The Chinese brand Umi has recently presented a new device, the Umi Rome, a new budget device that will cost only $89. With this new device, UMi have kept their promise of a tough build, without sacrificing good design, all the while maintaining a low cost. The UMi Rome incorporates high end features such as USB Type-C not normally associated with devices costing less than $100. On the other hand, Xiaomi released in August the Redmi Note 2, a 5.5-inch phablet. Let’s analyze the differences between this two devices:
Design
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 is made in plastic, while UMi Rome incorporates a metallic frame, which provides robustness to the device. dimensions, the UMi Rome has a thickness of 7.9 mm and weighs 177g, while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 has a thickness of 8.3mm mm, and weighs 160g. As we can see, there are almost no differences in terms of weight and dimensions. But nevertheless, The UMi Rome chassis has a slight curve to it, wrapping the rear edges around, what makes this device feel very comfortable in the hand. The chassis is machined to a through 100 processes, in order to give it a smooth finish, similar to high-end devices.
Screen
Both UMi Rome and Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 have a 5.5-inch screen. Nevertheless, Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 has a Full HD Screen, while UMi Rome has a HD one. Nevertheless, UMi Rome panel uses AMLOED technology, which will allow users to experience more vivid colors and improve their battery duration with regard to LCD panels.
Performance
One of the most important things to consider when buying a new smartphone is performance. In this aspect, we can find some differences, because, while UMi Rome includes a MTK 6753 Octa-core processor, Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 incorporates a MTK 6795, also Octa-Core. Moreover, UMi Rome incorporates 3 GB RAM, while Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 only includes 2 GB RAM on its basic configuration. This means that UMi Rome will allow users to have more running applications.
Camera
Xiaomi has opted to include a 13-megaixel sensor, while UMi preferred an 8-megapixel one in this occasion. Another difference appears if we look to the front camera, because, while Redmi Note 2 incorporates n 5-megapixel sensor equipped with LED flash, Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 uses a modest 2-megapixel sensor without flash.
System
The system is one of the main differences between this two phones, because while UMi Iron has a light interface with barely changes from pure Android, ideal for all types of users, Xiaomi uses its own firmware, called MIUI. This firmware is different from the traditional Android system, as it includes a heavy layer customization. Moreover, Xiaomi is known for being a very restrictive brand regarding Android development, while UMi develops its own custom ROMs based on the most popular Android ROMs, and even provides a simple tool to install them, which is called RootJoy.
Connectivity
Like the majority of current smartphones, both UMi Rome and Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 support 2G, 3G and 4G LTE networks. Moreover, both devices support two SIM cards, so users can have two phone numbers on the same device. Nevertheless, while Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 has a common USB port, UMi Rome includes thie bew USB Type-C, which will allow users to faster transfer information from computer to smartphone and vice versa. This connection is intended to be the standard in the near future, due to its multiple advantages.
Price and conclusions
As we have seen in this article, there are a few differences between this articles. Nevertheless, we need to look at the price in order to fairly compare these two devices. Nowadays, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 costs $152, while UMi Rome can be purchased for $89. so there is a significant price difference, given the differences between both smartphones.
Get a UMi device for $9,99
On the occasion of Cyber Monday, UMi has launched an interesting promotion that will allow people to acquire some of their devices for only $9,99. More information about this and other deals can be found at UMi Community, the Forum where UMi users can share their experiences with others.
