Xiaomi has announced the next generation of their flagship smartphone, alongside a cheap smart-band, at a launch event in Beijing. In classic Xiaomi fashion, both of the new devices come extremely cheap compared to competition on the market.
The Xiaomi Mi4 looks to be the ultimate smartphone in China, coming with a new metallic frame and sleek 5-inch full HD display, it has all the right specifications and looks to make this a top-end smartphone, at a low-end price.
Internally, the Mi4 runs on a Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM. Storage options include 16GB or 64GB, Xiaomi has went the way of OnePlus and removed the need for 32GB, something we expect more of the market to do in 2014.
The Mi4 has an 8MP camera on the front of the device with f/1.8 lens, alongside a 13MP camera with the same lens. Inside sits a 3080mAh battery, WiFi, LTE, Bluetooth and other sensors.
Customers will be able to customise the back of the Xiaomi Mi4, choosing from a variety of different materials, including wood, bamboo, fabric and more. There was no announcement on what price each back cover would cost.
We did get a price for how much the phone would cost, the 16GB option will retail for around $320, while the 64GB option will cost $400. Xiaomi has once again made an impressive device for $200 less than Samsung, Apple and other providers.
Xiaomi also announced the Mi Band, a smart-band with some impressive technology inside. It partners with the Xiaomi smartphone, allows the user to unlock the phone when near, shows LED notifications and has IP67 certification for water resistance.
The sensors inside the Mi Band also allow the user to track sleep and steps walked. This might seem like a typical smart-band and it is, but the killer is the Mi Band costs $13, way below the usual $100 from Nike and FitBit for these features.
