Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsSolid phone with long battery life and excellent built-in features
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021
Searching for a new, inexpensive phone used for everyday low-demand tasks, such as watching videos, texting, and very rarely gaming, I spent hours searching for a phone that isn't built with poor quality. In the end, I returned back to Xiao Mi due to the average high reviews among all their products, and the fact that I bought two Xiao Mi phones for my family members in the past, which they work smoothly. The reviews for this phone is awesome and the price is phenomenal. Sounds like quite a deal compared to other products where the users complained about the cheap built and dark spots that appear after days of use, right?
Flash forward to the day I received the product. The packaging is neat and similar to any other phone with the classic box. There was a plastic wrap around the box that contained the phone, which I really appreciated. Inside, there was a phone with a thin plastic screen cover, translucent screen cover, and c-type battery + wall charger. Awesome.
I was surprised that this phone already came with a screen protector. Since I have long nails that scratched my previous phone to the point where it looked like a cat had been clawing at a wall for too long, this feature was reassuring since I could always replace the screen if... I damage the screen to that point again, you know. I don't trust those nails.
Moving on, the battery life on this phone is excellent. I usually can use this phone for two to three days without charging a phone - and that's coming from someone who has a self-proclaimed texting addiction. Charging the phone does take a while like other users mentioned so please try to charge the phone when you are sleeping so that you can wake up to a fully charged phone. It will be well worth it.
There is a fingerprint sensor in the back of the phone, right at the perfect place for me to extend out my index finger and voila. I literally basically only use the fingerprint sensor to open the phone so I can say that it's quite good although I need to figure out a way not to occasionally accidentally open the cellular device in my pocket. Also, there are ten - don't quote me on that - fingerprint slots, which is more than enough. I input in both my left and right index finger for the sake of convenience. Just don't expect to open this phone with the fingerprint sensor on the first try after you shower. Funny enough though, I often open this phone right after I shower on the first try, soggy fingers and all.
As for system features, that is where Xiao Mi truly shines. Xiao Mi devices have a range of excellent and useful features - some of which I didn't know I need. There is a second space mode, which is like a second phone that you can access through a different set of password and fingerprint. There is dual apps, which makes a copy of a certain app for two accounts. There is Do No Disturb mode, which users can set a specific time period for. There is a bedtime mode that makes the screen black and white. There is a reading mode that gives the screen a warm orange hue. The most important feature for me is the focus mode, which I use daily. You can set specific apps as a distracting app and you can't use them in focus mode unless you choose the five minute option. You can take a 5, 10, or 30 minute break. Sure, this feature will definitely not make you productive overnight since you can abuse the 30-minute break but it is something works as an assistant. You are who you make the feature to be. Do note that Xiao Mi devices come with ads with their cleaning feature and some of their own apps though. They are non-intrusive and simply help justify the quality at the price point.
Oh, did I begin to mention how customizable Xiao Mi devices are? You can get different app logos, wallpapers, and screen locks through their Theme app. Some wallpapers and screen locks are also interactable. Overall, I believe that it really helps in making this device just *yours*.
I can't speak for long-term durability per se since I only have this phone for three to four months now. However, the apps run smoothly and the only real lag I get is occasionally in Chrome, which is fully my fault as a loyal member of the many tab cult. Also, I drop this phone every so often and the snug, translucent screen did a good job of preventing my phone from receiving any damages. Please don't start dropping this phone everywhere to test the durability.
Overall, this is an excellent phone for its price point that comes with many accessories. There are various features that are really productive and just *fun* along with customizations to personalize the device. The battery life is awesome with two to three days of use although it does take a while to charge the phone. I really recommend this product to people seeking an inexpensive phone that is solid and provides an unexpected range of useful features.