entranceMI Note 2 Chinese version. Night photography photo
Does anyone remember that such compact digital cameras, or, as they were also called, "digits"? This type of photographic equipment was quite recently very popular, but in our days "soapsy" are confidently ousted by smartphones, which today are in his pocket even students of primary classes; Smarts are able to take photos and shoot videos with such quality, which for a couple of years ago it was available only to serious photographic equipment. Attempts to connect the computer in one compact building, the phone and the camera was before, everyone probably knows about advanced smart cameras on Android from Samsung, but for some reason they did not find wide distribution, and today we do not see such cameras today. But the smartphones are now a picture of each, and such a concept as a mobileography goes into the past - try to understand which technique is shot by one or another photo, a mobile device or amateur camera.
What does not allow the smartphone to take just how the mirrors and the mirrling do it? After all, a powerful mini-computer, and a sensitive matrix with high resolution, and a large bright display with a multitatch, and a capacious battery, and a quick flash memory, can be fit into the smart housing. The restriction is only one thing - in the compact building it will not be possible to place high-quality light optics, moreover, the lens with an optical zoom and a stabilizer. However, the technologies do not stand still, and today the tiny eye of the smartphone camera is able to make excellent pictures, and even to burst the back background, models with an optical stab will appear, the smartphones were distributed with a dual main chamber, whether it will still be in a couple of years .
Today we will test the possibilities of shooting photos and a video camera of an advanced modern smartphone - the flagship of the Chinese company Xiaomi called MI Note 2. We want to check if this smartphone can replace an amateur camera, whether he shoots, is it possible to use it in the amateur photo, in creative or even for professional purposes. We are interested in the first place for the possibilities of the frontal and main camera smartphone, about ergonomics and other functions of the phone are already quite enough, such information you can easily find if desired.
So, let's start with the technical parameters of the cameras, what does the flagship offer from Xiaomi?
Testing technique
All test frames for this review were removed by us on the Xiaomi Mi Note 2, 4 / 64GB smartphone, Android operating system 6.0.1 MXB48T, MIUI Global 8.0 stable 8.0.8.0 sheath. In most cases, we used a full-time photo program. All frames are given without artistic processing, as they were removed on the smartphone, the minimal retouching was held for portraits. Together with the smartphone, we ordered a stylish black bumper, which not only helps to confidently keep the phone in your hand and protects the body from scratches, but also very useful when installing the device on a tripod.
Technical parameters of smartphone cameras
Main camera
Main camera - Sony IMX319, it has a resolution of 22.56 megapixels, the lens consists of 6 elements, a diaphragm F / 2.0, an angle of 80 degrees, it is equipped with rapid hybrid (phase and contrast) autofocus (focusing rate of 0.03 seconds) with the detection function of individuals. The camera allows you to shoot a video 4K with a frame density of 30 k / s, as well as FullHD with the possibility of slow down shooting 120 k / s. For video, 3-axis electronic image stabilization based on gyroscope data. There is a two-color flash, high-speed mode, HDR and the function of automatic shooting panoramas.
The smartphone does not allow you to shoot in the RAW format, but the camera sensor gives the data from Bayer Raw, so in theory, it is possible to carry out the RAW support here, it is definitely the chief of the electronic firmware.
Front-camera
Front-camera - Sony IMX268, has a resolution of 8 megapixels (3840 x 2160), it is also equipped with a hybrid autofocus with the detection function of individuals, the lens consists of 6 elements, a diaphragm also F / 2.0, an angle of review 76 degrees. Allows you to shoot video with autofocus in fullHD resolution, frame density 30 k / s, audio 48 kHz, stereo. For selfie there is a BEAutify 3.0 technology and a group of group selfie.
If the advanced module specifications of the IMX318 module are widely represented on the official website of the Sony company, then we were not able to detect any information about the imx268 front camera module. This is probably the module that Sony has developed specifically for LG and Xiaomi, and there is extremely small information about it.
Full camera control program
The full-time camera control program is not distinguished by a thoughtful interface, to control it and change the settings is not particularly convenient, but you can get used to it. Most users are likely to shoot in autorem.
Of course, any photographer who will fall into the hands of such a smartphone as Mi Note 2, will be delighted with a manual camera control. There is a fully manual mode, which is called "M Management", you can steal white balance, focus, exposure and ISO sensitivity. It is interesting that the output button from the manual mode is called "Disable Management". Of course, change the aperture value cannot be changed, as it is permanent in the camera lens - F / 2.0.
When shooting in manual mode there is one unpleasant moment: the result of shift shift is not displayed on the screen in real time. In other words, if we recorded ISO (for example, installed ISO 100) and select an excerpt, then we make a frame, then we estimate the result, then change the shutter speed again, we make a frame, we evaluate the result and so on. In the case of the selection of ISO, history is repeated. On the screen in real time, only the change of white and manual focus is well displayed. It is possible to use manual mode only if you really want to make a frame in this way.
But not everything is so bad - there are a number of interesting chips in a regular program for shooting: a timer for setting the shutter trigger delay, vocal shutter, alignment, improvement, square, night mode, panorama, tilt shift and group portrait. Various processing filters like Lomo, Pastoral, Retro, Ch / B, Figure and Many others are also available. Some of these functions we will analyze in detail during testing.
Portrait
Most often by our smartphones, we rent portraits of relatives and friends, as well as portraits of themselves are a loved one - just selfie or in the company. And both MI Note 2 smartphone cameras are perfectly coping with all these tasks.
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With the word "diaphragm 2.0", any photographer immediately rubs his hands in anticipation of a beautiful blurred rear plan on portraits. Amateur mirrors with whale lens such a wide diaphragm is not available - whale optics, as a rule, provides F / 3.5-5.6. For portraits with beautiful bokeh, the owners of budget sirrs use either portrait fixes, for example, we recently tested an excellent inexpensive fifth pan, or old manual optics through an adapter, or get out of expensive professional lens lenses somewhere. In the Mi Note Smartphone 2 2.0, and in both cameras, so the first thing you want to check how this optics can blur the background on portraits.
We decided to spend a comparative test and made two frames from one point on Mi Note 2 and Canon 5D Mark II with Filternicker Canon EF 50mm F / 1.8 STM. Removal Parameters - White Avolanse, ISO 200, F / 2.0
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| MI Note 2. | Canon 5D Mark II + Canon EF 50mm F / 1.8 STM |
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In this case, we absolutely do not want to compare the quality of photos, detailing and transmission of colors, as it is clear, a professional full-frame camera with good optics is capable of shooting professionally. This example only illustrates what portrait with a diaphragm F / 2.0. Alas, but so far it should not be waiting for a beautifully blurred rear plan from modern smartphones on portraits, despite the light optics.
