Cheaper, but just as good?
A third installment is due in our Bargain bin series that aims to establish whether youre better off shelling top-dollar for a current big-name flagship or youd be just as fine saving a few notes and opting for a more affordable alternative. This time, its a rather specific match-up that doesnt quite live up to the half-price label, but there still is a considerable price difference, and it makes sense on another level.
Meet the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. We came up with this one while scrolling through Chinese online retailers (like we usually do in our spare time, what do you mean not everyone does it?!), and realized that not only can the Galaxy S7 edge be quite expensive there, but also its prices vary wildly between sellers, color options, moon phase, and whatnot.
We found out th at you can get an S7 edge for CNY 4,800 ($660) if youre not after one of the fancier color options. The Mi Note 2 on the other hand - a modest CNY 2,800 ($390) for the already more than well equipped base version. Now, obviously thats China and if youre anywhere else the reigning Samsung king would cost about as much, while the Xiaomi dual-curved phablet would get a nice (or, in fact, rather nasty) price hike.
But its that dual-curved bit in the last sentence that mandated this comparison, half-price or two thirds. Its the pioneer in non-flat displays, which perfected the tech over several generations of devices, vs. a challenger using competing panels for the first time. There are phones behind those screens too, and the similarity in displays only helped these two get through the door - well be comparing the rest of them as well.
 Xiaomi Mi Note 2 |  Samsung Galaxy S7 edge | |
|---|---|---|
| $ | CNY2800 in China €510/$540 elsewhere | CNY4800 in China €650/$730 elsewhere |
| Glass/Aluminum 7.6mm thick, 166g | Glass/Aluminum 7.7mm thick, 157g | |
| 5.7" OLED 1080p (386ppi) | 5.5" Super AMOLED 1440p (534ppi) | |
| 22.5MP 2160p | 12MP 2160p | |
| 2.35GHz (quad) Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 | 2.15GHz (quad) Snapdragon 820/ 2.3GHz (octa) Exynos 8890 | |
| 4GB/6GB RAM 64GB/128GB memory | 4GB RAM 32GB/64GB memory | |
| 4070mAh | 3600mAh |
Availability
This here tiny detail is what s poils the Mi Note 2s status as a bargain - its not available outside of China, certainly not at the same attractive price. A global version exists and its the top-specced 6GB/128GB one with an already substantially heftier price tag of CNY 3,500 in China ($500), and you still have to resort to third-party importers to get your hands on one. Not so with the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, which may very well be available through official channels wherever there are mobile networks.
Retail package
The Mi Note 2 comes in a box just like any other Xiaomi smartphone, budget or flagship, barring the fancy Mi Mix. In the plain white package youll find the phone, a fast charger and a USB cable. Our review unit came with a clear silicone bumper bundled, but the Xiaomi official website makes no such promises, so it may have been a retailer addition. Theres no headset bundled, but a pair of Xiaomi Pistons is less than $10 shipped.
Plain white box • Basics only • Classy all-black packaging • USB OTG adapter
The Galaxy S7 edge is in a different league here. It goes beyond the stealth black box. The S7 edge packs a quick charger and a USB cable, naturally, but adds a USB OTG dongle, and a separately packaged headset.
Cheaper, but just as good: Not really, no. Xiaomis barebones retail bundle cant compete with the full package Samsung ships to you.
Design
The dual-curved Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is simply begging for comparisons to the Galaxy S7 edge. Okay, maybe to the Galaxy Note7, strictly speaking, but thats not too practical with the Note7 being discontinued and all, is it? Weve therefore settled for the next best thing.
Samsungs curves are bolder and more striking, with the minimal side bezels almost making the screen look like it spills to the sides. The Mi Note 2s display is ever so slightly curved, just enough to be called so and has a fair bit of frame on the sides, so not quite as eye-catching.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 next to the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
The S7 edge is altogether smoother and more fluid - its corners are more rounded, even the otherwise thin aluminum frame doesnt feel sharp against your fingertips. The Mi Note 2 has a more professional, business-like look.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 all lit up • Curves up close • S7 edges 5.5" of AMOLED gold • More curves
Both phones have glass backs. The Galaxy S7 edges is covered with a Gorilla Glass 4 layer (same as its front), while Xiaomi makes no such claims. The S7 edge is also IP68 certified and thats 68 more than the Mi Note 2, so to speak - the Xiaomi phone is not rated to withstand dust or water encounters.
