Tag: Xiaomi mi

Xiaomi Mi Note 4 To Launch With Transparent Back

The first Xiaomi smartphone to enter the Indian market was the Xiaomi Mi 3. The company launched the smartphone in July 2014. Since then, Xiaomi has produced smartphones in all the price segments. From budget-oriented devices to flagship smartphones. A TENAA listing suggests that the company might soon launch the Mi Note 4. We expect that the device will first be launched in China and then the company will organize a global launch if it does well in the Chinese market.

Mi Note 4

The TENAA listing of the Mi Note 4 suggests that smartphone would have both LTE and GSM capabilities. The specific model number which the TENAA listing certified is M1807E8A. Also, the images for the device reveal that the smartphone may feature a transparent rear-panel. This rear-panel is similar to the one on the Xiaomi Mi 8 – Explorer Edition. We speculate that the Mi Note 4 could sport a notch display with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. According to rumours, the smartphone may also sport an OLED panel and a 3,100 mAh Li-Ion battery.

TENAA Listing

The trend with Xiaomi smartphones is that they run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. Regardless of whether the device belongs to the flagship or the budget segment. We think the trend of using a Snapdragon chipset will continue with the Mi Note 4 as well. The smartphone may either run on the Snapdragon 660 or the new Snapdragon 710 SoC. We can also see from the leaked TENAA images that the smartphone has a triple camera setup. Although not much is known about the specification of these sensors. We speculate that there will be three storage variants of the device. The smartphone may be available with 6/4GB RAM and 32/64/128GB storage.

TENAA Listing

The Mi lineup has always been competitively priced. So, the Mi Note 4 should also follow the same trend. The price we expect the smartphone to launch at is CNY 1,999 (Rs. 20,115.94 approx). We will keep an eye out for further development on this story so stay tuned.

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July 30, 2018
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Officially Launched In China

Big screen-size smartphones have been around for a while now, ever since the first Samsung Galaxy Note launched back in 2011. From the standards of 2011, the Galaxy Note 1 was a phablet. Nowadays, 5.3-inches is the average screen size for a smartphone. The Xiaomi Mi Max series was the first from the company to launch with a 6.44-inch display. On 19th July, the Chinese manufacturer launched the Xioami Mi Max 3 in China. The phone has a starting price of CNY 1,699 (Rs. 17305.44 approx). Currently, the smartphone is exclusive to China, but Xiaomi could launch this device globally soon.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro To Launch In Late-2018

Mi Max 3

Made with glass, the front panel of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 houses the gigantic 6.9-inch display with 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The display is an IPS LCD panel with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone has an overall aluminum body.

The smartphone uses the MIUI 9.5 which is based on Android 8.1 (Oreo). The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636. This is an Octa-core 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 chipset. The SoC is paired with the Adreno 509 GPU.

The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will be available in two storage and RAM variants. The 64GB storage variant has a 4GB RAM and the 128GB variant has a 6GB RAM. The smartphone allows storage expandability of up to 256GB using MicroSD card. The price for the 64GB is CNY 1,699 (Rs. 17305.44 approx) and the 128GB variant will cost CNY 1,999 (Rs. 20361.14 approx).

For the first time, Xiaomi is introducing dual rear-facing camera for the Mi Max series. The primary camera for the Mi Max 3 has a 12 MP sensor with a f/1.9 aperture, and a 5 MP depth sensor. The secondary camera of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 has a single 8MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture. The smartphone can shoot 2160p videos at 30fps, 720p and 1080p at 30fps gyro-EIS stabilization, and 720p@120fps. The phone will be powered by a massive 5,500 mAh Li-Ion battery.

Mi Max 3 Battery

Xiaomi is one of the top brands in India. With that said, there are already a lot of good smartphones in the price range at which the Mi Max 3 is sold in China. From the Samsung Galaxy J8 to the Huawei P2 Lite. We will have to wait until the device is officially launched in India.

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July 19, 2018
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Price Revealed Before Launch On 20th July

The mid-range smartphone segment is a tough nut to crack for a manufacturer. There are already a lot of devices which offer value for money features. One such smartphone series is the Xiaomi Mi Max. The first phone to launch in this series was the Mi Max back in July 2016. Xiaomi is all set to launch a new device for the Mi Max series, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3. The device will launch on the 20th of July at 10.30 AM in China (8.00 AM IST). Before the launch, however, the price for two of the device’s variants are already available on Weibo.

