Chinese Tech

Rumors that Xiaomi would release MIUI 13 this month have now been soundly disproven, with CEO Lei Jun announcing, a few hours ago, that the company will release MIUI 13 at the end of the year. The Mi 12 will likely be the first device to launch with that iteration of Xiaomi's skin, while the Mi 11 series can be expected to get updates first.

A new leak concerning the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 11T should please users who were tempted by the previous Mi 10T generation but may have been put off by the presence of an LCD screen. According to a noted tipster, the phones in the Mi 11T range will be fitted with up to 120 Hz-capable OLED panels.

The famous leaker Evan Blass claims to confirm recent rumors of Nokia's plan to break into the tablet market soon. The tipster asserts that this putative T20 is one of the HMD Global brand's next four upcoming products. Blass also now notes that each one has its own code-name: for example, the alleged slate is also apparently called the "Riddler".

While Samsung retains its traditional place as the king of the hill, the company saw a significant decline in quarterly sales, with Xiaomi, on the other hand, recording a mind-boggling 98% rise in YoY shipments on its way to toppling Apple from just beneath Samsung—all thanks to strong Redmi Note 10 and Mi 11 sales.

The Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro seems to be heading rapidly towards release as the device has been specifically named in a couple of newly unearthed listings. The model number was previously associated with the Mi 11T and a Snapdragon 888 processor. It’s likely Xiaomi will also release a Mi 11T Lite model.

Shortly after the release of MIUI 12.5.1, Xiaomi is now rolling out the version 12.5.3 software update to Mi 10T Pro handsets. In addition to the security patch dated June 2021, this new firmware refresh also promises to provide "increased system security" but, unfortunately, the official changelog stops here.

BOE has attended the ongoing China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference to announce that it has 480Hz display panels ready to go for the coming years. It has also been joined by the OEM's new ADS Pro technology, a form of mini-LED rated for up to 2000 nits of peak brightness, as well as upgraded curved OLED screens.

Realme is now tipped to launch a phone called the 8s soon. It is painted as a refresh for the pre-existing 8 5G, albeit with a heretofore-unheard of MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor. Therefore, it might still have up-to-date connectivity with a 90Hz display and a generous 5,000mAh battery.

Micron has put its latest kind of flash storage for mobile devices into production. It has the OEM's state-of-the-art 176-layer NAND technology, as well as the most up-to-date UFS 3.1 read and write speeds. The brand Honor has lost no time in announcing that its upcoming Magic3 flagship series will debut with this spec.

iQOO is now slated to be the first brand to launch an Android phone based on the latest top-end Snapdragon 888+ chipset. New leaks now also assert that it - or possibly its Pro version - will come with a display with a 2K resolution and the up-to-date LTPO spec, not to mention the ability to automatically adjust its refresh rate between 1 and 120 hertz (Hz).

It has been reported that MIUI 13’s release has been delayed. Apparently, Xiaomi’s Android overlay requires additional polishing, meaning the Mi Mix 4 and Mi Pad 5 will likely launch with MIUI 12.5 as OS. Meanwhile, more POCO and Redmi devices have purportedly joined the internal Android 12 beta testing phase.

Some details of a Xiaomi Mi Band X have leaked online, and it seems the Chinese company is looking to add something extraordinary to its hugely successful smart band lineup. The Mi Band X will apparently have a wraparound display and do without watch straps, utilizing a magnetic bracelet clasp for wearing and taking off.
Update: Xiaomi PR states the Mi Band X is a "virtual product" used in marketing training.

The latest specs rumor about the Xiaomi Mi 12 has concentrated on its memory type. Unsurprisingly, it’s expected that the Mi 12 will sport the brand-new LPDDR5X RAM that has just been announced by JEDEC. This latest improvement offers up to over 33% faster data transfer rates than the LPDDR5 RAM found in phones like the Xiaomi Mi 11.

MIUI code has revealed that an upcoming Xiaomi device, expected to be the Mi Mix 4, will offer ultra-wideband support. That device will be the first phone by Xiaomi to do so, joining an elite lineup consisting currently only of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra as well as the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and Galaxy S21 series.

The manufacturer has also updated the BIOS to support Windows 11 for users who want to tinker with a lemon-sized HTPC-ready streaming machine.

Realme has been teasing its new MagDart line of products as a possible new competitor to Apple's MagSafe system for a short while. The OEM has now confirmed that this technology will be unveiled in full on August 3, 2021. Meanwhile, its latest posters assert that it is capable of "440%" greater speeds, although in comparison to what exactly remains unknown.