Samsung made a big deal back when the S7/S7 edge pair was announced how the camera no longer sticks out as much as on the S6. Well, neither does the Mi Note 2s.
No-nonsense glass back • ...camera and flash • more glass • assorted sensors under the flash
The Mi Note 2 is also the larger phone - after all it does have a little more display to fit. While youre unlikely to care about the 5mm difference in height, the 5mm narrower S7 edge is a lot more easily manageable. The Mi Note 2 is thinner though, and feels more so than the 0.1mm difference would suggest.
Mi Note 2 in the hand • Galaxy S7 edge in the hand
Both phones have a classic mechanical home button with a fingerprint sensor in it - while thats the way Samsungs been doing it for ages (only adding the fingerprint reader later), Xiaomis rocking back and forth between this here implementation and back-mounted sensors.
The Mi Note 2 is a dualSIM device and it can take two nanoSIMs, but youll notice thats no hybrid slot there - storage cant be expanded, its either 64GB or 128GB, whatever you get from day one. The Galaxy S7 edge, on the other hand, will happily take Samsungs 256GB microSD cards (just as happily as any other microSD card) for a maximum of 320GB if youve opted for the 64GB storage version. There are als o dualSIM versions of the Samsung flagship too, with a hybrid slot.
Home, sweet home: Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7 edge • 2x nanoSIMs on the Mi Note 2 • nanoSIM and microSD
Samsung was being stubborn in refusing to adopt the Type-C port until last minute and the S7 edge comes with a regular microUSB connector. The Mi Note 2 is better futureproofed with its Type-C connectivity. It also scores points for its IR blaster on top - a feature Samsung ditched with the S6 edge+/Note5 to likely never be seen again on its flagships. Both phones have 3.5mm jacks, just saying.
Type-C on the Mi Note 2 • old-school microUSB on the S7 edge • IR blaster - check • nope, none here
Cheaper, but just as good: Aaaalmost. The Mi Note 2 looks and feels as premium as the S7 edge, and we appreciate the serious design. An d the IR blaster, and Type-C port. But the lack of storage expansion and waterproofing lets it down.
Screen
Its about the curves here, first and foremost - the displays on both devices have rounded edges on the sides - but make sure you look deeper, because theres a lot setting them apart.
Both phones are using OLED displays, only differently sourced ones. Samsung, being Samsung, has fitted the S7 edge with one of its own cutting-edge Super AMOLED panels, while the Mi Note 2 relies on an LG-made unit.
The Galaxy S7 edge is equipped with a 5.5-inch display with QHD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 538ppi. The Mi Note 2, on the other hand has a larger 5.7-inch diagonal and fewer pixels - its resolution is FullHD, for a pixel density of 386ppi.
Mi Note 2s 5.7-inch display could have been sharper • The S7 edge sets the standard here
Both panels have a similar subpixel arrangement. Samsung calls it Diamond Pixel and in its case it means twice as many green subpixels as the other two colors, while the Mi Note 2 packs twice as many blue subpixels as red and green ones.
Theres an inherent disadvantage to such a subpixel pattern which lies in the fact that three dots of each primary color dont form one pixel and subpixel rendering needs to be employed. That can lead to not ideally sharp straight lines and fuzzy tiny texts. Samsung combats the issue with brute force by using more pixels and it works - the pixels are so tiny you cant see them. No so on the coarser Mi Note 2 display where you could spot the diagonal patterns.
Now that weve covered the Mi No te 2s major disadvantage in this clash, lets move on to the tests. In terms of maximum brightness, the Mi Note 2 cant even match the S7 edge, when the Samsung flagship is in Manual mode. Flip the Auto toggle and the S7 edge can get a huge boost in bright conditions - 610 is a lot of nits. The Mi Note 2s minimum brightness is not great either - at close to 20nits it may be too bright for night time browsing, whereas the S7 edge can go as low as 1.8nits.