Also Read: Honor 10 To Launch In India On May 15th For Rs 32999

Mi Max 3 Price Reveal via Weibo

Pricing

We can get a rough idea of the Indian pricing of the smartphone from the Weibo post. The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 would cost CNY 1,699 (Rs. 17,335.89 approx) for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. While the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant would cost CNY 1,999 (Rs. 20,396.97 approx).

Specs

From the post, we also got a decent amount of information about some of the smartphone’s specifications. The Mi Max 3 could feature a large 5,500 mAh battery. This is by far the biggest battery Xiaomi has ever used in its devices. The smartphone’s predecessor, the Mi Max 2, featured a massive 5,300mAh battery as well.

The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will sport a 6.9-inch display, as suggested by the post. We can expect a 19:9 aspect ratio to go along with the display. The advertisement for the display size of the Mi Max 3 seems to be taking shots at what looks like an iPhone.

Mi Max 3 VS iPhone Look-Alike

The post also confirms previous speculations regarding the Mix Max 3 featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC. This chipset will be paired with the Adreno 509 GPU.

Colour Variants

The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 could launch in three colour variants. The usual Gold, Matte Black, and some shade of Blue. We will have to wait for the launch to find out the official names of these variants.

Conclusion

Xiaomi’s Mi Max series has always been big on screen-size, yet they are priced competitively. We can only expect the trend to continue with the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 as well. What do you guys think of the smartphone?

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July 19, 2018
Xiaomi Mi A2 Confirmed To Launch On July 24 With Android One

The Chinese smartphone manufacturing company, Xiaomi has made a name for itself in the Indian market. Fans love the company mostly for its budget-friendly devices. The Xiaomi Mi A2 will be an Android One device which would launch on July 24 in Madrid, Spain. We can expect the Xiaomi Mi A2 to be another of those budget-friendly devices. The Xiaomi Mi A2 has been subject to a lot of speculations over the past few weeks. The new tweet by the company revealed the launch details.

The #MiA2 & #MiA2Lite are coming your way very soon. Did you guess right? #2isbetterthan1 pic.twitter.com/KYsPKeHWa2

— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) July 17, 2018

Xiaomi Mi A2 will be available in four variants. The most affordable one will have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, the second on the list will have 64GB storage and the same RAM. The third variant on the list will have 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage while the most premium variant will have 6GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.

Another aspect of the Xiaomi Mi A2 revealed in the leak is the colour options. The smartphone will be available in Gold, Blue and Black colour variants in India. However, looking at the marketing strategy of many smartphone makers, Xiaomi could launch a special red colour edition a couple of months after the Mi A2 launch. Much like the OnePlus 6.

Mi 6X Pink Variant

The smartphone is expected to have a 5.99-inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a 16:9 ratio aspect ratio. The screen to body ratio could be around 70.1%. The smartphone might run on the Snapdragon 626/660 Octa-core chipset. The beloved 3.5mm headphone jack could also make a reappearance on the Mi A2.

Must Read: Xiaomi Mi 8 Could Launch In India In July

The dual rear-camera on the Mi A2 could feature a 12 MP sensor with a f/2.2 aperture and another 12 MP sensor with a f/2.6 aperture. The front-facing camera of the device might have a 5 MP sensor capable of shooting 1080p videos.

Stay tuned to iGyaan for further updates on the Xiaomi A2 story.

July 17, 2018
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Launch Set For 19th July

Xiaomi has confirmed that the Mi Max 3 is going to launch on July 19th in China. Fans speculated that the Mi Max 3 would launch in the month of May alongside the launch of Mi 7. However, the CEO of the Chinese manufacturer, Lei Jun confirmed at that time the launch would happen sometime in July.

Prior to the launch confirmation, Lei Jun also teased the retail box of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3. The cuboidal box is white and has the “Max 3” embossed on the top in gold colour.

Mi Max 3 Retail Box

The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will have a 6.9 inch Full HD+ IPS LCD panel with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The aspect ratio for this smartphone is 18:9 and the screen-to-body ratio due to the lack of the notch is 79.8%. The Mi Max 3 will launch with MIUI 10 out of the box, based on Android 8.1 Oreo.

Xiaomi is likely to go with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor paired with the Adreno 509 GPU. The other likely alternative for the Xiaomi Max 3 is the Snapdragon 710 processor with the Adreno 616 GPU. According to some rumors, is also a possibility that we may see a Pro version with the latter SoC.