But what works cool in the smartphone, so this is autofocus - he confidently recognizes the face in the frame, even when shooting in full growth, and even when a person is in profile:
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In the light of the storefronts of the store:
Portrait with outbreak
Flash in MI Note 2 double - she has warm and cold light, and the flash has no settings, and it will not be able to highlight the object with warm or cold light on your choice. Flash can only be turned on, or turn off, or install in the car; In the video mode, it turns into a flashlight. Generally speaking, its two-color is not described in any way in the documentation, and one can only build their conjectures about the work of this feature.
However, in conditions where light is not enough, you can easily use the flash.
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| Portrait at dusk without flash | Flame portrait |
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| Evening portrait without flash | Evening Flash Portrait |
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| Indoor | Flash-out portrait |
On our surprise, the flash works quite delicately, without translating the face, frames are pretty cute.
We give a few more examples of the portrait of the indoor. In our case, there was a complex lighting - daylight from the window, the flame of the candle and the lights of the backlight inside the cafe. The automation of the smartphone confidently coped with its task - the colors in the photo look quite reliable.
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Selfie
The front camera in MI Note 2 is comparable in its characteristics with the main chambers of many smartphones, it allows you to shoot cool detailed assfies with autofocus, and not only your beloved, but also in the company.
BEAUTITIFY 3.0 technology works for the eligible, with smoothing you can steer: the icon is located in the upper right corner, by clicking on which you can either turn off this function, or select the "smart" or "Pro" modes, which ensures different degrees of smoothing. Let's consider various options for the work of this technology.
According to our observations, the "smart" smoothing works quite strongly, while the Pro mode is not so aggressively erods the details, it is the Pro mode that is better and use if you want to apply smoothing.
During the shooting of the assfits, of course, the recognition of individuals, as well as autofocus. Interesting chip - a smartphone can display about the frame of the approximate age of portrayed, I, for example, I dropped as much as 11 years :-)
Group selfie
MI Note 2 is just a find for the company of friends, as the smartphone when shooting on the front chamber confidently recognizes all the faces in the frame and highlights them with a framework, adjusting the exposure so that all portrayed it turned out well. There were 5 people in our company, and the smartphone recognized everything perfectly:
We noticed a rather strong decline in sharpness in the left side of the frame, this effect appears in all photos and videos made on the frontal camera of the smartphone. What is the defect of this particular smartphone or software firmware, it is difficult to say. If you have the opportunity before purchasing checking the camera operation, make a horizontal photo on the front camera and pay attention to sharpness throughout the frame area.
Voice shutter speed
Quite an interesting feature: when it is activated, your smartphone is waiting for a user with a voice, for example, you can say loudly "Frame!" - The program counters 3 seconds, showing a beautiful animation on the screen, and take a picture.
Landscape
While a walk, the smartphone is always in your pocket: they saw an interesting plot - they made a frame, and landscapes with good lighting smartphone removes perfectly. A little upset the detailing of night pictures, here the smartphone can not yet argue with cameras.
Tilt Shift.
Tilt-Shift - originally so called lenses that are able to change the slope of the optical axis and shift it. In MI Note 2, the so-called special effect, which gradiently blurs the edges of the photo to the center, in the theory creating imitation of toy photos. The smartphone allows you to install either blur in a circle or linear, however, we cannot configure the blur parameters, for example, for a linear program only blurs the areas on the right and on the left of the photo.
For vertical photos, it looks ugly, and for horizontal even ugly, since in the case of landscapes, if we break up, then it is necessary to do it on top and bottom, but not to the left and left at all. The strength of blur, by itself, is in no way regulated, generally speaking, this effect strongly spoil the photo and is clearly flawed.
ISO sensitivity test
Removing the ISO test on classic cameras in the diaphragm priority mode, we set f / 8, after which we install the sensitivity value systemally, and the camera itself for each new frame automatically adjusts the shutter speed to obtain the correct exposure, so when shooting on the cameras, all frames are obtained about the same Lights, and in this case, you can compare each other and evaluate digital noise.
In the MI Note 2 smartphone, automatics in manual mode works at all - if you leave all the exposure parameters in the car and change only ISO, the camera for some reason does not want to set an excerpt longer than 1/7 seconds, and shots at dusk with ISO 100 and 200 go dark. Although in the theory, the camera application allows you to set the shutter speed is quite long, for example 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and even 32 seconds.
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| ISO 200. |
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| ISO 400. |
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| ISO 800. |
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| ISO 1600. |
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| ISO 3200. |
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At dusk, when shooting at high ISO, it is upset by not digital noise, but extremely low picture detail, and the detailing is low on all ISO, even 100 and 200, and the values \u200b\u200bof 1600 and 3200 are slightly different from each other. It is a pity that there is no shooting in Raw, since we have a suspicion that there is an aggressive work of the compression algorithm in JPEG and the work of the noise, which, of course, cannot interfere in any way.
From our ISO test you can make two outputs:
- For a serious creative photography in conditions of insufficient lighting, the MI Note 2 smartphone is not suitable, any amateur mirror or madrider gives a much more interesting result.
- Manual control for most plots practically does not make any sense, you can safely remove in fully automatic mode. An exception can serve, perhaps, work with exposure when you need to deliberately freeze the movement in the frame.
Shooting video
Video 4K on the main chamber
MI Note 2 Smartphone is able to shoot video with electronic stabilization in 4K format (QFHD 3840 x 2160 pixels) with a frame rate of 30 k / s. Today, not every mirror allows you to shoot with such a resolution, but every day there are increasingly different 4K devices; Probably very soon this format will firmly enter our lives. We for example removed a short evening sketch of 4K (backstage from our photo shoot), here the smartphone is set to a small pocket tripator, which operator holds in his hand:
Why can you need a 2K video shooting mode, if mostly all rollers are treated in FullHD? First, for smooth attacks on the object without loss of quality, secondly, you can simulate the effect of shooting with two cameras, at the right moment increasing video fragments by 2 times. Of course, the shooting of the second chamber at a different angle will give a more professional result, but when shooting one single smartphone, this chip can be used. And thirdly, if you have a 4K TV, the video for a family archive is better to shoot in such a format - viewing on a large TV of 4K clips is impressive.
Removing in 4K, we should not forget about the volume of files - the integrated memory of the smartphone is clogged instantly. We have on board only 64 GB of permanent memory, there are no flash cards, and in the case of the video format 4K the epithet "total" is suitable as it is impossible. Of course, video magographs can be advised to advise a more expensive model MI Note 2, in which 6 GB of operational and 128 GB of internal memory.
FullHD video on the main chamber
If there is a task to remove the video for a blog or a report in which there will be no effects of magnification, and which will be returned to FullHD, then it does not make any sense to shoot in 4k - the quality will not be better, and the locations are 2 times more, time to work with They also need much more, and the computer for the layout will need more powerful.
If the photo in the standard program provides a manual shooting mode, then the video smartphone allows you to shoot only in authors - in the settings we can only specify the quality (4K, FullHD, HD, SD) and the focus mode (automatic or on the screen concerning). In this way, we will not be able to accurately establish a white balance to a certain value, synchronizing several cameras in color temperature. Consequently, the standard program will not allow professional to use a smartphone for shooting with several cameras.
