Leica is back in the international smartphone arena thanks to its new partnership with Xiaomi. With its initial offering, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra only officially being rolled out in Mainland China, the Xiaomi 13 marks the brand’s return to the ecosystem. The new Xiaomi 13 series crowning feature is the Leica Vario-Summicron 1:19-2.2/14-75 ASPH camera system which comes on the 13 Pro.
The Xiaomi 13 series comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB internal memory. Of course, the Xiaomi 13 series comes with two entries in Malaysia (for now): the Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The two entries come with a few differences that distinguish the smartphones from each other. The most significant of which the Leica Vario-Summicron 1:19-2.2/14-75 ASPH camera system.
The Pro comes with a triple camera array for the main camera complete with Leica lenses. The setup consists of the 1-inch, 50.3-megapixel Sony IMX989 with an f/1.8 aperture and 23mm focal length. It equipped with dual pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser Autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS). This is complemented with a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom and PDAF. Completing the triple sensor setup is a 50-megapixel utlra-wide sensor with autofocus. On the front, the smartphone comes with a 32-megapixel selfie camera.
The vanilla 13 comes with a triple sensor setup with a main 50-megapixel main sensor with PDAF and OIS complemented with a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. On the front is the same 32-megapixel sensor.
Leica isn’t just lending its lenses to Xiaomi for the Xiaomi 13 series, they’re helping with the software. The 13 and 13 Pro both come with the master lens system, a software features which provides better, more granular control to the focal length and depth of field for better portrait photos. In addition to this, the software comes with two distinct photographic styles: Leica Authentic Look and Leica Vibrant Look. These paired with Xiaomi’s own Imaging Engine culminate in Xiaomi’s strongest computational photography flagship.
Of course, with all these photography features, the two smartphones come with powerful displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate.
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi 13 Series will be available in Malaysia starting on March 8th 2023.
The Xiaomi 13 will be available in three colours – Black, White and Flora Green. Only one variant will be available in Malaysia 12GB RAM with 256GB of internal storage. Prices start at MYR3,499.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro will be available in two colours: Ceramic Black and Ceramic White. Two variants of the 13 Pro will be avaiable 12RAM with 256GB of internal storage and a special, limited edition 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage. The former will be priced from MYR4,699 while the limited edition will be on sale for MYR 4,999.
The Xiaomi 13 series will be available for pre-order starting on February 27, 2023 until March 7, 2023. Packages and pricing are as follows:
Xiaomi’s latest flagship devices, the Xiaomi 13 series, have been announced in China and challenges to be a top device in 2023.
Xiaomi 13 series aims to be at the top of the 2023 smartphone line. Image source: Weibo Xiaomi via Android Authority
Xiaomi’s announcement revealed two devices, the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro as part of the series. Both devices will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset for top-of-the-line performance. Shared features between the devices include the Android 13-based MIUI4 out of the box, 50W wireless charging, IP68 rating, Dolby Atmos sepakers and WiFi 6E support.
True flagship experience of the Xiaomi 13 Pro
The Sony IMX989 50MP sensor gives the Xiaomi 13 Pro the edge. Image source: Weibo Xiaomi via Android Authority
The Xiaomi 13 Pro offers the true flagship experience, with a 6.7-inch, 120Hz curved OLED with QHD resolution. The display features an LTPO panel, which allows dynamic adjustment of the screen refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz to save battery. There is also support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision and has good visibility with 1900 peak nits of brightness. Rear cameras are a 50MP 1-inch Sony IMX989 main sensor with Leica lenses, 50MP 3x telephoto lens and 50MP ultrawide. The front camera is a 32MP shooter that sits in a punch hole cutout in the front. The battery has 4820 mAh capacity with 120W wired charging, 50W wireless charging and capable of 10W wireless reverse charging. All devices come with ceramic backs colors options of Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, and Wilderness Green.
The Xiaomi 13 concedes in hardware but still packs a punch
Smaller,, more affordable but no less a flagship. Image source: XiaomiUI
The standard Xiaomi 13 has a smaller 6.39-inch flat OLED panel with FHD resolution with no LTPO panel. Cameras are a slight step down too with a 50MP IMX800 main shooter, a 12MP ultrawide sensor and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. The battery is understandably lower capacity with 4500 mAh and has 67W wired charging. Overall, the standard variant only falls behind the Pro by display, cameras and to a lesser degree, battery life. It does however offer a smaller form factor with a flat design that some may prefer to the curved design of the Pro, along with a smaller price tag. Color options are Black, White, and Wilderness Green, but with glass backs this time. Both the standard and Pro variants will also be available in a sky-blue color with a leather finish.