The phone is expected to be launched in three storage and RAM variants. The first variant will have 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. The other variant will have a 4GB RAM and a 64GB internal storage. The third variant will have a 6GB RAM and a large 128GB internal storage.

Also Read: OnePlus 6 Vs Xiaomi Mi 8: Top Notch Flagships

For the expected price of CNY 1,699 (roughly Rs. 17,400), Xiaomi decided to not put a notch on its 2018 Max smartphone. This is surprising, considering the fact that other manufacturers have adopted the notch, even for their sub Rs. 20K phones. To name one, The Nokia X6, which is yet to be released outside of China, has a notch. Xiaomi also has the Redmi 6 pro with a notch which will be launched in India later in the year.

July 12, 2018
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Retail Box Revealed By Xiaomi CEO Before Official Launch

Over the past few months, we have seen smartphone makers adopt varying marketing strategies. Lenovo took an extreme turn and hyped the Lenovo Z5 only to launch a mediocre version of what was expected. OnePlus teased a lot of new features of the OnePlus 6 before the official launch. Xiaomi has gone a step further with the Mi Max 3. Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi has posted an image of the retail box of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 before its official launch.

The box clearly states the Mi Max 3 moniker, hence confirming the existing rumours. The soon to be launched phablet will succeed the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 which was launched in late-July in 2017. The launch of the Mi Max 3 falls in line with the company’s launch pattern for the Max series. Unfortunately, the image does not give away any details about the smartphone.

Must Read: Xiaomi Mi 8 Could Launch In India In July

Mi Max 2

So far, there have been a few leaks regarding the Xiaomi Mi Max 3. According to the listing, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will sport a 6.9 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. This resolution confirms that the Mi Max 3 will have thinner bezels than its predecessor and also that it won’t have a notch. While many smartphones in 2018 sport a notch, users in general, aren’t very stoked about a notched display.

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Despite the larger display, the Mi Max 3 won’t be much larger than its predecessor. According to the listing, the Mi Max 3 measures 176.15 x 87.4 x 7.99 mm and weighs in at 221 grams. The Mi Max 2, on the other hand, measures 174.1 x 88.7 x 7.6mm and weighs in at 211 grams. For context, the Mi Max 2 had a 6.4 inch display and a 5300 mAh battery.

The Mi Max 3 will run on a 1.8GHz octa-core processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Xiaomi will launch multiple variants and the one with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage will be the priciest. The fingerprint sensor will be placed on the back of the device just like almost all the Xiaomi devices off late. Powering the smartphone is a 5400 mAh battery which isn’t a significant upgrade over the 5300 mAh battery found on the Mi Max 2.

The details about the camera department are scarce for now. The listing reveals that it will have a dual-camera setup on the back with a 12MP primary sensor. The dual-camera setup will be capable of shooting videos at up to 4K resolution. To the front is an 8MP front-facing sensor. The Mi Max 3 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box with MIUI 10 on top.

As bezels get thinner and displays get bigger, the line between smartphones and phablets will get blurrier. That, however, has not stopped Xiaomi from exploring the phablet realm. The Mi Max 3 could launch in India as well along with China. The pricing will be key for the device to have any impact on the over-crowded budget smartphone segment.

July 3, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 8 Could Launch In India In July

The Xiaomi Mi 8 was launched in China on May 31st. The smartphone was highly anticipated for its design and Face ID-like facial recognition system. Since its launch, the Mi 8, along with the Mi 8 SE and Mi 8 Explorer Edition has sold over a million units in China. The company now plans on bringing its flagship smartphone to international markets as well.

Xiao Zhiyuan, Xiaomi’s Product Marketing Director for Mobile Phones has confirmed that the Mi 8 will launch in international markets. He has conceded that its launch in other countries to begin as early as next month (July 2018). This essentially confirms that the Mi 8 will indeed launch in India as it is the biggest market for Xiaomi after China. Xiao Zhiyuan did not directly confirm the smartphone’s launch in India but, India is a highly probable destination for the notched flagship.

In China, the Xiaomi Mi 8 is available in three variants. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage is priced at CNY2,699 (Rs 28400 approx.), the 6GB RAM/128GB storage model costs CNY2,999 (Rs 315000) and the priciest version retails for CNY 3299 (Rs 34700 approx.) with the same RAM and 256GB storage. Considering Xiaomi’s pricing pattern so far, the Mi 8 could launch in India at a starting price of Rs 30000, which is much more affordable than the OnePlus 6.

