Xiaomi announced two new products today on the MIUI forums: MIUI 8, a major update to the company’s Android-based operating system; and the Mi Max, the aptly named newest addition to the company’s line of smartphones.
MIUI is one of the most prominent Chinese Android-based operating systems, and it’s about to get even better.
MIUI 8 boasts some major features to improve the already great MIUI 7. Xiaomi highlights the new power-saving mode, a detector for fraudulent or spam messages, and a solution to the multi-window management problem, which has recent apps laid out horizontally, while browser tabs are stacked vertically. The update also introduces a QR code scanner to the camera of most Xiaomi products, including Mi 2/2S/3/4/4C/4S/5/Max and all Redmi and Mi Note devices.
Beta registration for MIUI 8 begins May 16. The actual testing will start June 1, and a developer ROM releases June 17.
The Mi Max is a massive phone on all fronts. The device boasts a 6.44 inch screen, which Xiaomi decribes as “super large” and “immersive”.
There will be three models of the Mi Max: a 3GB+Snapdragon 650+32GB, a 3GB+Snapdragon 652+64GB, and a 4GB+Snapdragon 652+128GB. Each model of the phone will be equipped with the Mi Max’s crown feature: a 4850mAh battery, which is notably 182 per cent better than the iPhone 6s, and 76 per cent better than the 6s Plus. It’s also 61 per cent more powerful than Xiaomi’s Mi Note.
The phone has some other impressive specs, including a 16 megapixel camera, a rear-facing fingerprint sensor, an infrared sensor, and dual SIM card support. While the phone may be big, it certainly isn’t chunky. The Mi Max is 7.5mm thin and weighs 203 grams. The least expensive Mi Max model will run for about $230, with the top model coming in at just over $300.
Xiaomi has not announced a North American launch for the products.