Pricing and availability
Both Xiaomi 13 phones get 3 colours and a fourth leather finish option with sky blue colour. Image source: Weibo Xiaomi via Android Authority
The standard and Pro variants of Xiaomi 13 is currently available in China only. Both devices come in four memory configurations: 8 GB RAM +128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage. Pricing for the Pro variant starts at 3999 yuan (approx. RM2534) and the standard variant at 3999 yuan (approx. RM3168) for the respective 8 GB + 128 GB variant.
Xiaomi’s Redmi lineup has been one of the most affordable smartphones in the market for a while now. However, the Redmi 10 lineup has been missing out on the 5G love that other devices have been launching with – that ends now with the Redmi 10 5G. Xiaomi is also switching things up with this launch in Malaysia, partnering exclusively with Maxis, one of the country’s largest mobile and internet service providers.
The Redmi 10 5G is the first in the lineup to come with 5G connectivity. It’s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 octa-core processor. It also comes with dual SIM support. You’ll be able to use two 5G SIMs as well with dual 5G standby. This is supplemented by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage in the version being offered on Maxis.
On the display front, the smartphone comes with a 6.58-inch Full HD, Dot Drop display. The screen also supports a 90Hz refresh rate with AdaptiveSync. It’s got Gorilla Glass 3 protection as well. The smartphone itself comes with support for AI face unlock and also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
The Redmi 10 5G comes with a dual sensor camera setup. The main sensor is a 50-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This is supported by a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Up front, we have a 5-megapixel selfie shooter with an f/2.2 aperture.
The smartphone has a 5,000mAh battery which should be able to last a whole day easily based on Redmi’s track record. If you need to top up, however, the Redmi 10 5G does have support for 18W fast charging using its USB-C connector. It also comes with a 22.5W charger provided in the box.
Pricing and Availability
The Redmi 10 5G will be available in Graphite Gray, Chrome Silver and Aurora Green. For now, it’s available exclusively on Maxis for as low as MYR1 on its Zerolution plans. Beyond the exclusivity period, the device will be retailing for MYR959.
Xiaomi has been known to shake up the smartphone market every now and again. Just recently, they announced the Xiaomi 12S Ultra which brings a large 1-inch sensor and Leica imaging technology to their flagships. Now, the company is supercharging their Lite series with features that make other mid-range smartphones cry.
The freshly announced Xiaomi 12 Lite completes the current Xiaomi 12 lineup. It brings a more restrained combination of specifications while keeping it more affordable but feature-packed. The 12 Lite is one of the lightest smartphones coming in at only 173g (6.1oz). It’s also one of the sleekest available right now with a 7.29mm thickness. It’s a rather industrial device with an angular body and rounded corners. Of course, like all modern smartphones, the 12 Lite comes with a multicamera setup.
Impressive Camera Performance with a 108-megapixel Sensor and Xiaomi’s Own AI
The Mi 12 Lite comes with a triple camera setup which is accented on the back by metal rings. The main sensor is a 108-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor. Yep – the same one we’ve seen on flagships like the S21 and Xiaomi 11. Complementing this is an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Of course, the sensor is not thing doing the work when it comes to the camera. Xiaomi has imbued its MIUI camera with AI and features that up the ante in the midrange. Specifically, the Xiaomi 12 Lite will be shipping with AI-powered eye tracking and even motion capture.
On the front, the smartphone is coming with a 32-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GD2 sensor with autofocus. That’s right, the front camera of the Xiaomi 12 Lite comes with autofocus – something that is nearly unheard of at its price point and even in its device class. This is supported by Xiaomi’s own algorithm that optimises things like depth estimation and HDR colouration to give vibrant pictures and milky smooth bokeh. Xiaomi has also equipped the 12 Lite with a new Selfie Glow System which helps illuminate subjects in front of the sensor. The system consists of 2 strips of LED lights that are able to flood the subject with light. It also can act as a highlighting light under the right conditions.
Uncompromising Power with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
The Xiaomi 12 Lite comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G. The octa-core processor packs performance and power savings with its 6nm fabrication. This is complemented with up to 8GB and 256GB of internal storage.
