If you like Samsung’s shiny curved-edge phones but baulk at their asking price, you can still get the look with Xiaomi’s Mi Note 2, which is out in Singapore now for S$799.
With the screen curved on both sides like its the Galaxy S8, the new Mi Note 2 is packed with the latest in terms of hardware. The premium model from the Chinese budget phone maker is its latest stab at the high-end market.
The Mi Note 2 offers a good 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, a 5.7-inch OLED display and a new 22.56-megapixel camera promise top-notch performance at a price that is lower than flagships that usually cost S$1,000 or more.
The spec that stands out is the Full HD resolution on the screen. It’s likely Xiaomi doesn’t think it’s worth bumping up the sharpness to Quad HD, even though that’s common on flagship models.
To power everything up on the Mi Note 2, Xiaomi has opted for a 4,070mAh battery that supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 to juice up in a jiffy.
This international version of the Mi Note 2 out in Singapore also supports 22 4G bands, including those used in the United States, so roaming isn’t an issue.
Xiaomi is also updating its budget Redmi model here in Singapore, with the new Redmi 4X. The less expensive option goes for S$219 to appeal to folks who don’t want to pay for a premium phone.
The Redmi 4X, nonetheless, will have a metallic case to up the stakes in quality finishes. The Snapdragon 435 chip onboard is admittedly less powerful, but should suit folks who don’t feel that they need all that power, say, to play demanding games.
The phone’s 3GB RAM and 32GB storage are common for this price range today. And the 5-inch HD display ensures that the phone is pocketable while being large enough for text to be easily read.
In Singapore, the Redmi 4X is out at Singtel, M1 and Challenger outlets. The Mi Note 2 is sold at the Xiaomi store in Suntec City as well as the Lazada online store.
