A humble Chinese startup Xiaomi does not stand still. In hot pursuit, we analyze recent software and hardware innovations.
As part of the presentation, the world was presented a new version MIUI – a proprietary shell Xiaomi, as well as a new mid-range smartphone Mi5X, which will be one of the first devices with a pre-installed MIUI 9. Everything in order.
MIUI 9
The long awaited shell update is based on Android 7.0 Nougat. Its leitmotif is improved performance due to a redesigned and more dynamic system resource allocation system, as well as a set of smart software improvements aimed at competing with Google solutions Apple.
The innovation will speed up the opening of applications, a special CPU acceleration mode is responsible for this. As you can see from the slides from the presentation, in MIUI 9 priority is always given to the currently open application, this is the new dynamics of resource allocation. According to company representatives, in MIUI they managed to achieve the highest speed in the entire history of ROM when working with applications and moving from one to another.
Image Search
The image gallery in MIUI 9 will allow searches among the latest keywords. The user only needs to set the necessary search conditions.
People, places, facial expressions, events, documents, screenshots
This kind of search is a completely new functionality for MIUI, it is useful for those users who often take pictures on their smartphone and want to quickly find a particular photo.
Smart App Launcher
The nine added an option to launch applications depending on the content on the screen at a particular point in time. Apparently, the algorithm 'understands' the context of the content and offers options for applications that can help the user solve a particular problem, determine a location, get directions, and so on.
A continuation of the Google On Tap concept?
The available offers will be displayed in a panel at the bottom of the screen. It should be noted that this functionality (like all the presented innovations) is present only in the Chinese firmware at this stage and can be changed for the global version MIUI 9, the versions will be functionally different.
Smart Assistant
Xiaomi happily continue to copy Apple, in this case – Spotlight. 'Smart Assistant' allows you to search for anything, be it text or photos, swipe to the right will bring you to a page with search, potentially necessary applications and other customizable widgets.
Of course, many will rush to compare the new product with an assistant from Google, but to get the full picture, you will have to wait for the global version of the ROM. Yes, about availability. The first beta version for Chinese developers will be released on August 11th and will be available for the following devices: Xiaomi Mi 6, Mi 5X, and Redmi Note 4X with Qualcomm processor. Then, on August 25, China Developer ROM will appear for a wider range of devices, namely: Xiaomi Mi MIX, Mi Note 2, Mi 5, Mi 5s, Mi 5s Plus, Mi 5c, Mi Max 2, Mi Max, Mi 4S, Mi 4c, Mi Note Pro and Redmi 4X. At the end of September, the new version will become available for all devices Xiaomi and Redmi except for Xiaomi 1, 1S and 2A.
Other mentioned innovations MIUI 9:
- Split Screen mode that allows you to work with two applications at the same time and appeared due to the transition to Android 7.0
- New default color theme plus three additional themes (Color Fantasy, Cool Black, No Boundary)
- Redesigned lock screen, option to launch the flashlight by swiping to the right when the device is locked
- Visual update of icons
Xiaomi Mi 5X
The pioneer with MIUI 9 will boast an anti-fingerprint all-metal body, as well as a dual camera lens (telephoto and wide format), similar to that used in the Mi 6. It will most likely be a mid-range device with a proprietary Xiaomi with a claim to a higher level of user experience and advanced 'stuffing' for those who are not ready to spend money on Mi 6.
At the moment, the following technical characteristics Xiaomi Mi 5X are known:
- Class: Smartphone
- Body materials: metal, plastic inserts for antennas
- Operating system: Google Android 7.0, MIUI 9
- Network: dual SIM, 3G, 4G LTE
- Processor: 8 cores, Snapdragon 625
- RAM: 4 GB
- Permanent memory: 64 GB with the option of expanding memory card, cards up to 128 GB are supported
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.2
- Screen: capacitive, 5.5 inches, 1920 × 1080
- Camera: 2×12 MP + 5 MP, flash
- Navigation: GPS
- Additionally: proximity and lighting sensors, infrared port, 3.5 mm jack, fingerprint scanner
- Battery: non-removable, 3080mAh
- Dimensions: 155.40×75.80×7.30 mm
- Weight: 165 gr
- Three color options: black, gold, rose gold
- Price – 1,500 yuan (about 13,000 rubles)
On paper, everything is very, very good, we can assume that the new product has every chance of becoming the next bestseller of the company. The presentation left a pleasant impression, a balanced update and a pleasant smartphone for inexperienced users will find their fans. It remains to wait for the start of sales and the first reviews of the owners.