BEIJING, China, 12 June 2018—Global technology leader Xiaomi announced the incredibly accessible Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A today in China, starting at an amazing price of RMB 599. Redmi 6 features the latest MediaTek Helio P22 chipset, based on a 12nm process for a great balance between power and battery performance, as well as a 12MP + 5MP dual camera for beautiful photos.

Sub-RMB 1,000 smartphone with SoC based on 12nm process

Redmi 6 sports the latest MediaTek Helio P22 SoC. Its octa-core CPU is built on 12nm process and consumes about 48% less power than comparable 28nm chipsets. The CPU also features ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture that automatically switches between performance and power-efficient cores depending on tasks, so as to achieve balanced performance and power consumption.

See more with the 5.45-inch 18:9 display

Redmi 6 has a 5.45-inch 18:9 display with a screen-to-body ratio of 80.5%. Its polycarbonate back panel has a brushed metal surface, and is symmetrically curved and gently tapered toward the edges so it feels great in the hand.

1.25µm-pixel sensor for beautiful photos day and night

Redmi 6 has a 12MP + 5MP dual camera setup. The main sensor has 1.25µm large pixels—the largest among popular smartphones in this price range. Larger pixels take in more light than smaller ones, a huge advantage for improving photo quality and reducing noise, especially in low-light conditions. It also uses phase-detection autofocus to improve focusing speed so users won’t miss capturing important moments. The 5MP front camera of Redmi 6 is supported by Xiaomi’s AI Portrait mode, which renders a realistic bokeh effect with a single lens.Xiao Ai voice assistant makes your life smarter

Redmi 6 offers many AI-enabled functions. When you pick up the phone, the screen will automatically wake and you can unlock the phone with AI Face Unlock. By integrating with the phone’s camera, Xiaomi’s proprietary Xiao Ai voice assistant can recognize plants, vehicles, living environments, as well as items  for price comparison. For certain scenarios Xiao Ai can translate English, French, Japanese, Korean, German, Spanish and Hindi into Chinese. Xiao Ai can also detect SMS messages sent by fake mobile base stations set up by scammers, protecting users against possible attacks.RMB 599 Redmi 6A offers great value

Redmi 6A adopts the same body and screen as Redmi 6, as well as all AI functions. It sports the MediaTek Helio A22 SoC that is also built on the 12nm process. Redmi 6A’s 3000mAh battery allows the phone to stay in standby mode for up to 19 days. Redmi 6A has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera—both capable of using Xiaomi’s AI Portrait mode. MIUI has also been optimized for Redmi 6A, reducing system apps’ memory usage by nearly 30%.

Redmi 6 comes in two versions: 3GB + 32GB for RMB 799 and 4GB + 64GB for RMB 999. Redmi 6A is priced at RMB 599 for 2GB + 16GB. They will be available in China on Xiaomi’s online and offline stores starting 15 June.

Starting at RMB 999, Redmi S2 has a 16MP front camera and Xiaomi’s latest AI Beautify for amazing selfies

NANJING, China, 10 May 2018 — Global technology leader Xiaomi launched Redmi S2 today, touted as the best Redmi phone for selfies with a 16MP front camera that is powered by pixel binning technology and featuring AI Beautify. With a starting price of RMB 999, Redmi S2 also sports a 12MP + 5MP AI dual camera, coupled with AI face-unlocking, and is powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 625 platform.

Best Redmi phone for selfies

The 16MP front camera of Redmi S2 captures details in good light and produces high resolution images. In low light conditions, the sensor uses pixel binning technology to combine the information from four pixels and create one large 2.0µm pixel. This greatly improves the sensor’s light sensitivity, producing clearer and brighter photos in low light with less noise.

When Auto HDR is enabled, the 16MP front camera automatically detects a back-light environment and applies the HDR effect. Its Selfie-light mimics natural light, allowing catchlights to be captured, which makes for great portrait photos. The camera also supports AI bokeh that effectively distinguishes the subject from the background, even correctly identifying elements such as hair accessories and popular hand gestures as being part of the subject.

