From Huawei to Xiaomi: My First Impressions

It was not long after the Huawei P20 Pro launched that its groundbreaking camera quality and solid spec list managed to not only leave me, but my wallet in deep awe. Roughly a year later, while the device was still solid, recent confrontations with the US government warranted me more than enough reason to sell a device that I deeply beloved. There I was, with a solid amount of money in my hands, yet feeling as if I was missing something, a device that for a while I was convinced was the best I could ever own - after all, a geek without a phone is much like a person without their limbs.

But as I was searching the market for a new device however, I came across the Xiaomi Mi 9, and with upgraded its triple camera setup, Snapdragon 855 processor and beautiful screen, it wasn’t long until I was convinced that this could potentially be my next favourite device. Today, I officially took that leap of faith, and after just a few hours of using it, here is what I think:

Glamour Coated in Glass

When I first unboxed this device, a smile quickly came to my face. Gone was the radiating - and mostly distracting - patterns of my Huawei P20 Pro and in came a more minimalist, outspoken design that despite not feeling as premium in weight as my previous device, still felt specially understated in its own unique way.

After a few hours of using it, I still find something to be said about the display: it’s gorgeous, and dare I say it, better than anything Huawei currently has on offer. Upon comparing it to my father’s Huawei P30 Pro, the Xiaomi Mi 9’s colours pop, and the lack of a curved display ensures that content isn’t distorted simply for the sake of fitting into 2019 standards.

Furthermore, I can also attest that Xiaomi’s triple camera solution has given me some amazing results. This is not only because of a better sensor than that on my Huawei P20 Pro, but also because the AI that Xiaomi uses does not over-saturate the colours as much as Huawei’s solution, creating more realistic and sharpened results.

But not all is rainbows and butterflies with this device, with my biggest problem being the fingerprint scanner: The in-display solution is futuristic and cool, but it will never be as fast as a physical option, making unlocks just a bit more tedious than they usually have to be.

Another aspect that hasn’t impressed me much is battery life, this is the first time in a while where I feel like I will have to charge my phone every single day. Maybe the Huawei P20 Pro has spoiled me, or maybe I simply haven’t used my phone enough for the battery to settle in, but Xiaomi has not packed enough juice in this bad boy so that I feel confident in it as of day 1.

Overall however, both companies have a very different design language, and I believe that Xiaomi cuts the right corners by making the phone thinner and focusing instead of the aspects that matter, creating a device that feels experience driven instead of over-focusing on the looks.

MIUI: An Ocean Full Of Mysteries

Then we come to MIUI, and that’s where my experience goes from mostly positive to a foggy mixed bag. MIUI is different, and after using it for a few hours, I am still unsure of whether I like it more than EMUI or not. On one hand, MIUI is extremely fluid, very snappy and looks very aesthetically pleasing as well. But on the other hand, the animations everywhere and lack of an app drawer really do drag the experience.

I’ve personally put Nova Launcher on my device for now, but I feel like going back to try stock MIUI may be a good idea, because its IOS looks do show potential.

The Road Ahead

As I’ve mentioned, this is just my impressions with the phone after a few hours of use. The idea of installing Gcam for better camera performance, switching the ROM to Xiaomi EU and even simply using this device on a non-intensive day all excite me, and I am sure that the little snippets of complaints I voiced today are sure to change.

Some things however, are just never going to change. I doubt that the in-display fingerprint scanner will ever be as fast as a physical option, I can assure you that the device won’t feel more substantial overnight, MIUI in itself won’t suddenly add an app drawer or lower its animations, and that the battery while surely getting better, just won’t ever compete with the insane two days that I got on my Huawei P20 Pro - yet although these are valid complaints, I feel as if the sheer amount of value offered by Xiaomi is unheard of, and for that I am extremely happy I made the switch.

How Marketing Ruined The K20 Pro's India Launch

The way a device is marketed can - as it should - often leave dying excitement on the company’s target demographic. With Redmi’s recent disastrous launch of the K20 Pro in India, it is fair to say that poor marketing decisions as well as a steep price-tag has left many deep with a pile of disappointment.

