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Can a big screen phone really hold it? Millet Max2 standard version of the open box evaluation
Foreword
When I first got my hands on the original Mi Max, I was initially impressed. Back then, I was used to using a Mi phone, so when I transitioned to the Max, I found it a bit too large for my liking. It didn’t fit comfortably in my hand, and I often felt awkward carrying it around. Fast forward to now, and here we are with the second generation of the Mi Max 2. With its massive 5300mAh battery and a rear camera equipped with the same Sony IMX386 sensor as the Mi 6, it certainly caught my attention. However, the choice of the Snapdragon 625 processor gave me pause. It wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, but after some thought, I decided to give it a try. If it turned out to be unsuitable, I’d simply switch back.
Purchase Link:
Mi Max2 Full Netcom 4GB+64GB Gold Mobile Unicom Telecom 4G Phone Dual SIM Dual Standby, priced at 1699 yuan, available on JD. When I purchased the 4G+64G variant, I knew I couldn't pass it up...
Unboxing
Out of the box, the design has definitely evolved. Unlike the first-generation MAX's box, which prominently featured "The Big Screen Phone," the new box adopts a minimalist white aesthetic, reminiscent of the Xiaomi 6. The Mi logo in the center is orange, with version details in the upper right corner: 4G+64G. The back of the box still includes a sticker with product information and highlights.
Fortunately, the side of the box clearly states "Mi Max2," as unfamiliar buyers might not immediately recognize the model from the front alone.
Opening the box, you're greeted by the sheer size of the phone. It nearly fills the entire package, making the box appear larger than expected. The upper part of the packaging contains a soft protective sponge, which is an improvement over the previous simple cardboard design.
Below the phone, you’ll find the manual, warranty card, charger, and data cable. Due to the phone’s positioning, there’s no soft protective cover inside the box.
The charger and data cable have moved away from the traditional black design, opting for a more elegant white scheme. The USB interface is accented with a ring of gray, which adds a fresh touch. The charger supports up to 12V 1.5A (18W) fast charging.
The manual provides basic instructions for using the phone, though it lacks practical value. Interestingly, the SIM ejector pin is stuck in the manual, but if misplaced, a paperclip could serve as a substitute.
First Impressions
The first thing that struck me was how big the screen was. Even with my relatively large hands, I couldn’t comfortably hold it in one hand. It’s simply too big to manage easily. The dimensions of the phone are 174.1mm x 88.7mm x 7.6mm, making the length equivalent to the width of an iPad Air 2.
The upper part of the front remains similar to the first generation, featuring a symmetrical design with the front camera, earpiece, and proximity sensor. This time, the handset itself doubles as a speaker, creating a stereo effect.
The bezels around the screen are narrower than those of the first generation, showing noticeable improvements in manufacturing. However, a closer inspection reveals that the bezels have actually widened slightly compared to the first generation, meaning there hasn’t been much progress in controlling the screen edges.
Around the 2.5D screen, there’s no high-gloss metal chamfer. Instead, the screen sits on a white plastic edging between the glass and the metal body, a common approach among current smartphones.
The front design retains the first generation's look and doesn’t include a fingerprint recognition button. At the bottom, there are still the traditional virtual keys: menu, home, and back. The large screen likely necessitated placing the fingerprint sensor below the screen.
On the top of the phone, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, and naturally, the infrared emitter remains in the middle, though the layout isn’t perfectly symmetrical.
At the bottom, there’s a symmetrical design with the Type-C charging port in the center, flanked by six small holes on either side. The left side houses the microphone, while the right side contains the speaker. When the speaker is active, only the right side produces sound. The exposed screws around the charging port make it easier to disassemble the phone. The bottom design, combined with the curved edges of the body, gives off an Apple-like aesthetic.
The volume button, power button, and SIM card slot follow the traditional Xiaomi design. Volume and power buttons are on the right, while the SIM card tray is on the left. The tray is a hybrid dual-SIM card slot that supports Nano-SIM/Micro-SIM cards and Micro-SD expansion memory cards. The plastic tray itself doesn’t warrant much discussion.
The back of the phone features a one-piece metal design, which feels far superior to the first generation in terms of both appearance and feel. The antenna bands are cleverly hidden at the top and bottom, maintaining overall consistency through color matching. The fingerprint sensor is positioned centrally and slightly above, while the dual-color temperature flash and camera are located in the upper left corner. The rear camera uses the same Sony IMX386 sensor as the Mi 6 but lacks optical image stabilization.
Below the back is the Xiaomi company logo, the only branding on the entire phone.
The screen resolution is 1920x1080, with a PPI of 342, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, a 72% NTSC color gamut, and a brightness of 450 nits. Despite being a 1080p screen, it doesn’t feel grainy on the large 6.44-inch display.
