Xiaomi Mi 6 Review

Flagship for Less

If you want top-end hardware in the cheapest possible smartphone, you should look no further than Xiaomi’s Mi line. Last year’s Mi 5 packed all the best hardware, including top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs and high quality cameras, in a sub-$400 package, undercutting pretty much every device on the market, including the OnePlus 3.

In 2017, Xiaomi has updated their flagship product line with the Mi 6, and the story remains largely the same. You’ll be getting top-end hardware – including a Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage and a dual 12-megapixel camera solution – in a package that costs around $430when imported. With phones like the Galaxy S8 costing over $700, and the LG G6 setting you back $550 for largely last-generation hardware, the Xiaomi Mi 6 is an absolute bargain at this price point.

The only downside to purchasing the Xiaomi Mi 6 is, as with all Xiaomi devices, its lack of availability in Western markets. That didn’t stop us from obtaining one, though: Gearbestwill happily ship one anywhere in the world for a very competitive price.

Get the 128GB Xiaomi Mi 6 from Gearbestfor just $471.99. Follow this link and use offer code EGMI6 at the checkout.

Let’s talk about the design of the Xiaomi Mi 6, because I know the company has spent a lot of effort creating what they describe as a premium chassis. In fact, Xiaomi was quick to inform everyone during their announcement presser that the Mi 6’s stainless steel construction requires a 50-step manufacturing process and over 270 individual operations. This sounds like a fair bit of work, and the fact the chassis is stainless steel presents a point of difference compared to other phones that tend to use aluminium.

Unfortunately for users, the Mi 6 is barely a stainless steel phone at all. The entire front and rear panels are constructed from glass, with only the edges giving you that metal look. The build quality here is fantastic, with extremely swooshable glass and a near seamless transition from glass to metal edges. Xiaomi has also ensured that every element is symmetrically aligned, which is a touch of polish not often seen among Android OEMs.

While the build quality is great, I’m not a fan of the general Mi 6 design for several reasons.

First, the Mi 6 is ridiculously slippery. The glass back panel repels your fingers in a similar way to the Galaxy S8, while the metal edges appear to be coated with the same glossy finish as the rear. At times, the Mi 6 can be a difficult phone to hold, though its relatively compact 5.2-inch size does help somewhat. The Galaxy S8 is a more slippery phone due to its slim edges, but the Mi 6 comes in a close second.

Luckily for buyers here, only the rear glass panel is curved to either edge, and even then, the curve is minimal compared to the Galaxy S8. The front panel is entirely flat, which protects the display from shattering when you drop it on an edge. Having glass on either side is always a bit of a risk, though I suspect the Mi 6 won’t be as fragile as the Galaxy S8 due to its more sensible display design.

One of the other issues with the Mi 6’s design is just how glossy it is. I received a black model to review, and this variant attracts noticeable fingerprints like nothing else. You’ll be cleaning this phone 10-15 times a day if you want it free from fingerprints, as it gathers grime literally as soon as you touch it. I tend to think glossy finishes give expensive phones a cheap-ish feel, and while I appreciate the minimal style of the Mi 6, it doesn’t strike me as a ‘premium’ build.

The premium design issue is compounded by the enormous bezels above and below the display.