You can tell right away that Xiaomi didn't go low-key at all with the Mi Max 2 design. Typically, a phone of this size should be careful not to call attention to itself for the wrong reasons and we think Xiaomi nailed the subtle and tasteful exterior: an all-metal body, trendy antenna inlays, 2.5D front glass. On the inside, the Mi Max 2 has a new camera sensor, a new processor, more RAM and the highlight of it all - a huge battery that this time around is capable of fast charging.
MIUI 8 has got a nifty new feature which will hopefully bolster the Mi Max 2's productivity credentials alongside its multimedia skills. Split Screen has been around for years in various custom ROMs and MIUI is finally taking advantage in a way that phablet users will likely appreciate.
The Mi Max 2 is massive but its heart is gentle. Screens of six inches and more are not a huge niche and yet it's not heavily contested either. The first Mi Max very well for Xiaomi there and we guess a sequel made perfect sense. So there we are, the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is in for review and we're gonna give it our best shot.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 key features
- Body: Aluminum unibody design, 2.5D front glass
- Screen: 6.44" IPS LCD display of 1080p resolution; 342ppi
- Chipset: Snapdragon 625, octa-core 2.0GHz Cortex-A53 processor; Adreno 506 GPU
- OS: Android 7.1.1 Nougat with MIUI 8.5 and Split Screen
- RAM: 4GB
- Memory: 64 or 128GB storage; microSD support, hybrid slot shared with 2nd SIM
- Camera: 12MP rear camera, f/2.2 aperture, PDAF, dual-LED dual-tone flash; 4K @ 30fps video, 720p @ 120fps
- Selfies: 5 MP front camera, f/2.0 aperture; 1080p @ 30fps video
- Connectivity: Dual SIM, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, IR, USB-C, FM radio
- Misc: Fingerprint sensor
- Battery: 5,300mAh battery, Quick Charge 3.0
Main shortcomings
- Hybrid DualSIM/microSD slot limits options
- Split Screen not available out of the box
The hybrid SIM slot is by no means a deal-breaker - you're better off with an imperfect option than none at all. Having to wait for the Split Screen to arrive via a firmware update in late August is a bit of a letdown, but we are still supposed to get it. If Xiaomi meets its own deadline even the earliest of adopters will not have to wait long.
The Snapdragon 625 might seem as a downgrade from the 650 chip in the original Mi Max but we think Xiaomi might have a point there. The hexa-core CPU in the Snapdargon 650 has a couple of powerful 1.8GHz Cortex-A72's for some extra kick when needed but the octa-core Snapdragon 625 is built on a 14nm process meaning superior power efficiency and less heating. The eight 2GHz Cortex-A53's are perfectly capable of crunching routine, day-to-day tasks and the huge battery will probably make an even bigger difference with that power-efficient chipset.
We already have a good feeling about the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 and it's not just the size of the screen and the battery. So, let's get on with the review by opening that big box, shall we?
Unboxing the Xiaomi Mi Max 2
Xiaomi has packed the Mi Max 2 inside a paper box that's about the size of the 6.44" phablet - but deep enough to fit all the accessories underneath the device itself. We found a USB Type-C cable and a Quick Charge 3.0-compabitle charger. Those should be enough to get you started.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 retail package
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 360-degree spin
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 measures 174.1 x 88.7 x 7.6mm, nearly the same as the original Mi Max phablet. It has gained an extra 8g, probably due to the bigger battery, for a total weight of 211g - not too bad for a phone of this, shall we say, magnitude.
Design
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 may have the large 6.44" screen as the headline feature but that and the rest of the specs are pretty similar to the original Mi Max. The design, on the other hand, has seen some great deal of transformation: the looks were improved not just for the sake of the upgrade, Xiaomi is showing flagship-grade attention to detail.
Xiaomi has used a full metal body for the sequel in contrast to the blend of metal and plastic in the original Mi Max. Now the Mi Max 2 feels as solid as they get, the exterior design unspoiled by plastic inlays and different hues of the paintjob.
The all-metal unibody has slim strips carved out for the antenna inlays. And we are so glad Xiaomi adopted the new trend - the lines follow the top and bottom contours on the back.
Xiaomi once again opted for rounded corners and frame but that's understandable - while the curves may compromise the handling, they convey an illusion of a smaller footprint. And we are fine with this trade-off.
The massive screen occupies most of the front and the size of the bezels is more than acceptable. the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 with a 2.5D finish so an extra screen protector is likely not necessary.
