Xiaomi launches the Mi 9 SE — the first phone powered by the Snapdragon 712

While the Mi 9 was the flagship offering from Xiaomi with an impressive spec sheet, not too far behind is the Mi 9 Special Edition (SE). The Mi 9 SE is is billed to be the world's first phone to be powered by the new Snapdragon 712 SoC that was announced earlier this month. The Snapdragon 712 is slightly overclocked version of the Snapdragon 710 with a 2.3 GHz clock and support for Fast Charging 4+.

The phone has 6 GB of RAM and offers 64 and 128 GB storage options. Like the Mi 9, the Mi 9 SE also features a 48 MP Sony IMX586 primary sensor and an in-display fingerprint sensor. The 48 MP primary camera is accompanied by a 13 MP ultra-wide angle lens and an 8 MP telephoto lens forming a triple camera setup. The 5.97-inch 2,340x1,080 AMOLED screen sports a water drop notch that houses the 20 MP selfie camera.

There is no headphone jack so the only recourse is to use USB Type-C or wireless headphones. MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie is the OS used and it also includes a Game Turbo booster for enhanced gaming performance. A 3,070 mAh battery keeps things chugging along — the capacity is not that great but the phone does support fast charging via the 18W charger.

The Xiaomi Mi 9 SE will be available in Blue, Violet, and Black colors similar to the Mi 9 at prices starting from ¥1,999 (US$300) to ¥2,299 (US$340). Details of pricing and availability in other regions are yet to be announced.