Price and specifications of Xiaomi Mi 1S advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview

The Xiaomi Mi 1S is a smartphone that was launched in August 2012, representing Xiaomi's progression in the mobile technology landscape. This device was considered a value-driven option, offering a balance between performance and affordability in the competitive smartphone market. Discontinued now, the Xiaomi Mi 1S laid a foundation for the brand's future innovations.

Design and Build

The Xiaomi Mi 1S comes with dimensions of 125 x 63 x 11.9 mm and a weight of 149 g, which makes it relatively compact and easy to handle with one hand. The Mini-SIM device was available in various colors, including white, green, blue, red, violet, orange, and gray, appealing to users who appreciate variety and personalization in their gadgets.

Display

The phone features a 4.0 inches TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, touting a 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen-to-body ratio stands at approximately 56%, and the pixel density is around 245 ppi, which at the time provided a decent viewing experience. This screen size allowed users to adequately enjoy media consumption, while still maintaining a compact footprint.

Performance and Hardware

Powered by the Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon S3 chipset, the Xiaomi Mi 1S is equipped with a dual-core 1.7 GHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 220 GPU. The hardware was competent enough for the device to manage everyday tasks efficiently at its time of release.

The smartphone came with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, which, admittedly modest by today’s standards, was appropriate for an entry-level smartphone in 2012. Furthermore, storage could be expanded thanks to a dedicated microSDHC card slot, which was great for users needing additional space for media and apps.

Camera Capabilities

The Xiaomi Mi 1S is equipped with a single 8 MP rear camera with an aperture of f/2.2, providing decent photography capabilities for its price range. It supported autofocus and was accompanied by an LED flash and HDR features for improved quality in varied lighting conditions. The camera could record videos at 1080p@30fps, which was quite impressive for a budget device at that time.

For selfies and video calls, the device included a 2 MP front-facing camera. While not extraordinary, it served basic purposes adequately.

Software and User Interface

Running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Xiaomi Mi 1S provided a user-friendly interface that was efficient and easy to navigate. Even though it didn't support the latest versions of Android, at launch, the operating system facilitated a smooth user experience, and the device benefitted from the various features and optimizations that came with this iteration of Android.

Battery Life

The phone houses a removable Li-Ion 1930 mAh battery. This provided sufficient power to last through a typical day of usage at the time, thanks to less demanding apps and lower screen resolutions compared to modern smartphones. The ease of replacing the battery added to the phone's longevity, as users could carry spare batteries if needed.

Connectivity and Other Features

On the connectivity front, the Xiaomi Mi 1S supports GSM and HSPA technologies, providing users with 2G and 3G network capabilities. It offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, allowing for strong wireless connectivity and peripheral pairing. The presence of GPS, A-GPS made location services accessible for navigation apps.

The phone also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, a standard microUSB 2.0 port, and basic sensors such as accelerometer, proximity, and compass, rounding out its feature set for a smartphone of this era.

Conclusion and Legacy

The Xiaomi Mi 1S, with its competitive pricing at approximately 190 EUR, offered good value for money at the time of its release. Although it is now discontinued, the Mi 1S was a significant step for Xiaomi in establishing itself as a leader in delivering affordable yet quality smartphone options. It laid the groundwork for the future devices that elevated Xiaomi’s reputation in the global mobile market.