So, a full-metal body, subtle antenna lines and 2.5D glass - one could say that Xiaomi has completely redesigned the Mi Max and they'd probably be right. It's a device that feels and looks premium. One that's impossible to operate by just one hand but nowhere near unwieldy either. The matte finish on the back improves the grip and balances out the rounded chassis.
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is an elegant smartphone shaped and finished by 2017 standards, with subtle and tasteful design. It can potentially appeal to not just hard-core phablet users.
Handling the Xiaomi Mi Max 2
Overview
Above the screen is the earpiece, which doubles as a secondary speaker. The 5MP selfie cam is next to it and so are a couple of understated sensors. There is no notification LED though.
The Mi Max 2 • a huge screen • the top speaker/earpiece
Below the 6.44" behemoth of a screen are the three capacitive control keys: Tasks, Home, and Back. Upon tap they lit in white.
The keys below the display
The left side of the Mi Max 2 has the hybrid card slot - it can either take two SIMs, or one SIM and one microSD card. Then the volume rocker and the power/lock key are on the right and the latter is placed at the center and well within comfortable reach.
The left side • the card slot • the right side • the power key
The IR blaster, the secondary mic, and the audio jack are at the top of the Mi Max 2. The bottom of the device has the USB Type-C port, the mouthpiece and the other speaker, each under its own micro-drilled grille.
The top • the audio jack • the bottom • the dotted grille
The 12MP camera is at the back, coupled with a dual-tone flash. The always-on fingerprint scanner is centrally placed near the top.
The 12MP main camera • the fingerprint scanner
Display test
The 6.44" IPS display of the Mi Max 2 is what Xiaomi obviously hopes will sell the device. And while it allowed enough space for the other key feature, the impressive battery, it's time to see if the screen is worth the fuss. Sure, it's no AMOLED or a 1440p display but who would've expected that kind of specs in a midranger.
Our microscope revealed a regular RGB matrix underneath that Gorilla Glass 3. The pixel density is more than reasonable at 342ppi, so you'll get a perfectly sharp image even when reading the tiniest of text on our website.
Xiaomi promises a maximum brightness of 450 nits on the Mi Max 2, which means a screen that big would require some serious backlighting to achieve. Well, the company seems to have under-promised or over-delivered as our display test revealed a maximum brightness of 520 nits, 100 nits over the first Mi Max! The black levels have been improved as well and are deeper than before, which results in an excellent contrast ratio of 1300:1.
Then, if you take the brightness scrubber to its minimum the Mi Max 2 screen lights up to a bare 1 nit, another great achievement, which you would appreciate if you use the phone often in dark environments.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | ||
| 0.401 | 519 | 1294 | |
| 0.46 | 424 | 922 | |
| 0.382 | 603 | 1579 | |
| 0.462 | 603 | 1305 | |
| 0.50 | 531 | 1071 | |
| 0.343 | 509 | 1485 | |
| 0.322 | 484 | 1503 | |
| 0.00 | 427 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 410 | ∞ | |
| 0.42 | 403 | 953 | |
Thanks to the higher maximum brightness and contrast, the Mi Max 2 sunlight legibility has improved a lot. The phablet scored a contrast of 2.561 in our sunlight test, which is a very solid number and means you will be able to comfortably read your screen even on the brightest of days - except that the colors could be a little washed out.
