Xiaomi Mi 4 devices exhibit moderate 4G signal strength, influenced by hardware limitations and regional network compatibility. User reports and third-party tests indicate inconsistent performance, with some areas showing strong connectivity and others experiencing drops. Software updates have improved compatibility but not resolved fundamental hardware bottlenecks.

The Xiaomi Mi 4’s 4G performance stems from its 2014-era hardware design. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset supports LTE bands 1, 3, 4, 7, and 28, but lacks support for newer bands critical in regions like Europe and Asia. RootMetrics data (2015-2016) revealed the device scored 72 out of 100 for 4G coverage in the United States, below average for similarly priced smartphones at the time. Ookla Speedtest results noted average download speeds of 15-20 Mbps in optimal conditions, though this dropped to 5-8 Mbps in areas with weak tower coverage.

Regional disparities play a significant role. In the U.S., AT&T and T-Mobile bands 2 and 5 are unsupported, limiting 4G reliability in coverage gaps. User feedback on XDA Developers and Reddit highlighted frequent signal loss during high-traffic periods, attributed to the chipset’s inability to handle concurrent data and voice calls efficiently. Xiaomi’s 2016 firmware update (v5.13.12.0) introduced band-specific configurations but failed to address hardware limitations.

Comparatively, Samsung Galaxy S5 (2014) and Google Nexus 6 (2014) outperformed the Mi 4 in RootMetrics testing, scoring 85 and 83 respectively, due to more robust baseband chips. However, Xiaomi’s price-to-performance ratio remained competitive, making it a niche choice for budget-conscious users in regions with stable network infrastructure.

In summary, while software optimizations mitigated some issues, the Mi 4’s 4G signal strength remains constrained by its original hardware design and band support. Users in areas with advanced LTE networks or limited band compatibility should expect suboptimal performance.