The Official Xiaomi Thread

Anyone that wants a sweet deal on the Mi Max 2, I see Gearbest has the black one, now for $209. Almost $50 cheaper than I bought it for a few months back.
 
Quick unofficial poll - with the Mi A1 now available locally - who thinks it is worth spending R1600-R2000 more on it over a Redmi Note 4. You're getting a much better camera, extra GB Ram and double the storage. Also a better body You're getting 25% less battery though....

Discuss....
 
Last edited:
I'd rather take the Note 4, personally I find more value in a bigger battery than more RAM (3GB has been more than enough for me), a better camera (I use my camera maybe once a week) and I don't consume any media on my phone so 32GB is more than enough for me
 
FlashSA said:
Quick unofficial poll - with the Mi A1 now available locally - who thinks it is worth spending R1600-R2000 more on it over a Redmi Note 4. You're getting a much better camera, extra GB Ram and double the storage. You're getting 25% less battery though....

Discuss....
Click to expand...
The build quality is better compared to the note 4, unibody Vs unibody design

The Mi A1 also has gorilla glass 3 which the note 4 doesn't have.
 
Last edited:
FlashSA said:
Quick unofficial poll - with the Mi A1 now available locally - who thinks it is worth spending R1600-R2000 more on it over a Redmi Note 4. You're getting a much better camera, extra GB Ram and double the storage. Also a better body You're getting 25% less battery though....

Discuss....
Click to expand...
On gearbest it's $190 for the redmi note 4 vs $230 for the A1.

The A1 is the better buy, better features, newer android and will hold its resale value a little longer.

The 3000mah battery means the A1 is not something I'd even consider buying though.

What about maybe waiting for the newer note 5? Estimated to be around $200 for the note 5 and $250 for the note 5 plus.
 
I would get the A1 over the Note 4 for stock Android - I hate MIUI and all its bloatware with a passion. I have not enjoyed my Note 4 experience - I just tolerate.
 
mr_norris said:
I would get the A1 over the Note 4 for stock Android - I hate MIUI and all its bloatware with a passion. I have not enjoyed my Note 4 experience - I just tolerate.
Click to expand...

Not the first time i'm reading about bloatware on Miui, care to explain? as i don't see bloatware on my note 4x. besides the miui apps like the forum or mi drop. things like the scanner and the remote are useful and not bloatware.
 
Zuner said:
Not the first time i'm reading about bloatware on Miui, care to explain? as i don't see bloatware on my note 4x. besides the miui apps like the forum or mi drop. things like the scanner and the remote are useful and not bloatware.
Click to expand...
Those are all bloatware because you're unable to uninstall them. Email, remote, scanner, compass, miui forum, Mi drop, security, and some other apps for music, video etc.

I use almost all of them apart from their email app so I agree not many of them are junk. Mi apps usually work well and look clean, similar to apple's look.
 
Isn't the whole idea behind the Android One phones that you are guaranteed to always get the latest Android updates? For that alone I would get the A1. Phones are lasting a long time. Its the OS's that are keeping them back.
 
Zuner said:
Not the first time i'm reading about bloatware on Miui, care to explain? as i don't see bloatware on my note 4x. besides the miui apps like the forum or mi drop. things like the scanner and the remote are useful and not bloatware.
Click to expand...

The IR blaster and Remote App are top notch. No regret there. I must say that Xiaomi phones have great hardware, but it feels like they ruin that with all the rubbish they do and put on.

Apps which are of no use to me, that I can't get rid of:

- Apps
- Browser
- Chrome (I use FireFox - now I'm stuck with two browsers on my phone I won't use, or can remove)
- Compass
- Duo
- Feedback
- FM Radio
- Gmail (I use Inbox)
- Hangouts
- Mail (Second email app)
- Mi Drop
- Mi Roaming
- Mi Forum (and it's annoying AF notifications, which I eventually disabled)
- Music
- Notes
- Play Music
- Play Movies and TV
- Recorder
- Scanner
- Security (I'd also like to point out the shameless in-app adverts here)
- Screen recorder

It also feels like Xiaomi have tried overriding some aspects of Android:

- Big notification icons (only ones I can think of is weather updates from Google - they were prettier and more relevant on my HTC, not just a standard icon)
- Expanding notifications being a gamble (it's better now though - but not as good as HTC / stock)
- Receiving notifications being a gamble. Notifications with Inbox just don't work - no doubt that it's some Xiaomi permissions setting buried deep somewhere that I have to change to fix this. I have lost the will to troubleshoot. I open the up, swipe down to update, and if I got new mails, then the notifications come - kind of pointless.
- Arb permissions, sort of a follow on from the last point. I installed Beautiful Widgets so I could have a nice clock. Kept on getting stuck at certain times. Needed to change something in the Security app so it would keep it running.
- No app tray - I got past this with Nova Launcher

I'm not saying my preferences are "be and end all", that's just a list of what I can't stand. I am glad that Miui works for some or most of their users though.