Humble Beginnings

To fully understand how this came to be, it is important to look back on Xiaomi’s prior success in India, the Pocophone F1. Launching a few weeks shy of the One Plus 6, the company’s first phone to raise the price bracket above what was then considered a budget phone, the Pocophone F1 was Xiaomi’s way of telling the market that objective flagship performance could still be achieved in the budget zone.

This message was directly conveyed through the company’s marketing campaigns, where it was made clear that the Pocophone was a value phone: it didn’t include the nicest screen, and it wasn’t the designed with the world’s most premium stones, but it did have one thing - benchmark scores of a $1000 flagship in a $300 body. It was this direct and very visual way of tackling the purely performance tagline that gave birth to the saying “flagship killer”, a line that is very much responsible for the device’s market success.

Stepping on a Grave

Since its very first piece of marketing, the Redmi K20 Pro was called “the flagship killer 2.0”, with the company going as far as to hint that Killer +2 + 0 composed the device’s naming scheme. With such good legacy forged from the Pocophone F1’s release, it was clear that hype would then be formed around this new device.

Coming just shy of the One Plus 7’s release, it was also clear that the company was planning to do a complete repeat of its successful Poco, but this time, things were different. With the catchline of this release being “Believe the hype”, Xiaomi was hesitant to show the device’s statistical performance, let alone the price, instead focusing on device’s sheer power and apparent beauty.

Surely enough, now that the K20 Pro is finally out in India, it is oddly more expensive than the base line One Plus 7, a device that - in the eyes of Indians - provides a premium experience at a premium price-tag. For Redmi, a company so widely known for value devices, to release a phone that provides beauty over sheer value has not only single handedly disappointed its Indian fanbase, but put the company’s entire concept of a “flagship killer” in jeopardy.

Do you think a price-cut could save the K20 Pro’s reputation in India, or is it a fair deal as is? Let us know down below!

Xiaomi Mi 9 Gaming Review: Good While It Lasts

With each and every new generation of Snapdragon processors, game developers have started to release more graphically demanding titles that consistently push the limit of mobile gaming. As such, it comes as no surprise that a phone’s gaming capabilities have become a key point in a phone’s market appeal, and after owning the Mi9 for over a month, I think making a gaming phone wasn’t Xiaomi’s top priority with this device.

Controller Feel

When choosing a gaming phone, there are many aspects to consider: feel in the hand, processor, software, storage configurations, and even audio. Thankfully, the MI 9 gets all these categories right. Featuring a glass curve body that feels comfortable in the hands, alongside a full AMOLED display with minimal distractions, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is the perfect device to get engrossed in your next blockbuster adventure on the go.

This immersion is only further helped by the responsive display, loud speakers and the efficient software, all of which keep your games sounding great, and performing at their best no matter how many tasks may be running in the background.

Power is another aspect that can’t be forgotten, and the MI 9 and its Snapdragon 855 have gotten it in spades. Whether I was enjoying the recent Call of Duty Mobile beta or PUBG Mobile in the highest settings, games never seemed to slow down, and thanks to all features mentioned before, made me feel as if I was fully prepared for any demanding situation.

Fun That Doesn’t Last For Long

With a beautiful, un-intrusive screen, a powerful processor and more than enough RAM to keep your gaming sessions going, it may start to seem as if the MI 9 is all too perfect of a device - but one major setback prevents it from truly shining: battery life.

Packing only a 3300 mAh battery, the MI 9 won’t win any battery awards when it is being used as a daily device, but this issue only worsens when playing intense games. After approximately one 20 minute match of PUBG Mobile, expect to lose more than 20% of your battery, leaving you crawling to the next outlet in the middle of the day.

In more casual experiences like Clash of Clans however, the MI 9 can easily shine through a full day, ultimately meaning that the overall impact of this setback will depend on what games you plan to play on your mobile device. Nevertheless, when considering a phone simply for the purposes of gaming, be it hardcore or casual, having such a major setback makes the MI 9 instantly lose its appeal despite of the many things it has going for it.

Should You Buy One For Gaming?

