Tomorrow, December 24, we’re getting a new smartphone from Xiaomi that doesn’t seem to belong to any of its current lineups. The Xiaomi Play will be launched in China.
(Update, December 24: The Xiaomi Mi Play has been launched! Read Xiaomi Mi Play with Helio P35, small notch, gradient colors launched.)
SEE ALSO: Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite review: Definitely not a lightweight
What do we know about the device thus far? Let’s start with what has been confirmed by the company then get on with the rumors.
Color variants. The Xiaomi Play will be available in on-trend gradient colors.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun’s post on Chinese social-media platform Weibo lends credence to this short hands-on video that had surfaced online a few days ago.
Apparently, there will be a black version as well.
Screen. Lei Jun has once again taken to Weibo to reveal that the Xiaomi Play features a 5.84-inch screen with 1,080 x 2,280 resolution, 1,500:1 contrast ratio, and a pixel density of 432ppi. The size, however, is equivalent to 5.8-inch handsets of yore, making it manageable to hold with one hand.
The image he shared below also confirms that the phone’s display has a waterdrop design, a first for a Xiaomi device.
Processor. Leaked slides show that the Xiaomi Play will be powered by MediaTek’s flagship Helio chipset, hence the speculation that they could be referring to the Helio P90. The chip promises intelligent imaging; support for 48-megapixel camera sensors; fast and efficient performance, including in gaming; and advanced connectivity with dual 4G SIM.
Memory configurations. Apparently, there will be two variants — one that mates 6GB of RAM to 64GB of internal storage, and one that also has 6GB of RAM but with 128GB of built-in space.
READ ALSO: Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 hands-on review: Bigger, faster, bolder
Price. How much is it going to retail for? ¥1,699 supposedly. That’s around P13,026 in Philippine pesos and $246 when converted to U.S. dollars. We have no idea if the quoted price is for the base model or for the higher-specced version. However, the slide claims that each purchase comes with a year’s worth of free internet — at least in China.
Battery. The Xiaomi Play, which some say might be called the Redmi 7 Pro in international markets, reportedly ships with a 3,000mAh battery.
AI cameras. The vertically stacked dual-camera setup on the back is said to pair a 12-megapixel sensor with a 5-megapixel one. A listing on the site of China’s certification authority TENAA reveals an 8-megapixel camera for selfies.
How will the rumored specs and price pan out? Be sure to check back here tomorrow to find out. Till then.
Share this Post