Xiaomiβs Mi-too
Xiaomi never changes, and why should it β it sells more phones than anyone else. (Letβs just not mention the wins.)
Anyway, on that day that Samsung launches its new line of foldable products, Xiaomi launched:
- A perfect copy of the iPad Pro
- A copy of Spot (the robot dog thing built by the US company Boston Dynamics)
- And a very good looking new smartphone in the Mi Mix 4 that goes its own way. Credit where itβs due.
The additional disadvantage here is that the introduction of Xiaomi was China-specific. We donβt have any other release details or pricing for any of the products and not much of Xiaomi makes it to the US. So read on for just a brief overview.
Mi Mix 4
- The 6.67-inch Mi Mix 4 smartphone came with a 20 MP selfie camera under the display, an OLED refresh rate of 120 Hz, Snapdragon 888 Plus, a 4,500 mAh battery with 120 W wired charging and 50 W wireless charging, triple camera setup and βunique UWB technologyβ with. launched βPoint to Connectβ functions for other Xiaomi smart home products that can be connected to.
- It also has a ceramic back and will launch in China on Aug. 16 for around $ 770, although prices never really translate to other markets.
- Thatβs still ~ 50% more than Mix 3, but Xiaomi uses the branding / halo effect here and plays into the βWe got it before Samsungβ vibe that Iβve been talking about all week. In China, there will be a great chance of taking more from Huawei.
Mi-Pad 5
- Xiaomi announced three models: Mi Pad 5, Mi Pad Pro and Mi Pad Pro 5G in China and decided to compare it to the iPad Pro β¦ by showing how similar the base option was to the iPad Pro:
- In short, each has an 11-inch high refresh rate display with Dolby Vision support and a Snapdragon 8-series chipset: the 860 on the Vanilla, the 870 on the Pro versions.
- The Pro models also have better cameras and the Pro 5G has a 5G modem.
- That being said, prices start at around $ 300 for the lowest spec of the Mi Pad 5, while the top-of-the-line Pro 5G is around $ 540.
- Itβs impressive that Xiaomi can copy an iPad so much cheaper, but a) there is still no word on this launch outside of mainland China and b) sadly, Android tablets simply donβt have enough developer support.
Cyberdog
- The Boston Robotic spot costs $ 74,500. Xiaomiβs copy of CyberDog, which can jump backwards and include a brain from Nvidia, will cost around $ 1,540 (RMB 9,999), although only 1,000 will be made and it will only be available to βengineers, enthusiasts, and fansβ.
- It feels more like a proof of concept getting Xiaomi into robotics and the company is making the design open source.
- Itβs threatening at least in part β Xiaomiβs published renders arenβt aiming for a cute, whimsical look, but rather a design for the nearest police station.
- I mean look:
- no thanks
.
Round up
Wednesday oddity
I hadnβt noticed that Jelly Belly had gone all in on Bertie Bottβs Harry Potter style beans of all flavors. These Potterverse candy / candy had jelly beans with flavors like apple, chocolate cake and, uh, belly button lint, ear wax and lobster.
There is a kind of new βBeanBoozledβ series that is being inserted into this world with a sixth edition with similar taste duos.
- If youβre lucky, you might get a birthday cake flavor. Less luck, and your jelly bean is a dirty dishwasher. Ew.
Here is the rest of the sixth edition:
- Liver and onions / cappuccino
- Old bandage / pomegranate
- Rotten egg / buttered popcorn
- Toothpaste / berry blue
- Barf / peach
- Stink Bug / Toasted Marshmallow
- Booger / juicy pear
- Stinky socks / tutti-fruitti
- Dead fish / strawberry and banana smoothie
I have to say, hats off: the old association taste is really inspired. What an olfactory jolt to think about.
Catch tomorrow for post-unpacked thoughts,
Tristan Rayner, Managing Editor