Xiaomi Mi Note are significantly more affordable (S$129 less) than the A8. Between the R7 and the A8, the extra dollars spent on the A8 gets you a slightly more powerful processor, 0.7-inch larger display, 16GB more internal storage, and nearly one-third extra battery juice. The extra RAM on the Oppo R7, together with dual-SIM connectivity that connects to 4G on both cards tips the scale ever so slightly into its favor.

But all these numbers pale in comparison to the Xiaomi Mi Note’s pricing, since you’re paying for a screen as big as the A8’s, with a processor better than the other two, a camera that can go toe-to-toe against its peers, and at a mid-S$500 pricing without a contract. It's an even bigger no-brainer if you already use a flagship model smartphone and you just need a secondary unit that costs little with great specs.

So, it's still a Mi Note for me?

The Mi Note is still one of the best buys in this price range.

Short answer? Yes, the Mi Note is still great value. Here's why.

If you are in the market for a true mid-tier model smartphone, the Oppo R7 is quite the delight. It has sufficient processing power, a clear display with colors as vibrant as Samsung’s (since it’s AMOLED too), with double 4G network capability at a reasonable price tag. The Samsung Galaxy A8 does aim to be the “premium” choice with more storage and battery capacity topped off with a really delectable rear camera, but it reaches a little too high in terms of price range, and it can feel slightly underwhelming if we treat it as a phablet, based on specifications alone.

All things considered though, the Xiaomi Mi Note is still the best buy, with its significantly more powerful processor, decent storage space, Sony camera with optical image stabilization, and cut-throat price tag.

But that's only for now. The upcoming OnePlus 2, which should be coming to Singapore in Q4 this year, looks like it will surpass all three. It offers even better specs, and at a lower price point! Don't believe us? Check out our hands-on with the OnePlus 2 for yourself.

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