Xiaomi Mi 4s review: Pushing forward

Pushing forward

GSMArena team, 28 March, 2016.

MIUI Browser

The Xiaomi Mi 4s comes with the feature-rich MIUI Browser. It has flat looking UI elements and does a great job at browsing. It comes with a native ad-block add-on and a data saver, it supports downloads, there is a night mode as well. It is as almost as fast as Chrome, and now supports Find on Page.

It also offers a built-in Reading mode, which isn't available in Chrome. It enlarges the text font and strips away unneeded elements, leaving only the article you are reading in focus.

The aforementioned Night Mode, which is something we miss in Chrome. It inverts the background and font colors and is easier on the eyes at dark rooms.

Finally, the browser supports some very handy features as scrolling with the volume keys, quick tab switching from the edge of the display; you can opt for different search engines, among others.

Mi Browser - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Night Mode - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Reading Mode - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Reading Mode - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Reading Mode - Xiaomi Mi 4s review
Mi Browser • Night Mode • Reading Mode

Other pre-installed apps

The Xiaomi Mi 4s offers a great file managing app called Explorer, which lets you browse the files in its internal storage and groups them by type.

Explorer - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Explorer - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Explorer - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Explorer - Xiaomi Mi 4s review
Explorer

The MIUI v7 also offers a Security app. It can scan your phone for malware, manage your contact blocklist, manage or restrict your data usage, configure battery behavior, clean some RAM; it can also manage the permissions of your installed apps.

Security app - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Security app - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Security app - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Security app - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Security app - Xiaomi Mi 4s review
Security app

The custom and now flat Calendar looks good, syncs with your accounts including Google, and offers Day and Month views.

Calendar - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Calendar - Xiaomi Mi 4s review
Calendar

There are also the standard sound recorder, notes, flashlight, calculator, clock, and weather apps, among others, that are a given in any self-respecting Android package nowadays.

Voice recorder - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Calculator - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Clock - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Weather - Xiaomi Mi 4s review
Voice recorder • Calculator • Clock • Weather

We like the Compass app. It has very nice and 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 real-time East/West/North/South overlay.

Compass app - compass, level, VR directions - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Compass app - compass, level, VR directions - Xiaomi Mi 4s review Compass app - compass, level, VR directions - Xiaomi Mi 4s review
Compass app - compass, level, VR directions

Xiaomi is preloading a new Mi Home app, which is helpful if you like to control your smart appliances from a single device. It can interact with your TV, audio system, air conditioners, air purifiers, among others. The app also offers TV information, weather detail, and even more useful information. It uses the Mi Remote app and the IR blaster.

Reader comments

  • surya
  • 05 Jul 2017
  • YPe

how to youse mi phone for playstore?

  • Anonymous
  • 08 Jan 2017
  • YTd

Mi 4s not available in indian market ....

  • al
  • 16 Dec 2016
  • vV5

my mi 4s only took 1.25 min to fully charge