Zhenya Vildyaev told me that it would be nice to describe, at least briefly, what the model range of this or that manufacturer is, that is, which devices are budgetary, where is the middle segment (and what is it all about?), And where are the flagships. I liked this idea and decided to try it out on a Chinese company Xiaomi. Perhaps, if all goes well, we will get to 'non-Chinese' brands, but it seems to me that it is with the Chinese that this type of article is most interesting. Many have heard about Xiaomi, Meizu, IUNI and other companies, but they have a very vague idea of what kind of devices each brand has and how many smartphones in general. I will be brief, without details, just go over the entire current model range of 2015-2016. Go.
Budget segment
Smartphones costing up to 1000 yuan in China, for the rest of the world these are devices with a price of up to 150-160 US dollars, and in Russia, due to the rise in the exchange rate, today these are devices in the segment up to 15,000 rubles (very approximately). The Xiaomi line of budget devices has a common name – Redmi. And already within the line, the models are divided into two categories, those that are more compact – Xiaomi Redmi and those that are larger – Xiaomi Redmi Note .
Компактный аппарат с диагональю экрана до 5’’ – Xiaomi Redmi 2. Также есть более простая версия Redmi 2A и улучшенная версия Redmi 2 Prime. Recently, the Chinese announced the third generation – Xiaomi Redmi 3. All three devices cost less than 1000 yuan.
Phablets – Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 and Redmi Note 3. Both smartphones were introduced in 2015 and have a 5.5 'screen diagonal. Also this year the company showed an improved version of the first generation – Redmi Note Prime. All devices are also cheaper than 1,000 yuan in the Chinese market.
Middle segment
Here are smartphones with a price, very conditionally, from 1000 to 1500 yuan, or about 150 to 250 US dollars. In Russia, this is a huge segment of smartphones, so I won't even name approximate prices.
Here Xiaomi is represented by two smartphones and both are modifications of the 2014 flagship – Xiaomi Mi 4.
Xiaomi Mi 4i is a device for the Indian market, in a body made of inexpensive glossy plastic, on a budget platform from Qualcomm and with simpler cameras than the original Mi4.
Xiaomi Mi 4c – to some extent just an easy update for the original Mi4: replaced the platform (Snapdragon 801 with 808), updated the software, added support for two SIM-cards. Unless the cameras are both slightly worse in terms of characteristics than in Mi4, the rest turned out to be a very balanced smartphone.
Flagships
The most expensive devices in the manufacturer's model range, but also the most powerful and advanced in all respects.
In 2014, the company had the only flagship – Xiaomi Mi 4 with a 5 '' screen, excellent performance and cool cameras. But time passed and now it is no longer fashionable to make flagship smartphones with such a diagonal. Xiaomi decided not to waste time on trifles and, instead of releasing a typical 5.5 'smartphone, presented a model with a 5.7' screen at once – Xiaomi Mi Note and Mi Note Pro. The first is a bit simpler, the second is a 'flagship flagship' with the top platform at that time Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, Hi-Fi sound and 'full stuffing' of the best components and characteristics. Actually, Mi Note Pro has not lost its relevance now.
In 2016, two flagships are expected from Xiaomi – the continuation of the popular Mi4 and the second generation of Mi Note phablets. And hopefully the Chinese will show both Xiaomi Mi 5 (possibly under a different name) and Mi Note 2 or something similar.