The S7 edge also has truly infinite contrast - when displaying pure black it just keeps the pixels off, like a true AMOLED. On the Mi Note 2, on the other hand, we did measure some illumination when displaying black - its ever so slight and still results in an exceptionally high contrast, just not on par with the S7 edge.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | ||
| 0.005 | 341 | 68200 | |
| 0.00 | 392 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 610 | ∞ | |
In out sunlight legibility test the S7 edge posts the second best number weve seen, a little bit behind Samsungs own S6 edge+ from last year. Not so for the OLED panel in the Mi Note 2, which is bested not only by AMOLEDs but also by many of the good LCDs.
Sunlight contrast ratio
- Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
< span class="value">4.615 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439 - OnePlus 3
4.424 - Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376 - HTC One A9
4.274 - Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247 - Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241 - OnePlus 3T
4.232 - Google Pixel XL
4.164 - ZTE Axon 7
4.154 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09 - Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019 - OnePlus X
3.983 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
3.983 - Apple iPhone 7
3.964 - Oppo R7s
3.964 - Huawei P9 Plus
3.956 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
3.918 - Samsung Galaxy C5
3.911 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.896 - Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895 - Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
3.879 - Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
3.873 - Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859 - Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817 - Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802 - Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798 - LG V20 Max auto
3.798 - Sony Xperia XZ
3.795 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789 - Apple iPhone 6s
3.783 - Meizu Pro 5
3.781 - Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756 - Oppo F1 Plus
3.709 - Vivo X5Pro
3.706 - Sony Xperia X Compact
3.694 - Apple iPhone SE
3.681 - Huawei Mate 9
3.68 - Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679 - Meizu PRO 6
3.659 - BlackBerry Priv
3.645 - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588 - Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.526 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523 - Acer Jade Primo
3.521 - Microsoft Lumia 950
3.512 - Oppo R7 Plus
3.499 - nubia Z11
3.466 - Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422 - Meizu MX5
3.416 - LG V20
3.402 - Oppo R9s
3.352 - Oppo R7
3.32 - Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276 - Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235 - Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
3.228 - Motorola Moto X Play
3.222 - Huawei P9
3.195 - Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113 - Motorola Moto X Force
3.105 - LG Nexus 5X
3.092 - Huawei Mate S
3.073 - Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065 - Sony Xperia X
2.989 - Huawei Mate 8
2.949 - Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913 - Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906 - LG G5
2.905 - HTC One S
2.901 - Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
2.893 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884 - Sony Xperia Z5
2.876 - Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851 - Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803 - Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784 - Meizu MX6
2.751 - LG V10
2.744 - Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735 - Sony Xperia M5
2.69 - Huawei P9 Lite
2.679 - Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
2.679 - Vivo V3Max
2.659 - Xiaomi Mi Mix
2.658 - Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641 - Sony Xperia XA
2.609 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
2.582 Motorola Moto G4 Plus
2.582- Xiaomi Mi 4c
2.574 - LeEco Le Max 2
2.567 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
2.563 - Microsoft Lumia 640
2.563 - Lenovo Moto G4
2.544 - Oppo F1
2.528 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2.525 - Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
2.506 - < span class="label">Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503 - Oppo F1s
2.481 - Motorola Moto G
2.477 - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
2.473 - Huawei G8
2.471 - Huawei nova
2.467 - Sony Xperia Z
2.462 - Lenovo Vibe K5
2.459 - Meizu m3 max
2.447 - Huawei Honor 7
2.406 - Sony Xperia E5
2.386 - ZUK Z1 by Lenovo
2.382 - HTC 10
2.378 - Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
2.378 - Meizu m1 note
2.362 - Huawei nova plus
2.329 - HTC One E9+
2.305 - Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272 - Apple iPhone 4S
2.269 - Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
2.254 - Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
2.253 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
2.249 - Sony Xperia C4 Dual
2.235 - Xiaomi Mi Note
2.234 - Motorola Moto G (2014)
2.233 - LG Nexus 5
2.228 - Huawei P8
2.196 - Huawei Honor 6
2.169 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
2.166 - OnePlus Two
2.165 - HTC One X
2.158 - LG Aka
2.145 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
2.145 - Archos 50 Diamond
2.134 - Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119 - Acer Liquid X2
2.084 - Huawei P8lite
2.078 - Moto G 3rd gen max manual
2.026 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1.996 - Sony Xperia E4g
1.972 - OnePlus One
1.961 - Meizu m3 note
1.923 - Meizu m2 note
1.892 - BlackBerry Leap
1.892 - ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
1.759 - Sony Xperia U
1.758 - Asus Zenfone Selfie
1.68 - Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
1.675 - ZTE Nubia Z9
1.659 - Jolla Jolla
1.605 - Motorola Moto E
1.545 - Sony Xperia M
1.473 - HTC Desire C
1.3 - Sony Xperia C
1.283 - Meizu MX
1.221 - Sony Xperia E
1.215
As for color reproduction, the Mi Note 2s default color mode results in an average DeltaE of 5.4 with a maximum of 8.7 - better numbers than the S7 edges 7.2 and 12.4. Both phones have more color-accurate modes, though, and in the best one the Mi Note 2 manages an average DeltaE of 2.7, compared to the S7 edges super-precise 0.8. Its worth pointing out though, that the Mi Note 2 is only accurate when viewed head-on - at any other angle its a marred by a strong bluish tint.