Sunlight contrast ratio
- Samsung Galaxy S8
4.768 - Samsung Galaxy S8+
4.658 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
4.615 - Oppo R11
4.454 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439 - OnePlus 3
4.424 - Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376 - HTC One A9
4.274 - Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247 - Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241 - OnePlus 3T
4.232 - Google Pixel XL
4.164 - ZTE Axon 7
4.154 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09 - Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019 - OnePlus X
3.983 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
3.983 - Oppo R7s
3.964 - Apple iPhone 7
3.964 - Huawei P9 Plus
3.956 - Meizu Pro 6 Plus
3.935 - Lenovo Moto Z
3.931 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
3.918 - OnePlus 5
3.914 - Samsung Galaxy C5
3.911 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.896 - Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895 - Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
3.879 - Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
3.873 - Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859 - Apple iPhone 6
3.838 - Sony Xperia XZs
3.818 - Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817 - Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
3.812 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
3.804 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802 - Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798 - LG V20 Max auto
3.798 - Sony Xperia XZ
3.795 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789 - Apple iPhone 6s
3.783 - Meizu Pro 5
3.781 - Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772 - Xiaomi Mi 6
3.767 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756 - Oppo F1 Plus
3.709 - Vivo X5Pro
3.706 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.688 - Apple iPhone SE
3.681 - Huawei Mate 9
3.68 - Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679 - Meizu PRO 6
3.659 - BlackBerry Priv
3.645 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
3.597 - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588 - LG G6
3.556 - Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.526 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523 - Acer Jade Primo
3.521 - Microsoft Lumia 950
3.512 - Oppo R7 Plus
3.499 - nubia Z11
3.466 - Huawei P10 Plus
3.456 - HTC U Ultra
3.453 - Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422 - Meizu MX5
3.416 - LG V20
3.402 - Huawei P10
3.379 - Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
3.378 - Oppo R9s
3.352 - Honor 8 Pro
3.341 - Oppo R7
3.32 - Lenovo P2
3.316 - Honor 9
3.289 - Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276 - Nokia 5
3.261 - Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
3.244 - Xiaomi Mi 5
3.24 - Nokia 6 (Global version)
3.238 - Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235 - Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
3.228 - Motorola Moto X Play
3.222 - Oppo F3 Plus
3.218 - Huawei Mate 9 Pro
3.206 - Huawei P9
3.195 - ZTE Nubia Z17
3.159 - Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113 - Motorola Moto X Force
3.105 - LG Nexus 5X
3.092 - HTC U11
3.089 - Huawei Mate S
3.073 - Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065 - Sony Xperia XA1
3.012 - Sony Xperia L1
2.994 - Sony Xperia X
2.989 - Huawei P10 Lite
2.974 - Samsung Galaxy Note
2.97 - Huawei Mate 8
2.949 - Xiaomi Redmi 4
2.92 - Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913 - Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906 - LG G5
2.905 - HTC One S
2.901 - Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
2.893 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium
2.877 - Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB)
2.877 - Sony Xperia Z5
2.876 - Nokia 3
2.871 - Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851 - Lenovo Moto M
2.813 - Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803 - Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784 - Meizu MX6
2.751 - LG V10
2.744 - Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
2.714 - Meizu M5
2.71 - Sony Xperia M5
2.69 - Huawei P9 Lite
2.679 - Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
2.679 - Vivo V3Max
2.659 - Xiaomi Mi Mix
2.658 - Doogee Mix
2.642 - Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641 - Xiaomi Redmi 4a
2.635 - Sony Xperia XA
2.609 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus
2.582 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
2.582 - Meizu M5s
2.58 - Xiaomi Mi 4c
2.574 - LeEco Le Max 2
2.567 - Microsoft Lumia 640
2.563 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
2.563 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
2.561 - Lenovo Moto G4
2.544 - Lenovo K6 Note
2.544 - Oppo F1
2.528 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2.525 - Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
2.506 - Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503 - Oppo F1s
2.481 - Motorola Moto G
2.477 - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
2.473 - Huawei G8
2.471 - Huawei nova
2.467 - Sony Xperia Z
2.462 - Lenovo Vibe K5
2.459 - Meizu m3 max
2.447 - HTC 10 evo
2.407 - Huawei Honor 7
2.406 - Sony Xperia E5
2.386 - ZUK Z1 by Lenovo
2.382 - HTC 10
2.378 - Oppo F3
2.376 - vivo V5 Plus
2.371 - Meizu m1 note
2.362 - Huawei nova plus
2.329 - HTC One E9+
2.305 - Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272 - Apple iPhone 4S
2.269 - Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
2.254 - Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
2.253 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
2.249 - Sony Xperia C4 Dual
2.235 - Xiaomi Mi Note
2.234 - Motorola Moto G (2014)
2.233 - Huawei P8
2.196 - Meizu M5 Note
2.189 - Huawei Honor 6
2.169 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
2.166 - OnePlus Two
2.165 - HTC One X
2.158 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20)
2.145 - LG Aka
2.145 - Archos 50 Diamond
2.134 - Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119 - Xiaomi Mi 4S
2.095 - Acer Liquid X2
2.084 - Huawei P8lite
2.078 - vivo V5
2.059 - Moto G 3rd gen max manual
2.026 - Xiaomi Mi 3
2.001 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1.996 - Sony Xperia E4g
1.972 - OnePlus One
1.961 - Meizu m3 note
1.923 - BlackBerry Leap
1.892 - Meizu m2 note
1.892 - HTC Butterfly
1.873 - ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
1.759 - Sony Xperia U
1.758 - Asus Zenfone Selfie
1.68 - Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
1.675 - ZTE Nubia Z9
1.659 - Jolla Jolla
1.605 - Motorola Moto E
1.545 - Sony Xperia M
1.473 - Sony Xperia L
1.351 - Xiaomi Redmi 2
1.311 - HTC Desire C
1.3 - Meizu MX
1.221 - Sony Xperia E
1.215
Finally, let's check the color reproduction of that 6.44" screen. The default (auto) setting offers somewhat oversaturated colors, especially the blue hues, and those result in an average deltaE of 6.4. The purists may want to go to settings and change the contrast to Standard for an average deltaE of 4.4 - this setting will decrease the saturation and get rid of the blue tint.