System Experience
Lock Screen and Home Screen
The system runs the latest MIUI 8 based on Android 7.1.1. Given the large screen, the icons are arranged in a 4x6 grid. You can also opt for a 5x6 arrangement in the desktop settings. Over the generations, the lock screen has evolved into a versatile tool for unlocking the screen. Changing the theme allows you to customize the unlock method. The icons themselves are standard and functional, with a touch of entertainment.
System Configuration
The phone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, with eight cores clocked up to 2.0GHz, which is adequate but not exceptional. It comes with 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 64GB of EMMC 5.1 storage, providing 55.38GB of usable space. Overall, the configuration is typical for a mid-range device, with no standout features.
Memory Usage
With 4GB of RAM, having 10 apps open leaves around 1.5GB of free memory. Clearing all background processes leaves approximately 2GB available. This is typical usage for everyday tasks like browsing, chatting on WeChat, and shopping on Taobao. For casual use, this is more than sufficient. Since I’m not a gamer or a video enthusiast, I haven’t conducted extensive gaming or video tests.
Signal and Wi-Fi Performance
In urban areas, the phone’s signal is decent, but in suburban regions with weaker signals, the performance drops noticeably, sometimes losing connection entirely. This is worse than the Redmi Pro. Similarly, the Wi-Fi reception is inferior to the Redmi Pro, where the office Wi-Fi signal is full strength on the Redmi Pro, but the Mi Max 2 struggles to maintain a strong connection.
System Features
Garbage Cleaning
The system’s security center handles garbage collection efficiently, negating the need for third-party cleaning apps. The interface is intuitive and easy to access. Most smartphone manufacturers have integrated such functionality into their systems.
App Promotion
Advertisements and app promotions are rampant. During software updates, there’s often little warning about promoting app installations. Sometimes, apps install automatically if you don’t respond quickly enough, requiring you to manually uninstall them. This issue has persisted for a long time, and MIUI 8 offers no hope of improvement. We hope MIUI 9 will address this.
Weather Forecast
The weather app bundled with the system now includes a 15-day trend forecast and real-time weather updates. While the forecasts are sometimes accurate, they can also be wildly off, serving as a rough guide at best.
One-Handed Mode
Given the phone’s size, single-handed operation is impractical. However, one-handed mode can be enabled in the settings. Three screen sizes—4.5, 4.0, and 3.5 inches—are available for selection. After choosing, you can trigger the mode by swiping from the home button to the left or right menu button. Clicking OK displays a smaller screen on either the left or right side of the display, allowing one-handed operation. This feature is useful in specific situations.
Double-tap Wake-Up and Floating Ball
Both double-tap wake-up and the floating ball were present in the first-generation Mi Max. The double-tap feature failed consistently, possibly due to the screen protector. The floating ball has been enhanced with the ability to automatically hide in full-screen applications.
Charging and Battery Life
Using the included smart charger, the upper-right corner of the screen displays a circled lightning bolt to indicate fast charging. With a regular charger, only a single lightning bolt appears.
Under heavy usage, the Mi Max 2 retains about 48% battery after 1 day and 2 hours. Under normal usage, the battery can last up to 2 days or more. In the software power consumption rankings, the system consumes the most power. In the hardware rankings, the screen uses the most energy.
The Mi Max 2 supports fast charging 3.0+ parallel charging technology and can even charge an iPhone. From 51% charge, it reaches 92% in just an hour, but going from 0 to full takes over 2 hours.
Taking Pictures
The photos taken in well-lit outdoor environments are crisp and detailed. However, in low-light conditions, the camera shows its limitations. Zooming in reveals noticeable noise. Considering the price point, users shouldn’t expect too much from Xiaomi’s photography capabilities.
Conclusion
The Mi Max 2’s standout feature is undoubtedly its large screen, continuing the 6.44-inch display of the first generation. The screen-to-body ratio of 74.03% leaves room for improvement, causing initial discomfort. After some adjustment, you grow accustomed to it, finding smaller screens difficult to adjust to afterward. Holding the phone is manageable, but the 5300mAh battery is a significant advantage, offering impressive battery life, especially for heavy users. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor is a weak point, while the rear camera’s Sony IMX386 sensor is a notable perk. However, the f/2.2 aperture is inferior to the f/1.8 of the Mi 6, making it akin to adding a halogen egg without ham. Signal and Wi-Fi performance are also disappointing, a common complaint among users. In today’s market, where mid-range phones are priced similarly, it’s unlikely that 1999 yuan will buy you a flagship-level device. As prices rise and manufacturers focus on profit margins, it’s improbable that this price will afford you a high-end Xiaomi model in the future.