Must Read: OnePlus 6 Vs Xiaomi Mi 8: Top Notch Flagships

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a 6.21 inch Super AMOLED display (by Samsung) with a 2248 x 1080 px resolution. The unusual resolution is a result of an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. Xiaomi, like OnePlus, has stuck to a FullHD+ resolution instead of a QuadHD+ resolution found in devices like the Galaxy S9.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 845 chipset with 6GB of RAM coupled with 64GB/128GB/256GB of onboard storage. The onboard storage will not be expandable, which has been the case for flagship Xiaomi devices for a while. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of smartphones, giving users an option to choose between Face Unlock and a fingerprint sensor.

Powering the smartphone will be a 3400 mAh battery which charges via USB C port. Despite the glass back, the Xiaomi Mi 8 does not have wireless charging. Out of the box, the Mi 8 will run Android 8.1 Oreo with the new MIUI 10 on top. MIUI 10 was also announced at the same event and comes with Xiaomi’s own Xiao Ai smart assistant, similar to Google Assistant and Siri.

Must Read: Unboxing The Honor 10

The vertically-placed dual-camera setup is also reminiscent of the iPhone X. However, Xiaomi appears to have adopted the design for its 2018 lineup of smartphones. To the back is a primary 12MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture coupled with a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture and 1-micron pixel size. The notch houses a 20MP AI camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Just like the iPhone X, it also has a portrait lighting feature and Xiaomi’s own take on the animojis.

The Xiaomi Mi 8, on paper, is a very good affordable flagship smartphone. If launched in India, it will be up against the likes of the OnePlus 6 and Honor 10. The only caveat for the Xiaomi Mi 8 could be the flash sale system.

June 30, 2018
Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 To Launch On June 25th

After a few days of speculations and leaks, Xiaomi has officially confirmed that the Mi Pad 4 is coming. The Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 will launch in China on June 25th. The poster was posted on the company’s official Weibo page. The fourth-gen Mi Pad will succeed the Mi Pad 3 which was launched in April 2017.

The Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 has so far flown under the radar of internet leaks. We barely know anything about the upcoming tablet apart from a few vague details. Recent leaks suggest the Mi Pad 4 will run on Snapdragon 660 chipset and sport an 18:9 aspect ratio. If true, this will be a headline-grabber as well since no other tablets with this aspect ratio have launched so far.

It is also rumoured to have a 13MP rear-facing camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. The Mi Pad 3 did not feature a fingerprint sensor. With the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4, there are chances of the company introducing the feature that has become the norm in all sorts of mobile devices. However, Xiaomi usually placed the fingerprint sensor on the back of its devices which might be cumbersome on a tablet.

Xiaomi is one of the few Android smartphone makers to still push tablets into the market. After a few years of competing with Apple’s iPad lineup, Android tablets have slowly faded into oblivion. It’ll be interesting to see how the Mi Pad 4 performs in the market considering the 6th-gen Apple iPad is also very affordable. The Mi Pad 4, however, will definitely undercut the cheapest iPad in terms of pricing when it is launched.

6th-Gen iPad

The launch of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 isn’t too far away. Its launched in India, however, is indefinite. It is to be seen whether the company decides to bring its latest tablet offering to India or not.

June 20, 2018
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 With 5400 mAh Battery And 6.9 Inch Display Listed On TENNA

Xiaomi recently launched the eagerly anticipated Mi 8 in China along with the Mi 8 Explorer Edition and Mi 8 SE. There have been rumours of Xiaomi maybe launching the Mi 8 SE in India while the Mi 8 will be a China-exclusive for now. Apart from the Mi 8 SE, Xiami could launch another budget Mi device in India, the Mi Max 3. A new listing on TENNA essentially confirms that the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will indeed launch soon.

According to the listing, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will sport a 6.9 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. This resolution confirms that the Mi Max 3 will have thinner bezels than its predecessor and also that it won’t have a notch. While many smartphones in 2018 sport a notch, users in general, aren’t very stoked about a notched display.

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Despite the larger display, the Mi Max 3 won’t be much larger than its predecessor. According to the listing, the Mi Max 3 measures 176.15 x 87.4 x 7.99 mm and weighs in at 221 grams. The Mi Max 2, on the other hand, measures 174.1 x 88.7 x 7.6mm and weighs in at 211 grams. For context, the Mi Max 2 had a 6.4 inch display and a 5300 mAh battery.