Xiaomi offers Reading and Night modes on the Mi Max 2 via the MIUI settings - always good options to have to make the massive big screen easy on the eye.
Battery life test
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is powered by a massive 5,300 mAh battery. The phone supports Quick Charting 3.0 technology of undisclosed type and comes with a 18W charger in the retail box. It fills up the large battery from 0 to 22% in only 30 minutes. Two and a half hours of charging restore up to 85% of the battery capacity.
Quite expectedly the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 turned out one of the best all-time performers in our battery test with a 126-hour Endurance rating. It did a fabulous job of all tested scenarios - video, calls, web browsing and even stand-by performance.
Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
Connectivity
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is a dual-SIM phone with LTE connectivity. The primary card is nanoSIM , microSIM in the secondary slot. The slot is a hybrid solution and allows you to replace the microSIM with a microSD card.
There's also Wi-Fi ac with MIMO support, so the phone will benefit from a fast router if you've got one. Bluetooth 4.2 is also available. For positioning, you get GPS, GLONASS and, quite naturally, Beidou.
The IR blaster is located at the top of the phone and, coupled with the right software, you can use it to remotely control pretty much any IR-enabled home appliance. Xiaomi provides its own MiRemote app, which supports a long list of devices right out of the box.
The USB Type-C supports USB On-The-Go with the proper adapter in case you need to access some external storage or use a USB accessory.
Finally, there is FM radio with FM recording available on the Mi Max 2.
MIUI 8.5 on top of Android Nougat
The ample Xiaomi Mi Max 2 comes with the proprietary MIUI 8.5 out of the box. The launcher is based on the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system though you shouldn't expect all the Nougat key features to make appearance in MIUI.
As usual, Google services are not accessible in China, so Xiaomi refocused the ecosystem away from Mountain View's services. For those living elsewhere, the official and not-so-official importers are providing various international (global) ROMs, which come stripped from the Chinese services, in favor of Google's. Our unit uses one of those global ROMs with support for multiple languages.
MIUI 8 is a familiar launcher already with lots of features and UI tweaks. Its looks are just a minor part of the way MIUI is different from stock Android, though.
MIUI 8
Dual Apps and dual spaces are some of the highlights in MIUI. Dual Apps means you can have two instances of the same app on your device. This allows you to do things like have two WhatsApp accounts on the same phone, one for each SIM. You can enable dual-app functionality on almost every app.
Dual apps
Dual spaces lets you have two different workspaces on your device, each with its own set of apps, customizations, and image gallery, and you can enter a custom passcode or a different fingerprint to enter either space.
Space 1 • Space 1 • Space 2 • Space 2
The lockscreen is rather trivial (time, notifications, a couple of shortcuts), but once you set up the fingerprint reader, you'll rarely see it anyway. Still, the Wallpaper Carousel can put beautiful images on the lockscreen every 15 minutes.
The always-on fingerprint sensor is accurate and can take the phone from sleep to the homescreen in a flash (the lockscreen is bypassed). It's as fast as some of the latest flagship implementations, which is quite a treat.
The lockscreen
MIUI has a simple philosophy - every shortcut, plus widgets of your choosing, are dropped on the homescreen. You get a docked menu for the most commonly used apps, of course. The homescreen also supports a wallpaper carousel, so you can enjoy different beautiful wallpapers all the time.
The Homescreen
The notification drawer has a consolidated list of quick toggles, notifications, and a weather panel at the top that changes color and animation according to the weather.
The notification drawer
The app switcher feels like it came out of iOS - apps are either represented by their icons, in a single horizontal row, or by appropriate thumbnails in the same manner.
The Task Switcher
Themes are fully supported, and several are available out of the box. You can download more and change your wallpapers, lockscreen style, system icons, font, and sounds.
Theme store • new themes
If you happen to have difficulties controlling MIUI 8 with one hand on the Mi Max 2's super large screen, and you will, then the Quick Ball option comes in gandy. It can store up to 5 shortcuts and you can put pretty much anything here - from Android actions to app shortcuts. The Ball can also hide automatically on chosen apps, and move aside when you are running a fullscreen app.
