The Xiaomi Mi 4i (codename ferrari), launched in 2015, was a highly popular mid-range smartphone designed to offer a “flagship experience for everyone.” It was celebrated for its sleek and compact unibody design and its innovative 5-inch 1080p Full HD “Sunlight Display,” which used hardware-level technology for excellent outdoor readability. The device was one of the first to be powered by the 64-bit, octa-core 2nd Gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor. For owners of this classic compact phone, this page provides official fastboot ROMs for China and Global, the community-driven Xiaomi.eu custom ROM, and the official TWRP recovery.
Important: You must verify your device is a Mi 4i (ferrari). This firmware is not compatible with the flagship Mi 4 or the later Mi 4s (aqua). Flashing the wrong ROM will hard brick your phone.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: Xiaomi Mi 4i (ferrari)
- Release year: 2015
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (2nd Gen)
- Display: 5.0″ IPS LCD, 1080p Full HD, “Sunlight Display”
- Battery: 3120 mAh
- Original MIUI: Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), MIUI 6
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Included with Mi Flash Tool |
| Bootloader Unlock Tool | Official Mi Unlock Page |
Official & Custom ROMs / Recovery
| Region | Build | Android | Type | Download | Codename |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | V7.5.1.0.LXICNDE | 5.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | ferrari |
| Global | V9.2.3.0.LXIMIEK | 5.0 | Official Fastboot ROM | Download | ferrari |
| Xiaomi.eu (Custom) | V7.5.1.0.LXICNDE (Based) | 5.0 | Custom Recovery ROM | Download | ferrari |
| TWRP (Official) | 3.7.0_9-0 | — | Custom Recovery | Download | ferrari |
How to Flash Official ROM (Mi Flash Tool)
This is a quick checklist for this device. For a complete tutorial on installing drivers, unlocking the bootloader, and troubleshooting, please read our master guide:
Read Our Ultimate Guide to Mi Flash Tool
Use this method to unbrick your phone or restore official MIUI firmware.
- Boot into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down).
- Extract the official firmware (.tgz file) and select the main folder containing the
/imagesdirectory in Mi Flash Tool. - Select clean all for a safe installation (you can use clean all and lock to return to a fully stock, locked state).
How to Install TWRP & Flash Custom ROMs
Use this method to install the Xiaomi.eu custom ROM or other community-developed ROMs.
What is TWRP? TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is a powerful custom recovery that replaces your phone’s limited stock recovery. It is the essential tool that allows you to install custom software (.zip files), create full backups of your system (a “Nandroid”), and perform other advanced maintenance. The official ROMs on this page do not require TWRP.
Disclaimer: This is an advanced process. Proceed at your own risk.
- Unlock the Bootloader: This is a mandatory first step. You may need to use an older version of the Mi Unlock Tool for this device.
- Flash TWRP:
- Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down) and connect it to your PC.
- Using ADB & Fastboot tools, flash the downloaded twrp-3.7.0_9-0-ferrari.img file with the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-ferrari.img
- Boot into TWRP: After flashing, immediately boot into recovery by holding Power + Volume Up.
- Install Custom ROM:
- In TWRP, it’s recommended to first perform a Factory Reset via the “Wipe” menu.
- Transfer the Xiaomi.eu .zip ROM file to your phone’s storage.
- In TWRP, tap “Install,” select the .zip file, and swipe to confirm the flash.
Device-Specific Troubleshooting for Mi 4i (ferrari)
The Mi 4i is a classic device with some well-known hardware characteristics.
- Overheating Warning: The Mi 4i is famous for overheating. Its Snapdragon 615 chipset runs hot, and the compact unibody design offers limited heat dissipation. The phone can become very warm or even hot to the touch during heavy tasks like gaming, video recording, or GPS navigation. This is a hardware limitation of the device.
- Hard Brick Recovery (EDL Mode): If your phone becomes completely unresponsive (hard bricked), the only way to recover it is via EDL Mode (Qualcomm 9008). This requires opening the phone and shorting two specific test points on the motherboard while connecting to a PC, which forces Mi Flash Tool to detect it for a low-level flash.
- Potential eMMC (Storage) Failure: After years of use, some Mi 4i units can suffer from a hardware failure of the eMMC (internal storage) chip. This can cause the device to get stuck in a permanent bootloop or die suddenly. This issue cannot be fixed with a software flash.
- Using an Older Mi Flash Tool: For a classic device like the Mi 4i, the latest Mi Flash Tool can have compatibility issues. If you encounter random errors, using a stable older version of the tool (like MiFlash20160401) often solves the problem.
FAQs
Q1. What was the “Sunlight Display” feature? “Sunlight Display” was a hardware-level technology that used local tone mapping to adjust the contrast of each pixel in real-time. This made the screen much more readable and vibrant in bright, direct sunlight compared to other phones of its era.
Q2. What is the difference between the Mi 4i and the flagship Mi 4? They are completely different devices. The Mi 4 was a true flagship with a metal frame, a more powerful Snapdragon 801 processor, and more RAM. The Mi 4i (ferrari) was a more affordable, mid-range device with a polycarbonate unibody and a Snapdragon 615 processor, aimed at markets like India.
Q3. What was the final official update for the Mi 4i? The Mi 4i launched with Android 5.0.2 Lollipop and did not receive an official major Android version upgrade. Its final official MIUI version was MIUI 9.2.