I've been toying with the idea of going Lineage OS, but the only thing that stops me is no fingerprint reader with the FNB app. For weeks I've been trying to decide if it's worth losing it. Then of course, there is the risk of them not supporting rooted phones in the future, which means I'd have to go back to stock MIUI. It would be really nice if there were a way to flash a custom rom, then unroot.

On a sort of side note, and not related at all to MIUI bloatware at all, it's taken some time to get used to downward firing speakers. The front facing dual speakers on my old M8 were really good. I miss them.
 
Also trying to figure out between the A1 and 4x - do like longer battery power

Now there is new contender for me - Mi Max 2
4 gb memory, 64 gb storage, 5000 ma battery (insane so time) same cpu as A1 and 4x
Al this for $209 at Gearbest

The 6.4 inches screen is big, but not much bigger than Samsung S8 plus

Decisions, decisions ..... ;-)
 
mr_norris said:
The IR blaster and Remote App are top notch. No regret there. I must say that Xiaomi phones have great hardware, but it feels like they ruin that with all the rubbish they do and put on.

Apps which are of no use to me, that I can't get rid of:

- Apps
- Browser
- Chrome (I use FireFox - now I'm stuck with two browsers on my phone I won't use, or can remove)
- Compass
- Duo
- Feedback
- FM Radio
- Gmail (I use Inbox)
- Hangouts
- Mail (Second email app)
- Mi Drop
- Mi Roaming
- Mi Forum (and it's annoying AF notifications, which I eventually disabled)
- Music
- Notes
- Play Music
- Play Movies and TV
- Recorder
- Scanner
- Security (I'd also like to point out the shameless in-app adverts here)
- Screen recorder

It also feels like Xiaomi have tried overriding some aspects of Android:

- Big notification icons (only ones I can think of is weather updates from Google - they were prettier and more relevant on my HTC, not just a standard icon)
- Expanding notifications being a gamble (it's better now though - but not as good as HTC / stock)
- Receiving notifications being a gamble. Notifications with Inbox just don't work - no doubt that it's some Xiaomi permissions setting buried deep somewhere that I have to change to fix this. I have lost the will to troubleshoot. I open the up, swipe down to update, and if I got new mails, then the notifications come - kind of pointless.
- Arb permissions, sort of a follow on from the last point. I installed Beautiful Widgets so I could have a nice clock. Kept on getting stuck at certain times. Needed to change something in the Security app so it would keep it running.
- No app tray - I got past this with Nova Launcher

I'm not saying my preferences are "be and end all", that's just a list of what I can't stand. I am glad that Miui works for some or most of their users though.

I've been toying with the idea of going Lineage OS, but the only thing that stops me is no fingerprint reader with the FNB app. For weeks I've been trying to decide if it's worth losing it. Then of course, there is the risk of them not supporting rooted phones in the future, which means I'd have to go back to stock MIUI. It would be really nice if there were a way to flash a custom rom, then unroot.

On a sort of side note, and not related at all to MIUI bloatware at all, it's taken some time to get used to downward firing speakers. The front facing dual speakers on my old M8 were really good. I miss them.
Click to expand...
There's an called hide my root, works for me. Dstv apps usually don't work on rooted devices but this gets around it.
 
CUDlybunny said:
On gearbest it's $190 for the redmi note 4 vs $230 for the A1.

The A1 is the better buy, better features, newer android and will hold its resale value a little longer.

The 3000mah battery means the A1 is not something I'd even consider buying though.

What about maybe waiting for the newer note 5? Estimated to be around $200 for the note 5 and $250 for the note 5 plus.
Click to expand...

Note 4's normal "on sale" price is $150.
 
CUDlybunny said:
If you use magisk are you able to hide root?
Click to expand...
But what is Magisk? Magisk is currently the best alternative to Chainfire’s SuperSU. Developed by XDA developer*topjohnwu, Magisk is in fact much better than SuperSU in some aspects. No wonder it is becoming the default choice of custom ROM developers. Unlike SuperSU which only grants or denies root permissions for specific apps, Magisk can hide root from an app completely. Meaning that banking app or Pokemon GO that you couldn’t get to work on your rooted device can work if you’re rooted with Magisk.

https://www.droidviews.com/magisk-manager-use/amp/
 
My A1 is coming through customs (slowly) as we speak. I was also hesitant to choose the A1 with less battery life. My mom's note 4 lasts 3 days easy, so I hope the A1 doesn't disappoint.

Will report back as soon as I get it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X