Quick Ball
Finally, Xiaomi will be offering an exclusive (for now) Split Screen feature on the Mi Max 2 with the upcoming firmware update (late August). It will allow you to launch two apps side-by-side - so far demonstrated only in portrait mode with one app on the top and one - the bottom. Xiaomi says all native apps will support it, while the third-party ones will need to be updated. It's unclear for now whether those Play Store apps already supporting other split screen solutions would need additional work for this one or not.
Split Screen
Benchmark tests
The Snapdragon 625 chipset powers the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 - a widespread midrange solution and a preferred piece of silicon for the class. It feels somewhat a cheat for the Mi Max 2 though - the chip has an octa-core Cortex-A53 processor clocked at 2.0GHz and Adreno 506 GPU, so far so good. But those specs are inferior to the original Max's - it relied on the Snapdragon 650 SoC with a processor that included two fast A72 cores and 50% more powerful Adreno 510 graphics.
We will spoil the conclusion of this section, sorry, but prepare for some average scores across the board. Those are surely acceptable for the class, but represent a step down from the first Mi Max and as such they kind of spoil the otherwise positive impressions.
Geekbench is what we always run first and the Mi Max processor took the last place in the chart, outperformed even by similar CPUs.
GeekBench 4 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
4456 - Moto G5 Plus
3789 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
3610 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
3388 - Huawei nova plus
3100 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
3011 - Lenovo P2
2965 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
2353
GeekBench 3 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
5636 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
5166 - Samsung Galaxy C7
5103 - Huawei nova plus
4918 - Lenovo P2
4625 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
4617 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
4515 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
4187 - Xiaomi Mi Max
3861 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
3695 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
2840
The single-core operations which are essential for Android OS are perfectly fine and on par with the A53 crop. You can see the tremendous superiority of the first Mi Max over its sequel in the GeekBench 3 test though.
GeekBench 4 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
1546 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
862 - Huawei nova plus
843 - Lenovo P2
840 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
832 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
799 - Moto G5 Plus
799 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
693
GeekBench 3 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
1621 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
1596 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
1543 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1536 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
1026 - Huawei nova plus
943 - Samsung Galaxy C7
933 - Lenovo P2
928 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
924 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
912 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
755
Moving on to graphics - the Mi Max's Adreno 506 GPU is perfectly capable of handling every Full HD move or intensive 3D game. It's just that the previous Mi Max boasts 50% more graphic punch, which absence might be felt if you are an avid gamer and multitasker.
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
11 - Xiaomi Mi Max
9.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
9.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
9 - Lenovo P2
6.7 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
6.7 - Huawei nova plus
6.6 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
6.4 - Moto G5 Plus
6.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
6.2 - Samsung Galaxy C7
6.1 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
3.3
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
6 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
5.5 - Xiaomi Mi Max
5.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
5.4 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
4 - Lenovo P2
3.7 - Huawei nova plus
3.7 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
3.5 - Moto G5 Plus
3.5 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
3.4 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.4 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
1.9
Basemark X
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
16695 - Xiaomi Mi Max
15487 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
14717 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
13666 - Huawei nova plus
10524 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
10482 - Lenovo P2
10472 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
10446 - Samsung Galaxy C7
10445 - Moto G5 Plus
10406 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
9598 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
5489
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
287 - Oppo F3 Plus
261 - Xiaomi Mi Max
238 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
192 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
138 - Huawei nova plus
138 - Moto G5 Plus
137 - Lenovo P2
137 - Samsung Galaxy C7
137 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
93
The compound tests AnTuTu and BaseMark confirm the Mi Max 2 is capable enough though it somewhat trails behind its competition. It's nothing to worry about really, but once again, seeing the previous Mi Max doing noticeably better is kind of disappointing.
AnTuTu 6
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
91458 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
85162 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
76186 - Xiaomi Mi Max
74488 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
64983 - Huawei nova plus
64680 - Lenovo P2
63493 - Moto G5 Plus
63390 - Samsung Galaxy C7
62818 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
61616 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
57902 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
46822
Basemark OS II
Higher is better
- Oppo F3 Plus
2349 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
1914 - Huawei nova plus
1415 - Lenovo P2
1400 - Samsung Galaxy C7
1368 - Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
1320 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
1290 - Xiaomi Mi Max 2
1235 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
1171
The Mi Max 2 is well equipped to handle Android and its apps and though you might experience minor stutter in demanding 3D games, there is nothing to worry about. Trailing behind the competition in benchmarks is probably due to lacking in software optimization as the Mi Max 2 has a manufacture-favorite chip which is already in charge of quite a few midrangers. On the positive side, there are no signs of unpleasant heating on the Mi Max 2 even under peak load. If it wasn't for the shadow of the first Mi Max, the sequel would have passed this section with flying colors.
