Xiaomi stocking up on patents, makes deal with Nokia
Xiaomi has made some steps towards an international expansion in recent years, like hiring former Google VP Hugo Barra to help it enter new markets but, so far, it has not really gotten out of its comfort zone in Asia. And it is not because the company lacks the financial resources to do it, or because its devices lack the appeal. No, what's stopping Xiaomi is the barrage of costly lawsuits that would most likely ensue.
However, Xiaomi has been slowly stocking up on patents from the big players in the tech industry to beef up its portfolio. For instance, it bought about 1,500 patents from Microsoft a year ago, and now it's made a deal with Nokia that involves "a multi-year patent agreement, including a cross license to each company's cellular standard essential patents. Xiaomi also acquired patent assets from Nokia as part of the transaction."
Xiaomi Mi R3P AC2600 Wi-Fi router review
Xiaomi may be best known for making smartphones, but that is not the only market the company focuses on. You can also find a Xiaomi VR headset, drone, action cameras, TVs, wearables, power banks, headphones and, last but not least, Wi-Fi routers.
Routers are a good fit in the Xiaomi ecosystem. In its lineup, the Mi R3P is the fastest router that you can get, sporting AC2600 transfer speeds, and just like you would expect, it is also priced competitively. But is it worth your attention? I've tested the Mi R3P to find out.
Xiaomi's new Mi Max 2 packs a 6.44-inch display and 5,300mAh battery
A year after announcing the original Mi Max, Xiaomi unveiled its successor, the Mi Max 2. The phablet comes with the same major selling points as before, namely a huge screen and a massive battery.
The Mi Max 2 is a mid-range smartphone with a 6.44-inch display, which puts it closer to a small tablet than the average phablet, and a resolution of 1,080 by 1,920. The battery is a 6,300mAh unit, that is non-removable, with support for Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 technology.
Xiaomi's smartphones aren't coming to the US or EU anytime soon
When we write about a new Xiaomi smartphone there's never any talk about US or EU availability. That's because the Chinese maker doesn't sell its handsets in these markets, as it chooses to focus on developing markets instead, leaving its fans to source their favorite devices from unofficial sellers. That's a shame, but it's not going to change anytime soon.
Speaking of a potential entry in the US and Europe, Xiaomi's new SVP Wang Xiang (who replaces Hugo Barra) admits that the company isn't "serving [customers in those markets] well" but, at the same time, it is "in no hurry to serve the developed markets."
Xiaomi Mi 6 flagship features dual camera with optical zoom
New flagships have to be truly special to stand out from the crowd when you have high-end smartphones like the Apple iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S8 at the top of the pack. Xiaomi knows this, which is why the new Mi 6 features cutting edge hardware, a great price, and a pretty cool camera setup on the back.
The Mi 6 features two 12MP cameras on the back, one with a wide-angle lens for casual snaps and the other with a telephoto lens for when you need to zoom in. Xiaomi says that the second camera lets you enjoy 2x zoom without a loss in quality.
Your Samsung, LG, Xiaomi, or other Android smartphone could be pre-loaded with malware
Despite being based on the very secure Linux kernel, Android isn't necessarily a very secure operating system. Unlike iOS which does a great job of shielding its users from installing apps from outside Apple's own App Store, it is far too easy to do so on Google's mobile OS. Also, there is nothing requiring manufacturers to issue device updates, meaning many users are forced to use outdated and vulnerable versions of the operating system.
For the most part, however, Android users can remain safe by acting intelligently, such as only installing apps from the Play Store. Well, that might not be so true anymore. You see, it has been discovered that many models of Android smartphones -- from manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, and even Google's own Nexus line -- are being sold with malware pre-installed. This is particularly bad malware, as it can steal user information. Some devices even came pre-loaded with ransomware!
Xiaomi unveils Mi 5c featuring its first in-house processor
There aren't many smartphone makers that develop their own mobile processors, which means that Xiaomi is now part of a very select club. The Chinese company just unveiled the Surge S1, which powers its new Mi 5c Android smartphone.
The Mi 5c is the successor to the Mi 4c, which is one of my favorite affordable Android smartphones, and it comes at an affordable price (about $220) and with some pretty attractive specs.