In addition to the power-packed internals, the 12 Lite comes with a 6.55-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a 20:9 aspect ratio and an FHD+ resolution of 1080×2400 pixels. The display is a TrueColor display which can provide a more true-to-life-reproduction of colours. The phone also comes with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision certifications in addition to its stereo speakers.
All of this runs on a 4,700mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging. Xiaomi is touting that fast charging will allow you to go from 0-50% in 30 minutes. Smart charging provides some protection for overnight charging by charging from 0-80% rapidly and slowly to 100% by the time you unplug in the morning.
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi 12 Lite will be available in three colours: Lite Pink, Lite Green and Black. In Malaysia, it will be available with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal memory and 8GB RAM and 256GB internal memory versions. The former will be priced at MYR1,699 while the latter will be priced at MYR1,899.
The 12 Lite will be available for pre-order starting on the 19th of August until the 26th of August 2022. Pre-orders will be entitled to an MYR100 discount. Those done via Xiaomi Stores will get an additional MYR299 of freebies including a Xiaomi Shoulder Bag, Xiaomi Sports Bottle and a Mi Body Composition scale. While those done on Xiaomi’s online stores on Shopee and LAZADA will be entitled to a free Redmi Buds 3 Lite worth MYR99.
Xiaomi took to the stage to announce their new flagship series – the Xiaomi 12S series. The series has multiple entries and has the Xiaomi 12S Ultra as its centrepiece. The new flagship is the first device in what looks to be a long-term partnership with Leica when it comes to imaging and photography.
You’re Gonna Leica this – the Leica Summicron 1:1.9-4.1 / 13-120 ASPH. camera system
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra comes with the Leica Summicron 1:1.9-4.1 / 13-120 ASPH. camera system. Yep – that’s a mouthful. The new co-engineered system marries Leica’s camera technology with Xiaomi’s smartphone prowess. It’s a Triple sensor setup with the new, 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor as the main sensor. The 50.3-megapixel sensor comes with Quad Bayer technology which promises better image capture in both low- and normal lighting and an aperture of f/1.9. It also comes with Octa-phase detection Autofocus which apparently allows it to focus faster. The main sensor is complemented by a 48-megapixel f/2.2 Sony IMX586 ultra-wide sensor and a 48-megapixel f/4.1 Sony IMX586 periscope sensor. These sensors also use Quad Bayer technology.
Source: Xiaomi
The main sensor uses an 8P Aspherical Lens. This helps reduce glares and also helps with imaging performance overall. All of the sensors have Pixel binning which increases the quality of the photos taken by the camera thanks to an even larger hybrid pixel size. Binning essentially creates larger pixels by combining four pixels in the sensor. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra also comes with HyperOIS technology and boasts even better image stabilization thanks to an innovative approach of taking the time between images (7ms) to stabilize and reset the sensor.
In addition to the hardware, Xiaomi and Leica have worked together in developing the software. The result? Two shooting modes that bring Leica’s signature elements into your smartphone. The “Leica Authentic Look” hearkens back to Leica’s signature aesthetic. It brings the vibrancy of true-to-life colours and the depth and emotion of Leica’s surrealism. The resulting photos are colourful or monochrome with a sense of depth. Xiaomi and Leica’s collaboration is more apparent with the “Leica Vibrant Look”. This look brings Xiaomi’s know-how with mobile cameras to Leica’s signature aesthetic. The resulting pictures are more vibrant and work to capture the feel of the moment.
Partnering with Adobe and Dolby
Keeping photography centerstage, Xiaomi and Leica have also worked with Adobe to enable RAW capture on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. The RAW capture on the 12S Ultra allows you to capture your images in DNG format preserving all the image data so you can edit and manipulate the image on programs like Adobe Lightroom. Adobe Lightroom will come equipped with a special profile for the 12S Ultra which will allow it to show you the actual image captured without you tinkering. Lightroom will be able to load the profile automatically from the image metadata.
When it comes to video capture, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the first smartphone to come with the ability to capture Dolby Vision HDR video. This brings a wider colour depth to video than HDR10+, allowing you to impart more emotion and character to your video shots. It will also help with low light performance.
