Xiaomi Mi 4 Review: Premium Features at Affordable Price

Xiaomi Mi 4

English Definition

The Xiaomi Mi 4 is a flagship smartphone developed and released by the Chinese consumer electronics company Xiaomi Inc. in July 2014. Positioned as the successor to the Xiaomi Mi 3, the Mi 4 marked Xiaomi’s significant step toward premium hardware design and mainstream market recognition, targeting mid-to-high-end smartphone users with a balance of performance, build quality, and affordability—core to Xiaomi’s “high-quality, low-price” product philosophy.

Key Specifications

Category	Details
Display	5.0-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen; 1080 x 1920 pixels (Full HD); 441 ppi pixel density; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) quad-core processor (2.5 GHz Krait 400); Adreno 330 GPU
Memory & Storage	RAM: 2 GB/3 GB LPDDR3; Internal Storage: 16 GB/64 GB eMMC 5.0 (non-expandable)
Camera	Rear Camera: 13 MP, f/1.8 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, 1080p video recording (30 fps)Front Camera: 8 MP, f/1.8 aperture, 720p video recording
Battery	3080 mAh non-removable lithium-polymer battery; Quick Charge 2.0 support
Operating System	Initially MIUI V5 (based on Android 4.4 KitKat); upgradable to MIUI 9 (based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
Connectivity	4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC (select regions), GPS/GLONASS, micro-USB 2.0
Build & Design	Aluminum alloy frame with a glass back panel; dimensions: 139.2 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm; weight: 149 g
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass

Core Features & Innovations

Premium Build QualityUnlike its predecessor (Mi 3) with a plastic body, the Mi 4 adopted a sandblasted aluminum alloy frame and a Gorilla Glass 3 back cover, significantly enhancing its tactile feel and durability. Xiaomi emphasized the device’s manufacturing process, which involved 40 CNC machining steps to refine the metal frame, positioning it as a rival to flagship phones from Samsung and Apple at the time.
High-Performance HardwarePowered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801—one of the most powerful mobile processors in 2014—the Mi 4 delivered smooth performance for multitasking, gaming, and high-definition video playback. The Adreno 330 GPU supported advanced gaming graphics, while the 3 GB RAM variant ensured seamless app switching and background task management.
Camera CapabilitiesThe 13 MP rear camera featured a large f/1.8 aperture, which improved low-light photography by allowing more light to enter the sensor. It supported features like phase detection autofocus (PDAF) for faster focusing and 1080p video recording. The 8 MP front camera also had an f/1.8 aperture, making it competitive for selfies in the mid-to-high-end smartphone segment of that era.
MIUI Ecosystem IntegrationThe Mi 4 ran on Xiaomi’s custom MIUI V5 skin, built on Android 4.4 KitKat. MIUI offered a highly customizable user interface, with features like theme support, app vault, and integrated Xiaomi services (e.g., Mi Cloud, Mi Store, Mi Pay in later versions). The OS was known for its frequent updates and user-centric optimizations.
Quick Charge 2.0 SupportThe 3080 mAh battery paired with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology allowed the Mi 4 to charge up to 50% in 30 minutes, addressing the common pain point of slow charging for smartphone users in 2014.

Market Position & Release Details

Launch Price: The 16 GB/2 GB RAM variant was priced at ¥1999 (~$320) in China, while the 64 GB/3 GB RAM variant was ¥2499 (~$400)—a highly competitive price point compared to flagship phones from other brands that often cost twice as much.
Availability: Initially released in China in July 2014, the Mi 4 was later launched in select international markets (e.g., India, Southeast Asia) in 2015, further expanding Xiaomi’s global footprint.
Sales Performance: The Mi 4 was a commercial success, with Xiaomi reporting over 10 million units sold within six months of its release, solidifying the brand’s position as a major player in the global smartphone market.

Legacy & Limitations

Legacy

The Mi 4 was a pivotal device for Xiaomi, as it demonstrated the brand’s ability to produce premium hardware at an affordable price, shifting consumer perception of Xiaomi from a “budget brand” to a credible competitor in the mid-to-high-end segment.
It laid the groundwork for Xiaomi’s subsequent flagship series (e.g., Mi 5, Mi 6) and established design language elements (metal frame, glass back) that became hallmarks of Xiaomi’s premium smartphones.

Limitations

Software Support: The Mi 4 was only upgradable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow (via MIUI 9), with no official support for newer Android versions, which reduced its longevity compared to some competitors.

Non-expandable Storage: The lack of a microSD card slot was a major drawback for users who needed additional storage for photos, videos, and apps.

Non-removable Battery: Unlike some budget smartphones of the era, the Mi 4’s battery could not be replaced by users, requiring professional repair services for battery issues.

NFC Limitation: NFC functionality was only available in select regional variants, limiting support for contactless payment features in many markets.