The Xiaomi Mi 9 is a phone that feels like it is entirely based around casual daily usage. Though it may pack the latest and greatest specs, its just average battery life leaves much to be desired when gaming on the go. While this may be a deal breaker for those looking for the best gaming phone around, users who are comfortable with charging their phone mid-day and intend to put the device through light usage may find that Xiaomi’s latest flagship is a very adaptable piece of tech suitable for most of your needs.

UE Boom VS Anker Soundcore Flare: Different Priorities, Different Accomplishments

In a world where technology has so many choices, it has become increasingly harder to make an educated decision, and in the realm of speakers, this is just as applicable. With offerings ranging from a dozen to thousands of dollars, just how much should one sacrifice in order to obtain respectable audio performance? After testing the UE Boom (Priced at 109 CAD) and the Anker Soundcore Flare(Priced at 79.99 CAD), we found that for a surprisingly low amount of compromises, the answer to this question may lie at a respectable budget price-point.

Initial Impressions

The initial unboxing and setting up can be a magical moment of a device’s lifespan, if done right. Sadly, while both devices offer a decent unboxing experience, packing all the cables and instruction manuals that you would need to get started, it is in the initial pairing experience that your milage may vary.

On the UE Boom end, its more expensive price-tag shows, offering a very comprehensible and easy to use app that has you going within a few minutes at best. The Anker on the other hand, took us a few tries in order to get started, and could prove an issue to consumers who are not all that experienced with technology.

Once through with the pairing process, both devices are ready to shine. Surprisingly, despite the price differences, we found that most won’t be able to tell a difference between the UE Boom and Anker Soundcore Flare, as both offer rich and vibrant sound that easy fills an entire room. One difference that may be noticeable, is that the Anker Soundcore Flare provides a more bass focused experience, being optimum for pop and electronic songs, while the UE Boom, while still having a hard bass, offers the more natural sound of the two.

Where design is concerned, we feel as if the two companies are aiming at completely different demographics. The UE Boom has a sporty look, making it feel like it belongs in the bag of a professional skater that just wants to listen to a few tunes after practicing their latest tricks. The Anker Soundcore Flare on the other hand, has a more minimal take on aesthetic, making it the perfect companion to your living room TV.

Usability & Features

When using a speaker, ease of use is especially important - afterall, nobody wants to have their music-listening experience inconveniently interrupted. Thankfully, both of these speakers provide a hassle-free experience, but pack little quirks that may increase one’s appeal towards these products.

With a simple bluetooth paring mechanism, both speakers get ready for the action with a few taps. It is once you start using it however, that the more subtle differences between the two devices become more evident.

If you’re one to like protection, the UE Boom is one to get. As mentioned preciously, not only is its design rugged, but the big and sturdier volume buttons create an overall feeling that you are getting a resistant product. To add on this benefit, the UE Boom packs the safer IP rating, boasting a IPX rating over the IP67 rating that the Anker provides, allowing for splashes and full on submersion to be a worry of the past.

Yet with its minimalistic, furniture-fitting design, the Anker Soundcore Flare has a few features that may please the at-home listener. With its on-board LED strip, you can fully customise your speaker to give it the extra flare you think it may need, making it great for themed parties or to enhance the living room mood during those romantic dinners. Even better is the device’s extra bass mode, which with a simple turn of a switch allows for more stereo audio that in our testing sounded sometimes cleaner and more detailed than that of the UE Boom, depending on your music choice of course.

One negative that both of these products share is the inclusion of a micro USB port for charging. With designs and sound profiles that are so outstanding in 2019, it is a shame to see a charging port that is long outdone in the age that even most budget smartphones come to include the faster, more powerful USB C port.

Nevertheless, throughout our testing we found that despite taking long to charge, both units provide a very similar battery resistance of about 15 hours. This means that needless of your choice, refueling the device’s juice will be one of your last priorities.

Which One Should You Buy?

Whilst the non-speaker enthusiast may be quick to dismiss the difference between these two products, it is almost undeniable that they are each made to fit a special type of consumer. With its rugged look and less bass-heavy (Ironically) sound, the UE Boom is an outdoor sports fanatic’s greatest companion, being as well constructed as its rugged looks may make it seem.

