Gauntlet: iPhone 6 vs. Xiaomi Mi 4

The iPhone 6 has been running the gauntlet for quite some time now. We’ve been doing comparisons against midrange units if we can actually find a smartphone that can come close to Apple’s flagship. Up next on the podium is the Mi4, the current flagship model of the company that’s unofficially dubbed “the Apple of China”. Xiaomi has grew its fanbase here in the country, thanks to its non-traditional marketing style: an online-only selling scheme that reduces the price of its products by doing away with the costs associated with brick-and-mortar stores. Aside from that, Xiaomi has placed a premium on build quality and user experience, which we will focus on later.

The Mi4 was launched around July of this year, hot on the heels of the Mi3. We are still waiting with baited breath on its local release, but for now, let’s check out how this device stands up against Apple’s newest smartphone.

Size

When it comes to physical size, the Mi4 is not that far off from the iPhone 6. It’s a little larger than the Apple phone by a few millimeters all around, but thanks to its metal chassis, the Mi4 is 20 grams heavier than the iPhone 6. Its heft adds to its premium look and feel, and we think that it’s actually a good thing.

Performance

A 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor paired with an Adreno 330 graphics chip isn’t something to laugh at. The Mi4’s processing power was a brute when it was launched last July, and it’s still good up until now with the advent of Snapdragon 805s. Of course, Apple’s A8 engine is a totally different monster altogether, but when it comes to multitasking and running core-intensive apps, the Mi4’s processing suite meets and exceeds expectations.

Battery Life

True to its class, the Mi4 is big on everything, including the battery. A five inch, 1080 x 1920 display is going to want juice capacity at around the 2,500 mAh mark to be able to function for around 8-10 hours, and the Mi4 is packed with a 3,080 mAh battery. Sadly, the iPhone 6 comes with 1,810 mAh power pack, and even if the A8 chip is energy efficient, you will still need to pack a power bank or two with Apple’s flagship.

User Interface

Out of all the phones we’ve matched against the iPhone 6, the Mi4 has perhaps the closest user interface and experience to Apple’s. This is due to the MIUI, Xiaomi’s own interface skinned over Android 4.4.3 KitKat, having no app drawer for starters. The Mi4 has minimal apps built into it, and you can directly interact with several app icons right on your homescreen. We think that it’s a tie for this category since the UI for both phones are very much alike.

Image Quality

Historically, Android cameras are hit or miss when compared against Apple’s shooters. However, Xiaomi has found ways to not only increase the megapixel count on their phone cameras, but also quietly improve on the image quality. If it’s just a numbers game, then the Mi4’s 13-megapixel snapper beats out Apple’s eight megapixels. When it comes to overall picture quality, however, Apple’s camera might have a slight edge over the Mi4.

Durability

Apple’s iPhone 6 is made out of aluminum all around. It looks classy and definitely a premium phone, but the Mi 4 is made out of one solid piece of metal alloy milled into a sturdy frame. While both phones are not waterproof, we believe that the Mi4 wins in this category because of its one piece construction design, #Bendgate controversy notwithstanding.

Price

Xiaomi’s flagship smartphone starts at less than half of the iPhone’s starting price. Need we say more?

Verdict

Xiaomi again proves why it’s the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world in just one year. This is the company’s flagship smartphone. At that price point, it blows the iPhone out of the water. It is more than capable of going against the giant from Apple. Have we found the company that will produce the fabled iPhone killer?