Xiaomi Mi 6 2021 edition small phone that should be cheaper than the iPhone 12 mini possibly in the works

It seems possible that Xiaomi is planning on unleashing a remodeled Mi 6 smartphone for 2021 in a similar vein to the recent release of the Redmi Note 8 2021. Numerous clues, spotted by Xiaomiui, appear to point toward this, regardless of the fact that small phones seem to have fallen out of favor with the smartphone-buying public as of late. The original 2017 Xiaomi Mi 6 had a display size of 5.15 inches, so it certainly falls into the small/compact smartphone group, just like Apple’s iPhone 12 mini.

However, the iPhone 12 mini was considered to be a bit of a sales disaster for Cupertino, so some would question the logic behind Xiaomi following in Apple’s footsteps – beyond the fact that the Chinese OEM frequently shadows its American muse anyway. A similar rumor about a potential Mi 6 refresh occurred in 2020 just as Apple was preparing the iPhone SE 2020 for release. The original Mi 6 was hugely popular, and it did very well in our review thanks to its Snapdragon 835, great battery life (3,350-mAh cell), a pleasant display, and attractive price tag: About €400 at the time (currently US$477).

Apart from Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun asking followers about the Mi 6 and stating “received” when requested to “launch the Mi 6 replica”, other signs that a Mi 6 2021 edition could be in the works are the recent discovery of the “mercury” device and its connection with a 12 MP camera setup. Although somewhat tenuous links, the 2017 Xiaomi Mi 6 was eventually released in mercury silver and had a 12 MP + 12 MP main camera. If Xiaomi does release a Mi 6 2021 edition with updated hardware and specifications but keeps it at a more affordable price point (iPhone 12 mini: from US$699) then it could bump-start the small-phone market.

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