The Mi Max 3 will run on a 1.8GHz octa-core processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Xiaomi will launch multiple variants and the one with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage will be the priciest. The fingerprint sensor will be placed on the back of the device just like almost all the Xiaomi devices off late. Powering the smartphone is a 5400 mAh battery which isn’t a significant upgrade over the 5300 mAh battery found on the Mi Max 2.

The details about the camera department are scarce for now. The listing reveals that it will have a dual-camera setup on the back with a 12MP primary sensor. The dual-camera setup will be capable of shooting videos at up to 4K resolution. To the front is an 8MP front-facing sensor. The Mi Max 3 will run Android 8 Oreo out of the box with MIUI 10 on top.

The Mi Max 3 is expected to launch sometime in July this year. Unlike recent Xiaomi offerings, the Mi Max 3 is expected to launch in India as well.

June 20, 2018

OnePlus 6 Vs Xiaomi Mi 8: Top Notch Flagships

If 2017 was all about that dual-camera setup, then 2018 is about that notch. Before MWC 2018, many expected this year’s smartphones to focus on AI and machine learning. However, the iPhone X set the trend of the notch in motion. The OnePlus 6 and Xiaomi Mi 8 are two 2018 flagship devices that have implemented the notch but, in two completely different ways.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a wider notch but, it also houses all the tech required for 3D facial recognition. After the iPhone X, the Mi 8 is the first smartphone to feature 3D facial recognition technology, similar to Apple’s Face ID. The OnePlus 6, on the other hand, features a narrower notch which helps the company reduce the size of the bezels and incorporate a bigger display without really increasing the overall footprint of the smartphone.

In a lot of ways, the Xiaomi Mi 8 and OnePlus 6 are similar. Both the devices use an AMOLED display with FullHD+ resolution and run on the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. Even in terms of pricing, both the devices are much more affordable when compared to the likes of Galaxy S9, HTC U12+ or the iPhone X. The Mi 8 starts at a price of CNY 2,699 (Rs 28400 approx.) while the OnePlus 6 in China starts at a price of CNY 3199 (Rs 33800 approx.). In India, while the OnePlus 6 retails for Rs 34999 (base model), the Mi 8 might never launch.

The Xiaomi Mi 8, design-wise, takes a lot of inspiration from the iPhone X. The presence of a wide notch like the iPhone X and the vertically placed dual camera setup is very similar to Apple’s current flagship. The Mi 8, however, fails to replicate one of the most impressive design features of the iPhone X. The iPhone X doesn’t have a chin, while the Mi 8 has a chin very similar to the OnePlus 6.

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Both the Mi 8 and OnePlus 6 also feature a dual-camera setup on the back. The Mi 8 has a primary 12MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture coupled with a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture and 1-micron pixel size. The notch houses a 20MP AI camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Just like the iPhone X, it also has a portrait lighting feature and Xiaomi’s own take on the animojis.

The OnePlus 6 has a 16MP Sony IMX 519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IMX 376K sensor. Both are RGB sensors and have an f/1.7 aperture with OIS, another first for a OnePlus device. The cameras also record 4K videos at 60fps which is a great feature for content creators. To the front of the smartphone is a 16MP Sony IMX 371 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture and EIS which records 1080P videos.

Let’s compare the specifications of the two smartphones!

Specifications

Specs	OnePlus 6	Xiaomi Mi 8
Price	Starting Rs 34999 (India)	Starting CNY 2,699 (Rs 28400 approx.)
Display	6.28 inch Optic AMOLED	6.21 inch Super AMOLED
Resolution	2280 x 1080 px 402 ppi	2248 x 1080 px 402 ppi
Battery	3300 mAh Dash Charge	3400 mAh QuickCharge 3.0
Chipset	Snapdragon 845	Snapdragon 845
RAM	6GB/8GB	6GB
Storage	64GB/128GB/256GB	64GB/128GB/256GB
Primary Camera	16MP Sony IMX 519 20MP Sony IMX 376K f/1.7 OIS	12MP RGB f/1.8 4-axis OIS 12MP Telephoto f/2.4
Primary Camera Video	4K @ 60fps 1080P @ 240fps	4K @ 60fps 1080P @ 240fps
Secondary Camera	16MP Sony IMX 371 f/2.0 EIS	20MP f/2.0 Animojis
OS	Andrpoid 8.1 Oreo OxygenOS	Android 8 Oreo MIUI 9.5
Add-Ons	Fingerprint Sensor Face Unlock (not secure) 3.5mm headphone jack	3D Face Unlock Fingerprint Sensor Dual GPS