Cheaper, but just as good: Nope, not by a long stretch. The Galaxy S7 edges display is superior in every respect - resolution, brightness, contrast, color accuracy.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge packs a 3,600mAh battery - quite a lot by Samsung flagship standards. The ill-fated Note7 had a smaller 3,500mAh battery for a larger 5.7-inch diagonal. The 5.7-inch Mi Note 2 holds even more juice - 4,070mAh.
As for battery life, the Mi No te 2 does a respectable job scoring a 92h Endurance rating. Its particularly efficient in video playback where itll last more than 15 hours before calling it quits. 3G voice call longevity wont be an issue either, with almost 28 hours on the clock before the battery calls it quits. Its not as great on the web though - less than 9 and a half hours.
Weve tested both versions of the S7 edge - one with the Exynos 8890 chipset and one with the Snapdragon 820, and they do produce quite different results.
Its the Exynos that is more energy efficient, outlasting the Snapdragon in all tests. While the international version does a few minutes over 20 hours in video playback test, the Snapdragon-powered S7 edge only lasts 17h - still an hour and a half more than the Xiaomi phablet.
In Web browsing the S820 S7 edge is a bit of a letdown with its 10 hours - better than the Mi Note 2, but nowhere near the Exynos 13:32h. Neither S7 edge can match the Mi Note 2s voice call longevity.
Cheaper, but just as good: Yes, or sort of, depending on which version S7 edge youre comparing to. The Mi Note 2 outlasts both in voice calls, and is close to the S820 S7 edge in the other disciplines, but the Exynos version is hard to beat overall.
Software
As with packaging, theres little to set apart the flagship-grade Mi Note 2 from just about any other Xiaomi phone. MIUI is remarkably consistent between devices, which isnt a bad thing - therell be no adjusting if youre switching between Xiaomi phones.
The latest v .8 iteration is based on Marshmallow and is flat and colorful. Theres no app drawer - all apps are on the homescreens, as is customary for Chinese Android ROMs. You get theming support with a wide range of themes to download which bring a total makeover, some even have interactive wallpapers. The notification shade and task switcher have no traces of stock Marshmallow, the task switcher looks more like iOS than Android.
Mi Note 2: Lockscreen • Homescreen • Interactive wallpaper • Notification shade • Task switcher
MIUI 8 has also brought Dual apps and Second space. The first feature lets you have two instances of an app, so you can be logged with two accounts at the same time - especially handy for social and IM apps. Second space is an entirely different desktop (if you will), protected with a different fingerprint, where you can have a separate set of apps and keep photos and docs away from prying eyes - were sure you can come up with a use case.
Dual apps • Any app can be a dual app • Second space • ...and its settings
The Mi Note 2 comes with a full set of tools so you dont need to bother with third-party ad-supported or paid apps. Theres a phone manager sort of app called Security, which is a hub for controlling permissions, data usage and battery modes, among other things.
You also get a neat-looking and capable file manager, calendar and compass apps, to name a few. The Music player also has profiles for optimal tuning to match Xiaomis different headsets.
