Xiaomi Mi 4: Release Date, Specifications and Why It Changed the Market

Xiaomi Mi 4, the smartphone that sparked a splash in the mobile market in 2014, not only became the flagship of the Chinese brand, but also proved that high-end smartphones can cost much less than their counterparts from Samsung or Apple. Today we will understand when the Mi 4 came out, what technologies it brought, and why it is still remembered as one of the most successful models of Xiaomi.

If you're looking for a release date to see how relevant this model is today, let's say Mi 4 was released on July 22, 2014, but it's beyond mere chronology. It was the first Xiaomi smartphone to compete with the top-end devices of the time, offering comparable specs for half the price. In this article, we'll dive into the history, the technical nuances, and even tell you whether to buy the Mi 4 in 2026.

Xiaomi Mi 4 release date and first presentations

The Xiaomi Mi 4 was announced on July 22, 2014 at a special event in Beijing, and was streamed online and gathered a record number of viewers — more than 1 million people were watching it in real time — not just the release of a new smartphone, but a demonstration of Xiaomi’s ambitions as a global player.

Interestingly, before the release of the Mi 4, there were rumors about its technical specifications, but few believed that Xiaomi would be able to offer Quad. HD-The company not only confirmed the rumors, but also exceeded expectations: the starting price of the Mi 4 in China was only 1999 yuan (about 1999 yuan). $320 on the course of the time).

• 📅 Announcement date: July 22, 2014
• 🌍 First markets: China, then India, Singapore, Malaysia
• 💰 Starting price: 1999 CNY (~$320)
• 📦 Set: smartphone, charging 5V/2A, cable USB, paperclip SIM

The first batches of Mi 4s were sold in minutes, with Xiaomi using a flash sales model where a limited number of devices were sold at a specific time, creating excitement and fueling interest in the brand, such as the Mi 4 in India, which was only launched in early 2015, but there it became a hit.

Xiaomi Mi 4: Why it was revolutionary

At the time of the release of the Xiaomi Mi 4 offered features that could compete with the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8, But it was a lot cheaper. Let's look at what made it so special.

One of the key features of the Mi 4 was its display, despite the fact that the resolution is Full. HD (Not Quad. HD, like LG G3), The screen was excellent color reproduction and brightness — up to 450 nits. in addition, Xiaomi used Sunlight Display technology, which automatically adjusts contrast in bright sunlight.

Another breakthrough is the camera. 4 It was the first Xiaomi smartphone with 6-lens-lens and diaphragm f/1.8, So, it allowed us to take sharper pictures in low light. 6, fall-out 2014 year, had a diaphragm f/2.2 everything 5 lens.

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Xiaomi Mi 4 became the first smartphone brand with a metal body – before that, all models were plastic.

Design and Materials: Why the Mi 4 looked premium

Before the Mi 4, all Xiaomi smartphones had plastic cases, but with this model, the company decided to go through a radical change: the case became metal, with an aluminum frame and glass inserts. This not only improved the appearance, but also added premium to the device.

The Mi 4 was designed by a team led by Xiaomi co-founder Huang Jiangjun, who was inspired by minimalism and functionality, such as the volume and power buttons made of metal and had tactile returns, which was rare for mid-range smartphones.

• 🔧 Shell material: aluminum frame + Glass (Gorilla Glass 3)
• 🎨 Color options: black, white, golden (later)
• ⚖️ Weight: 149g (lighter than the Galaxy) S5 — 145g)
• 📏 Thickness: 8.9mm (thinner than the iPhone 6 – 6.9mm, but with a flatter design)

Fun fact: Xiaomi made the Mi 4’s rear cover permanently removable to improve structural strength, unusual at a time when most smartphones would allow battery change or memory card installation, but it paid off — the Mi 4 was less likely to break down in falls than its plastic rivals.

⚠️ Note: If you buy Xiaomi Mi 4 today, check the condition of the metal frame – over time it can oxidize or scratch due to the anodized coating.

Software: MIUI 5 and updates

At the time of release, the Mi 4 was working on MIUI 5, which was based on Android 4.4 KitKat. MIUI It was famous for its customization and extra features that were not in stock Android, for example, Mi 4 appeared:

• 📱 “Children’s” mode – restriction of access to applications
• 🔒 Blocking applications with a password or fingerprint (later)
• 🌙 Night mode with blue light filter (long before Android 7.0)
• 📊 Permission Manager for Application Access Control

However, the updates to the Mi 4 had problems. Officially, the smartphone received only one major update - before the release of the new model. MIUI 7 (based on Android 5.0 Lollipop) Unofficially, enthusiasts ported even Android 6.0 Marshmallow to it, but the stability of such firmware left much to be desired.

One of the reasons Xiaomi didn’t release an official update to Android 6.0 was a lack of memory.The Mi 4 had only 16GB of internal storage (in the basic version), and after the update, users had too little space for apps.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use the Mi 4 in 2026, consider that many modern apps (such as banking or social media) may not support Android 5.0.

Xiaomi Mi 4 vs. Competitors: Who was the best in 2014?

In 2014, the smartphone market was extremely competitive. Let's compare the Mi 4 to the main rivals of the time to see why it became so popular.

As you can see from the table, the Mi 4 offered better price-performance ratios, for example, it was not inferior to the OnePlus One in performance, but had a more premium design. S5 The price of the product was almost double, while maintaining the top “iron” components.

The only serious flaw in the Mi 4 There was a lack of support 4K-video and memory card slots, but for most users, 2014 It wasn’t a big deal in the last year – Full HD-video 16/64 GB of internal memory was enough with the head.

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If you are looking for an alternative to the Mi 4 among modern Xiaomi smartphones, pay attention to the new model. POCO X6 Pro – It offers a similar balance of price and performance, but with support 5G current-proof.

The relevance of Xiaomi Mi 4 in 2026: is it worth buying?

It's been almost 10 years since the Mi 4 was released, and it can't compete with today's smartphones, but it still has its fans. Let's see who might be the Mi 4 in 2026.

• ✅ For:
• 📱 Retro-technical collectors
• 💰 Budget users (price in the secondary market: ~$50-80)
• 🔧 Enthusiasts of custom firmware (there are ports LineageOS)
• 🎮 To emulate old games (PS1, N64)
• ❌ Not for:
• 📸 Modern photography (the camera is outdated)
• 🎥 Watching high-resolution video (no support) 4K)
• 🔋 Intensive use (battery worn out)

If you are buying the Mi 4 today, pay attention to the following:

One of the main disadvantages of the Mi 4 Today, it's a battery. Even if it's not swelling, it's a battery. 10 years could have been reduced by 30-50%. Replacing the battery will cost $15-25, But finding the original is hard.

⚠️ Attention: In the secondary market, Xiaomi Mi 4 is often sold with fake memory (for example, instead of 64 GB, it is actually 16 GB). AIDA64.

Interesting facts about Xiaomi Mi 4 that you may not know

Xiaomi Mi 4 is a smartphone with a rich history, and there are many rumors and little-known facts around it.

1. The first smartphone Xiaomi with support 4G LTE. Before that, all models of the company worked only in networks. 3G.
2. Xiaomi tested the Mi 4 version with a sapphire display, but abandoned it because of the high cost.

Another interesting fact: Xiaomi Mi 4 became the first smartphone of the company, which was officially sold in Russia.

It’s also worth noting that the Mi 4 was one of the first smartphones to support Quick Charge 2.0, which allowed you to charge your battery by 60% in 30 minutes – a revolutionary feature for 2014.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Xiaomi Mi 4