Xiaomi Mi Note vs Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Note 4: Battle of the phablets

Putting an end to all the rumours around the Mi 5, Xiaomi has finally taken the wraps off the all new Mi Note . The Mi Note comes with aggressive specifications at bargain.

The Mi Note packs a 5.7-inch full HD display with a 2.5D screen similar to the iPhone 6 Plus. Xiaomi has also crafted a Pro version of the device with a 2K display and Snapdragon 810 processor coupled with 4GB RAM, pitting it directly against the Galaxy Note 4. The new Xiaomi device looks quite promising and marks the company’s entry into the premium segment of smartphones. We’ve put all the three smartphones - the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, apple iPhone 6 Plus and the newly-launched Mi Note - inside the ring to see who emerges as the winner in terms of its specifications.

Here’s a closer look at the specs in the table below:

Verdict

A look at the comparison table, and the Mi Note emerges the winner when it comes to portability. It is thinnest phablet at mere 6.95mm and lightweight at 161 grams. It manages to offer more viewing real estate with a sleeker form factor compared to the iPhone 6 Plus.

In terms of processing power, the Mi Note is fuelled by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, quad-core processor that clocks at 2.5GHz. While this might not be as impressive compared with the Galaxy Note 4 and the iPhone 6 Plus, but the company has also announced the Note Pro which packs more horsepower than the competition with the Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor. However, it’s priced higher than the Mi Note.

The Mi Note pricing starts at 2300 Yuan for the 16GB model translating to around Rs 22,860 and the Note Pro available only with 64GB storage capacity is priced at 3300 Yuan that is roughly Rs 32,000.

In terms of hardware and specs, it looks almost at par with the Note 4 and the iPhone 6, but Xioami lacks the complete ecosystem that you would find in a Samsung or Apple device. Samsung and Apple are more refined OEMs running popular OSes, Android Lollipop and iOS 8, respectively.

In terms of their pricing, both the Mi Note and Note Pro are a steal, considering that they will sell at almost half the price of the two phablets. However, the question is whether consumers are willing to shell out a premium for a relatively new Chinese brand. Xiaomi is huge in Asian markets and has gained a foothold in India as well. That said, it’s it has only played in the budget field so far.

In the mid-to-high end smartphone segment, there’s always a Apple or a Samsung to consider and here, the target audience is going to be different. Though they may not pack the same set of features, the brand does play an important part in purchasing decisions. Whether consumers are willing to place their trust in Xiaomi for a mid-range smartphone is what will decide the future of this phone outside its home country.