On the opposite spectrum however, the Anker Soundcore Flare, despite being the far cheaper option, almost feels like a work of art, featuring a more polished design that - alongside its bass-inspired sound outlook - make it a perfect addition to any modern household.

BUY THE ANKER SOUNDCORE FLARE ON AMAZON

BUY THE UE BOOM ON AMAZON

Don't Buy The "Global ROM" Of The K20 Pro

Throughout Mitchell Millenial’s years of reporting on the latest and greatest budget technology, we have amassed a wide range of viewers from a multitude of countries, all with a vast range of English literacy. It was due to this reason that the Mitchell Millenial website first came to fruition, but now, a recent Global K20 Pro fraud is making use of those with lower literacy levels to ultimately scam them of their money.

The K20 Pro has been a market-hit, with thousands of videos and articles across the web proclaiming the phone to be the next “flagship killer”. As many have come to notice however, the phone is only currently available in China - a topic that we have previously discussed in the Mitchell Millennial channel and website.

Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped multiple Aliexpress resellers from marketing their phones as the “Global Version of the K20 Pro”. This has caused uproar online as some consumers have purchased this device, while others made it their task to speak out to this scam.

The Issues With This Scam

The “Global” K20 Pro in all its Scammer Glory

While many may fall for this being a pre-order of the Indian K20 Pro, there are many small-scale issues with these Aliexpress ads that should consumers many reasons to worry about their purchase. For starters, in the description of the device, it lists that is powered by a global ROM, which is currently not available on the K20 Pro. This could mean that the device is either running a “garage” ROM -a version of the OS that is typically poorly optimised and made by a small name, thus gaining its name - or simply a version of the Chinese ROM with the Google Apps installed by the user.

But the issue with the device’s ROM does not stop there, as Xiaomi’s bootloader app often locks a device to a certain Xiaomi account after the device is unlocked, meaning that a factory reset post purchase would not be possible. This was an issue that happened early in the Pocophone F1’s life, leaving many customers unhappy with their purchases.

What’s more puzzling is that the Indian version, which is now confirmed to come towards the end of the month, will only launch with the Chinese bands, as we discussed in our previous article. What this means is that for the next foreseeable future, there is no true global K20 Pro device.

Things You Should Know

It is important to distinguish between a Global ROM and a Global Version. A Global ROM is simply a piece of software that will include global apps such as Facebook, and Youtube. Meanwhile a Global Version implies that the device itself is difference, more often than not featuring the bands for countries outside of China.

If a Global ROM becomes available in the future, it will be possible to download that ROM and install it on a Chinese device. On the other hand, a phone “version” has to be purchased either from an importer or in your market if you live outside of China.

A last pointer to lookout for, is that Aliexpress stores do not usually have access to phone pre-orders, as Xiaomi is very quick to announce and launch their devices in China. In case a global version is ever announced, local technology shops are your best bet in purchasing a legitimate device that works as expected.

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The Redmi K20 Pro Has a Serious Display Issue

The Redmi K20 Pro has launched to worldwide success, with many quickly calling it a perfect phone. After much appraise, the Redmi K20 Pro Telegram community was quick to find that a display issue prevents the device from being all too perfect.

As a user first noticed, by holding two fingers still in the display, and then running a third finger alongside the edges of the device’s screen, an electrical stutter can be seen, creating distortion in both the still fingers despite there not being any movement.

While for the average issue this display issue may not seem like a dealbreaker, gamers, specifically PUBG fanatics, have been quick to voice their concerns. In that game, a “claw” setup - which requires more than three fingers on screen at a time - is not only ineffective but hard to pull off with the K20 Pro, driving home disappointment to the many buyers who saw gaming as the device’s forte.

To make matters worse, the Redmi K20 Telegram community was also quick to notice that this issue can be found in other Xiaomi devices, most notably the Xiaomi Mi 9, the company’s most recent flagship. To most people’s surprise, the issue becomes less noticeable when the device is either on a case or not laying flat on a table, and is completely gone as soon as the device is plugged into an outlet. This has led some to speculate that the issue may be caused by electric or shielding issue in the device’s display.

Xiaomi has not yet publicly addressed the issue, and as of this report, an official fix has not been discovered by the Xiaomi and Redmi communities.