Xiaomi Mi5 — premium and yet budget-friendly smartphone

Branding and marketing strategies of Xiaomi are strong that almost everyone knows about this rising smartphone brand. Looking at the trend, it is a serious contender to Samsung and Apple if it is available internationally *but sadly it is not*

In this year MWC, Xiaomi chooses to announce its latest flagship, the long-awaited Xiaomi Mi 5 in three slightly different tastes. They are the 32GB version, a 64GB version with faster processing power, both having 3GB RAM and lastly a ceramic black Mi 5 Pro with 4GB RAM. On the front, you can see a 5.5 inch IPS display with great viewing angle and colour saturation, plus a 4MP front facing camera with 2 micron pixel size . At the back, you can find the 16MP Sony IMX298 sensor, f/2.0, phase-detection AF touted with 4-axis optical image stabilization, all of these protected by a sapphire glass. Hid underneath the screen are the Snapdragon 820 processor and 3000 mAh battery. Comparable to other flagships, it has fingerprint scanner but no other fancy feature such as liquid cooling.

Mi 5 Pro (aka ceramic version))

Mi 5

In a recent interview, Hugo Barra revealed Xiaomi only has plans for making Xiaomi Mi5 available only on the current markets it operates on. The Mi5 will launch in the company’s home country of China and will be available on March 1 for a price of around $300 (MYR 1,300). We are expecting that later this year the Mi 5 should hit Xiaomi’s core markets – China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, and probably, Brazil. Heads up Malaysians!

Global invitation for Xiaomi lovers!

Long awaited Mi 5 launch event will take place in China National Convention Center on 24 February and starts at 14:00 (GMT+8). It has a slogan of “All you ever imagined, and more ! ” The device is confirmed to be running on Qualcomm’s latest processor Snapdragon 820.

This launch event is open not only for media but also for passionate and hardcore Mi Fans all around the world with the price of ¥199 ($30/ MYR 130). Those who bought the ticket and attended the launch event is eligible to claim a mysterious giftpack after the launch event ends. At the time this page was drafted, one thousand applicants had already sent in. Only 10 lucky Mi fans will be flown from around the world to attend this Mi 5 product launch and experience the Mi 5 first hand.

Click on the link below to participate in the event!

http://en.miui.com/thread-216434-1-1.html

Xiaomi second wave of Mi Pad 2

Chinese budget phone maker, Xiaomi just posted launch of Windows 10-variant Mi Pad 2 on 26th January at 10am local time. The tablet was launched back in November 2015 but only runs on Android. Now, rejoice for Windows fans!!

The tablet features full metal clad body and yet feels light on your palm, 7.9 inch display, battery capacity of 6190 mAh, 8 megapixel rear and 5 megapixel front camera. It comes with six options: silver, gold and pink with 16/64GB storage respectively. Though, the Windows 10 version is only availeble in 64GB variant. The 16GB variant is sold at Renminbi 999. The 64GB sibling is priced the same at 1299 Renminbi for both Android and Windows versions.

The tablet can be connected to keyboard and mouse through Bluetooth and it works as a full fledged laptop with the power of Windows 10.

Xiaomi fans in China, your chance is here! We wonder when it will come to our shore in Malaysia…

Update: At local time 6pm, Mi Pad 2 was sold out on its sales web portal http://item.mi.com/static/buymipad

Source

Unibody full metal Mi5 surfaced?

Which aspect stimulates you to own a Xiaomi Mi5? Design, features or accesorries?

This is one of the leaked out photos of Xiaomi Mi5. The phone is covered with full metal body and has two strips near to the top and bottom edges, which resembles the design on HTC One A9 and iPhone 6/6S.

Could this be the Mi5 we are expecting? Or just one of the prototypes found in its Chinese office? The answer will be revealed in near future.

Xiaomi Mi5 debut on 24th January 2016

Xiaomi fans wait no more! According to the senior VP of Xiaomi, the Chinese-based company is going to launch the long waited Xiaomi Mi5 two weeks before the Chinese New Year in its homeground.

Is this how it looks? Everything will be unveiled on 24th January.

Mi5 will be the next company’s flagship. If rumours were correct, what keep it running are the latest Snapdragon 820 processor (quad core CPU and Adreno 530 GPU) and 4GB RAM. The handset is powered by a 3030 mAh battery. It also features fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button as found in Redmi Note 3. Mi5 is expected to be sold at 1999 Renminbi (about USD 300/ MYR 1300)

Source

Android Marshmallow update for Xiaomi Mi Note

MIUI 7 based on Android Marshmallow was reported being tested in China. The update was meant for the higher variant, 3GB RAM with 1080p display. The software is still under beta testing now and let’s hope that the software update will come to users in Malaysia soon enough!

Rising “BIG” smartphone brands

The current mobile phone trend is led by smartphone giants you have probably heard of: Samsung, Apple, Sony, HTC, Motorola, Microsoft, Asus, Lenovo, LG … and many more… These are the names and brands which account for more than 99.9% of the smartphone (and even wearables) universe. Most of these giants now focus on US and Europe markets due to their high demand.

No doubt these companies are throwing in huge budget in R&D:

1. Samsung – the all-rounder in every aspect including camera, display, processing power, wearables….
2. Apple – iOS fluidity, vast amount of app in AppStore, top flight camera performance, not to forget iPads too many for me to mention
3. Sony – variety of water-resistant smartphones and good camera performer
4. Microsoft – known for its Lumia brand and perfect PureView camera inherited from Nokia, portable Surface PC and Continuum
5. Asus – Selfie phone is really a plus point for girls and selfie-goers. Zenfone Zoom, let’s see how it fares against Lumia
6. LG – flexible display and battery *wow*

However, people rarely boasts about brands that are considered minor in the market such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu, ZTE Nubia, LeTV, Oppo, Vivo, Yotaphone, Micromax, Alcatel, Jolla, Oneplus, BLU, Archos, Gionee, XOLO, LAVA Blackberry??…… These brands are in fact less popular but they do contribute to the advancement of today’s mobile technology.

Here are some examples showing how these small companies made their way to defeat some of the giants in certain aspects:

1. Apple was “thought to be” the first to release the breakthrough Force Touch technology and was actually NOT. The first inventor of Force Touch is Huawei Mate S, before Apple
2. Oppo N1 is the first smartphone to feature rotating camera which dual functions as front and rear camera with flash. This technology was refined with the introduction of Oppo N3
3. Yotaphone is the first company to offer dual-screen E-ink Android phone
4. LeTV is the first smartphone to apply Qualcomm 820 Snapdragon processor, followed by Xiaomi 5 up next
5. Oneplus is always offering top-end specs without putting a hole in your wallet

 

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This blog is meant to be a platform for fellow readers to share their ideas and for technology leaders to publish their innovations. Of course, I do update groundbreaking technologies from big companies too!

Please stick with my blog as I am going to introduce more news and updates! Your comments are very much welcomed and hope to get support from you guys!