Telephony
The dialer and the phonebook share a single app, but two shortcuts bring you straight to the tab you need. The app has a pleasant flat look which feels somewhat fresh. It uses a tabbed interface - recents and dialer on the first and the contact list on the second.
Call recording is available - the files can be saved either on your device or on your MiCloud.
The Phonebook
The dialer may look rather familiar, but it's quite capable. Unfortunately, most of the new smart features are only available in the few markets where Xiaomi has an official presence.
It can automatically recognize business numbers, as well as scan contacts thanks to the Xiaomi's Caller ID database.
The Dialer
Loudspeaker test
The stereo speakers on the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 scored an Excellent mark in our speaker loudness test, up from the Average mark achieved by the Mi Max's single speaker. The sound is rich and crisp, with good bass and clean high notes. The performance of the two speakers is quite different - the top one is noticeably quieter than the other and with shallower, tinny sound, which takes a toll on the stereo effect they produce to the point where at times the stereo sound comes through as really awkward.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing |
Overall score | |
| 66.0 | 65.8 | 66.6 | Below Average | |
| 67.1 | 66.2 | 68.1 | Average | |
| 62.3 | 69.8 | 70.0 | Average | |
| 66.4 | 71.5 | 65.0 | Average | |
| 64.2 | 67.2 | 76.9 | Good | |
| 67.3 | 70.3 | 81.5 | Very Good | |
| 66.1 | 69.0 | 84.1 | Very Good | |
| 68.3 | 71.6 | 81.0 | Very Good | |
| 78.4 | 71.7 | 79.2 | Excellent | |
| 88.9 | 79.3 | 82.7 | Excellent |
Notable apps
The Mi Max 2 offers an excellent file managing app called Explorer, which lets you browse the files in its internal storage and groups them by type.
Explorer
The MIUI v8 also offers a Security app. It can scan your phone for malware, manage your blacklist, manage or restrict your data usage, configure battery behavior, and free up some RAM. It can also manage the permissions of your installed apps.
The Security app also allows you to define the battery behavior of selected apps and applies restrictions only to the apps you choose.
Security app • Cleaner • Battery management • Managing a single app • Battery Saver
The Mi Remote uses the IR blaster to control anything from TVs (including the Mi TV, of course) to digital cameras. The setup process is relatively straightforward, and a handy option shares the remotes you've set up with others on the same Wi-Fi network. You'd have to go through the setup only once per home, assuming everybody else uses a Xiaomi phone as well.
MiRemote app
We liked the Compass app. It has a clean interface, shows the magnetic directions, and doubles as a level meter. If you lift the phone up, then you'll get a nice augmented reality view with a real-time overlay of East/West/North/South.
Compass • level • VR directions
The Calculator app supports advanced calculations and conversions. Finally, the Notes app offers templates and checklists support.
Notes • Notes • Calculator • Conversions Menu • Conversions
Gallery
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 comes with the Mi Gallery app that shows the camera row by default, but the second tab includes all images and videos on the phone. You can set up a photo backup with your Mi Cloud account.
The Gallery app remains unchanged
The integrated editor offers various effects, filters, and enhancements, plus fun stuff like stickers and doodling.
Editing an image
Music player
The MIUI music player is a custom app with a well laid out, easy to navigate interface. The player has cool effects, transitions, and transparent elements, especially on the expandable Now Playing section. Lyrics are supported, too.
The music player • Albums • Now Playing • Audio settings • Audio settings
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 offers customizable equalizers within the phone's Settings menu - there are a few default presets already available for use. You can also try Xiaomi's MiSound enhancer, which comes into play when you use headphones, and especially, a Xiaomi-branded headset.
Video player
Videos are launched from the gallery. There's no subtitle support here, but DLNA is on board.
The simple video player
FM radio
The FM radio requires a headset to be connected and can play sound either through it or through the loudspeaker. The app can record audio and there's a sleep timer.
FM Radio
Audio output quality is decent
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 did well with an active external amplifier - it’s readings were indicating perfectly accurate output, while its volume was just above average.