Still Powered by Cutting Edge Tech
While it may seem like the Xiaomi 12S Ultra is all about the camera, the series still comes packed with cutting-edge technology under the hood. The whole Xiaomi 12S series runs on the new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform which ups the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 by nearly 10%. The new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is fabricated with TSMC’s new 4nm node which allows for better energy efficiency with a 21% smaller core and 10% boost in both CPU and GPU performance.
Source: Xiaomi
Xiaomi has also equipped the Xiaomi 12S series with a brand new cooling system which it touts as more efficient than currently available vapour cooling systems. The technology mimics the hydrostatic system of a leaf and its capillaries. This mimicry allows the system to dissipate heat more effectively and quicker than traditional vapour cooling systems. In fact, Xiaomi is touting a 100% better thermal conductivity.
The Xiaomi 12S series comes with a Samsung AMOLED display with 2K resolution. The panel comes with an E5 material which helps increase brightness. The display has a peak brightness of 1,500nits. On the 12S Ultra, the display comes with 1-120Hz AdaptiveSync Pro which allows it to hit 1Hz refresh rates when viewing text and 120Hz when gaming. The other regular 12S and the 12S Pro come with 120Hz AdaptiveSync. Across the board, the displays are calibrated with 100% coverage of the P3 colour gamut and support Dolby Vision.
Xiaomi 12S Pro Source: Xiaomi
The smartphones come equipped with Dual 5g connectivity with a 4×4 MIMO modem. They also support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 with support for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon sound and aptX Adaptive.
The smartphones come with Xiaomi’s Surge G1 Battery Management chip and the Surge P1 fast-charging chips. These chips work in tandem to help preserve battery health while extending battery life and reducing charging time. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra comes with a 4,860 mAh single cell, silicon-oxygen anode battery which supports 16A output current. The Ultra supports 67W wired fast charging, 50W wireless fast charging and 10W reverse fast charging. The Pro sports a smaller 4,600mAh with support for 120W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. The regular 12S comes with an even smaller 4,500mAh battery which has support for 67W wired and 50W Wireless.
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra will be available in Mainland China in the near future. It will be available in Classic Black and Verdant Green. It’s will be available in three variants 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB and 12GB+512GB. The 8GB+256GB version will be priced at CNY5999 (MYR3,951.18) while the 12GB + 256GB will retail at CNY6,499 (MYR4,280.08) and the 12GB+512GB version will be priced at CNY6,999 (MYR4,609.82).
The Xiaomi 12S and 12S Pro will be available in 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB variants. Pricing for the 12S starts at CNY3,999 (MYR2,633.90) for the 12S while the 12S Pro will start at CNY4,699 (MYR3,096.10).
A few months ago, we heard a rumour. A little bird said that Leica is looking for a partnership with a mobile manufacturer. We heard that they are looking into another partnership with a different Chinese manufacturer at the time, Xiaomi. For a few months after that, the rumour seemed dead, quiet.
Leijun, the current CEO of Xiaomi global, today just confirmed that the rumours a few months ago was true after all. There were no big announcements too, no press releases. It is just a simple twitter post that also teases a 4th of July 2022 launch date for the Xiaomi 12S Series flagship smartphones. It is happening at 7pm at GMT +8 next week, which is good for us in Malaysia.
After so much hard work, we can finally share our latest innovation, Xiaomi smartphones co-engineered with Leica, ushering in a new era in imagery technology. Looking forward to sharing more at the #Xiaomi12SSeriesLaunch on July 4, 19:00 GMT+8! pic.twitter.com/YHe5Zvqjdb
There is not too much that we know about the Xiaomi 12S series. To be fair, Xiaomi has not teased much about it and has been keeping mums about it quite well. Still there are a few things we may be able to expect out of the new flagship devices.
You can expect Qualcomm’s latest Snadragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip fitted into the new devices. It will effectively be the first devices in the world to pack Qualcomm’s new generation system on a chip (SoC). Technically at launch too, it will be the most powerful Android device available in the market.
You can expect up to 12GB of RAM too in the most premium variant of the Xiaomi 12S alongside up to 256GB of storage. In terms of display, you should get up to 120Hz in refresh rate, the highest you can sort of get in smartphones today anyway. Like Xiaomi teased a long time ago too, fast charging will still be a thing with the new device with up to 120W in charging speeds.
Of course, the Xiaomi 12S will be an Android 12 device at launch. It should be upgradable to Android 13 when it is available from Xiaomi. As with any other Xiaomi flagship that came before, it will come installed with MIUI 13 based on Android 12 too.