During the shooting video, you can make smooth races using the volume keys - in this case we will receive a digital increase in the picture, the multiplicity of zoom to 8x. We tried this feature once in the case and have never used to do so.
For FullHD it is possible to make a slow motion with a frequency of 120 frames per second.
Application Cinema FV-5
You can shoot video using third-party applications, for example, using the CINEMA FV-5 program. The application is paid (106 rubles at the time of purchase), there is a free trimmed version.
The Cinema FV-5 application allows you to more flexibly steer video shooting parameters, namely, specify the operation mode of autofocus, exposer, ISO, and also select the white balance, however, the miracle did not happen: you can not install the user balance white in Kelvin. The application allows you to choose either a car or one of the preset presets. Apparently, the developers have conspited, and persistently do not want us to use the smartphone for a professional video.
3-axis image stabilization when shooting video
The smartphone works 3-axis electronic stabilization for video, it does not turn off and is not configured, stabilization is included constantly both for shooting in 4K and FullHD. Since the stub does not disable, we could not fully appreciate its work, you can only compare the picture Mi Note 2 with a picture taken by other smartphones. Electronic stabilization is equally both for 4K and for FullHD. 3-axis electronic stabilization works only for the main chamber, as it is part of the EXMOR RS ™ IMX318 module and is designed only for video shooting.
Taking off when walking, we get a more or less stable picture, which, however, is still twitching, although there is no "jelly" effect, which is very pleased. We removed for example two fragments - in the first case, the operator is five times back, without seeing where it goes, the second is the usual walk along the embankment, where the operator already goes face forward. Oddly enough, the picture turned out to be more stable when he takes off and five times backwards, apparently, the speed of movement was less.
Sound recording when shooting video
The built-in microphone writes a sound with acceptable quality, an external microphone can be used to record a blog, for example BOYA M1.
The quality and level of audio recording to the built-in microphone will be different when shooting on the main chamber and on the front. The microphone is located in such a way that it is better to capture the voice when the smartphone is deployed to the speaker screen, that is, when writing to the frontal chamber, the voice will be louder. By the way, speaking to the camera, you should not look at your image on the screen, but looking at the front chamber's eyes. The difference in the distance is small, however, when watching a video, the view of the lead by the audience is good noticeable.
Object shooting
The shooting of various items with a smartphone is one of the most sought-after functions, perhaps, after shooting portraits and selfofits. It can be as copies of some business paper and documents, price tags in the store, a favorite dish in a restaurant, and even the artistic subject to shoot for a catalog or company site. An indisputable plus - in our pocket, there is always a smartphone with a high-quality camera, you need to take a picture - once, and ready. At the same time, a future frame is clearly visible on the large screen of smartphone in real time, and the quality is quite enough even for offset printing in a booklet.
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The minimum focusing distance to the object in the documentation is not specified, according to our tests, it turns out to be focused approximately from a distance of 12-15 centimeters.
Processing of pictures right in the smartphone
Any snapshot after shooting can be processed to your taste, and here in this component a regular program has shown itself in all its glory. It makes no sense to tell about all the processing functions in detail, we hope that our readers are easily will understand this simple task, especially since the program interface is perfectly translated into Russian - everything is clearly, logical and understandable.
For example, we cut a still-life in a square, after which a little bit added saturation, then the effect of "retro" was applied, and at the end they painted the heart tool. Upon completion of the processing, the original remains in place, the program writes the processed version to a new file.
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| Saturation | Retro | Drawing handle |
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HDR
The full-time smartphone program is capable of making HDR images, but this is not a classic HDR with an exposure bracketing - a regular application does not allow to configure bracketing and save a series of frames into the phone's memory for subsequent independent HDR gluing. The application takes pictures rather in the style of HDR, to some extent, showing details in the shadows and lights, while there are two settings - "Auto" and "enabled".
According to our observations, the HDR mode "AUTO" itself makes a solution, whether to expand the dynamic range in each concrete case, or not expand, as it is often pictured in this mode, much differed from ordinary photos. But the "inclusive" mode forcibly loops the contrast, showing parts in lights and shadows.
Another example of the operation of the mode "Enabled":
We decided to check in the case not only a full-time function, but also to remove the classic series using the application. Camera FV-5 And glue the HDR on the computer in the Lightroom program. Appendix Camera FV-5 is paid (140.42 rubles at the time of purchase), it has a sufficiently rich functionality, including it allows you to set up the shooting with an exposure bracketing with a fork + -2EV, recording individual exposures to the folder that we needed.
Already familiar to us plot, filmed with Camera FV-5 and glued manually:
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| -2EV. | 0EV. | + 2EV. |
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Settings and appearance of the Camera FV-5 application:
We will give a few more examples of HDR, taken using Camera FV-5 and glued manually. At dusk, when the lights of the buildings illumination were only lit, the shooting with bracketing gives an interesting result:
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| -1.8EV. | 0EV. | + 1,8EV |
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In the evening, at dusk, without light lights, the result is not so interesting. The plot below can be removed and without applying any bracketing, HDR is there anything:
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| -1.8EV. | 0EV. | + 1,8EV |
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Do not forget about digital noise. The following plot came out pretty well, but when gluing three noisy frames frame without artifacts get difficult:
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| -1.8EV. | 0EV. | + 1,8EV |
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The Camera FV-5 application has a number of essential glitches:
- The application from time to time turns the captured pictures upside down (see Screenshot below).
- For some reason, when constructing a frame and preparation for shooting, the image on the screen increases slightly (see Screenshot below), and the composition is not carefully built. However, as a result, the frame will be removed as expected, without increasing. There is always an amendment on this magnification all the time and check how the frame came out in the end.
- Removing with bracketing at dusk is possible only with Auto ISO, the smartphone does not allow making exposure bracketing using too long excerpts for fixed ISO values. For example, we were filmed with ISO 100 and received three identical dark frames.
Panoramas
The regular function of shooting the panorama allows you to shoot only in the vertical position of the smartphone, which is not entirely logical, though, it should be noted that, for example, a regular program for iOS removes panorama in the same way. The panorama will be removed with a width of 180 degrees, and if you want to remove only a narrower fragment of the panorama, you still need to remove all 180 degrees, then trim the unnecessary phone in the graphics editor or on the computer.
Panorama is removed only in automatic mode, its parameters are not configured. You need to send a smartphone to the starting point, press the button, after which it is strictly horizontally horizontally to the end point - the program will independently remove and gluits panorama. Of course, moving objects will double, the gluing program does not know how to deal with it - in our examples you can notice clones of people and cars. Clones, if desired, pretty simply breed, however, we did not retouch, but left as it is for clarity.
