Review Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: WHY DO WE LOVE XIAOMI SO MUCH?

Today we have a review Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X. My acquaintance with Xiaomi started with the model Redmi 4 Prime, from which I was delighted. I believe that for the Chinese giant – this is a new page in the history of the company, because the latest products Redmi 4 / Redmi Note 4 line are not just powerful, but also stylish. The devices have their own external zest and they really want to admire.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Packaging

Xiaomi as always: minimalist design and minimal equipment. It seems to me that even if humanity enters a new technological era, the only thing that will remain unchanged is a white box with a proprietary “Mi”, a neatly embedded smartphone and charging with a wire. Yes, there is not enough quality headset and at least some case or bumper.
Contents of delivery:

• Smartphone
• Charger (5V / 2A)
• Micro USB cable
• A lot of documentation in Chinese
• Clip

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Design

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X – a real bliss for the eyes. The gray and black version of the smartphone looks really stylish. I have long admired how the rays of light shimmer over the back side, and indeed one can consider every centimeter of this device. Xiaomi came to the fact that they developed their own formula for successful design.

Since I started talking about the back side, I’ll tell you a little more about it. The case is metal with two strips for the output of antennas from above and from below. In the center in order: camera’s eye, double flash and fingerprint scanner. Below is the company logo “Mi”. And that’s it! There are no “Made in China” and other lines of text with emblems of various certification.

The front side of me, too, attracted a large percentage of the occupied display area. The side frames are really narrow for a budget device. The upper space where the conversational speaker with the front camera is located is also much narrower. In similar devices from other companies this is not to be found. Under the screen there are classic three touch buttons.

At the bottom there is an input for Micro USB and a “dual” speaker. In fact, the speaker here is one – to the right of the port, and on the left is a perforation for the microphone. From the top – an input of 3.5 mm, an infrared port and a microphone for noise reduction.

On the sides is a classic arrangement of buttons and a slot. From one – rocker volume control and the power button. On the other hand, there is a single combined slot for 2 SIM-cards (Micro + Nano) or SIM-card + memory card.

In general, the changes from Redmi Note 4 or Redmi 4 Prime are minimal. All of them are beautiful, for this is a separate praise Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Display

At once there is a difference in matrices in comparison with Redmi 4 Prime . The smaller version had a very decent quality display, but not without its problems. For example, a strong fading of black at the corners. But there was no departure in the greenish shades, like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X. By the way, this device has an LCD IPS-matrix. On the left is Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X, and on the right is Lenovo Vibe X2 .

The screen covers the panel is not Gorilla Glass, so it should be more careful, and even better to initially stick some kind of film or other protection. There is a rounding of the edges of the glass by type 2.5D. This is already an integral part of smartphones from Xiaomi . I also want to note the good quality of the oleophobic coating. Fingers glide pleasantly on the surface of the screen, well, and as always erase fingerprints and stains very easily. Enough of any napkins or clothes.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Specifications

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor (model MSM8953, 8 cores Cortex-A53, up to 2 GHz, 14 nm, 64-bit)
• Graphics Adreno 506 650 MHz
• RAM 3 GB LPDD3 (after rebooting freely in the region of 1400 MB)
• Data storage 32 GB (out of the box available 23.71 GB)
• Support for Micro SD memory cards up to 128 GB
• IPS LCD display with a diagonal of 5.5 inches and a resolution of 1920 x 1080, with no air gap
• Front camera 5 megapixel (f / 2.0 aperture, wide-angle 85 °, one pixel 1.13 micron)
• The main camera is a 13 megapixel Sony IMX258 or Samsung S5K3L8 (f / 2.0 aperture, one pixel of 1.12 microns, a PDAF focus, a dual LED flash, 1080p video recording)
• Battery 4100 mAh (no fast charging, 5V / 2A)
• Android OS 6.0.1
• MIUI Global 8.1
• Sensors: accelerometer, light and distance sensor, gyro, electronic compass, fingerprint scanner, infrared
• Connectors Micro USB (OTG supported), audio output under 3.5 mm
• Dimensions: 151 x 76 x 8.4 mm
• Weight 175 grams
• Wireless features:
• 2G, 3G, 4G LTE. 4 (lanes: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41)
• Support for two SIM cards (type Micro and Nano)
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n, 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, Beidou, FM radio
• Navigation: GPS, A-GPS, Glonass

I want to notice a difference in the consumption of RAM. If in Redmi 4 Prime it was free most often ≈900 MB, then in Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X – ≈1400 MB. What is the reason for such a huge difference is unknown, but I will assume that the problem is in the firmware.

If you run into this, do not rush to return the goods or write an angry response to the Chinese store. The fact is that the global firmware on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is based on the assembly from the usual version, that is Redmi Note 4.

Hence the reasonable question: how to test the Xiaomi smartphone for originality? It is enough to go to the official site of Xiaomi and in the item “Check products” enter IMEI and serial number, which is indicated on the box.

Unfortunately, there is no NFC-module. Still, you can find budget equivalents with the availability of support for wireless payments and other functions using this technology.