Security app • File manager • Calendar • Compass • Headphone profiles
The Galaxy S7 edge interface is similarly non-vanilla, though less of a deviation from Googles Android. For one, its two-tiered - theres an app drawer, where all your apps sit, and homescreens with shortcuts to them. Themes are supported too.
The notification area with quick toggles is custom too, just a different type of custom. The task switcher, on the other hand, is much closer to the standard Android rolodex than the one found in MIUI.
Galaxy S7 edge: Lockscreen • Homescreen • Themed homescreen • Notification shade • Task switcher
With the S7 and S7 edge Samsung introduced an Always on display (AOD) feature. Basically, you can have one of several clock designs displayed constantly on the screen, and if a notification comes in, an icon pops up underneath the clock - in a quick glance you can see the time, battery percentage and pending notifications. You can add a calendar or one of a few background images.
Always on display
Also debuting on the S7 edge was Samsungs Game launcher - an app that holds shortcuts to your favorite games, but more importantl y can lock the capacitive keys to prevent accidental touches and can also keep non-essential notifications from interrupting your gaming.
Samsung has also been pushing multi-window multitasking since before it was cool (its now part of stock Nougat) and the S7 edge has that as well. You can have a windowed view of most apps, if thats your thing.
Game launch er • Multi-window • Browser in a window
Being an edge device the S7 edge has edge features as well. Originating in the Note Edge of old, but expanded on subsequent models, the edge panes now include Apps edge (shortcuts to apps of your choosing), Quick tools (for when opening a full-fledged app is too cumbersome), People edge (shortcuts to contacts), Edge feeds - its had to even list them all. Oh, theres also Night clock (self explanatory, no?), and Edge lighting if for some reason you like to keep your precious phone face down on a table.
Innumerable edge features
Cheaper, but just as good: Different - certainly, as good - not really. Both phones run heavily customized Android builds, neither has the latest OS version. The S7 edge has Game launcher, Always on display, and does offer edge features to showcase that curved display, unlike the Mi Note 2.
Performance
The Galaxy S7 edge was released a long, long time ago in the spring and back then it was the Snapdragon 820 that ruled the world of smartphone chipsets. Well, that and the Exynos 8890, one of which can be found in different versions of the Samsung top-dog.
The Mi Note 2, on the other hand, is packing the updated Snapdragon 821 SoC which comes w ith a higher clocked CPU 2.35GHz vs 2.15GHz for one of the two Kryo pairs. The Mi Note 2 can be had with 6GB of RAM, but the version weve tested had 4GB, same as both S7 edges.
In dedicated CPU benchmarks, specifically GeekBench 4, the Mi Note 2 ranks between the two S7 edge versions. In single-core tests it scores almost as much as the Exynos-powered S7 edge, both of them leaving the S820 behind. Putting more cores to work changes the numbers, but not the ranking - Exynos is king, but the S821 in the Mi Note 2 is now closer to the S820 S7 edge.
GeekBench 4 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
1860 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
1824 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
1696
GeekBench 4 (multi-c ore)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
5583 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
4278 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
4128
In compound benchmarks the Mi Note 2 tends to outperform both S7 edges. In Basemark OS II 2.0 it edges ahead of the S820 S7 edge, and both post way higher numbers than the Exynos version of the S7 edge.
Basemark OS 2.0
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi Note 2
2381 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
2352 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
2050
Antutu 6 puts the two Samsung phones somewhat closer together, while the Mi Note 2 leads by a wider margin.
AnTuTu 6
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi Note 2
140324 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
132849 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
129229
In graphics benchmarks we witness the expected huge gap in framerates between the Mi Note 2 and the S7 edge, as the Samsung phablet has a lot more pixels to render - 78% more, to be precise. In GFXBench 3.1 the Mi Note 2 is capable of double the framerate the S7 edge can put out, be it the Adreno 530 in the S820 or the Mali-T880 in the Exynos 8890. In the less taxing GFXBench 3.0 the difference is smaller, to the tune of 50%.
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
< p>Higher is better- Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
49 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
40 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
40
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi Note 2
41 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
29 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
27
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
32 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
30 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
29
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi Note 2
30 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
16 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
15
Cheaper, but just as good: Often better. The Snapdragon 821 in the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 outperforms both versions of the Galaxy S7 edge in most tests.