Huawei flagships have a habit of finding themselves at the top of DxOMark's camera rankings at launch, and the new Huawei P50 Pro is no different. The Snapdragon 888-powered phone has now made the trip over to DxOMark, and slightly edged out the Mi 11 Ultra to clinch top spot—for whatever that's worth in the real world.

Realme has confirmed that it will launch its first-gen PC soon, widely thought to be a MacBook clone since thanks to numerous leaks on the subject. Now, a new product from the OEM that is almost certainly this probable ultrabook has been approved by the regulator 3C. It suggests that the Book does indeed have a spec to match many of its Apple counterpart.

Huawei has now unveiled its newest flagship phones, the Huawei P50 and Huawei P50 Pro. The two phones offer something rather interesting in the form of a 4G-only Snapdragon 888 SoC, but that should be offset by some impressive camera hardware, with the Huawei P50 Pro marking a return to Huawei monochrome shooters of old with a 40 MP B/W camera.

The POCO M3 Pro 5G smartphone has been added to the list of eligible devices that owners can use if they want to sign up to POCO’s recruitment drive for MIUI Global stable ROM testing. The M3 Pro 5G joins smartphones such as the POCO X3 and POCO F3 that can be used for testing. Applicants have to be 18 years of age or older.

MediaTek is set to deliver the first 4 nm chipset on the market later this year. The company will use TSMC's new 4 nm node in a bid to deliver its first truly flagship SoC, keeping it a step ahead of Qualcomm and its upcoming Snapdragon 898.

The famed and often reliable leaker Ishan Agarwal has published new posts containing some intriguing full-spec claims for the possibly-imminent Huawei P50 Pro. They pertain to the phone's putative 4G/LTE-only variant, which apparently has quad rear cameras, 3 of which are high-res sensors with different and occasionally quite surprising functions.

After releasing the Poco F3 GT, Xiaomi has returned with yet another GT model. This new device, the Poco X3 GT, isn't really new either, as it's already sold in China as the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G. It does deliver some excellent hardware, though, as well an extremely attractive price tag.

Even more Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro rumors have sprung up, containing information about the supposed charging capabilities, main cameras, and a previously unknown Snapdragon SoC. The Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro could end up being renamed under the POCO and Xiaomi brands for the global market.

A few weeks ago, Xiaomi sent out early MIUI 12.5 builds to the global and European models of the Mi Note Lite and Mi Note 10/Mi Note 10 Pro respectively. The company is now expanding the rollout by providing Turkish and Russian models of the Mi Note 10 Lite with their taste of MIUI 12.5, as well Global ROM units of the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro.

After kicking off with the update for Global ROM models a few weeks ago, Xiaomi is now expanding the MIUI 12.5 and Android 11 rollout for the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Owners of the device in Europe and Indonesia can now expect a 2.2 GB OTA that delivers MIUI 12.5, Android 11, and the July security patch.

An alleged real-life image of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 tablet has been posted online. The shot reveals the rear side of the Xiaomi tablet, which is expected to be officially announced in August. Unsurprisingly, the Mi Pad 5 looks very similar to the Apple iPad Pro but has also borrowed from the design of the Xiaomi Mi 11.

ZTE has unveiled the Axon 30, an Android phone that will stand out due to its under-display (or UDC) selfie camera, today (July 27, 2021). It will be available to the Chinese market initially, starting at ~US$338 from August 3 of this year. However, the OEM has also confirmed that it is coming to other countries in September.

According to a new report, OnePlus will not release a OnePlus 9T this year. This comes after the company similarly forwent the release of the OnePlus 8T Pro. The launch of the finely equipped OnePlus Nord 2 may also have been a deciding factor.

Realme has just overtly teased a "newcomer": a smartphone with the simple, snappy name of Flash. Shortly afterward, GSMArena claimed to have been sent some teasers with a succinct explanation for this new moniker: it will launch with compatibility for the OEM's rumored new MagDart wireless charging system.

A possible real-life image of the Xiaomi Mi 12 and specifically its rear-facing main camera system has appeared on Chinese social media. The alleged live shot offers up some clues about the potential camera equipment of the Mi 12, which is widely expected to end up sporting the Snapdragon 895 processor.

Xiaomi is now rolling out the MIUI 12.5 update to the Poco X3 NFC. The update for the mid-range phone is being sent out to Global ROM units, and delivers the July security patch. Meanwhile, the Poco F3 is now also receiving a new update in some regions.

Xiaomi has globally launched five AIoT products as part of its Smart Living for Everyone event. The announced items were the Mi Router AX9000, Mi 2K Gaming Monitor 27, Mi Smart Air Fryer 3.5L, Redmi Buds 3 Pro, and the Mi Electric Scooter 3. The new Xiaomi smart products will be made available to buy from country-specific Mi.com pages.

