Xiaomi may be an unfamiliar name for many would-be smartphone buyers. Chances are though that it’s only a matter of time before the Chinese manufacturer, the most popular smartphone brand in India in the last quarter according to Counterpoint Market Research, is regularly referenced alongside the likes of Huawei, Oppo, Samsung and Apple as a force to be reckoned with.
With devices as accomplished as the new Mi Mix 2, it’s not difficult to understand why.
For the moment, the Mi Mix 2, launched in the UAE in December at a price of around Dh1,850, will take a little seeking out. It’s currently only available in Xiaomi branded stores in Deira and Burjuman, as well as online outlets like Souq and Awok.
Is it worth seeking out? Absolutely. The Mi Mix 2 stands out in the ultra-competitive mid-price bracket, thanks to great design and a brilliant display, with some impressive power under the hood to boot.
Xiaomi brought in French designer Philippe Starck to oversee the Mi Mix 2’s form factor, with results that don’t disappoint. The phone employs a highly unusual ceramic back, that feels very smooth and sophisticated to the touch, reminiscent of the Nokia 8. As with the Nokia though, it gives it a slightly slippy feel, so be careful not to drop it. Black and white are your only colour options, so rose gold fans will need to look elsewhere.
The Mi Mix 2 has dropped the 3.5mm headphone jack of its predecessor; while most of us have made our peace with such a move, it’s a pity not to have the option anymore.
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The original Mi Mix was among the first smartphones on the market to drop the bezel, opening up the possibility of a near full-screen display - subsequently exploited by the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple. The Mi Mix 2’s 5.99 inch display is a touch smaller than its predecessor, but has a screen to body ratio of 80 per cent that’s very impressive to look at.
The IFS FHD display, while inevitably lacking the wow factor of the Oled displays of the Samsung Galaxy S8 or the iPhone X, offers a very impressive viewing experience for a handset at this price point.
Also impressive for a mid-range smartphone is the Mi Mix 2’s everyday performance; its Snapdragon 835 chip, combined with an impressive 6GB of RAM, keep apps running very smoothly. Its 3,400 mAh battery is smaller than that of the original Mi Mix, but a tad bigger than mid-range rivals like the OnePlus 5T and the Nokia 8. It’ll comfortably last a day of regular use on a single charge.
The Mi Mix 2’s achilles heel is its camera system, which offers average performance on an otherwise very good phone. The 12MP rear camera, while doing a decent enough job in good lighting conditions, struggles when it gets a little darker. The front-facing 5MP camera - far weedier than the selfie snappers on the Nokia 8 and OnePlus 5T - is placed at the bottom of phone rather than the top, making things pretty awkward.
If you can forgive the underpowered camera, though, the Mi Mix 2 is a brilliant option for those who want a decent smartphone on a budget. With phones as good as this, Xiaomi’s burgeoning reputation is only set to grow further.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
THE%20SWIMMERS
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MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
