New Delhi: No two Xiaomi phones have been available at the same price, and that clear difference in pricing always made it easier for buyers to choose between different Xiaomi phones. But since Wednesday this is no longer the case. The recent price cut on the Mi 4 and the introduction of the 32GB variant of the Mi 4i in India have not only brought the two phones (Mi 4 - 16GB and Mi 4i - 32GB) at the same price level (Rs 14,999), but have also left many potential buyers perplexed as to which one of the two is more worth the Rs 15K price tag.
Having used both the phones extensively, we aim to bring you a comparative analysis of the two phones that can help you in making the right buying decision.
1. Design: Unlike the old Mi 4, the relatively newer Mi 4i features a unibody design that wraps the rear of the phone completely, all around the sides, and blends with the edges of the display. While the Mi 4i offers a seamlessly beautiful design, the Mi 4's design has only one thing to its credit and that is, the stainless steel frame running all around it which gives the phone a tad premium touch. Also, the Mi 4i is sightly lighter and thinner than its cousin. Altogether, the Mi 4 loses to the Mi 4i in terms of aesthetics and looks.
2. Performance: Had I written this piece a month-and-a-half ago, I probably wouldn't have been able to make a fair comparison. This is because it was only when I had started using the Mi 4i for an extended period, I began noticing that the phone that was going all smooth in the beginning had gradually started to surprise me with its erratic performance and frequent lags. The sudden app crashes and sporadically slow performance have now become a normal behaviour on the phone. The Mi 4, on the other hand, gave me a smooth ride throughout the extended review period. Also technically speaking, the Mi 4 has a faster processor and better RAM than the Mi 4i.
3. Camera: The photos captured with the Mi 4i's cameras look great on the phone, but this is not always a true indicator of its cameras; it can, in fact, be a little misleading. The photos on the phone appear to be detailed and rich in colours because of its high-resolution vibrant display. We ascertained their real worth after taking a glance at them on other screens including those of our laptops and desktops in office. They are actually not as great as they appear. The 13 megapixel rear camera on the Mi 4i with two-tone flash may look promising on paper, but it fails to meet expectations in the real world tests. The front camera is also an average deal. The cameras on the Mi 4, on the other hand, outscore the Mi 4i's - in terms of colours, richness and details. On comparing the camera results of the two phones, the Mi 4 emerges as a clear-cut winner.
4. Storage: While both the phones come in different storage variants, but the 16 GB variant of the Mi 4 and the Mi 4 (32GB) model come at the same price - Rs 14,999. Evidently, the Mi 4i offers double the amount of storage than the Mi 4 - at no extra cost. Needless to say, the Mi 4i gives the Mi 4 a run for its money on the storage front. Also, both of them do not give you an option to expand memory.
5. Network: The dual-SIM Mi 4i provides 4G support on both the SIM slots and support for up to 16 bands, while the single SIM Mi 4 in India is a 3G phone. And given the pace at which telecom operators are rolling out the 4G network in India, the Mi 4i appears to be the future-proof device, while the Mi 4 may soon turn out to be a little dated. But the decision to upgrade to 4G remains with the user. If you find yourself content with the 3G services and don't intend to upgrade to 4G in the near future, then you shouldn't be seeing the Mi 4 as a weak contestant on the network front.
On other benchmarks including display, software, battery and price, the two phones are head-to-head. Though the Mi 4i, on its spec sheet, has a tad bigger battery than the Mi 4, both the phones last for almost the same time.
Here's a comparative table to help you give a better picture.
Collectively, both the phones score the same, but the Mi 4 outdoes the Mi 4i on the two very important fronts - performance and camera - by a huge margin. I can expect a user to compromise a little with the design and settle with the 3G network, but would not want him to adjust with an average camera and mediocre performance.
If I were to buy, I would go with the Mi 4 (16 GB) over the Mi 4i (32 GB).
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