Quality was almost as good with headphones with the only affected reading being stereo crosstalk and even that remained good. Volume however plummeted so the phone may have issues delivering enough loudness to larger headsets. Other than that however, it won’t leave anyone disappointed.
| Test | Frequency response | Noise level | Dynamic range | THD | IMD + Noise | Stereo crosstalk |
| +0.15, -0.51 | -93.4 | 93.5 | 0.0013 | 0.0084 | -98.8 | |
| +0.05, -0.04 | -92.6 | 92.6 | 0.0014 | 0.026 | -67.1 | |
| +0.02, -0.18 | -93.9 | 94.0 | 0.0053 | 0.0089 | -91.3 | |
| +0.65, -0.18 | -93.2 | 93.3 | 0.176 | 0.485 | -51.9 | |
| +0.03, -0.01 | -93.5 | 93.3 | 0.0010 | 0.0066 | -92.0 | |
| +0.55, -0.02 | -92.4 | 92.5 | 0.0090 | 0.315 | -58.1 | |
| +0.04, -0.01 | -93.3 | 95.0 | 0.0018 | 0.0075 | -93.3 | |
| +0.15, -0.02 | -92.6 | 94.2 | 0.0023 | 0.100 | -63.9 | |
| +0.05, -0.28 | -91.9 | 92.2 | 0.0037 | 0.051 | -90.3 | |
| +0.18, -0.05 | -91.0 | 91.6 | 0.019 | 0.230 | -57.9 |
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.
Camera
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 has the same 12MP camera with phase-detect autofocus as seen on the Mi 6, sans the OIS. It uses a 12MP Sony IMX386 sensor with 27mm f/1.8 lens and 1.25µm big pixels. There is also a dual-LED dual-tone flash.
The MIUI 8 camera interface is fairly simple and features toggles for the HDR mode, the flash and the video camera. The available advanced modes are Panorama, Beautify, Scenes, Timer, and Manual (with shutter speed up to 32s) as well as the camera settings. Seventeen live filters are at your disposal, too.
The camera app
We've seen the IMX386 sensor already in Xiaomi and Meizu so we had high expectation about the image quality. Indeed, the Mi Max 2 camera is on par with the daylight photos taken with the Mi 6 - per-pixel quality is very high, plenty of resolved detail, even the foliage is rendered great, noise is kept low and overall, we had nothing but positive impressions across the board.
The captured colors are very accurate, the white balance is right almost every time, and the dynamic range is way above average, maybe even flagship-worthy.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 12MP camera samples
You'll probably want to leave the HDR mode on Auto, though you'll barely see the HDR prompt because of the camera's high dynamic range. Still, if HDR is needed, the samples will come with more detail in the shadows and slightly oversaturated but not blown highlights.
HDR off • HDR on
The low-light photos came rather unimpressive with poor detail and some of them washed out.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 low-light camera samples
Luckily, you can use the manual mode and tweak the ISO and exposure time settings to achieve better low light sots, but you'll need a small tripod or at least a stable surface for shooting this way. The results are worth the hassle, though.
Low-light (8s shutter) sample • Low-light (16s shutter) sample
You can capture portrait panoramic photos with a 180-degree field of view. Shooting is easy and the resolution is very high (up to 50MP, 3,700px tall). The image quality is very good - the same as on the regular images with lots of detail, not stitching traces, good dynamic range, lively colors, but the images somewhat lack sharpness.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 panoramic sample
We also tested out the 5MP front-facing camera. The images came out with more than enough detail, high contrast, and pleasant colors. The dynamic range is above average, too. Sure, the 5MP resolution might be getting outdated but we've seen a lot of 8 and 13MP selfie snappers do worse.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 5MP selfies
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is more than capable of pulling its own weight in our Photo Comparison tool. You can see it puts up an excellent fight against the other snappers we've tested and comes on top even against some far pricier options.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 vs. Mi 6 vs. Redmi Note 4 in our photo compare tool
Video camera
Video mode gives you a choice of 2160p @ 30fps and 1080p @ 30fps for common shooting with a 720p @ 120fps option if you want some slow-motion effects. There's no 1080p @ 60fps mode though, which would make a big difference for fast-paced scenes. Also, changing resolution involves going to Modes and then in the advanced settings, which isn't all that convenient.
Anyway, the 2160p videos are captured at 42Mbps bitrate and have rock solid 30fps. The audio is stereo captured at 96Kbps bitrate.
The 4K turned out impressive, especially for this class. The picture is sharp (but not over-sharpened), with more than enough resolved detail. The colors are spot-on, while the dynamic range is above average. The audio quality is OK, there are no traces of compression, but you'll notice it goes towards poor on more demanding scenes (concerts, loud crowds, cars honking, etc.).
The 1080p videos are shot at a bitrate of 20Mbps and have the same audio bitrate. The video quality in 1080p is a bit different from the 4K snaps in a worse way. The resolved detail is less and there is noticeable oversharprning.