June 15, 2018

Xiaomi Mi A2 Running On Snapdragon 660 To Launch In India Soon

Xiaomi has launched a few interesting smartphones in 2018 so far. The Redmi Note 5 Pro continues to be one of the most sought-after budget devices in India as the Redmi Note 5 has also found its audience. On June 7th, the company will launch another Redmi smartphone in India, a week after unveiling the flagship device, Mi 8 in China. One smartphone that everyone is looking forward to, is the Xiaomi Mi A2, the successor to the very popular Mi A1. After months of speculations, it appears that the Mi A2 does exist and should launch in India soon.

Xiaomi Mi A1

A new report claims to have “confirmation from an inside source regarding the existence of the Xiaomi Mi A2.” The report claims that the Mi A2 will be a rebranded Mi 6X which launched in April in China. The Mi A2 will first launch in Taiwan along with the Mi 8 and then make its way to the Indian market. This means that Xiaomi might be planning to stick to the September timeframe since the Mi A1 was also launched in the month of September in 2017.

Must Read: Xiaomi Mi 8 Officially Launched With 3D Face Unlock

The Xiaomi Mi A1 was also just a rebranded Mi 5X so, this information is not surprising. This information does solidify the argument that the Mi A1 will see a successor in India. With the Mi A1 being so popular, a follow-up was anticipated but, nothing can be said for sure. The Xiaomi Mi 6X has impressive specifications and should be a worthy successor to the Mi A1, provided it has better camera performance.

Mi 6X

The Xiaomi Mi 6X has a 5.99 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. This is the same display found on the Redmi Note 5 Pro in India and the size of the bezels is also identical.

Under the hood, the Xiaomi Mi 6X runs on the Snapdragon 660 chipset, coupled with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage which won’t be expandable. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the back of the smartphone which has been the case with almost every Xiaomi smartphone.

Must Read: Top Tech: 10 Products By Xiaomi Not Easily Available In India

Powering the smartphone 3010 mAh battery. Interestingly, the smartphone supports QuickCharge 3.0 which means it also has a USB type C port, something that a lot of Xiaomi fans wanted on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Out of the box, the Mi 6X will run on Android 8 Oreo with MIUI 9.5 on top.

Out of the two cameras on the back, the main sensor is a 20MP Sony IMX486 with an f/1.75 aperture and 2-micron pixel size. The secondary sensor is 12MP Sony IMX486 telephoto lens with an f/1.75 aperture and 1.25-micron pixel size. The AI is used to identify over 206 scenes in the camera app which includes food mode, text, greenery, sky, beach, snow, cats, dogs and many more. Once a scene is detected, the camera automatically tweaks its settings for, in theory, a better image. On the front of the Mi 6X is a 20MP Sony IMX376 sensor with soft light LED flash.

As we said before, the Mi 6Xor the Xiaomi Mi A2 appears to be a worthy successor to the Mi A1. Whether these specifications will translate into real-world performance is yet to be seen.

June 6, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE Running On Snapdragon 710 Officially Launched

Xiaomi launched the Mi 8 to celebrate its 8th anniversary at an event in China. At the same event, the company also unveiled a special edition of the Mi 8, the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE. Up until a few days ago, there was hardly any chatter of Xiaomi launching two version of the Mi 8. However, the leaks started pouring just few days before the launch and the company confirmed all the rumours at its May 31st launch.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 SE resembles the nomenclature Apple went with when it launched smaller version of a flagship iPhone. Apple launched the iPhone SE and just like the iPhone SE, the Mi 8 SE is a smaller version of the flagship Mi 8. This hardly comes as a surprise as Xiaomi has historically taken “inspiration” from Apple in terms of design, nomenclature and software as well. Shades of iOS are still are evident in MIUI.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is priced at CNY 1,799 (Rs 19000 approx.) for the 4GB RAM variant and CNY 1999 (Rs 21000) for the 6GB RAM variant. The design of the Mi 8 SE remains similar to the Mi 8. It has a big notch on the display, similar to the iPhone X and a vertically placed dual-camera setup on the back. The notch on the Mi 8 SE is disappointing to say the least. Unlike the Mi 8, the SE does not have the technology for 3D facial recognition. This means that the company could have done away with the notch for this ‘Special Edition’ variant.