Yi Technology will unveil Yi Erida drone, Yi 4K+ action camera at CES 2017
With CES 2017 just around the corner, tech companies have already started to announce the products they will showcase at the upcoming trade show. The Xiaomi-backed Yi Technology today reveals the Yi Erida drone and the Yi 4K+ action camera.
The new action camera is an updated version of the Yi 4K, which made its debut earlier this year. The biggest change is the addition of a 60FPS mode when recording videos in 4K resolution, which is a first for any action camera.
Xiaomi's new Mi Max is a huge smartphone with near bezel-less design
Xiaomi today unveiled a new high-end smartphone, featuring a massive, "edgeless" display and cutting-edge internals. It is called the Mi Max and although it is labeled as a concept, likely due to its futuristic design, it will be available on the market, with prices starting at around $515 (CNY3,499).
With a Xiaomi smartphone, especially a high-end one, the focus is always on specs, more specifically ticking all the right boxes while keeping the price in check. The Mi Max is a bit different in the sense that Xiaomi has gone a bit further, offering some things that we do not normally see from other manufacturers.
Xiaomi unveils Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus flagships
Xiaomi has beefed up its flagship Android line, announcing an updated Mi 5 and introducing a Plus version at a launch event today in China. Its new smartphones should allow it to better compete against Apple's new iPhone 7 and Samsung's popular Galaxy S7.
The Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus pack the latest and greatest mobile processor from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 821, new cameras, different fingerprint sensor, bigger battery, and more. Prices start at $299, for the Mi 5s, and go up to $389, for the Mi 5s Plus, making them very competitive against their main rivals.
Xiaomi's smartphone shipments take a big hit in China
Once believed to be one of the strongest players in the smartphone market, Chinese maker Xiaomi now finds itself in a vulnerable position in its home market after its shipments dropped by nearly 40 percent in Q2 2016, according to a new report by IDC.
In the second quarter of the year, Xiaomi shipped just 10.5 million smartphones, 38.4 percent fewer units than in Q2 2015 when it moved 17.1 million devices. A year ago, it held the top spot in China, but now the company has to settle for fourth place, behind Huawei, Oppo and Vivo.
Xiaomi announces Mi VR headset
Xiaomi is getting ready to enter a new market, as today it unveils its first virtual reality headset, called Mi VR. Just like most other devices of its kind, it relies on a smartphone to work, but what sets it apart from the crowd is its unique design.
Mi VR features a case made of Lycra, which is said to provide "long-lasting comfort" to the wearer. The smartphone is held with by a zippered cover, which gives users a certain degree of flexibility when it comes to the size of the device that they want to use with Mi VR.
Xiaomi's new Redmi Pro is an affordable phablet with a dual camera setup
Xiaomi has been busy. On top of introducing its first laptop, the Mi Notebook Air, today the company also unveils the Redmi Pro. Its newest phablet has an attractive price and an impressive specs sheet, which includes a dual camera setup.
Xiaomi has been betting on specs to attract consumers and the Redmi Pro is yet another solid example of its strategy. The device has specs that would not look out of place on a premium phablet, yet the $225 starting price puts it at the lower end of the mid-range segment. It is a combination that is sure to get phablet enthusiasts' attention.
Xiaomi unveils Mi Notebook Air -- here's everything you need to know
A product listing that surfaced in January signaled that Xiaomi planned to introduce its first laptop this year, with leaked specs suggesting that we should expect a big and powerful laptop.
However, today's introduction of the Mi Notebook Air comes as a surprise, as the ultrabook actually comes in two vastly different versions instead, which are designed to appeal to a wider range of consumers. Here is what you need to know.
Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 is the small Android tablet you've been waiting for [Review]
There aren't many small Android tablets that can set your world on fire. The manufacturers that are still invested in this market no longer seem to be interested in producing smaller devices, as their attention is now either focused on larger slates or hybrid devices. So, if you are in the market for a small tablet that runs Android, you clearly aren't spoiled for choice.
This is why, after nearly three years on the market, the second-generation Nexus 7 is still my favorite. Google's last small slate got so many things right back in 2013 that I have been struggling to find an attractive replacement for it. But since Xiaomi introduced the Mi Pad 2, I have been wondering whether it is the successor that I have been waiting for so long. Given the opportunity to test it, I set upon to find out whether there truly is a small Android tablet to get excited about these days.
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