Xiaomi could launch the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE in the Philippines soon, as hinted at by its newest post on social media.

(Update, May 15: We now have the official details! See Xiaomi Mi 9 SE Philippine price, availability revealed.)

The company has posted an image on Facebook showing the outline of a phone with a rounded metal frame sporting antenna lines and a USB-C port flanked by speaker holes. The caption reads, “Another 9 is coming,” a possible reference to Xiaomi’s latest sub-flagship.

Xiaomi Philippines’ post on Facebook

A closer inspection reveals the phone in question does resemble the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE in certain ways, though the location of the ejectable card tray on the right-hand side throws us off a little bit. The teaser doesn’t show the back of the device, which is supposed to feature a holographic design and a triple-camera system headlined by a 48-megapixel main shooter and a 13-megapixel, f/2.4 ultra-wide-angle camera.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Mi 9 is PH’s cheapest Snapdragon 855 phone

The front of the Mi 9 SE features a dewdrop-style notch along the top that houses a 20-megapixel selfie camera. The 5.97-inch screen is Super AMOLED and has an under-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. It also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection against scratches.

READ ALSO: In PH, 3 more authorized Xiaomi stores are opening soon

Speed is another major talking point, as the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE is the first phone to run Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 712 processor. The Snapdragon 712 is very similar to the Snapdragon 710 in terms of architecture and graphics performance but gets a slightly higher clock speed and support for faster wired charging. The chip is also expected to deliver superior audio playback over wireless headphones.

In its native China, Xiaomi sells the Mi 9 SE for ¥1,999 (P15,249 or $291) for the model with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the 6GB/128GB storage variant is priced at ¥2,299 (P17,537 or $334). It could sell for a slightly higher figure if or when it launches here. Our guess is that the base Mi 9 SE would cost between P16,000 ($305) and P17,000 ($324).

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE specs

• 5.97-inch Super AMOLED screen, 2,340 x 1,080 resolution (19.5:9)
• Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 processor
• 6GB RAM
• 64GB/128GB memory
• Triple 48-megapixel, f/1.8 camera; 13-megapixel, f/2.4 ultra-wide camera; 8-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera
• 20-megapixel front camera
• Fingerprint reader (in-display)
• 3,070mAh battery with fast charging
• MIUI 10 based on Android 9.0 Pie

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