The Mi 8 SE has a 5.88 inch Super AMOLED display with a 2248 x 1080 px resolution. The aspect ratio is 18.7:9, which is the same as the Mi 8. The Mi 8 SE retains the glass back panel and the aluminium frame, which means that even though it has downgraded hardware, the design and build quality is as good as the flagship Mi 8.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset. It is worth noting that the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE is the first-ever smartphone to be powered by Qualcomm’s new mid-range chipset. The Mi 8 SE will be available in two variants, one with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and the other one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Powering the smartphone will be a 3120 mAh battery with QuickCharge 3.0.

To the back of the smartphone is a 12MP RGB sensor with an f/1.9 aperture mated with a 5MP depth sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. To the front is a 20MP camera with a 2-micron pixel size and and f/2.0 aperture. Just like the Mi 8, the Mi 8 SE also has AI features like scene detection for better photography in the auto mode.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 SE has a great price and design. It is to be seen, however, how the Snapdragon 710 performs in the real world since no other smartphone has been launched with this SoC before. Will it make its way to other countries like India? Only time will tell. c

May 31, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 8 Officially Launched With 3D Face Unlock

Xiaomi hosted its 8th anniversary launch event in China and unveiled a plethora of devices. The most anticipated device to launch at the event was the Xiaomi Mi 8. For weeks there were rumours about the Mi 8 being the first Android smartphone to launch with a Face ID-like facial recognition system and even feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. All these rumours were put to rest by Xiaomi and the Mi 8 looks like the best iPhone X recreation yet.

The Mi 8 will be available in three variants in China. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage is priced at CNY2,699 (Rs 28400 approx.), the 6GB RAM/128GB storage model will cost CNY2,999 (Rs 315000) and the priciest version will retail for CNY 3299 (Rs 34700 approx.) with the same RAM and 256GB storage. It goes on sale in China on June 5th via its official online and offline stores.

The Mi 8 is Xiaomi’s first smartphone to sport a notch, a trend slowly becoming the norm. The Mi 8’s notch, however, should not disappoint a lot of people since it solves a purpose, just like the iPhone X’s notch does. As we have been speculating for weeks, the Mi 8 is indeed the first Android smartphone to feature 3D facial recognition which means Xiaomi had to incorporate more sensors than usual in the notch.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 is also the first smartphone with Dual GPS technology. The dual GPS technology doesn’t use the L1 frequency like other smartphones. It instead uses the L5 frequency usually used by the aeronautical industry. According to Xiaomi, the dual-frequency GPS detects the location more accurately by eliminating radio disturbances from buildings. It also reduces signal delays, making navigation faster.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a 6.21 inch Super AMOLED display (by Samsung) with a 2248 x 1080 px resolution. The unusual resolution is a result of an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. Xiaomi, like OnePlus, has stuck to a FullHD+ resolution instead of a QuadHD+ resolution found in devices like the Galaxy S9.

Under the hood, the smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 845 chipset with 6GB of RAM coupled with 64GB/128GB/256GB of onboard storage. The onboard storage will not be expandable, which has been the case for flagship Xiaomi devices for a while. The fingeprint sensor is placed on the back of smartphones, giving users an option to choose between Face Unlock and a fingerprint sensor.

Powering the smartphone will be a 3400 mAh battery which charges via USB C port. Despite the glass back, the Xiaomi Mi 8 does not have wireless charging. Out of the box, the Mi 8 will run Android 8.1 Oreo with the new MIUI 10 on top. MIUI 10 was also announced at the same event and comes with Xiaomi’s own Xiao Ai smart assistant, similar to Google Assistant and Siri.

The vertically-placed dual-camera setup is also reminiscent of the iPhone X. However, Xiaomi appears to have adopted the design for its 2018 lineup of smartphones. To the back is a primary 12MP RGB sensor with an f/1.8 aperture coupled with a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture and 1-micron pixel size. The notch houses a 20MP AI camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Just like the iPhone X, it also has a portrait lighting feature and Xiaomi’s own take on the animojis.

The company went a step further and launched a special edition Mi 8 as well. The Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition has an in-display fingerprint sensor which the company claims is faster than Vivo’s. It is also the first-ever smartphone with a pressure sensitive fingerprint sensor. The specifications remain the same as the Mi 8 but, the rear-facing fingerprint sensor disappears. The back of the device has a transparent glass that gives a peek to the internals of the device.