AI dual camera for clear shots day and night

Redmi S2 sports a 12MP + 5MP AI dual camera on its back. The 12MP primary sensor has 1.25µm large pixels, which results in brighter images in low light conditions. The 5MP secondary sensor is dedicated to acquiring depth information, producing photos with great bokeh effects.

In Portrait Mode, both the front and back cameras support AI Beautify that can detect makeup and keep them from retouching, and the algorithm has also been optimized for popular selfie facial expressions.

5.99” full screen with great ergonomics

Redmi S2 is powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 625 platform, which is based on the 14nm architecture for balanced performance and power consumption.

Redmi S2 comes with a 5.99-inch 18:9 full screen display. Its back is symmetrically curved and gently tapered toward edges, achieving great ergonomics and aesthetics at the same time.

Redmi S2 has three slots for two SIM cards and one microSD card of up to 256GB. Redmi S2 also features an IR blaster, and comes with AI face unlocking and Xiaomi’s very own Xiao Ai voice assistant.

Redmi S2 comes in three colors: Gold, Rose gold and Dark grey. The 3GB + 32GB version will retail for RMB 999, while the 4GB + 64BG version is priced at RMB 1,299. A simple, elegant TPU case will be shipped in the box with every Redmi S2. The phone will be available in China starting 17 May, 2018.

(more…)

Smartphones are becoming even more integrated into our everyday lives with new and developing Artificial Intelligence-powered features. We leveraged our expertise in AI, cloud computing and big data to improve the IQ of our smartphones. Our newest smartphone, Mi MIX 2S includes exciting AI-powered features for photography, face detection, voice recognition and more.

This update from the award-winning Mi MIX 2 is a reflection of our exploration and growth in the area of AI. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 platform supports advanced on-device AI processing, with optimized CPU and GPU, achieving a 300% improvement in AI performance compared to its predecessor.

Let’s dive deeper into the amazing on-device AI features in Mi MIX 2S.

The AI-powered “mind” of Mi MIX 2S in photography

The dual camera on Mi MIX 2S is able to make photos look better without you having to take any action, because of the AI scene detection that automatically offers retouching effects. This function works for the primary rear camera, as well as the single front camera.

When taking a portrait, for example, Mi MIX 2S quickly identifies the human face and most of the surrounding objects to automatically apply different effects to each item, according to the specific conditions.

In the photos above, you can see that the AI scene detection (photo on the right) makes the buildings brighter while the environment around them is more saturated, rendering a vivid and balanced output. Usually, non-AI supported smartphones can only adjust the brightness of the whole photo, beautifying the main object, but at the same time, losing minute details.

Moreover, AI deep learning helps the camera accurately detect the edge of the subject, creating a depth-of-field effect. It can also recognize small details, such as hair accessories, detect the edge of the accessories and keep them from being blurred, generating a more realistic bokeh result.

The AI scene detection also works great for backlight and scenery photos, offering a filter-like effect in high-contrast environments. 

AI voice assistant – a phone that understands you better 

Apart from AI photography, the intelligent Mi MIX 2S has built-in features including the Xiao AI voice assistant, which is integrated in our Mi AI Speaker that was announced in July 2017.

In just eight months, “Xiao Ai” has been summoned 1.1 billion times, activated 11 million times daily, and commanded smart device features 310,000 times. Mi AI Speaker has become the hub of a smart home supporting over 40 different products.

The built-in AI voice recognition in Mi MIX 2S can understand more than 100 commands in six categories, including system control, lifestyle, smart home, social, entertainment and knowledge.

You can ask your phone to show your photos taken last October, text your friend, and check the weather, just to name a few examples. If you have a smart home, it can control smart devices that are integrated into the Mi Home app, such as Mi TV and Mi Bedside Lamp.

With an improved AI performance, Mi MIX 2S can understand you better and make your life more convenient and efficient. We are excited to bring our enhanced AI technology to more users around the world, and open more possibilities for a ‘smarter’ life in the future.