There are no confirmations on what prices the devices will launch with. There is also nothing to indicate its availability date in different regions. We are hoping that Malaysia will be in the list of countries that gets the Xiaomi 12S devices first. The Xiaomi 12S, with Leica’s co-engineered camera sounds a lot like a treat, and we are excited for it.
When HUAWEI and its sister brand started in the world of Windows PCs, we were quite curious. The dawn of smartphones and tablet devices were regarded by many experts as the beginning to the decline of bulky PCs. If you think about it as well, today we rely more on our smartphones than modern PCs.
The reality today is a large contrast to what the experts thought would happen many years ago. Smartphones thrived, which is largely in line with what was being said at the time. Oddly enough, Windows PC and Macs thrived too, there is even the Chromebooks now. All of which also points to the fact that PCs still have their place in the world today. In most cases, you tend to use both devices for differing functions. That is why Xiaomi also came up with the RedmiBook 15.
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
Source: Xiaomi
The RedmiBook 15, to be fair, looks like any other thin and light notebook that came out from any China manufacturers like HONOR and HUAWEI. They all have that same svelte and clean design with minimal branding. You can probably only see the branding on the cover of the laptop and the bottom of the display. Even the cover shell branding is rather subtle on the RedmiBook 15.
As its name suggests, it is a 15-incher notebook. Specifically, you get a 15.6-inch display that boasts up to 1,920 by 1,080 pixels in resolution. It is an anti-glare display with flicker-free technology to protect your eyes. Of course, sitting atop the display is a 720p webcam, nothing too special or surprising there.
The Microsoft Windows 11 machine is powered by Intel’s 11th Generation Core processors. There is no Core i7 model here though, you only get up to a Core i5. We presume that it is because they might want to keep costs low. Storage wise, you get up to 512GB in SSD storage paired with up to 8GB of DDR4 RAM. Graphics is handled by Intel’s UHD Graphics. All of these are kept running for up to 10 hours at a time with a 46Whr internal battery.
Yes, to be fair, there is nothing much to shout about here. Intel’s 12th Generation Core processors are gracing the field now. The UHD Graphics are also a little outdated at this point with Intel’s Iris Xe graphics going on every thin and light you can find in 2022. There is a reason why you might want to get your hands on one of these though, its cost.
Price and Availability
The Intel Core i3 variant of the Xiaomi RedmiBook 15 starts at MYR 2,399 which is not a lot of money to begin with for a Windows 11 machine. If you want to go for the more powerful Core i5 variant, it will set you back MYR 2,799. The Xiaomi RedmiBook 15 will be available 6th June, 2022 onward in all authorised Xiaomi stores nationwide (Malaysia) and on Xiaomi’s official online stores on Shopee and Lazada.
These days, when you talk flagship, you think about devices that cost at least MYR 3,000 and above. Anything below that price range is usually categorised as mid-range smartphones. They are usually specced as such too, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 700 series, 6-8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. Not this one though. It is priced as a mid-range smartphone, but on paper, it is a flagship.
First, the POCO F4 GT packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the most powerful system on a chip (SoC) you can find in an Android smartphone currently. Sure, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is rumoured to come some time soon. Until then, the Gen 1 is still the most powerful SoC you can find on an Android. The powerful SoC is supported by up to 12GB of speedy LPDDR5 RAM with up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage for snappy operations.
They say that it is made for mobile gaming. To ensure that the SoC stays cool for extended gaming sessions then, they have something they call LiquidCool Technology 3.0. The technology large dual vapor chambers to ensure that heat from the SoC can be quickly and efficiently transferred and dissipated elsewhere on the device.
Source: POCO
Out the front is an expansive and immersive 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 10-bit colours. With up to 120Hz, your interface should feel smoother than running a hot knife through butter. At up to 480Hz of touch sampling rate, every touch should feel more instant and more responsive than ever before. Of course, with DisplayMate’s A+ rating, this display should be great with movies too.
Out the back is a 64-Megapixel main shooter which should be enough in most cases. Of course, most of the time, you are really taking 12-Megapixel photos unless you tell your camera that you want to shoot in 64-Megapixel mode. The powerful camera is supported by an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide shooter and a 2-Megapixel macro camera. Out the front is a 20-Megapixel selfie shooter for when you need to stream or when you just want to capture a clear selfie.