Loudspeaker & audio quality
Both smartphones have a single loudspeaker on the bottom, so no stereo action on either one. They arent overly loud either, but still manage a Good rating in our three-pronged test.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing | Overall score | |
| 63.4 | 68.6 | 76.4 | Good | |
| 70.0 | 69.1 | 71.8 | Good |
As for audio quality through the 3.5mm jack, the Mi Note 2 has a minor edge in terms of noise, while the S7 edge is marginally better in channel separation. The Mi Note 2 is also very loud compared to the just above average S7 edge.
Plugging in a pair of headphones adversely affects the Mi Note 2s output introducing significant stereo crosstalk, while the S7 edge happily handles the loa d with only the slightest bump in crosstalk.
| Test | Frequency response | Noise level | Dynamic range | THD | IMD + Noise | Stereo crosstalk |
| +0.00, -0.03 | -94.4 | 94.5 | 0.0014 | 0.0062 | -91.7 | |
| +0.29, -0.34 | -94.5 | 94.0 | 0.028 | 0.417 | -51.9 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S7 edge | +0.01, -0.05 | -92.5 | 92.7 | 0.0028 | 0.0089 | -92.2 |
| Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (headphones) | +0.02, -0.06 | -92.0 | 92.0 | 0.0052 | 0.092 | -85.2 |
Cheaper, but just as good: Pretty much. The Mi Note 2 matches the S7 edge in loudspeaker volume, and the two trade victories in different areas of audio quality.
Camera
The two phones take very different approaches when it comes to camera hardware. The Mi Note 2 goes for high megapixel count - its using a 22.5MP Sony IMX318 sensor. Fitting so many pixels on a Type 1/2.6" imager means very tiny pixels - 1.0 micron, and thats selfie camera territory. Lens aperture is a rather pedestrian f/2.0. There is no optical stabilization, but theres EIS with a dedicated gyro mounted immediately next to the camera module.
The Galaxy S7 edge relies on a 12MP Type 1/2.5" sensor - either Samsungs own S5K2L1 (catchy name, innit?), or a Sony IMX260 made to Samsungs spec. Either way, were talking 1.4-micron pixels, though its unclear just how much of a pixels area is used for capturing light, and how much for phase detection, as each and every pixel is also a phase detection agent. Popularly known as Dual Pixel, this concept was previously exclusive to DSLRs and ensures accurate and blazing fast focusing.
Theres nothing pedestrian about the S7s lens either - with an f/1.7 aperture it was the fastest lens available when it launched, and only a handful of phones have matched it since. The S7 edge also has optical stabilization, with EIS available too in some video modes.
The Mi Note 2s camera app is pretty simple with just HDR and flash mode selectors in immediate reach. The Modes pane opens up more possibilities including a Panorama mode and Manual mode that lets you pick a white balance preset, ISO, shutter speed (all the way up to 32s) and focus.
Mi Note 2 camera interface
The camera interface on the Galaxy S7 edge offers more settings in Auto mode - there are also resolution and self-timer buttons. In Pro mode you can select the metering mode and autofocus points and also add exposure compensation. Opting for manual focus magnifies the center portion of the frame so you can better judge whats in focus and what isnt.
Galaxy S7 edge camera interface
Image quality
Disclaimer: Real-life street samples shot on the Galaxy S7, which has an identical camera to the S7 edge.
In day time, when theres plenty of light, the Mi Note 2 captures quite the excellent images. Theres a lot of detail packed in its photos, noise if present is not an issue, and colors are reproduced with a pleasing balance between punch and accuracy. Even dynamic range is better than what the tiny pixels would have you believe. In such settings the Galaxy S7 with its 12 MP cant match the 22.5MP Mi Note 2s level of detail.
Camera samples: Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7 • Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7
Camera samples: Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7 • Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7
In less than ideal lighting the S7 edge pulls ahead though. Its shots in the dark are substantially cleaner, with more detail despite the resolution disadvantage. Colors are preserved better as well.