Examples of shooting panorama in automatic mode:
The evening panorama with the help of automation will not be removed well, since the light is not enough, and as a result of a longer exposure and motion of the smartphone, it turns out a lubricant:
Since the smartphone has a manual mode M, we removed the panorama of 5 frames in the horizontal position of the smartphone. Of course, to shoot in manual mode, you need to turn off all the automation so that the captured frames are well glued on the computer, without jumps in brightness. Mode M, ISO 100, shutter speed 1/4 s, while the shutter speed we picked up an experienced way, because, we repeat, the result of shifting shift is not displayed on the screen. Slace in Lightroom:
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Timelapse
Full function of interval Timelapse
In the smartphone there is a regular function of the interval Timelapse, its settings are very limited. For example, if you want to shoot with the interval of exactly 5 seconds, the smartphone will only remove 150 frames, the number of frames at the same time is not configured.
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To shoot timelapse, you need to go to video mode, select "Modes" and then "Timelapse". We configured the interval 1 frame in 5 seconds and pressed the video recording start button. Of course, the smartphone must be installed on a tripod or somehow fixed. After the end of the shooting, the smartphone will record the finished roller in the gallery.
LAPSE IT application for Android
For more flexible Timelapse settings, you can use third-party applications. Many bloggers who specialize in Timelapse recommended the Lapse IT program for Android, the application is paid (211,22 rubles at the time of purchase), by the way, it is for iOS. There is also a free version, however, it will not be possible to remove in high resolution. Lapse IT allows not only to create ready-made Timelapse films in MP4 format, but also to shoot a series of pictures, folding the files into the phone's memory for subsequent self gluing on the computer.
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The Lapse IT application offers a lot of settings: for example, you can block the white balance and exposure so that these parameters are not floating over the roller. You can also set the focus to infinity, configure the output folder, file size and still a dozen parameters, on the assignment of which you can only find out the method of scientific tick.
We removed a small example using the Lapse IT program. Since they were filmed through the window, closer to the end of the roller are noticeable glare on the left side of the frame - this is not a glitch of the program, just glances the glass :-)
If you do not fix the exposure, the smartphone will adjust the brightness in the course of the shooting, as it turned out in our case: it became dark on the street, and the picture in the roller almost does not change along the illumination, at first it even becomes a little lighter. In general, the LAPSE IT application liked it, but we still recommend to all new users before buying to try in its free version.
GPS.
Global positioning in a modern smartphone is one of the most sought-after functions; In importance, it is inferior, perhaps, only the phone itself for conversations, as well as the Internet and the camera. Many use a smartphone as a navigator, and in the journey it is very useful not only the navigator, but also the function of binding the filmed photos to the map.
Navigation
We tested the navigation function in the case. At first we turned on the mobile Internet and GPS, after which they went to the navigator to the destination, using Google maps. The smartphone worked perfectly, GPS works without complaints, and on a huge screen it is very convenient to view the route and navigate.
Surely, all travelers know that in a distant country, you want to have a navigator without the Internet, that is, not to use mobile data. By the way, it is very useful not only to motorists, but also hiking tourists. We tested how the smartphone only works with one GPS, without the Internet, the MAPS.ME programs that we installed and downloaded the necessary maps were helped. And in this case, the smartphone also worked without complaints.
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| There is no Internet | Maps.me - Route | Maps.me - Navigator, we are going |
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Photo on the map
Geometrs can be recorded in EXIF \u200b\u200binformation of the picture, and one or another frame can be instantly displayed on the map. It is very convenient for bloggers, journalists, as well as anyone who would like to know exactly where he visited and what I saw :-) Sometimes it happens that it is easier to make a photo of the first object that I got it, rather than burn the name of the settlement or a particular place in the notebook which must be remembered, and, for example, it is not always clear in the mountains, where we are currently :-)
To save location information, you need to enable this feature in the camera settings, as well as activate the GPS. Of course, GPS will spend the battery charge, here you need to choose that at the moment it is more important. But if you go and periodically play the objects around, you can then easily view your route on the map, and even with pictures. There is no regular function recording function to the text file, but if desired, it is easily solved using third-party applications. We tried to shoot and with the GPS included on, and not including this function, the difference in the rate of falling charge we did not feel.
Battery
In the smartphone, an unbalable battery 4000 mAh is installed (4040 by specification), and considering the fact that it is not only a camera, but also the phone, and with a large 5.7-inch screen, the battery capacity does not seem so huge and sufficient for the whole day Casting. However, you should not forget that the heart of the smartphone is the SNAPDRAGON 821 processor, which, according to the manufacturer, is not only powerful and fast, but also energy efficient, so you can count on a longer work of the phone.
On a walk during a photo session in a smartphone, you can unload all background applications, besides, a quick charging of Quick Charge 3 is supported - the smartphone can be filtered up to 60% literally in 15 minutes, but this is if you find a 220 volt rosette and have Charger. For shooting at the plenier and long walks, away from the outlets is convenient to have a turn-bank with them, for example, from the same Xiaomi or any other.
Especially willingly plant a battery shooting video, as well as shooting in real frost (we shot at Finnish bay in -20 ° C, see the photo above), however, with a warmer weather, you can spend a whole day and enjoy the photo.
findings
Pluses Xiaomi Mi Note 2
- The quality of amateur photos and video at a very high level
- Casting Mode 4K with electronic stabilization
- Not bad work of an electronic stabilizer for video
- Good work of automation when determining the exposure in almost all standard plots
- Fast and accurate work of autofocus - during our photo shoots, the focus never missed
- Confident recognition of people with both cameras, both the main and frontal
- Convenient photo editing program right in the smartphone
- Awesome huge screen, with which a photo of a photo and edit photo
Cons Xiaomi Mi Note 2
- No RAW Support
- There is no possibility of using an additional memory card
- Shooting video only in autorem, no white balance settings
- With this firmware, the camera work cannot be called stable - the regular application is sometimes buggy
- Upset the detail of the photo and video when shooting under insufficient illumination
- Non-obvious automation work when shooting in manual mode M. Manual mode as a whole is very raw
- Reduced sharpness in the left side of the frame when shooting on the front chamber
- Some of our purchased applications for shooting, namely Camera FV-5 and Cinema FV-5 worked not as we expected. This, however, is not a minus smartphone
General Assessment of the capabilities of photos and video Xiaomi Mi Note 2 on a 10-point scale from FotoExperts
- Ergonomics - 7.
- Settings menu - 7
- Housing quality - 10
- Casting photo - 7
- Shooting video - 6
- Optics - 7.
- Screen - 10.
- Autofocus work - 10
- Removal with high ISO values \u200b\u200b- 2
- Battery - 10.
TOTAL: 76%. The smartphone allows you to make excellent amateur photos and videos, most of the shortcomings are not connected with iron, but with the program part. Please note that the possibilities of filming photos and videos were evaluated exclusively, and not the work of the smartphone as a whole. To lovers creative photos and video magographs, we recommend paying attention to traditional cameras and video cameras that allow you to reveal creative ideas. If there is an intention to be creatively shooting on a smartphone, you can continue searching among other brands.
