Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S

Review

Photography, video

Previous MIX generations were not masters when it comes to photography, but know Xiaomi has nothing to be ashamed of – at least when it comes to the main, back camera. It consist of two 12-megapixel matrixes. The first one is Sony IMX363 with f/1.8 aperture and optical stabilization, while the secondary one is Samsung S5K3M3 with a f/2.4 aperture, which is responsible for lossless zoom or background blurring.

The camera offers great daytime photos. We can enjoy good colours and details representations, though those at edges of the shot lose some details. The camera of Mi MIX has a tendency to overexpose brighter parts of the shot, that is why it is worth turning on the auto HDR, which in most cases will solve the problem.

While using the lossless zoom we must remember that image parameters will slightly deteriorate, which is a result of a lower brightness of the lens. With a bright light – everything is OK, but with a weaker one – we can see the difference. While the digital zoom – it is bearable, it does not give tragic effects, though of course it is worth using it only in an absolute necessity. When it comes to macro shots – it is not easy, we must maintain a long distance for the focus to work – especially when we will switch to the second lens, the one with the “zoom”.

Night time photos are not as enjoyable, but they still are decent. We will notice some noises and a lower details representation, but when comparing it with predecessors – we can see a progress. It is worth using the manual mode available in the software – and reduce the sensitivity by prolonging the exposition time.

There is an AI in the camera, but I cannot see effects of its work – besides displaying an icon which shows a recognized scenery. We will notice it the most while taking shots of the sky – then we will see a slightly tweaked blue colour, but in an everyday usage – the AI seems to be discrete and gentle, not interfering with the photo. The background blurring works great – the foreground object is “cut out” really precise.

The video recording – when it comes to the image – does not leave much to be desired. Yes, when we are holding the phone in an unstable manner, we can clearly see the work of image stabilization, but basically it is all right. It is worse with the sound. It is not recorded perfectly, there is the so-called well effect. We can record up to the 4K resolution – but in 30 frames per second. There is the Time-lapse mode and slow-motion in 240 frames per second, but in Full HD at most. Here are some samples:

Basically, we can commend the back camera, but we cannot do the same with the front one. The main problem is its placement – it is in the corner under the display. It is difficult to make a selfie, we need to turn the phone upside down, which is not always simple and comfortable. We need to get used to it – but the quality of photos is decent, though it has a tendency to overexpose brighter parts of the shot as well. It is worth appreciating the digital background blurring and the rather natural beautifying effect.

The camera received a rather simple and a friendly interface, thanks to which we can choose a work mode using gestures of finger-swiping. From the main app screen we can control the LED flash, HDR, turn on AI, select colour filters and go to additional sub-menu that changes its arrangement, depending on selected photography mode. The interface of manual settings is clear and comfortable, just like switching between cameras. If it only had a quicker access to advanced settings, it would have been perfect.

Source: GSMchoice.com

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