Xiaomi Mi Max 2 review: Gentler Giant

Benchmark tests

The Snapdragon 625 chipset powers the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 - a widespread midrange solution and a preferred piece of silicon for the class. It feels somewhat a cheat for the Mi Max 2 though - the chip has an octa-core Cortex-A53 processor clocked at 2.0GHz and Adreno 506 GPU, so far so good. But those specs are inferior to the original Max's - it relied on the Snapdragon 650 SoC with a processor that included two fast A72 cores and 50% more powerful Adreno 510 graphics.

We will spoil the conclusion of this section, sorry, but prepare for some average scores across the board. Those are surely acceptable for the class, but represent a step down from the first Mi Max and as such they kind of ruin the otherwise positive impressions.

Geekbench is what we always run first and the Mi Max processor took the last place in the chart, outperformed even by similar CPUs.

GeekBench 4 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  4456
• Moto G5 Plus
  3789
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  3610
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  3388
• Huawei nova plus
  3100
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  3011
• Lenovo P2
  2965
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  2353

GeekBench 3 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  5636
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  5166
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  5103
• Huawei nova plus
  4918
• Lenovo P2
  4625
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  4617
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  4515
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  4187
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  3861
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  3695
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  2840

The single-core operations which are essential for Android OS are perfectly fine and on par with the A53 crop. You can see the tremendous superiority of the first Mi Max over its sequel in the GeekBench 3 test though.

GeekBench 4 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  1546
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  862
• Huawei nova plus
  843
• Lenovo P2
  840
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  832
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  799
• Moto G5 Plus
  799
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  693

GeekBench 3 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  1621
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  1596
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  1543
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  1536
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  1026
• Huawei nova plus
  943
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  933
• Lenovo P2
  928
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  924
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  912
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  755

Moving on to graphics - the Mi Max's Adreno 506 GPU is perfectly capable of handling every Full HD move or intensive 3D game. It's just that the previous Mi Max boasts 50% more graphic punch, which absence might be felt if you are an avid gamer and multitasker.

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  11
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  9.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  9.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  9
• Lenovo P2
  6.7
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  6.7
• Huawei nova plus
  6.6
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  6.4
• Moto G5 Plus
  6.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  6.2
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  6.1
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  3.3

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  6
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  5.5
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  5.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  5.4
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  4
• Lenovo P2
  3.7
• Huawei nova plus
  3.7
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  3.5
• Moto G5 Plus
  3.5
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  3.4
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  3.4
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  1.9

Basemark X

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  16695
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  15487
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  14717
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  13666
• Huawei nova plus
  10524
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  10482
• Lenovo P2
  10472
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  10446
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  10445
• Moto G5 Plus
  10406
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  9598
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  5489

Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  287
• Oppo F3 Plus
  261
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  238
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  192
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  138
• Huawei nova plus
  138
• Moto G5 Plus
  137
• Lenovo P2
  137
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  137
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  93

The compound tests AnTuTu and BaseMark confirm the Mi Max 2 is capable enough though it somewhat trails behind its competition. It's nothing to worry about really, but once again, seeing the previous Mi Max doing noticeably better is kind of disappointing.

AnTuTu 6

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  91458
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
  85162
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  76186
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  74488
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  64983
• Huawei nova plus
  64680
• Lenovo P2
  63493
• Moto G5 Plus
  63390
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  62818
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  61616
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  57902
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  46822

Basemark OS II

Higher is better

• Oppo F3 Plus
  2349
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  1914
• Huawei nova plus
  1415
• Lenovo P2
  1400
• Samsung Galaxy C7
  1368
• Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
  1320
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
  1290
• Xiaomi Mi Max 2
  1235
• Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
  1171

The Mi Max 2 is well equipped to handle Android and its apps, and though you might experience minor stutter in demanding 3D games, there is nothing to worry about. Trailing behind the competition in benchmarks is probably due to lacking in software optimization as the Mi Max 2 has a manufacture-favorite chip which is already in charge of quite a few midrangers. On the positive side, there are no signs of unpleasant heating on the Mi Max 2 even under peak load. If it wasn't for the shadow of the first Mi Max, the sequel would have passed this section with flying colors.