Is Xiaomi Mi Note 2 worth the Rs 34k?

Xiaomi top boss Lei Jun launched the company’s flagship smartphone, the Mi Note 2, at its "Curved to Impress" event in Beijing on October 25. The event was broadcast live on YouTube and went on to list the most-awaited specs of the new Mi Note 2 and its features. 

Xiaomi's phones in India, though high-end in terms of specifications, have always been priced modestly in India - their cheapest device, Redmi 2, costs Rs 5,999. The company has earned the reputation of being the chosen one for budget phones. But the Mi Note 2 is, by far, their most expensive model. Although Xiaomi claims that it is the best device they have produced in five years, thereby qualifying it as their flagship model, will Rs 34,500 (approximately) for a smartphone hinder the popularity the company has enjoyed so far?

Considering the price range alone, one may decide to go for phones that may offer less in terms of specifications and hardware, but more in terms of brand value. But the Mi Note 2 has a lot of defining features that its peers (in the price range) don't.

In terms of specs, especially the curved edge display, the closest competitor of the Mi Note 2 is the rather ill-fated Samsung Galaxy Note 7. And that phone, priced at roughly Rs 59,000, is no longer available for purchase after the tech giant was forced to discontinue production owing to multiple reports of the device exploding.

In the under Rs 40,000 bracket, Mi Note 2 is as good as it gets - from the curved edge screen, to the high-end camera, to the processor, to the battery, Xiaomi's latest offering is a top-notch product - and despite its price, more than apt for the Indian market. 

Key specs Mi Note 2 comes with:

- The Mi Note 2 boasts a 5.7-inch curved OLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, and a 4070 mAh battery.

- The smartphone will come in three variants:

1. A model that has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. This variant will cost approximately Rs 27,600.
2. A model that comes with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. This variant will be priced at Rs 32,500 approximately.
3. A model with 6GB RAM, 128GB internal storage and Global LTE support that will cost Rs 34,500 approximately.

- The key highlight of the smartphone is its use of front and back 3D curved glass, which the company calls a two-sided curved display.

- The smartphone will be available in two colours: Piano Black and Glacial Silver.

- The Xiaomi Mi Note has a 4070mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 technology, and an embedded ultrasonic fingerprint scanner in the home button.

- The Mi Note 2 has a 22.56-megapixel camera on the back, an 8 megapixel one on the front.

- The Mi Note 2 is open for pre-orders in China, and goes on sale from November 1.

You can watch the entire launch event here:

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