And I already somehow wrote earlier that maybe there will be a problem with 4G-networks in Moscow from the clients of the operator Beeline. A little understanding of this issue, I will clarify that the absence of the 20th line should predominantly excite the inhabitants of the region. Inside the Moscow Ring Road, this strip is almost not used.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Performance

Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset is responsible for the smartphone’s work – one of the most popular solutions for today. This processor can be found in all price categories, even in devices for $ 500 . For example, Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom . Of course, the “Dragon” is slightly weaker than that used in the usual Redmi Note 4 – MediaTek Helio X20, but it has better power consumption and heat dissipation. And the graphics chip is used by Adreno, not Mali. This means that in games you can wait for more comfortable FPS and not very strong trotting.

3 GB of RAM is ideal for this smartphone. The proprietary Xiaomi shell is quite gluttonous, so buying a younger version with 2 GB of RAM should immediately deviate.

On synthetic tests: 

In games, everything is at a decent level. Is it impossible to play World of Tanks Blitz on the maximum graphics settings. Redmi Note 4X gives out only 20-25 FPS in this case, which does not correspond to a comfortable game. But if you reduce the graphics to average parameters, then it will be more enjoyable to play. By the way, for almost an hour of the game I managed to warm up the smartphone to 49 degrees, which is a good result. About 2D-games and there is nothing to say – all simple toys “fly” without any lags and friezes.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Photo and video

Samsung S5K3L8 – a fairly common sensor in the devices of the middle class. For example, it stands in UMi Plus E , UMi Z, Redmi 4 / Redmi Note 4 , in a smartphone with a dual Doogee Shoot 1 camera. It is also possible that the sensor is not from Samsung, but from Sony – IMX258 – another very popular photo module. It is put in budget models, and in more expensive ones. Still, a big role is played by software processing and algorithms used when shooting photos and videos.

In the eyes immediately throws a large number of functions and modes for shooting: “tilt-shift”, slow video, a huge selection of color correction presets and much more. I would also like to note the HDR mode. Very high-quality processing areas with a lot of light and at the exit you can get pretty nice pictures.

A few more examples of photos from the camera Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X .

Of course, I can not leave you without the opportunity to study all the examples in the original resolution. Archive with photos here .

Front camera boasts a slightly larger one pixel. It is unlikely that in practice it will be possible to notice the difference at all. Nevertheless, the quality tolerable, “selfifonomom” Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X can not be named exactly, but for uploading photos to social networks it will do.

Video shooting

The maximum recording quality is 1080P / 30 frames per second, at 720P the number of frames is already 120. There is certainly no optical stabilization. Still, the smartphone is not the price category. Although the video quality is acceptable, even special artifacts do not exist.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Software

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is running Android 6.0.1 and with the proprietary shell MIUI 8. Externally is really beautiful. Icons are reduced to the same size, moderately colorful and at the same time there is quite a wide functionality. There are several themes to choose from, and if nothing is picked up by yourself, then you can go to the built-in store where you can buy or download new themes for free with a complete design change.

And, of course, the typical functions of Chinese smartphones: security and personal data protection.

In general, the system works very smoothly and comfortably on this device. Multitasking works well and applications are not unloaded from the smartphone’s memory immediately after folding. And most importantly, MIUI is easy to learn and will suit “full teapots” in the field of mobile technology.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Sound quality

Information about any amplifiers or dedicated DAC, which are installed in Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X , I did not find. And hardly from a smartphone for $ 150 you can expect crystal clear sound.

Only at the maximum volume of the latter appears hoarseness, but this is common for many in the mobile phone market.

I recommend buying any headset or full -size headphones from Xiaomi. For example, Xiaomi Mi Headphones Comfort . For a small amount you can get a pretty nice sound and a stylish accessory for going out.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Battery life

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is a real long-lived smartphone! Firstly, a 4100 mAh battery is installed inside the device. Secondly, as I said, one of the coolest processors on the topic of energy saving is responsible for the work. On the day it is enough even with constant use throughout the entire light period of the day. Most often it will be missed for a day and a half work, and by the evening on the second day, most likely, will be discharged. But this is also a very good result. It must be remembered that the display is set to Full HD, and not just HD. In this case, his work would at least double. This is just about the version of Redmi 4X (not Prime).

As you can see in the screenshots – MIUI is gluttonous both in terms of RAM and battery. But the smartphone keeps confidently. The long running time of the Xiaomi RN4X is one of its most important pluses.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: Conclusion

The smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X was introduced in early February this year. And I can say with full confidence that Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is the best mid-range device for the next six months, at least. The price on Chinese platforms for the version of 3/32 GB will vary from $170 to $190 depending on the chosen color.

I’ll start with the obvious thing – there’s simply no competitors for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X. So far, no manufacturer has produced such a beautiful device with a fairly powerful, but at the same time energy-efficient stuffing. And that the price was loyal to ordinary buyers. This model lacks any obvious disadvantages and jambs. Definitely recommend to buy.