You can also download the 4K@30fps (9s, 46MB) and 1080p@30fps (9s, 24MB) video samples taken straight off the Xiaomi Mi Max 2.
Finally, you can use our Video Compare Tool to see how the Mi Max 2 stacks against the Mi Max and Mi 6 when it comes to video capturing.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 vs. Mi Max vs. Mi 6 in our video compare tool
Final words
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is certainly not everyone's cup of tea. Now, what we have here is more of a mug - if not the entire teapot - but you know what we mean. Stretching the limits of a smartphone screen is nothing new, but many have tried and failed to leave a meaningful mark in the 6-inch-and-above bracket. Sony's Ultra series are among the better examples and Huawei's had a few phablets right as well.
The Mi Max? Well, that's a pretty simple story and these are the ones that usually work. No stunts, no trickery, not even split screen multi-tasking - just a sensible design, big screen and a big battery.
The Mi Max 2 follows the original pretty closely and does well to improve on the design, screen quality, the camera package and... wait for it... the battery capacity. Fast charging is another upgrade that's absolutely to-the-point. Xiaomi has also brought the split screen feature to MIUI too, a long overdue update.
Our time with the Mi Max 2 was quite pleasant, it was an almost bump-free ride. The phablet has a top-notch build, excellent screen, class-leading battery life, loud stereo speakers, a pretty solid main camera and a surprisingly good selfie cam, and gets to keep an amazingly low price tag. The Snapdragon 625 is a popular choice this year in the midrange and serves the Mi Max 2 right, except perhaps in the most intensive graphics-heavy tasks. It's a fitting chipset to this gentle giant.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 key test findings
- Build quality is excellent: an all-metal unibody, redesigned antenna lines, and comfortable handling considering the footprint.
- The display is great with 500+ nits of brightness, high contrast, and good legibility in direct sunlight. The minimum brightness is superb for night reading, the blacks are deep enough, and the viewing angles are decent.
- Battery life is class-leading with an endurance rating of 136h. The Mi Max 2's battery can last 20 hours on video playback or web browsing, or two full days on calls.
- Rich wireless connectivity options, FM radio and IR blaster available as well.
- MIUI 8 is a clean and light skin on top of Android Nougat and yet offers rich customization options. Split Screen is a welcome addition.
- The Snapdragon 625 chipset offers enough punch for the class and will handle most tasks trouble-free. It doesn't excessively heat up at even peak performance. Perhaps not as powerful as the original, the Mi Max 2 is reliable and power-efficient.
- Audio output is accurate but quiet. The speakers loudness is excellent, but the sound quality is average and the stereo effect at times mediocre.
- The photos from the main camera are great, with plenty of resolved detail, high dynamic range, and excellent colors and contrast. Low-light photos aren't as good, but you can get some better results from manual mode.
- Surprisingly good 5MP selfies.
- The image quality of the 4K videos is excellent with plenty of detail and high contrast, but the 1080p samples came out over-sharpened and less detailed.
As for the competition, the Xiaomi isn't under a great deal of pressure in this niche. 6.5-inchers are not exactly ubiquitous and the options are even thinner if you insist on recent devices. That said, the original Max is still quite relevant and its price has fallen to even more attractive levels.
Xiaomi Mi Max
Sony's Xperia XA1 Ultra has a slightly smaller screen and costs about $100 more but you will get a flagship-grade main camera, a high-res selfie shooter with OIS and a flash and, of course, the iconic Sony design. Its battery life is not as impressive, but it's widely available and the aftermarket support should be much more easy to get.
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
The 6" Oppo F3 Plus and R11 Plus cost more than the Mi Max 2 but they offer superior performance and camera experience. Their designs are as sleek, while the 4,000mAh batteries will last long enough on a single charge - though obviously not as long as Xiaomi's. If you have more to spend make sure to check them out.
Oppo F3 Plus • Oppo R11 Plus
Finally, if the size is less important than the overall bang-for-buck ratio, maybe the Redmi Note 3 and Note 4 could be the thing for you. Those 5.5" Notes offer leading performance for their class, 1080p screens and very capable cameras. Oh, and their battery life is no less impressive.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) • Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (MediaTek)
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is a pretty simple device to describe: a big screen to enjoy all kinds of content on and a quick-to-top-up, massive battery that will last for days. It does itself a huge a favor by delivering on both promises and handles the stuff in-between equally well. With a pretty competitive price tag, this 6+-inch phablet is an easy recommendation.
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