The Mi Play is one of the most mysterious devices in Xiaomi’s lineup, and it’s often questioned by users. This smartphone, launched in 2018, was marketed as a budget solution with a focus on gaming capabilities, but it never got widespread outside of China. If you stumbled across the mention of the Mi Play on the Internet, in the secondary market or in discussions about Xiaomi equipment, this article will help you understand what it is, how it differs from other models of the brand and whether it should be considered for purchase today.
It’s worth clarifying right away: the Mi Play has nothing to do with the Black Shark series gaming smartphones (which Xiaomi is developing in parallel) or the flagships of the Mi line. This is a separate experimental project dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Meitu — yes, the brand that is famous for its “photoshop” smartphones for selfies. Xiaomi released the Mi Play in partnership with Meitu, which explains its unusual design and focus on the front camera.
In this article, we will discuss in detail:
- 🔍 Technical characteristics of the Mi Play and its place in the Xiaomi line
- 🎮 Why the smartphone was positioned as a “gaming”, despite the weak iron
- 📸 Features of the camera and communication with the Meitu brand
- ⚡ The relevance of the device in 2026: whether to buy a used product?
1. Technical specifications of Mi Play: what is under the hood?
Mi Play is powered by MediaTek Helio processor P35 — It's an entry-level chipset that didn't even qualify as a gaming chip in 2018. It's a 12nm chip with 8 cores. Cortex-A53 (4 cores at 2.3 GHz and 4 at 1.8 GHz) and graphics accelerator PowerVR GE8320. For comparison: in the same year Xiaomi released Redmi Note 7 with Snapdragon 660, which was much more powerful.
Other key parameters:
- 📱 Screen: 5.84" IPS, permit 2280×1080 (Full HD+), ratio 19:9, droplet»
- 🧠 RAM / ROM: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in (without a slot for a memory card!)
- 🔋 Battery: 3000 mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 (18W) support)
- 📡 Network: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS
- 🤖 OS: Android 8.1 Oreo with shell MIUI 10 (updates to MIUI 12 possible, but not guaranteed)
| Parameter | Mi Play (2018) | Redmi Note 7 (2019) | POCO F1 (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Helio P35 | Snapdragon 660 | Snapdragon 845 |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 512 | Adreno 630 |
| Screen. | 5.84" FHD+ IPS | 6.3" FHD+ IPS | 6.18" FHD+ IPS |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 4000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
The Mi Play doesn’t have a microSD slot, making it extremely inconvenient for users who need more than 64GB of storage, one of the main drawbacks of the device, especially considering that even budget smartphones of the time (like the Redmi 6) supported memory expansion.
2.Why was the Mi Play called a "gaming" smartphone?
Xiaomi’s marketing move to position the Mi Play as a gaming device is surprising even today, with real gaming smartphones like Black Shark or the likes of the Black Shark. ROG Asus’ phone, it looks like a parody: a weak processor, just 4GB of RAM and a modest battery. So why did Xiaomi decide to call it a “gaming device"?
The answer lies in three factors:
- 🎯 Meitu partnership: The brand is known for its "beautiful" selfie smartphones, but not for gaming.Perhaps the name Play refers to a "gaming" approach to photography (filters, AR-effects).
- 🕹️ Branded chips MIUI: The firmware was pre-installed with Game Turbo, a lightweight analogue of the game mode that blocked notifications and optimized performance. P35 It had minimal effect.
- 💰 Budget alternative: In 2018, real gaming smartphones cost from 40,000 rubles, and Mi Play cost 15,000-20,000. Xiaomi just played on the trend, offering a "gaming experience" for less money.
In practice, Mi Play can only handle lightweight games like Clash Royale or Brawl Stars on medium settings. Trying to run Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile on high graphics will lead to heavy lags and overheating. Moreover, due to weak cooling (no liquid system or even copper tubes), the case quickly heats up.
💡
If you need a budget smartphone for gaming, it’s best to consider POCO X3 (Snapdragon 732G) Or the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+ (Dimensity 920.They're cheaper than flagships, but will give a real-world gaming experience.
3. Camera and Meitu communication: why is frontal here the main thing?
The most unusual feature of the Mi Play is its 8MP front camera with support for Meitu filters. Yes, this is not a typo: despite the fact that the smartphone was produced under the Xiaomi brand, its software "stuffing" for selfies was developed by Meitu, which means that the camera is preinstalled:
- 🌈 Automatic filters for smoothing the skin, eye enlargement and facial narrowing (classic "Mate effect")
- 🎭 AR-Stickers and masks similar to those in the MeituPic app
- 📸 Beauty mode with intensity setting (from 1 to 100)
The main camera is more modest: dual module 12 MP (f/2.2) + 2 It supports portrait mode and Full video. HD 30 fps, but no stabilization. In low light, the images are noisy. HDR The Mi Play's photo quality is even worse than the budget Redmi of the time.