 Also announces Mi Gaming Laptop 15.6’’ and Mi AI Speaker mini

SHANGHAI, China, 27 March 2018 — Global technology leader Xiaomi announced Mi MIX 2S today, a beautiful work of art that now comes with an exceptional AI dual camera and is powered by the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 platform. Xiaomi also upped its game in another key product line with the Mi Gaming Laptop 15.6’’. At the same time, it also announced a mini version of its wildly-popular Mi AI Speaker.

Mi MIX 2S uses the latest Sony IMX363 flagship sensor for its dual-camera setup, with 1.4μm pixels for significantly better photos in low light, and Dual Pixel technology for super fast autofocusing. Mi MIX 2S also now comes with integrated AI features, including a built-in AI voice assistant to control the smartphone and smart home appliances. With up to 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM, Mi MIX 2S unleashes the full potential of the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 for amazing performance.

Lei Jun, CEO and co-founder of Xiaomi, said: “The Mi MIX series has constantly pushed boundaries, defying everyone’s expectations about smartphone design and performance, and showcasing how Xiaomi is committed to being at the forefront of innovation. Mi MIX 2S now comes with a powerful dual camera and integrated AI features for an experience on the move like no other.”

Mi MIX 2S continues Xiaomi’s commitment to making its innovations accessible to the widest possible range of consumers. Starting from RMB 3299, Mi MIX 2S will be available in China from 3 April onwards and will make its way to selected global markets at a later date.

Design: A work of art in the smartphone industry

The unique design elements in the Mi MIX series have been recognized by some of the world’s most prestigious design awards and museums: National Design Museum in Finland, Center Pompidou in France, and Die Neue Sammlung in Germany, in some cases, marking the first time a phone has been added to their permanent collection. Mi MIX 2S continues evolving this design language, with a beautiful ceramic back that features a four-sided curved design, transitioning smoothly into the aluminum frame.

Dual Pixel AI dual camera

Mi MIX 2S adopts the Sony IMX363 flagship sensor with 1.4μm pixels for its dual camera setup, letting in more light and resulting in significantly improved photos in low light and backlit scenarios. This sensor also uses the Dual Pixel technology, which was first used in high-end digital SLRs for much faster focusing due to having two photodiodes per pixel to calculate the light hitting the sensor. Combined with the noise reduction technology on the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 platform, Mi MIX 2S is able to shoot high-quality pictures in a low-light environment with fast and accurate focusing.

DxOMark—the leading and trusted source in the industry for camera and lens image quality measurements and ratings—gave Mi MIX 2S a 101 photo rating, the second-highest ever photo score for a smartphone camera.

The integration of AI technology has also significantly enhanced the photo experience on Mi MIX 2S. With AI scene detection, the camera can intelligently optimize the image after it has been taken—for example, text on presentation slides can be identified so it remains clear even if you zoom in.

Through a machine learning model based on hundreds of thousands of self-portraits, Mi MIX 2S is able to accurately distinguish between the subject and background, enabling precise background blurring. Users can then add dynamic bokeh to the photos taken in portrait mode, selecting from six effects in total.

Latest flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845chipset 

Mi MIX 2S uses the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 chipset, manufactured using the latest generation 10nm process. With a maximum clock speed of 2.8GHz, the new Kryo 385 cores see a 30 percent performance increase over the last generation. Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 also features the new Adreno 630 graphics, which gives up to 30 percent higher performance and up to 30 percent lower power consumption. In addition, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 also features cutting-edge on-device AI processing, delivering 3x improvement in overall AI performance compared to the prior generation.

With up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, Mi MIX 2S achieved a score of 277,178 on the Antutu benchmark. Connectivity-wise, Mi MIX 2S (8GB + 256GB) supports 43 global bands so you can use it anywhere in the world.

AI voice assistant and wireless charging, for a more convenient lifestyle

Mi MIX 2S also now comes with AI-integrated features, including a built-in AI voice assistant to control the smartphone and smart home appliances. Covering six categories with nearly a hundred voice commands, users can remotely control their smart home appliances, or find a photo based on location or time, with just a simple voice command.