- 4K (3840 x 2160) - 30fps
- 1080p - 120fps.
- 720p - 240fps.
- 3-axis stabilization for video
- HDR mode
- Correction of lens distortions
- Light correction mode
- Infrared sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Proximity sensor
- Light sensor
© Konstantin Birzhakov, January 2017
All rights reserved.
All pictures in the article are made by the author.
All prices for android paid applications used are informational and are given at the time of work on the review.
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Xiaomi Mi Note 2 - One of the representatives of the Chinese flagship line with an unusual exterior design. For the manufacture of housing, engineers chose an interesting combination of glass and metal. Currently, the smartphone is produced in two colors - strict gray and classic black. Due to the bent around the edges, the screen creates an illusion of lack of frames. The finest boundaries are found at closest consideration. Rounded edges improve the ergonomics of this model, improving the convenience of use (but it is impossible to fully control the gadget with one hand in most cases).
The display has a diagonal of 5.7 inches. High resolution in 1920 * 1080 pixels, together with the Adreno 530 graphics accelerator, create a high-quality, clear and saturated picture with natural color reproduction and high contrast. The flagship supports all modern technologies. In stock NFC option, allowing you to pay for goods using a smartphone. This model is equipped with a high-speed USB Type-C, IR port. Mobile communication is carried out by using two Nano-SIM cards.
Thanks to a powerful "stuffing", a smartphone is coping with the most "heavy" mobile games and other applications. This contributes to a large amount of operational and built-in memory, differing depending on the assembly (4 and 6 GB, 64 and 128 GB, respectively). Macro SD card support is missing. The powerful quad-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (MSM 8996 Pro) with a 2 -1.35 GHz nuclear frequency and 2 - 2.19 GHz ensures smooth operation of the smartphone, without braking and lags. A non-removable battery with a capacity of 4000 mA / h supports fast charging technology Quick Charge 3.0, is able to support work throughout the day.
On the rear panel there is a main chamber with a resolution of 22.6 MP, removing the video in 4K, and equipped with a LED flash in combination with autofocus and electron stabilization. Under it is a fingerprint scanner, which reads the data almost instantly. The relative disadvantage of this decision is to accidentally enter the lens instead of the sensor when you try to unlock. The front camera of Siaomi Nout 2, located on the top panel above the display, has a resolution of 8.8 MP, is also equipped with an automatic focus system.
MI NOTE 2 - a new flagship from Xiaomi, which is the most expensive device in the company's assortment (not counting the cramless MI MIX). Even before the release, he was called the killer Galaxy Note 7 and refer to the device good sales. And considering that the smartphone from Samsung did not speak the market from the market, it can be assumed that the future of the mi note is very bright, as in other flagships of the company. Is it really? You will learn about this by reading the review of Xiaomi Mi Note 2
Price and main characteristics
The cost of MI Note 2, the manufacturer's value of MI Note 2 is 500 dollars per younger model, however, on the fact of buying the device is cheaper than 550 USD, it will not be possible even to Aliexpress. The characteristics of the flagship are as follows:
- display: 5.7 ", OLED FULL HD 1920 * 1080 PX, 386 PPI;
- processor: SNAPDRAGON 821 + Adreno 530 video accelerator;
- RAM: 4/6 GB;
- internal memory: 64/128 GB, flash drives are not provided;
- camera: Basic - 23 MP (Sony IMX-318), frontal - 8 megapixel;
- communication: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS, LTE, 4G, IR port;
- battery: 4070 mAh.
The characteristics of the device are quite balanced, it is a strong device of the top level, the performance of which is enough for at least 2-3 years of fragile operation.
Equipment and appearance
The device is supplied in a simple box of white cardboard, in the same as all Xiaomi smartphones of the average price segment. The delivery set is also sufficiently zuda, in addition to the phone itself we get:
- uSB-C cable;
- charger;
- transparent plastic bumper.
Equipment, as for the device premium segment, leaves much to be desired. Why did the Chinese bother to present a smartphone to a customer for $ 500 more presentable - it is not clear.
Design - the strong side of MI Note 2. As for its sizes, the phone has a very good ergonomics, it is conveniently sitting in his hand, however, due to the use of glass on the back cover, it constantly strives to slip away.
The side faces of the housing are made of matte metal, front - large, rounded display on the sides with a minimum thickness of the side frame. The edges of the screen are practically not visible, because of what the device looks simply slaughtered.
Under the screen is a manual HOME button with a built-in dactyloscopic sensor. The sensor is triggered almost instantly. Sensory buttons, on the sides of the central key, have a backlight in the form of small points.
Mi Note 2 is assembled, as follows the flagship. However, the beauty has to pay, and the glossy glass of the case literally in 5 minutes of use is covered with fingerprints. Of course, you can use the case, but it crosses all the visual advantages of the note.
Screen
It is in the display that should be the main advantage of MI Note 2, the main underwater stones of the given smartphone are linked. On paper, the screen characteristics look perfectly - 5.7 '', OLED FULL HD, 386 PPI, but in practice he disappoints.
And the problem is not in resolution - Full HD is enough even for such a diagonal, and in the OLED matrix itself. Firstly, the screen is made using Pentile technology, it follows the pixelization and weak sharpness of the picture. Secondly - color reproduction, it is unnatural, with a clear dust in a green shade and inversion of flowers. Thirdly - insufficient maximum brightness, the screen is very difficult to read in the sun.
Of course, after 2-3 days of using the smartphone to the shoals of the display, you get used to and almost do not pay attention to them, however, for the flagship, $ 500 is unacceptable. Especially considering that in many middle devices from Xiaomi there is a much better display.
Performance
About the power of MI Note 2 talks meaninglessly. 821 Snap provides the highest possible performance that will be enough for any tasks over the next couple of years. In Benchmark, the device is gaining 140 thousand parrots, in Gykbenche - 1806 balls per core and 4241 in multi-core mode.
Runs in the flagship stuffed 4 and 6 GB, depending on the model. However, all the raspberries here several spoils the shell from Xiaomi - Miui, which is optimized in the best way. For example, at 1.5 GB free RAM, you can go to the browser and see that tabs are rebooted. In general, the device works very quickly, we will wait that problems with optimization will be corrected in the near future.
Camera
The main camera in MI Note 2 makes good pictures, but this is not the leader in its price category. To detail the image, with good lighting, do not find fault, however, problems often arise with the wrong balance of white and narrow DD. With lights and dips of shadows, in principle, you can fight using the HDR mode.
With a weak lighting, the camera is noise, also often snapshots are wary - the absence of optical stabilization affects.
Frontalka per 8MP has autofocus, selfie gets quite worthy. In general, the camera in MI Note 2 is not bad and it will be enough for most users, but you expect more from the flagship device.
Speaker, sound quality
Xiaomi traveled us to good sound from the external speaker in all of their smartphones, and Mi Note 2 did not disappoint here. The sound quality of the speaker is quite good even for listening to music, it has a good volume of volume, so that the incoming call can be easily heard in transport or a noisy place.
