Xiaomi Mi Max 2 review: Gentler Giant

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 with 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 a notification LED around, too.

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