Vivo X21 vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: the battle of the bezel-less

Vivo X21 vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: specs

First, let's take a look at the specs of the Vivo X21 and Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S.

Vivo X21 vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: design & display

As we ve mentioned in one of our previous reviews (Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 review), the Mi Mix 2S is very similar in design to its predecessor. You get an almost all-screen display (81.9 % screen-to-body ratio) and a stylish curved ceramic body. The screen is 5.99 inch with 2160 x 1080 resolution.

The Vivo X21 comes with a larger 6.28 inch display with 2280 x 1080 resolution and very thin bezels — the screen-to-body ratio is an impressive 90.3%, which is more than the majority of phones in the same price category can boast. Despite the larger display, the X21 is slightly smaller than the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s — 6.08 x 2.94 x 0.29 inches compared to 6.24 x 2.95 x 0.32 inches.

	Vivo X21 4G Phablet Global Edition - BLACK
	$663 $549.99	(1)

	Xiaomi MI MIX 2S 4G Phablet 6GB RAM Global Version - BLACK
	$569.99	(81)

Vivo X21 vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: features and performance

Both smartphones come with impressive specs for the price — but how do they compare?

CPU

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S comes with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core processor clocked at 2.8GHz offering plenty of juice to power up extensive multitasking and gaming needs. The Vivo X21 is powered by SDM660 Octa Core processor, a mid-range chipset known for its great battery-efficiency and formidable performance.

Storage: RAM and ROM

Here, both phones come with the same offering — and not a bad one either. You will get a nice 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM combo on the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S and the Vivo X21. So, you should not experience any lagging in performance and will have enough internal storage for your apps and media.

Battery

Both phones come with similar battery capacity —  3400mAh on the Xiaomi Mi MIx 2S and 3200mAh on the Vivo X21. Both manufacturer s promise that the phones are good to go for a full day without a recharge.

Extras

Both smartphones come with fingerprint sensors. A thing of note here is that the Vivo X21 features an in-display fingerprint sensor — a nice design and convenience element to have on a budget phone. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S offers wireless Qi charging and 7.5W quick charging.

Vivo X21 vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: cameras and UI

Xiaomi smartphones are well-known for their decent camera offerings — especially impressive for the price. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is no exception and comes with  5.0MP front camera and 12.0MP + 12.0MP dual back cameras. The rear cameras promise an excellent performance in low light thanks to 1.4-micron pixels, boasts a professional portrait mode, dual PD focusing and AI scene recognition.

The Vivo X21 comes with a good camera combo as well. You get a 12.0MP + 5.0MP rear camera  and a 12.0MP front camera — great for those selfies. There are plenty of shooting modes to choose from, and you get the usual portrait mode and panorama along with an option to use AR stickers.

If you ve ever owned a Xiaomi smartphone, you should be well-familiar with the MIUI. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S gives you full command of the MIUI 9 — Xiaomi s adaptive and user-friendly interface. With the Vivo X21, things get a little bit trickier: the phone comes with the custom Funtouch OS 4.0, strongly reminiscent of iOS interface. The OS offers plenty of customization options and has a dedicated Game Mode, letting you play in peace without being interrupted by calls and notifications.

Vivo X21 vs. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S: wrap up

So, which phone should you get? As we ve mentioned at the beginning of this post, the price difference is not really a consideration in this case. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is $569.99, while the Vivo X21 will set you back $549.99.

The Mi Mix 2S brings to the table its brand reputation, good cameras setup and smart and familiar UI. On the other hand, the Vivo X21 can win you over with an in-display fingerprint, very customizable interface and the promise of something different.