There is no highlighted auditchp on the flagship, but due to the sound processing algorithms 821 Snaps on the quality of music playback in headphones, it is also not complaining.
Battery
The capacity of the built-in battery MI Note 2 is 4070 mAh, which in addition with an economical OLED screen matrix makes a smartphone very lively. The device does no problem hold 2 days at five hours of screen per day and LTE enabled. Here the flagship from Xiaomi put the deserved 5+.
Communication and Internet
MI Note 2 with a global firmware in which the 20th LTE frequency is present, it is perfectly holding 4G Internet from Yota, demonstrates good signal quality and works with GPS without complaints. The quality of the colloquial dynamics and microphone at the flagship of the immaculate - the interlocutor is heard even if it is in public transport.
The device has a NFC module, which allows contactless payments, and supports synchronization with peripheral devices according to USB Type-C standard, you can connect a hard disk, printer, keyboard and other accessories.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Video Review
Conclusion
It can be said that MI Note 2 turned out extremely extraordinary. All impressions of the apparatus spoils disgusting, as for the flagship, the display.
However, a visual smartphone looks so elegant that many will want to acquire it purely for appearance. As a result, we have a barrel of honey with a huge fly of the tar, whether to close her eyes - to solve you. Excellent alternatives - ,.
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In the fall of 2016, Xiaomi finally introduced the new flagship Fablet MI Note 2. At first, the device was expensive, but recently the price of a lower version dropped to a very attractive mark below $ 400. Is it worth it for this money, is there Xiaomi Mi Note 2 substantial cons, whether it is worth buying it.
Given that before that, my main smartphone was Redmi Note 4x, along the review, I compare these devices several times. Yes, they act in completely different price categories, but in something similar, and some moments - even on the side of the state employee, and not the flagship.
pros
The smartphone refers to the flagship segment, because the advantages of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is enough.
Design and ergonomics
The device is favorably different against the background of sulfur (in the literal and figurative sense) the mass of the same type of aluminum strokes. Its design is not unique: similarity with the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is very noticeable. But also a clear plagiarism, the smartphone is not called, as the similarity is traced not only with Korean gadgets, but also last year's flagship Mi5.
The device has dimensions of 156x77 mm, its thickness in the thick place is about 7.7 mm. The device is noticeably thinner than the Redmi Note 4X, but 1 mm wider and 6 mm longer. It weighs the same 165 grams. But, which is surprising, in the hand of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is more convenient. This is probably the merit of rounded side faces. Despite some big dimensions, use the device as comfortable.
The screen has a frame (to metal frame the matrix does not reach), but they do not interfere and are not noticeable.
The display is the "Home" key. It is mechanical and contains a fingerprint scanner. The key is configured, it can only work the return function to the home screen and start voice search, and can also be used as the "Back" button.
Over the sides there are two touch keys marked with points. They are highlighted, and can also be reassigned or disconnected.
Over the screen, the smartphone contains a camera, speaker, almost invisible sensor window and color LED indicator. It is customizable, you can choose your color for each type of notifications, all of them 8.
The back panel repeats the shape of the front, it is also glass and curved along the edges. I got used to the Furniture, my device does not slip, but if you buy a device for the first time - be careful. The device is covered with high quality oleophobic spraying.
A round camera lens is placed on the rear panel, the outbreak on two LEDs is located on the side of it. Below is the MI logo, it is applied from the inside of the glass, and therefore is not subject to abrasion.
Metal smartphone frame, it is painted black with a light purple chip. On the lower end there is a USB port of Type C and symmetrical holes. On the one hand, the speaker is hidden under them, with the second - the main microphone.
The top end contains symmetrically located (from left to right) headphone socket, an additional microphone and an infrared LED for home appliances management.
The right side of the smartphone has a sound control swing and the on / lock button.
On the left side of the device is a slot for Nano SIM cards extracted with a pin. Unfortunately, like other flagships Xiaomi, MI Note 2 memory cards do not support.
Screen contrast and touchscreen
The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 screen caused contradictory impressions by I am attracting and upgrowing at the same time. Therefore, some of its features will be in the pros and in the minuses.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is equipped with an amoled screen with a diagonal of 5.7 "produced by LG. Its permission is standard FullHD 1920x1080 points.
The display is very contrast, black is close to the ideal. When watching a video in the room, black areas on the screen merge with the frame, the boundary is invisible. The display is also distinguished by the lack of PWM backlight, which is all profitable on the background of Samsung smartphones and other companies using OLED matrix of this manufacturer.
Very pleased with its clarity Tachkinrin. Up to 10 simultaneous touches is supported. On the screen there is a high-quality oleophobic coating, prints and divorces easily wipe. The protection system for random touch is implemented at the level, for a week of false positives was never.
Sound
The characteristics of the smartphone says that it is equipped with a Hi-res decoder with a Qualcomm AQSTIC amplifier. Applied support for hardware decoding audio in Loseless formats with quality 24/192. I particularly did not give it values, but the fact that the device has a good sound, noticed at once.
The speaker on the volume is about the same as the Redmi Note 4x, but the frequency range is richer, there is a hint of bass. This is not the best sound of the smartphone, which I heard (the same HTC One M7 at one time I was impressed much more), but it is definitely not bad.
Pleased sound in headphones. Definitely, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 sounds better than Redmi Note 4X or my computer, not to mention the old PC and laptop. Basins are more, wider frequency coverage, you can fully enjoy the music. And this is despite the fact that I have a budget headphone, "the best of the worst", if you can say so.
With the playback of Loseless-Audio, there is no problems with a smartphone. When playing FLAC album as 24/192, the processor kernels drop the frequency to the minimum 300 MHz, while the load on the CPU does not exceed 10%. This indicates that a hardware codec is activated for decoding the audio, and not a central processor.
Iron and productivity
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is built on the flagship at the time of the release of the chipset model, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. It has 4 KRYO kernels with a frequency of up to 2.35 GHz. The graphics processing is engaged in GPU Adreno 530. The smartphone chipset is made according to the norms of the technical process of 14 nm.
At first, after restoring all the settings from the backup with Redmi Note 4x, I was unpleasantly surprised. The device was heated and completely refused to issue more than 120 thousand points in Antutu. But, to my surprise, after resetting to factory settings and settings from scratch, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 issued more than 150 thousand points to Antutu. At the same time, it was only a bit warm, approximately bodily temperature.
In the daily work, the smartphone is smart, the brakes are not seen. The temperature is normal, the case is not warming up in the process of web surfing or viewing the video. In games, too, everything is fine, in WOT on the maximum 60 FPS is not a problem, but after 20 Xiaomi Mi Note 2, it heats up to about 40 degrees, FPS drops a bit (but still remains high).
Good memory
RAM in a 4 GB smartphone (there is a senior version with 6 GB), it is typed chips LPDDR4. It is not necessary to talk about some lack of RAM, the smartphone confidently keeps two dozen tabs in the opera. Programs, minimized a few hours ago, open instantly. The speed of memory, due to the two-channel mode, reaches 17 GB / s.