More information about the expected Redmi K50 and Redmi K50 Pro smartphones from Xiaomi has emerged. It has been alleged that the devices will be fitted with Snapdragon 895 processors and ape the looks of the upcoming Huawei P50, likely in regard to the camera housing. The Redmi K50 and K50 Pro could be released in early 2022.
A new rumor has suggested the Redmi K50 could end up also being the POCO F4.

After gracing the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite with their final updates last week, Xiaomi has continued to support its youngest Android One phone, the Mi A3, as promised. The July update is now seeding to the Mi A3 globally, but brings the phone a month closer to the end of its life.

A new video doing the rounds online shows its maker handling what is described as a "Huawei P50 Pro (dummy)". Presuming it is genuine, it may thus confirm numerous previous leaks for the phone, those pointing to an extra-large camera hump designed to house 5 lenses included - one of which is very clearly a periscope lens in this new clip.

The Mi Mix 4 will join the upcoming Galaxy ZFold3 as the forerunner of the under-display camera design. A new leak shows what seems to be a glass protector for the Xiaomi premium phone, and should keep fans of the series fired up ahead of the tipped August release.

While the Galaxy S21 series saw Samsung take a step back in some hardware quarters, the Galaxy S22 looks set to be a return to form, with Samsung supposedly already testing competitive charging technology on its next-gen flagship phones that should see them play on a more level field with phones like the upcoming Mi 12 and OnePlus 10 Pro.

The new Loongson 3A5000 processor is 50% faster than its predecessor and 30% more efficient, which puts it on the same level with AMD's first gen Ryzen processors. It packs 4 cores with no hyperthreading clocked at 2.3 - 2.5 GHz and supports DDR4-3200 RAM.

OPPO has unveiled its latest battery technology, which, as it claims, contains some significant performance and safety upgrades over the existing SuperVOOC 2.0 system. It is still rated for the same charging rate (65W), although its new structure might allow for greater capacity this time around. Therefore, the next-gen flagships from this OEM, not to mention its subsidiary OnePlus, could have larger batteries.

It appears a Xiaomi Mi 11T smartphone could be in the works as a mysterious device from the Chinese OEM has been spotted in FCC listings. If Xiaomi is planning on releasing a Mi 11T, which could sport an under-display camera and SD 888 processor, then it’s likely there will be a Mi 11T Pro and Mi 11T Lite released at some point too.

Xiaomi has officially unveiled its latest gaming smartphone, the POCO F3 GT. The device features a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC, a 120 Hz and AMOLED display, along with four cameras and support for 67 W fast charging.

Honor has announced that it will launch the V7 Pro soon, a tablet that, going by its new trailer, will debut with multiple high-end design trends. A famous leaker asserts that it will also do so with a new 5G Dimensity-series processor specifically made by MediaTek with its form-factor in mind. It is now rumored to launch later in July 2021.

Ever wanted to download more RAM? Xiaomi's latest feature will allow some owners to do something of the sort. After offering a Memory Extension feature on the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G weeks ago, Xiaomi is set to bring a more impressive implementation to its premium phones including the Poco F3, Mi 10, and Mi 11 series.

iQOO is said to launch an Android phone based on the new Snapdragon 888+ chipset soon, and will thereby replace a flagship with the OEM's top 120W Flash Charge technology. Now, a report from the Chinese media claims that its immediate successor will be the one to debut an upgrade that could fill its battery even faster.

OnePlus has now launched its main mid-range device for the year, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The OnePlus Nord 2 5G seeks to build on the relative success of last year's OnePlus Nord with a 90Hz AMOLED, 65 W charging, and a MediaTek Dimensity 1200, along with a €399 starting price tag in Europe.

ZTE has confirmed that the Axon 30 will be its second-gen under-display camera smartphone on its late July 2021 launch. Now, new in-the-wild videos purport to showcase this aspect of the device ahead of this event. The leaks suggest that the OEM has improved greatly on its headline feature compared to its forebear in the Axon 20.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra smartphone has not managed to enter the top 10 global ranking for display in a recent DxOMark test. The expensive phone performed well overall but was shy of the performances produced by rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and OnePlus 9 Pro. The Mi 11 Ultra achieved the same score as the cheaper Xiaomi Mi 11.

After beginning the Android 11 rollout for the European model of the Redmi Note 8 a few weeks ago, Xiaomi is now expanding its reach. Starting today, the Android 11 alongside the July security patch will reach the first batch of global Redmi Note 8 owners.

Xiaomi has announced a new colour variant of the Redmi Note 10S. Called Starlight Purple, the colour extends to the device's frame and has an eye-catching back panel.