Conclusion

When Xiaomi launched the Mi4i, it marketed it as an affordable flagship. However, the Mi4i wasn’t a bargain and it didn’t feature a flagship processor. The Mi4c is basically the Mi4i done right: it costs as much as the Mi4i, but has a vastly more powerful processor, revamped camera, and it’s available in a 3GB/32GB configuration.

All in all, the Xiaomi Mi4c is a jack of all trades, an excellent all-round 5-inch smartphone. It’s compact, light, well designed and well built. The screen is top notch, and so is the camera. It packs a processor that wouldn’t be out of place in a $500 phone. The storage is fast, although 16GB feels cramped in this day and age. Sure, you can go for the 3GB/32GB version, but at $275 it almost as much as the proper Mi4, or the Meizu MX5. Too bad there is no 2GB/32GB model under the $250 mark. For the time being, only the 2GB/16GB model is available, in black and white. If you want a pink, yellow or cyan Mi4c, or if you want the 3GB/32GB version, you’ll have to wait.

Also, Xiaomi is about to launch the Mi5, and it’s worth noting that it’s now selling an “overseas edition” of the Mi4, sans LTE connectivity. If you can live without 4G, or if it’s still not supported by your carrier, it’s a tempting alternative at just $229.  

Be as it may, the Mi4c is a powerhouse in a mid-range body. Unless you can’t live without the premium feel of metal, or the latest gimmicks like fingerprint sensors, and if good hardware is your primary concern, the Mi4c is a serious alternative to many flagship phones. The Mi4c is not Xiaomi’s iPhone 5C, it’s not a dumbed down flagship of yesteryear, it’s much more than that. It’s a good phone in its own right and it can go toe-to-toe with much more expensive devices. Come to think of it, the Mi4c would have made a good Nexus 5X.

Bottom line: We can recommend the Xiaomi Mi4c to anyone looking for the latest silicon on a budget, in a stylish package. This time around, Xiaomi got it right – the Mi4c truly is an affordable flagship.

Xiaomi Mi4c Pros and Cons

Pros

• Compact, sleek design
• Performance
• Excellent display
• Battery life

Cons

• No expandable storage
• Limited availability
• USB Type-C is a curse and blessing