Built-in memory, in all likelihood, refers to the type UFS. All of its 64 GB, the user is available 55 GB. The ROM in Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is characterized by a high speed of work, when reading it reaches 435 MB / s, when recording - 167 MB / s.
You can not expand memory, there is no slot for the memory card. OTG support is declared, but I could not check it, since it is not a priceily in a timely adapter of USB Type C - TYPE A.
QuickCharge.
Included with a smartphone comes a charger with QuickCharge support. Unfortunately, the plug of the power supply is flat chinese. BP is able to issue a current up to 2,5A at a voltage of 5V, 2a at 9V and 1,5A at 12V, that is, its maximum power reaches 18W. The first percentages are poured into the battery simply in front of the eyes, it is replenished by about 40%.
There are no problems with the use on charging, the smartphone can be heated a little, but Qc does not turn off. The total capacity of the battery in Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is restored in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Connection quality
The smartphone is equipped with two SIM card slots, supports GSM, HSPA and LTE networks. Divided from civilization in the forest The device was pleasantly surprised. Where Redmi is only some kind of GSM without EDGE, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 managed to even load Google maps in the navigator, albeit slowly.
The quality of reception of satellites also pleased. The device supports GPS, Beidou, GLONASS. It finds fewer satellites than Redmi Note 4X, but positioned faster and more accurate. Yes, and the compass does not require high-quality calibration, while with RN4X for this several times had to make a "ritual of shaman", waving the apparatus and spinning it in the air.
Day shoot
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is equipped with a 23 megapixel camera on the Sony IMX318 matrix. Its diagonal is 1 / 2.6 ", which gives the size of the pixel 1 μm. The sensor is equipped with a phase autofocus system. Optics consists of 6 lenses, the relative diameter of the lens is equal to F / 2. The optical stabilizer at the camera is not, but there is an electronic, but the basis of the gyroscope . There is also a very bright flash on two LEDs.
Daytime photos from the smartphone correspond to its price, but are not capable of impressing. As for the smartphone, positioned as the flagship, it was possible. .
Under the conditions of a sunny day, the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 camera with dignity withstands the test of the connecting light. It provides a sufficient dynamic range, the light appears in the picture only at the site of finding the Sun, the main part of the sky is imprinted normally.
With cloudy weather, the camera also removes well, but no more. Noise in the picture is not very much, but the noise cancellation system works aggressively. As a result, on the screen, the pictures look clearly and colorfully, but when viewing 100%, the shower traces are visible.
Photo by the near plan in conditions of lack of light suffer the same minuses. The noise reduction system acts aggressively, making fuzziness into the part.
If you submit that Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is equipped with a camera for 12 MP and view the photo on an appropriate scale, they look good, exactly no worse than 90% of other devices up to $ 400. But at 23 Mp, their quality is not impressive. So 23 MP is a plus, and minus at the same time. On the one hand, thanks to the high resolution, the pictures will be visible, the parts that the camera on 12 MP simply will simply fix it. But on the other, it is redundant.
Front camera
The front camera of the smartphone is equipped with a Sony IMX268 matrix on 8 megapixel. This is a matrix with 16: 9 proportions (instead of traditional 4: 3 photographic equipment), similar to LG G5 as a panoramic chamber. It supports autofocus that plus for lovers of selfie. Photos are obtained relatively high-quality, but before it is far away. The dynamic range is not enough, and the skin in the pictures is slightly closed. Although for instagram and this quality is quite enough.
Cons Xiaomi Mi Note 2
The disadvantages are not even devoid of Apple and Samsung flagships, so it is quite expected that twice the cheaper Xiaomi has them even more.
Trottling leaning
If you get rid of Benchmark Antuta many times, then from about 110 thousand, approximately from the third yield. At this level, they continue to be held even after an hour of constant test runs, and the device remains a bit warm.
Autonomy
The capacitance of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 battery is 4070 mAh. I specifically chose a smartphone with a large battery, as the autonomy of Redmi Note 3 Pro and Redmi Note 4x caused me delight. But the flagship iron gave itself to know, and even an amoled screen does not help. Budget collections of the Rarmi line the device clearly inferior. Yes, and very close to the OnePlus 3T parameters lives about the same, although it has 3400 mAh.
Wi-Fi web surfing on the maximum screen brightness eats charge for 8 hours. But watching the concert records of metal groups on YouTube, I managed as much as 12 hours. The secret of such a big difference is simple: most websites have a light background (when displaying which OLED consumes a lot), while rock concerts take place mainly in dark halls. During the night, the device eats about 5% of the charge.
Night photography photo
Under the conditions of a moonless night, the camera strongly capitulate: the small size of the pixels and the average aperture of optics are affected. As a result, in the absence of artificial light sources, it is impossible to disassemble what is there in a picture made in automatic mode.
There is a manual ISO and shutter setting mode, you can get a snapshot of the star sky even in such conditions. Stars will be visible, the contours of objects are also, but due to noise, the shade of the sky goes reddish. Also, with a long excerpt, it is desirable for a tripod, since EIS does not help from the word at all.
The outbreak saves the situation at close range. Snapshots are not turned out to be perfect, but on the screen they are nice to watch, no noises are not very, and with sharpness more or less.
Slow Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
Wi-Fi supports the ranges of 2.4 and 5 GHz, but 2.4 GHz speed is not different from state employees. It is about 50 Mbps. Low speed is the limitation of the firmware, which, when installing the region of Russia, Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries, does not activate the 40 MHz band. On 5 GHz, the device was not tested, since there was no suitable router at hand.
Not the best display matrix
Unfortunately, there are also cons of the screen too. First, the maximum brightness of its backlight is not very large, less than 400 cd / m2, Redmi Note 4X display looks a little brighter. The screen is well read in the sun, but there is no stock in brightness. A small side effect of the bend of the matrix is \u200b\u200blight blue in bends, when viewing a white background at certain angles of inclination.
Due to the pentile structure, white or gray background looks a bit "dirty", grainy, due to the gaps between miniature LEDs. It is almost not visible to 100%, but, for example, in a dark room on such brightness, the screen starts to cut the eyes, and without the autorpelling can not do.
Another lack of screen is the color rendering. Although the measurements show that the color coverage of the matrix is \u200b\u200bgood, some shades look a little rich than in reality. And it is impossible to calibrate it manually through RGB channels in the settings, there is only the ability to select a white balance and contrast mode.
It was also discovered that the matrix is \u200b\u200bcharacterized by the "memory effect". If for a long time (half an hour), to display a static picture, subpixels that form it, whether it is not warm enough, whether the opposite overheats, which affects their brightness. As a result, in after changing the image on a white background, you can notice the easy silhouette of the previously displayed elements. They disappear for 1-2 minutes.