The Mi 8 Explorer Edition is priced at CNY3,799 (Rs 40000 approx.) and will be available in the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant only.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 has a big notch like the iPhone X and follows an industry-wide trend. However, the notch has a reason to exist as it is the first-ever Android smartphone to feature 3D facial recognition technology. With it being a world-first, we expect the company to launch it in other major markets like India. There are no details about it yet and we shall keep you posted on any developments regarding the matter.

May 31, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE To Launch Along With Mi 8 On May 31st

Xiaomi has completed 8 years and the company will commemorate the milestone at its May 31st event. Succeeding the Mi 6 won’t be Mi 7 but it will indeed be the Xiaomi Mi 8. Rumours and multiple leaks suggest that the Mi 8 will be the first Android smartphone to incorporate iPhone X’s Face ID-like 3D facial recognition system. However, the Mi 8 might not be the only smartphone Xiaomi launches on May 31st as a new leak has revealed the existence of the Xiaomi Mi 8 SE.

The resemblance of Mi 8 SE’s nomenclature with the iPhone SE is uncanny. Xiaomi is known for taking “inspiration” from Apple in the past. Shades of iOS are visible in MIUI as well and Apple’s design has been a source of inspiration of Xiaomi as well. Even the Mi 8 is expected to have a notch design very similar to the iPhone X.

Must Read: Apple iPhone SE 2 Renders Leaked Again With iPhone X Style Notch

The Mi 8 SE has been spotted on Xiaomi’s online mall (Mi Mall) along with the Mi 8. Rumours of the Mi 8 SE aren’t new and what ‘SE’ stands for is still a mystery. Considering the theme of the launch event, it might as well be the Mi 8 Special Edition (SE) which could be a limited edition device with Gold accents and a ceramic back. The Mi 8 is expected to have a glass back and feature wireless charging as well. However, it is also entirely possible that the Mi 8 SE will be like the iPhone SE and sport a smaller display while maintaining the other key design elements.

Mi 8

Must Read: Xiaomi Mi 8 To Cost Around Rs 30000

It will also be interesting to see if the Mi 8 SE will sport a notch and have the same 3D facial recognition system as the Mi 8. Other rumours have suggested that the Mi 8 will have an in-display fingerprint sensor. The Mi 8 SE might get rid of the notch and Face ID and instead feature an in-display fingerprint sensor which would sort of justify the ‘SE’ tag as well. All the speculations are short-lived as the event is just a couple of days away. Stay tuned for all the updates about the Xiaomi May 31st launch event.

May 29, 2018
MIUI 10 To Launch On May 31st Along With Mi 8

Xiaomi has confirmed that a May 31st event to celebrate 8 years of the company will be held in China. The Xiaomi Mi 8 will launch at the event along with a few other products. The Mi Band 3 has also been rumoured to launch at the event. The company has taken to Twitter to confirm that the next iteration of MIUI will also launch at the May 31st event. MIUI 10 will follow MIUI 9 which was announced in late-July 2017.

The teaser released by Xiaomi has some text written under the number ’10’. It roughly translates to “I will be faster than lighting.” This is in line with the Mi 8 teaser which read “I am Mi 8 and I will be faster than ever.” This suggests that the Mi 8 will be the first smartphone to run MIUI 10 out of the box. While there are no details about MIUI 10 so far, it is expected to be based on Android 8 Oreo.

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With Android P just a couple of months away from official launch, Xiaomi smartphones after the Mi 8 will launch with Android 8 Oreo out of the box. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly Xiaomi releases updates to the latest version of Android since that has been one of the main concerns for people using MIUI. With Project Treble, the timeline of updates should be shorter but, how short that will be, only time will tell.

Mi 8

The focus will surely remain on the Mi 8. The smartphone is expected to have 3D facial recognition technology, similar to the iPhone X. If this turns out to be true, the Xiaomi Mi 8 will be the first ever Android smartphone to feature such technology. Just like what the Mi MIX did in 2016, the Mi 8 might set a precedent for upcoming Android devices in terms of biometrics.

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The launch event is just a few days away and it’ll be interesting to see if Xiaomi plans to celebrate the 8th anniversary just in China or will other countries like India will be a part of its plans.

May 23, 2018