Friday, October 21, 2016

Xiaomi Mi Note 2: price, release and specs


Xiaomi Mi Note 2: release on 25 October 2016 including livestream


For a long time, we have been guessing the release date of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 but yesterday our guesswork was no longer required. On the Chinese micro-blogging platform, Weibo, and on the Xiaomi website itself, a preview picture of the phablet alongside a date was published. For the presentation, Xiaomi had worked with a well-known actor in China, Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Many of you will have no idea who he is, unless you are a fan of movies made in China. Among his most successful films is “Internal affairs”, which Martin Scorsese's “Departed” with Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon was based upon.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 tony leung
Xiaomi worked with the actor Tony Leung to make the presentation of the Mi Note 2. / © Xiaomi

In order to allow the Xiaomi fans who are not invited to the event in Beijing on 25 October 2016 to follow the launch of the new phablet, Xiaomi has put an event website online through livestream. Whether we will also be able to follow the livestream in all countries or remains unclear as there may be regional restrictions.


Xiaomi Mi Note 2: the most expensive Xiaomi smartphone to date


Up to now, Xiaomi has been considered a bit of a price cutter with its products, both smartphones and tablets, as well as more recently with its drones. With the upcoming Mi Note 2 however, Xiaomi climbs into price ranges that they have not reached before. According to an announcement on Weibo, the Mi Note 2 should be available from a price of 5699 Yuan, which converts to over $840.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Preis
When converted from yuan, the prices for the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 look like they'll be around $840. / © Weibo

Xiaomi Mi Note 2: tech specs


With its hefty price tag of $840, it’s fair to assume that the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will be built with the corresponding high-end hardware. The current rumors are that the Mi Note 2 will feature the following specifications:

  • Processor: after the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, the Mi Note 2 will be the third smartphone to use the fastest current Qualcomm processor. The Snapdragon 821 is therefore a must for the Xiaomi Mi Note 2.
  • RAM: depending on the model, the Mi Note 2 should have 4 or 6 GB. The latter version will certainly be priced at over $850.
  • Memory: as is the case for RAM size, there will be variants for memory size. According to GizmoChina, the most expensive version will be equipped with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. A version with 256 GB is also possible. It is still not clear whether the memory can be extended by MicroSD.
  • Camera: Xiaomi is heralded time and again as the Chinese Apple. As far as the cameras are concerned, Xiaomi may actually copy Apple's iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. While the cheapest version may have to get by with only one camera, the most expensive variant is expected to have a dual camera. It could be that the manufacturer will adapt the camera unit of the Mi5s Plus for the Mi Note 2. In this case, it would come with a 13 megapixel sensor with phase autofocus and an f/2.0 aperture. But hopefully Xiaomi will improve the cameras with an optical image stabilizer, which the Mi5s Plus is missing...
  • Fingerprint sensor: according to the latest information, the Mi Note 2 won't come with the classic biometric sensor. There also won't be a visible sensor on the front nor on the back. Instead, the Mi Note 2, as was the case with the Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus, should come with Qualcomm's SenseID incorporated. With this technology, fingers are scanned using ultrasound and the corresponding sensor can thus be placed invisibly behind glass.
  • Display: in terms of the display, there are currently two opposing ideas rumored. One claims that the Mi Note 2 will have a flat, high resolution 2K display, while other sources claim it will be equipped with a 5.7 inch 2K dual edge display from LG. It could be that both will occur and Xiaomi presents both display versions for differently priced models on 25 October 2016...

This article has been completed revised due to new information. It's possible that comments below refer to outdated information.

No comments:

Post a Comment