Minor Bugs software, renewal delay
The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 works smartly, without serious bugs, but one unpleasant glitch on a weekly global firmware I still found. On a standard topic, when connecting a cable to a locked device, a cyclic desktop error occurs. As a result, the wallpaper "flies" to the standard and the device begins to flash the screen, trying to overcome the glitch.
The problem is treated with the use of non-standard theme, but still unpleasant. Moreover, the standard topic is adapted specifically for amoled and decorated in black colors.
It aggravates the fact that Xiaomi sent the main efforts of programmers for the development of MIUI 9. As a result, almost two months MI Note 2 does not receive any stable or weekly software updates. It only remains to hope that such measures are taken not in vain, and in August we will wait for new MIUI 9 based on Android Nougat.
An ambiguous scanner imprint
Fingerprint Scanner on Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Traditional Capacitive. It works correctly, but the reaction time is not always pleased. If the device is used and required to confirm, for example, the entrance to the bank client, it instantly responds to a slight touch. But if the device lay a blocked for a long time, then the simple click of the button is not enough, it is necessary to hold the finger of about 0.7-0.8 s or re-touch the sensor.
Personally, I do not see the advantages in the forefront of the sensor. The fact that the first couple of days I reflexively shone the lens, searching there the scanner is a matter of habit. But when the device lies on the table, to press the button with a thumb turned out to be nothing more convenient than just take the device in hand.
Conclusion
The review showed that Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is an interesting smartphone, but not deprived of flaws. He got a cute appearance, high-quality materials, flagship iron, good sound. But the curved display is far from ideal in terms of quality of the picture, a powerful filling consumes a lot of energy and is slightly prone to heating, and the software situation is a little worse than that of Redmi budget apparatuses.
The contradictory feelings caused a smartphone camera, which in certain scenarios is very good, but in general the implementation of its potential was not impressed. Ideally organize the work of your sensors with 20+ MPs, even Sony themselves can not, not to mention Siaomi. Therefore, if you are looking for a powerful cameraphone, then Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is not the best purchase candidate.
When you go with some novelty, friends and acquaintances are usually interested in: what is it, what kind of model, how much it costs, all that is all. Of course, tell me what. In the case of Xiaomi Mi Note 2, such questions were asked very rarely. Not because it is bad no, people took him for the old-kind Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE.
Perhaps, for such words, Xiaomi fans will be offended and they will say that it is possible to find 7 differences between the Chinese and Korean smartphone without a magnifying glass. But around ordinary people, not fans, such most. So they reacted consistently to Xiaomi as last year's Samsung. Say, why did you suddenly go with Apple on Galaxy, completely severe times come?
You start to explain that this is not samsung, but Xiaomi, performed in the same spirit: glass panels in front and rear, curved screen, thin case, excellent assembly. Give me to hold in your hands, try - the reaction remains the same, people perceive it as a clone, and not as the original model. And this is a problem.
Why Xiaomi did not invent anything new and did not add his own traits to the smartphone? It would be possible to play with the design of the back, add a picture or non-standard colors to avoid similarity with the Galaxy S7 EDGE. But, as you can see, wisely did not.
Big and slippery
Is it convenient to use a large smartphone with a 5.7-inch screen in the "cramless" style? Yes, quite, the issue of habit, and you get used to it quickly. Erroneous triggers when you hold the phone in your hand, no, although it is confused by such narrow faces. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 palm does not cut when you use it, but the phone is slippery, it takes a habit, otherwise it is easy to drop, falls for the fatal glass case.
In principle, at this place could be completed the whole story, because the main chip of the phone is its curved screen. But the Chinese could not come up with how to simplify the buyer's life with the help of beveled faces.
What is the use of the curved screen? Yes, in the same, whatever the benefit from the rigid sports suspension in the car for driving on the broken Moscow asphalt. The lowers look more spectacular, so the phone with a curved display attracts attention. Some functional bellows on this score did not add, you will not withdraw here a line with service notifications or a track of the music player, this is not provided.
If Samsung tried and added additional functions into the shell, then there is no such thing here. Just curved screen and all things. Sad? Watching what you want from a smartphone, I think that Wow effect, and he will give you it. Well, the characteristics are the tenth case, although it is not ashamed of the stuffing here.
The Chinese did not bother about additional opportunities, put an OLED display with a resolution of 1080x1920 points and a 5.7-inch diagonal. According to my feelings, the screen is even too bright and hits the eyes even on the minimum brightness in the dark, in the rest he is good.
All with it
Let's run on stuffing. The fingerprint scanner under the screen quickly reacts to the touch and remembers up to 5 fingers. Somehow enough for the flagship, usually suggest to save 10 prints, well, okay, we are not people-octopuses, survive.
Solding Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is no longer the top, but when he went out, he was among the best. However, by the standards of 2017, a smartphone with excellent stuffing. Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 with 4/64 GB of memory or 6/128 GB, but in any case without memory card support. It works quickly, there are no lags in principle, everything is wonderful.
It was surprised that despite the built-in NFC chip, to establish the work of the phone with Android Pay it did not work out, although this is a smartphone from official delivery for the Russian market. But 2 SIM cards worked fine here, everything is in order with Wi-Fi.
Works long, it's good
The Chinese did not chase the screen resolution, so the battery is 4,000 mAh in a pair with Full HD display shows if not miracles, at least decent results. With the active use of charging, there is enough for half a day of energetic work, and in normal mode it turns out a day and a half depending on the load. The results for the flagship device are good, one of the best in the class. Xiaomi MI Note 2 supports fast charging function: in 30 minutes it is charged by 50%, but the charging process takes up to 100% another 90 minutes.
Just a good camera
The camera at Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is not as cool, like another top Xiaomi Mi 6, removes very well and so-so evening. If you are important than the quality of the photo, I would look in the direction of MI 6, I liked me more at the camera.
How much is
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 costs 34,990 rubles, he has the official price in Russia, if you order it directly from China, it will cost thousands of 6-7 cheaper. His main alternative is Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE. It stands in Russia about 42 thousand rubles, but again, you can order yourself from Europe or China and save. In any case, Samsung will succeed a little more expensive, is it worth overpaying? In my opinion, yes, if you need a more sophisticated camera. Otherwise, they are more or less than the same, Samsung, for example, wins the quality of the screen and software, where additional settings are provided that reveal the potential of the curved display. But Xiaomi worked for me longer than S7 Edge than I liked it.
If you bother on the curved screen, options are even more: this is the "flagship killer" oneplus 3T, and the top Huawei P-series.
Opinion
I liked Xiaomi Mi Note 2, although he turned out to be a strange smartphone - I had a feeling that Xiaomi did him with a big desire to copy Samsung and show fans of their capabilities.
The curved screen gives spectacular forms, but does not offer additional functions, everything resumes only in the design. But the appearance is secondary here, because essentially Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is a quality replica Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE. But, as it should be a replica, it is cheaper, which means there are no questions. Want, choose a copy, you want, buy the original, if you feel that you will use all the frills of the samsung shell.