On 23 February 2018, Xiaomi announced that it became one of Google’s ARCore partners. Mi MIX 2S is now Xiaomi’s first device to support ARCore apps, bringing an amazing AR experience to more Android users both in China and globally. “The Machines”, which has been touted as the future of AR games, is making its exclusive Android debut on Xiaomi.

Mi MIX 2S also supports 7.5W fast wireless charging. Along with this, Xiaomi is launching a RMB 99 (US$16) wireless charging pad, which is bundled with the the 8GB+256GB version, or available as a separate accessory.

Mi MIX 2S is available in 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB for RMB 3299, RMB 3599, and RMB 3999 respectively. It will be available starting 3 April at 10am from a range of retail channels including Mi.com and our Mi Home stores.

Xiaomi’s first high-performance gaming laptop with minimalist design

Equipped with Intel’s 7th generation Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics, 16GB dual channel DDR4 RAM, and 256GB SSD + 1TB hard drive, Xiaomi’s first gaming notebook Mi Gaming Laptop 15.6” delivers powerful performance for users’ work and entertainment needs.

Mi Gaming Laptop has a minimalist design, along with a keyboard that supports 16 million colors over four zones, and anti-ghosting with 30-key rollover for precise and accurate gaming input. Five programmable keys are located on the left side for quick access to important functions. For great performance even during long gaming sessions, it comes with large heat pipes, a 12V cooling fan and four fan outlets for effective heat dissipation.

Available in China starting 13 April, Mi Gaming Laptop will retail starting from RMB 5999, going up to RMB 8999 for the version with Core i7+GTX 1060+16GB.

Mi AI Speaker mini: a compact version for every room

Mi AI Speaker, launched last year, was a testament to Xiaomi’s commitment to exploring AI technology. The mini version announced today, which will retail for RMB 169 starting 3 April, continues in the same direction. It serves as a smart home assistant and a personal assistant, and allows users to easily tune in to music and listen to audiobooks with simple voice commands.

Today, Xiaomi Corporation and Microsoft Corporation signed a strategic Framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to further deepen the partnership between the two companies. Microsoft’s globally leading technologies in cloud computing and AI will help in strengthening Xiaomi’s leadership in mobile, smart devices and services, and contribute to the acceleration of its international expansion.

“Xiaomi is one of the most innovative companies in China, and it is becoming increasingly popular in various markets around the world.” Dr. Harry Shum, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence and Research Group said, “Microsoft’s unique strengths and experience in AI, as well as our products like Azure, will enable Xiaomi to develop more cutting-edge technology for everyone around the world.”

Wang Xiang, Global Senior Vice President and Head of International Business, Xiaomi, said, “Microsoft has been a great partner and we are delighted to see both companies deepening this relationship with this strategic MoU. Xiaomi’s mission is to deliver innovation to everyone around the world. By collaborating with Microsoft on multiple technology areas, Xiaomi will accelerate our pace to bring more exciting products and services to our users. At the same time, this partnership would allow Microsoft to reach more users around the world who are using Xiaomi products.”

Based on the strategic MoU, Xiaomi and Microsoft’s cooperation will focus on the following aspects:

• Cloud support: Xiaomi is in the process of rapidly expanding its user base in global market. Xiaomi and Microsoft will explore utilizing Microsoft Azure cloud platform to support Xiaomi’s user data storage, bandwidth, computing and other cloud services in international markets.
• Laptop-type devices: Xiaomi will leverage Microsoft’s support on joint marketing, channel support, and future product development for Xiaomi’s laptop and laptop-type devices to penetrate international markets.
• Microsoft Cortana and Mi AI Speaker: Both companies are discussing opportunities to integrate Cortana with Mi AI Speaker. Senior executives from both parties are involved to drive deeper technology integration and collaboration for AI-powered speakers, a market segment projected to grow rapidly in the next few years.
• AI services collaboration: Xiaomi and Microsoft intend to explore multiple cooperative projects based on a broad range of Microsoft AI technologies, such as Computer Vision, Speech, Natural Language Processing, Text Input, Conversational AI, Knowledge Graph and Search, as well as related Microsoft AI products and services, such as Bing, Edge, Cortana, XiaoIce, SwiftKey, Translator, Pix, Cognitive Services and Skype. This in-depth cooperation in AI technologies and products, on top of Xiaomi’s solid experience in smart hardware, big data, and its smart device ecosystem, as well as the significant breakthroughs in core artificial intelligence technologies and products that Xiaomi has achieved, aims to generate even more synergy between hardware and software to enhance the end-user experiences on Xiaomi devices.

