Xiaomi Impresses with Their Latest Launch

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Xiaomi may not be the first brand that people in the US think of for smartphones, but they are ranked at #4 worldwide behind Samsung, Huawei, and Apple. Their smartphones have garnered praise from stateside reviewers for having excellent cameras, best-in-class features, and, most importantly, affordability. But Xiaomi makes more than just smartphones; they also sell home, health, and lifestyle products that include routers, fitness bands, LED desk lamps, air purifiers, and electric scooters, to name just a few.

This morning, Xiaomi hosted a virtual Ecosystem Product Launch event. The event kicked off with Shou Zi Chew, President of International at Xiaomi, on stage with a nod to the upheaval and uncertainty in these trying times. “We’re in this with you” was on the screen behind him. He said that since February, Xiaomi had sent aid to over 37 countries, and they have donated around 2.5 million masks, gloves, ventilators, and other emergency medical supplies. He implored us all to “do our part to look out for one another.” It was one of the most concise yet compassionate mentions I’ve yet seen in a product launch since the pandemic hit, and yet I was still bracing myself to hear prices that wouldn’t reflect his attitude. I must have forgotten for a moment that this was a Xiaomi event; they are a company known for their fair prices. But I digress! Let’s take a moment to look at the new products Xiaomi is launching, in this, their tenth anniversary year.

Mi Smart Band 5

The Mi Smart Band 5 has is revamped with a large, 1.1″ high-resolution AMOLED display

If you are one of the (many) people who feel like a workout doesn’t count if you haven’t tracked it, you’ll appreciate the Mi Smart Band 5 for its sleek styling and bright (450 nits) display that makes it visible even in direct sunlight. Available in black, orange, navy blue, yellow, teal, and mint green, the Mi Smart Band 5 can be personalized with over 65 different theme options through the Mi Fit app available on iOS and Android. Handling even more activities than its predecessor, the Smart Band 5 supports tracking your progress for 11 exercise types, including walking, running, yoga, jump rope, elliptical, and more. The Smart Band 5 also features easy to understand metrics from its Personal Activity Intelligence module. The Smart Band 5 offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring as well as upgraded sleep tracking; it also has an all-new stress detection with a breathing exercise function. Women can even use it to track their menstrual cycles. The Mi Smart Band 5 is rated for 5 ATMs so that it can be worn during swimming, snorkeling, and of course, showering. It comes with an easy to use magnetic charger, and it can get up to 14 days of battery life from a single charge. The Mi Smart Band 5 will start at €39.99; they will also have an early bird price starting from €44.99. The early bird offer is limited by time and quantity and will vary by region.

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic

The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic offer crystal clear calls with dual-mic environmental noise cancellation. A 1.5-hour charge results in 5 hours of battery life from the earphones, but you can quadruple their time to up to 20 hours by recharging them in their case. Each earphone can auto-pair and auto-connect with a compatible Mi phone separately for single-ear listening, and their double-tap feature enables play, pause, phone call pick-up, and voice control access. The earphones have in-ear detection, so if you remove one, your audio will automatically pause. The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic support Bluetooth 5.0 and SBC/AAC codecs, and they’ll be great on the go or while in a Zoom call on your computer. The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic feature reliable quality, advanced technology, and leading battery life. Most importantly, they are easy to use, and they charge via USB Type-C, so there’s no need to carry a lone microUSB cable. They will sell for a starting price of €39.99, with an early bird starting price of €29.99. The early bird offer is limited by time and quantity and will vary by region.

Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2

If I lived in the city, I doubt I would own a car — but I would want an electric scooter. Not only are they fun to ride, but they can also be quite affordable and inexpensive to maintain and charge. Xiaomi is the number one scooter brand in the world, and  Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 has a maximum speed of 15.5 mph, and a range of up to 28 miles — perfect for zipping around the city for quick appointments or light errands on its pneumatic tires. The Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 has a 300W brushless motor that can handle 20% incline hills, and its dual braking system includes a mechanical disc brake and an eABS regenerative anti-lock brake. Front, rear, and side reflectors help others see you; there is a brake light on the back, and there is an upgraded 2W headlamp that can illuminate your way forward up to 33′ ahead for nighttime riding, and there is a built-in display for ride information on the go. The foldable scooter weighs a smidge over 31 pounds, so it is easily portable when you reach your destination — or have to deal with a random set of stairs. Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 starts at €499.