Low-light samples: Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7
Dont just take our word for it - head over to our Photo comp are tool to see how the Mi Note 2 and Galaxy S7 edge handle our lab test posters.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs. Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Selfie camera
The Mi Note 2 features an 8MP selfie camera with autofocus and an f/2.0 aperture. Thats 2:1 for team Xiaomi, as the S7 edges front-facing camera has a lower-res 5MP sensor and fixed focus, but a wider f/1.7 aperture.
In our experience the Mi Note 2s front cam has some issues with autofocusing where you want it to, but when it does focus on your face it produces very detailed photos. Skin tones are pleasing, dynamic range and contrast are pretty good too.
The S7 edges selfie shooter, on the other hand, is what youd call meh!. Itll do the job for Insta gram, but thats about it.
Selfie samples: Mi Note 2 • Galaxy S7
Video camera
4K video is the norm in the flagship segment and, of course, both phones will happily record in 2160p resolution. The S7 edges bitrate is a bit higher - 48Mbps vs. Mi Note 2s 42Mbps.
The S7 edges videos are noticeably crispier - the Mi Note 2s output isnt as sharp. The S7 edge has much wider coverage too, and still manages to resolve about as much as the Xiaomi. Detail aside, the Mi Note 2 does a good job with colors and exposure, no complaints there.
The Mi Note 2s 1080p output is nowhere near the S7 edges, that we did complain about already in its own detailed review.
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs. Apple iPhone 7 Plus (2160p)
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs. Apple iPhone 7 Plus (1080p)
You know the drill - our Video compare follows. Weve pre-selected the Mi Note 2 and the Galaxy S7 edge, and also added the iPhone 7 Plus, but you can shape your own battle.
Cheaper, but just as good: No, not really. You can rely on the Galaxy S7 edge to produce good output regardless of circumstance. The Mi Note 2 only does a good job in good light. And selfies, yes, the S7 edge loses in selfies.
Conclusion
There are a lot of IFs when calling this one, perhaps more so than the previous two pairs. Starting with the obvious consideration - if youre in China, the Mi Note 2 makes all the sense in the world. Its considerably cheaper than the Galaxy S7 edge, and youd be gettin g after-sales support from Xiaomi itself - two points that are likely to offset some of its flaws.
The bang-for-buck-o-meter isnt as flattering on the Mi Note 2 outside of its home country, accounting for import duties, taxes and retailer margins. And shelling out upwards of $500 for a phone for which you may or may not be able to claim a warranty is not ideal. Then again, its a Xiaomi flagship, not a budget phone from a shady no-name maker, so theres no reason to be overly wary.
Judging on merit alone, the Mi Note 2 lives up to Galaxy S7 edge standards in some areas, but its not quite up there in others. Were fond of the Mi Note 2s minimalist no-frills design, and build quality is top-notch. But the S7 edge is waterproof, Gorilla Glass-covered, and has a microSD slot - its not just about the looks.
Whats really disappointing about the Mi Note 2, and its this one thing only, is its display. The S7 edges Super AMOLED is simply in a different league. Curves sure are nice, but we like some substance under the surface, and the S7 edge delivers, while the Mi Note 2 just doesnt.
Battery life is excellent on the two, with the Mi Note 2 matching the Snapdragon version of the S7 edge, though the Exynos one is still superior. Samsung has the more functional Android overlay, with a ton of edge features (which youre likely to never use, but still), while the MIUI offers dual apps and Second space for convenience and privacy.
The Xiaomi phablet aces the performance department thanks to a higher-clocked processor and lower-res display that goes easy on the GPU. Trading 3.5mm audio punches, the Mi Note 2 tends to be louder, while the S7 edge is cleaner, but both are equally Good through their single speakers - thats two notches below Excellent in our book.
If youre dead certain youre going to be taking photos a nd videos in bright daylight only, then the Mi Note 2 will give you substantially more detail than the S7 edge - its 22.5MP vs. 12MP after all, and under ideal conditions the size of the pixels is not an issue. Its the Galaxy S7 edge that is the universally good shooting tool, though - good light, low light, indoors, outdoors, stills, video - you can depend on it. Well, it is a bit of a letdown for selfies, we admit - the Mi Note 2s 8MP front cam with autofocus is better (when it does, indeed, autofocus properly).
In a single sentence - folks in China will have a tough dilemma with these two, for the rest of us its a lot simpler.
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