Founded in 2010, Xiaomi has achieved remarkable development as one of the world’s most innovative technology companies. Xiaomi’s fast-expanding product line includes but is not limited to smartphones, smart TVs, and a range of smart home products.

The cooperation between Xiaomi and Microsoft has been long-standing: since 2015, Xiaomi has adopted Microsoft Azure operated by 21Vianet in China to run its Mi Cloud service for smartphone users; in June 2016, the two companies reached a global-scale partnership, and Xiaomi began to pre-install Microsoft Office and Skype apps on its Android-based smartphones and tablets, to benefit its customers with modern workforce and communication tools; at the same time, Microsoft and Xiaomi also reached intellectual property agreements, to help Xiaomi’s product go global compliantly.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (first row, second from the left) visited a Mi Home store in Beijing with Lei Jun (first row, third from the left), the founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, as well as Wang Xiang (first row, first from the left), Global Senior Vice President and Head of International Business

On October 31, 2017, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella visited Xiaomi’s retail store with Lei Jun, the founder, Chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, and Satya showed great interest in Xiaomi’s products and services. The strategic MoU signed today, further expands the potential of the cooperation between the two companies, and reveals more possibilities for technological innovations, new products and breakthrough businesses in the future.

(more…)

Xiaomi announces Mi 5X, unveils MIUI 9 in China and launches Mi AI Speaker

Global version of MIUI 9 to be unveiled soon

BEIJING, 26 July 2017 — Leading technology company Xiaomi today unveiled its latest smartphone with a dual camera setup, Mi 5X. During the same event, Xiaomi also took the wraps off MIUI 9, the latest refresh of its Android-based operating system. At the same time, it announced a voice-activated smart speaker, Mi AI Speaker, which acts as the hub for Xiaomi’s smart home products and ties the company’s Mi Ecosystem strategy together.

Mi 5X: Picture Perfect Dual Camera

Mi 5X shares a similar dual camera setup used in Xiaomi’s flagship device Mi 6, with wide angle and telephoto lenses used to incredible effect. The two lenses allow Mi 5X to calculate what is in the foreground and what is in the background, creating a depth-of-field effect that typically requires a DSLR camera to achieve, and allowing the user to capture beautiful portrait photos with out-of-focus backgrounds. Mi 5X also supports 2x optical zoom, which makes sure photos of distant subjects remain clear without loss of image quality, as well as 10x digital zoom.

Available in Black, Gold, and Rose Gold, Mi 5X has an attractive all-metal unibody design. It measures just 7.3mm in thickness and has hidden antenna lines on the back for a seamless look and feel. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor based on the 14nm manufacturing process, as well as a 3080mAh battery, Mi 5X provides users with a smooth experience that lasts all day.

Mi 5X is yet another device that underscores Xiaomi’s commitment to making innovations affordable to the widest possible range of consumers. With 4GB RAM and 64 ROM, Mi 5X is priced at RMB 1499 and available starting 1 August via Mi.com and Mi Home stores, as well as a number of other partner sites and retail channels.

Key features of Mi 5X:

Attractive metal unibody design

Dual camera, optical zoom:

12MP wide angle with 4-axis OIS stabilization + 12MP telephoto

Exceptional portrait photography with background blur

Beautify, for natural selfie enhancements

Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 with 14nm process technology

5-inch full-HD display

3080mAh battery

4GB RAM + 64GB storage

Available in Black, Gold and Rose Gold

Dual SIM (3-choose-2 hybrid SIM tray)

4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm

MIUI 9: Lightning Fast

Xiaomi co-founder Hong Feng revealed today that MIUI has crossed over 280 million users across 142 countries and regions across the world, and took the wraps off MIUI 9, the latest update to its popular Android-based operating system that now delivers a much faster user experience. Wide-ranging changes were made under the hood that result in a faster and smoother user experience, such as making simple tasks like starting apps even more instantaneous, and several new features have been introduced.