If you want an even less expensive scooter that is great for commuting, with a maximum speed of 15.5mph, a range of up to 18.6 miles, and that can handle 14% incline hills, there will be a Mi Electric Scooter 1S. It will have a 250W electric motor and the safety features mentioned for the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2. It will start at €399.

And there was ‘one more thing’! Xiaomi has partnered with AMG Petronas Formula One Team to create the MI Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition. All we got to see was this teaser photo, but hopefully, we’ll have more info on its release soon.

Mi TV Stick

Not everyone has a Smart TV, but the Mi TV Stick can transform just about any screen (or older TV with a USB port) into just that. The Mi TV Stick comes with a Bluetooth remote with dedicated buttons for swift access to Google Assistant, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also download other popular channels and apps through Google Play. The Mi TV Stick has the latest version of Chromecast embedded, so you can also cast any content from your mobile directly to the TV wirelessly. You’ll get the benefit of Dolby Audio and DTS at 1080p for streamed content, and the Mi TV Stick gas 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage to keep your show playing without interruptions when your internet hiccups. The Mi TV Stick will start at €39.99.

34″ Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 

If your 20″ display is no longer cutting it, you might want to check out the 34″ Mi Curved Gaming Monitor. Sure, the high-resolution WQHD (3440×1440 pixel) screen is perfect for gaming with its 144Hz refresh rate, vivid 121% sRGB wide color gamut, and 1500R curvature for maximum immersion. But it will also handily display your photos, videos, open windows, and spreadsheets. You’ll be able to tackle work and play with ease! The 34″ Mi Curved Gaming Monitor will start at €399.

But that wasn’t all. Xiaomi’s ‘one last thing’ was the introduction of three entry-level phones with “more.”

The Redmi 9 will feature a 6.53″ FDH+ display, Corning Gorilla Glass, Android 10, dark mode, Reading Mode 2.0, a non-slip ripple texture, and a splash-proof design. It will have a 5020mAh battery, a MediaTek Helio G80 processor, up to 4GB of LPDDRX4 RAM, 18W USBType-C fast-charging, and a Dual SIM +microSD slot for up to 512GB storage. As for cameras, the Redmi 9 will have four rear cameras, including an 8-megapixel 118º ultra-wide-angle camera, a 13-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 5-megapixel macro camera. It will also feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 1217 ultra-linear speaker, Bluetooth 5.0, a wireless FM radio, an IR blaster, and NFC. Xiaomi says that Redmi 9 is “definitely the entry-level’s fastest and most powerful smartphone.” The 3GB RAM with 32 GB user memory version will sell for €149, and the 4GB RAM with 64GB user memory version will sell for €169.

The Redmi 9C has a 6.53″ dot drop display, a 5,000mAh battery that has been enhanced for a longer lifespan, a gaming-ready Helios G35 processor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an AI triple camera array with a 13-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The Redmi 9C will start at €119 for the 2GB RAM with 32GB user memory version, and it will be €139 for the 3GB RAM with 64GB user memory version. It will be available late this month.

The Redmi 9A Is described as a “highly reliable device that won’t let you down.” It will feature a 6.53″ dot drop display, a 5,000mAh battery that has been enhanced for a longer lifespan, a Helios G25 processor, a 3.5mm headphone jack, expandable storage up to 512GB, and a 13-megapixel AI camera. The Redmi 9A will start at €99 for the 2GB RAM with 32GB user memory.

You can watch the entire Xiaomi Ecosystem Product Launch event here; when you’re done, you can learn more about Xiaomi and all of their products by clicking here.

In case you didn’t catch it, this was the statement at the end of the video — complete with sweeping music and soaring vocals:

Smart technology doesn’t have to cost a fortune. At Xiaomi, we make amazing products at honest prices, and we’re the 4th largest smartphone brand in the world. Affordable prices certainly doesn’t mean low-quality. We only use world-class components from the industry’s best, and we’ve won countless design and innovation awards. We believe in efficiency, honesty, and transparency. We have pledged to keep pit hardware net profit under 5% because our vision is to provide innovation for everyone. Since our founding in 2010, we have won the trust of more than 200 million users in 80m markets around the world. Our customers are the heart of everything we do. With your help, we’ll grow even better. You tell us how to improve our products, and we listen so we can create even more amazing products at even more accessible prices. Xiaomi is looking to the future, where all our products talk to each other, so your life is seamlessly connected to make life a little bit smarter and simpler.

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.