In China, the smartphone was sold under the name Meitu V7, And for the international market, Xiaomi just renamed it Mi Play, which explains why there's so much Meitu software in the device that you can't remove without rooting.
How to remove unnecessary Meitu apps?
4. Design and ergonomics: pros and cons
The Mi Play has a compact body with a screen diagonal of 5.84 inches – a rarity for modern smartphones, where even budget models often feature 6.5-inch displays, thanks to which the device conveniently lies in one hand, and the weight of 150 grams makes it easy for long-term use.
The smartphone is designed in a minimalist style:
- 🖤 Colors: black, blue and pink (the latter was exclusive to China)
- 🔄 Connectors: USB Type-C (rare for public sector 2018!), 3.5 mm audio jack
- 👆 Fingerprint scanner: Located on the back, fast, but no gesture support
- 🔊 Speaker: Mono, medium-quality sound (no stereo or Dolby Atmos support)
The main drawback of the design is the plastic case, which looks cheap and quickly scratches. The back panel mimics glass, but it's actually glossy plastic that collects fingerprints. The power and volume buttons are on the right side, but they're tight, which can cause discomfort with prolonged use.
💡
USB Type-C in the budget smartphone 2018 – a big plus, but the lack of a microSD slot and plastic case cross out this advantage.
5. Software: MIUI zest-driven
Mi Play worked on the MIUI 10 on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. Updates to MIUI 12 were possible, but official support has long since ceased — today the device will not even get patch security, which makes it vulnerable to modern threats, especially if you use mobile banking or payments.
Features of firmware:
- 🧩 Meitu pre-installed apps: MeituPic, BeautyCam, MakeupPlus – all of them take up space and consume resources.
- 🎮 Game Turbo: A lightweight game mode that blocks notifications and optimizes performance (but doesn’t save you from lags in heavy games).
- 🔒 No Google services in Chinese: If you buy used Mi Play from China, be prepared to install Google Play manually.
Among the pluses MIUI This device has design support and navigation gestures that work smoothly, but because of the weak iron, animations are sometimes slowed down and multitasking is limited, and when switching between applications, they often reboot.
☑️ What to check before buying a used Mi Play?
6.The relevance of the Mi Play in 2026: is it worth buying?
In the secondary market, Mi Play can be found for 3,000-6,000 rubles (depending on the state), but even at this price, the purchase is not justified for everyone.
✅ Pluses:
- 💰 Very low price (cheaper only very outdated smartphones like Redmi). 4X)
- 🔌 USB Type-C (more convenient than microUSB)
- 📏 Compact size (suitable for those who do not like "scapula")
❌ Cons:
- ⚡ Weak processor (Helio) P35 Today, it does not even pull social networks without lags)
- 🔋 Small battery (3000 mAh is enough for a maximum day with moderate use)
- 📷 Mediocre cameras (even budget smartphones 2020-2021 shoot better)
- 🛑 No security updates (risk to privacy)
- 💾 There is no memory card slot (64GB is fast running out)
⚠️ Warning: If you need a smartphone for calls, messengers, and easy tasks (such as for older relatives), the Mi Play may still be considered, but for games, photography, or multitasking, it is absolutely not suitable. POCO M3 — They are not much more expensive, but many times more productive.
Another important point is that Mi Play parts are extremely difficult to find today, because if the screen, battery or motherboard fails, repairs can cost more than the smartphone itself, so it only makes sense to buy it in perfect condition and with a guarantee of return.
7. Mi Play alternatives: which is better to buy instead?
If you are interested in Mi Play because of its low price or compact size, consider these alternatives (new and used):
| Model | Price (b/y), rub. | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi 9A (2020) | 5 000–7 000 | Helio G25 (slightly more powerful), 5000 mAh, a slot for microSD | HD-screen, plastic case |
| POCO C31 (2021) | 6 000–8 000 | 6.53" FHD+, 5000 mAh, triple camera | Heavy (194g), weak processor |
| Redmi Note 8 (2019) | 8 000–10 000 | Snapdragon 665, 48 MP camera, glass case | Large size (6.3) |
| iPhone SE (2016) | 7 000–9 000 | Compact, iOS with updates, great camera | Small screen (4), weak battery |
If you need a compact smartphone, pay attention to:
- UniHertz Jelly 2 (3-inch “baby” for calls)
- Asus Zenfone 10 (flagship compact, but expensive)
- iPhone 12 mini (5.4), powerful but weak battery
⚠️ Warning: Buying a used Xiaomi smartphone, always check it for originality through the official service mi.com/verify. Mi Play fakes are rare, but it’s best to be safe – especially if the seller offers the device at a suspiciously low price.