With a new image search feature, users will be able to find photos, documents, and even screenshots of chat messages through intelligent recognition of faces, document types and even text in images.

MIUI 9 also introduces a “Smart assistant” feature that makes it easier for users to access often-needed information and frequently-used functions by simply sliding the screen to the left without opening every app — including favorite items, expenditures, courier information, and day-to-day schedules.

Another new feature called “Smart app launcher” quickly launches a related app based on content on the screen. For example, a link to a Taobao product page no longer requires the user to copy the link, return to the home page, find and start the Taobao app before getting to the desired product page. Upon highlighting a Taobao link, a pop-up appears at the bottom of the screen that lets the user bring up the product page instantly. This also applies to addresses, restaurant names, and even TV programs — when they are highlighted, the appropriate app can be launched with a single tap at the bottom of the screen.

Since it was launched on 16 August 2010, MIUI has been constantly updated every week for more than 340 weeks. Devices launched five years ago are still receiving updates. In China, MIUI 9 will be available on 11 August as a public beta for Mi 6, Mi 5X, and Redmi Note 4X. Support for other models will be rolled out gradually starting 25 August.

Mi AI Speaker: The hub for Xiaomi’s smart home products

More than being a smartphone company, Xiaomi is also fulfilling its goal of bringing innovation to everyone by addressing the full spectrum of consumer electronics, which is where its Mi Ecosystem strategy comes into play. By investing and incubating in 89 companies to date, Xiaomi is able to offer a wide array of smart home products. After three years, the Mi Ecosystem IoT platform has crossed 60 million connected devices, becoming the world’s largest smart hardware platform.

Today, Xiaomi announced Mi AI Speaker, a high-quality speaker system that comes with an array of six microphones to detect voice commands from all directions, and that serves as a control hub for the company’s smart home products.

Stemming from a collaboration between the Mi TV team, “Explorer’s Lab” and the “Mi Brain” R&D team, Mi AI Speaker further continues Xiaomi’s commitment to exploring AI technology. Previously, Xiaomi already applied AI technology to Mi TV, developing a built-in deep learning AI system for effortless discovery of new content.

Mi AI Speaker will retail at RMB 299, but will be launched first in August through a beta program that is recruiting 1000 users who will each pay RMB 1 to help train Mi AI Speaker to be even more intelligent in the early stage.

With voice commands, users can tune in to Internet radio stations, enjoy music from streaming services, and listen to audio books. Mi AI Speaker also acts as a personal assistant, giving information such as the weather, traffic conditions, personal calendar reminders, and latest news. In addition, Mi AI Speaker serves as a smart home assistant. It is able to connect to and control a host of products including the Mi TV, Mi Box, Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Mi Induction Heating Rice Cooker, Mi Air Purifier, Mi Electric Fan and smart lamps. Through products like Mi Smart Plug and Mi Smart Power Strip, “non-smart” home appliances can also be controlled with Mi AI Speaker.

Through an initiative termed Platform Waterdrop, Xiaomi is also seeking to welcome more third-party applications for Mi AI Speaker. This initiative does not require developers to have prior experience in artificial intelligence, and makes it easy for tools and services to work with Mi AI Speaker.

Mercury Silver Mi 6: 100 units to go on sale

Demonstrating Xiaomi’s constant innovation in materials and relentless drive in pursuing craftsmanship, it also created a Mercury Silver version of its flagship smartphone Mi 6, which was first announced in April this year. The Mercury Silver version of Mi 6 is extremely difficult to produce and is an outcome of Xiaomi’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of materials technology.

Today, Xiaomi revealed that 100 units of the Mercury Silver Mi 6 will be available on Mi.com in China on August 3. Priced at RMB 3,999, the package includes the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage smartphone, a letter from a Xiaomi engineer and an exclusive F-code which gives the user the priority to purchase any newly launched product in the next three years.