Xiaomi Mi Max 2 vs Mi Mix 2S: A Clash of Titans

Xiaomi's Mi series has consistently delivered impressive smartphones at competitive prices. Today, we're pitting two popular models against each other: the Mi Max 2, known for its massive battery, and the Mi Mix 2S, boasting flagship-level performance. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mi Mix 2S is the clear winner. While the Mi Max 2 offers incredible battery life, the Mi Mix 2S's Snapdragon 845 processor, improved camera, and wireless charging provide a significantly better overall experience, justifying its higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi Max 2 Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat18 1200/100 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2017, May. Released 2017, June2018, March. Released 2018, April
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 4), ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions174.1 x 88.7 x 7.6 mm (6.85 x 3.49 x 0.30 in)150.9 x 74.9 x 8.1 mm (5.94 x 2.95 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Micro-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight211 g (7.44 oz)191 g (6.74 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~342 ppi density)1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.44 inches, 114.3 cm2 (~74.0% screen-to-body ratio)5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 (14 nm)Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 506Adreno 630
OSAndroid 7.1.1 (Nougat), MIUI 11Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 4-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF, 2x optical zoom
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 720p@120fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@240fps
Selfie camera
Single5 MP, f/2.05 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.4µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC318W wired, QC3 7.5W wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Ion 5300 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsGold, Matte BlackBlack, White
ModelsMDE40, MDI40M1803D5XA
PriceAbout 200 EURAbout 270 EUR
SAR1.22 W/kg (head)     0.71 W/kg (body)0.54 W/kg (head)     1.59 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -98.8dB Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB
Battery life Endurance rating 126h Endurance rating 59h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: 1294:1 (nominal), 2.561 (sunlight)-
Loudspeaker Voice 78dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 79dB Voice 68dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 81dB
Performance GeekBench: 2445 (v4.4) GFXBench: 3.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 270814 (v7) GeekBench: 9158 (v4.4) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi Max 2

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Large display
  • Affordable price

  • Outdated processor
  • Mediocre camera
  • IPS LCD display

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

  • Flagship performance
  • Excellent camera
  • Wireless charging
  • Vibrant AMOLED display

  • Shorter battery life than Mi Max 2
  • Higher price

Display Comparison

The Mi Mix 2S features a slightly smaller 6.01-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mi Max 2 has a larger 6.44-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. While the Mi Max 2's resolution is higher, the Mi Mix 2S's AMOLED panel generally provides a superior viewing experience due to its better contrast and color accuracy. Both have excellent sunlight readability, with the Mi Mix 2S boasting a contrast ratio of 2.561.

Camera Comparison

The Mi Mix 2S features a dual-camera setup with a 12MP primary sensor and a 12MP secondary sensor, offering improved low-light performance and better portrait mode capabilities. It also boasts a 20MP front-facing camera. The Mi Max 2's camera is decent but lacks the advanced features and image quality of the Mi Mix 2S. Video recording on the Mi Mix 2S is also superior.

Performance

This is where the Mi Mix 2S truly shines. Its Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core Kryo 385 processor offer significantly faster performance than the Mi Max 2's Snapdragon 625. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Mi Mix 2S. The Mi Max 2 is still capable for everyday tasks, but it struggles with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Mi Max 2's biggest strength is its massive battery, offering an impressive endurance rating of 126 hours. The Mi Mix 2S, with its 3300mAh battery, achieves an endurance rating of 59 hours. While significantly less than the Mi Max 2, the Mi Mix 2S still provides a full day of usage for most users. The Mi Mix 2S also benefits from 7.5W wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life above all else, those who need a large screen for media consumption, and budget-conscious buyers. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is perfect for users who demand flagship performance, a better camera, and modern features like wireless charging, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Mi Max 2 still worth buying in 2024?
If battery life is your absolute top priority and you're on a very tight budget, the Mi Max 2 can still be a viable option. However, newer phones offer significantly better performance and features for a similar price.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, with its Snapdragon 845, offers significantly better gaming performance than the Mi Max 2's Snapdragon 625.