To keep everything running nicely an entire day and more is a 4,700mAh battery inside the device. It is also the first battery in POCO’s device range to offer 120W HyperCharge charging speed. The device can be fully charged in just 27 minutes. Charging your device at 120W at all times can destroy the battery pretty quickly though, so POCO’s AdaptiveCharge feature cleverly keeps your battery from overcharging to prolong its shelf life.
Alongside the POCO F4 GT, POCO also launched their new Buds Pro Genshin Impact Edition with a rather special design throwing homage to the ever so popular mobile game. They also launched the POCO Watch, their first ever smartwatch cum fitness tracker. It does not run on the Wear OS.
The POCO F4 GT is available in three colour options from 28th of April 2022 onward. You can choose between Stealth Black, Knight Silver, and Cyber Yellow colour options. You can also choose between an 8GB + 128GB variant and a 12GB + 256GB variant for MYR 2,299 and MYR 2,499 respectively. If you purchase your device on the 28th of April 2022 on either Shopee or Lazada, you can get your device for MYR 1,999 and MYR 2,199 respectively. The POCO Buds Pro Genshin Impact Edition and POCO Watch will be available for MYR 299 and MYR 249 respectively on the same date. More information on the new POCO devices can be found on their website.
It is not easy to follow up from a great product. Xiaomi managed to introduce the Xiaomi 11 series, their most powerful flagship with a lot of new upgrades from its predecessor. The Xiaomi 11 series packs very powerful System on a Chip (SoC) with an ultra-powerful camera array. At the same time, the 2021 flagship costs a fraction of the prices of most of the flagships out there.
So how do you follow up from such a strong device? If you ask Xiaomi, more of the same things that they have done before.
Enter the Xiaomi 12 series. On paper, it does not look like they have moved away from their old recipe of great prices and powerful flagship level hardware.
Xiaomi 12
Source: xiaomi
We start with the most obvious change on paper, the SoC. You get the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC to date on the Xiaomi 12 series. You get a nice and powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip with 4nm technology powering Google’s latest Android 12 with MIUI 13.
Alongside the powerful processor is an ample 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM for super-fast read speeds. Speaking of memory, you can spec your Xiaomi 12 with up to 256GB of built-in storage. There are no expansion slots for the device though, bummer.
All these pushes MIUI 12 interface to take advantage of the AMOLED Dot Display. It is a 6.28-inch Full HD+ panel that offers 120Hz in refresh rate for the smooth feel. For vivid, immersive colours the panel offers HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision certification, TrueColor support, and is rated at A+ by DisplayMate. You can do away with screen protectors too with Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus protecting the panel.
Watching movies with a Xiaomi 12 should be an immersive experience too with Dolby Atmos certified speakers. Moreover, it is tuned by the knowledgeable guys over in Harman Kardon.
Source: xiaomi
Where the older Xiaomi 11 offers one very powerful 108-Megapixel sensor for its main camera, the Xiaomi 12 only offers up to 50-Megapixel in resolution for its main sensor. That is not necessarily a bad thing though, considering that its supporting cameras also offer higher resolutions than before at 13-Megapixel for its ultra-wide shooter, and 5-Megapixel for its telephoto shooter. Out the front is a 32-Megapixel camera for ultra-clear and detailed self-portraits or group photos. While you do lose some resolution in photos, you can still get 8K video recordings out of the main sensor.
Keeping everything running along for an entire day is a large 4,500mAh battery. You get up to 67W in charging speeds via the USB Type-C port. Charging it wirelessly should also be quick enough with up to 50W in charging speeds. If you have other devices that needs power quickly, the Xiaomi 12 can wirelessly share its charge at 10W.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Source: xiaomi
If the regular Xiaomi 12 does not rock your boat, you might want to look at its Pro variant. True to the Pro moniker, it is bigger, more powerful, and surely more expensive. For good reason though.
You are not getting a different SoC, it is the same powerful one since you cannot get anything more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. You are getting a much bigger 12GB RAM for it though, which also means that you have more multitasking capabilities. Pair that to a 256GB storage, your Xiaomi 12 Pro is a media powerhouse.
The display is much bigger too at 6.73-inch with a few more curves. It is still an AMOLED Dot Display with AdaptiveSync. It is an AdaptiveSync Pro technology that allows the display to switch up between 1Hz to 120Hz for better dynamics and even better battery life. At the same time, the increase in size allows Xiaomi to fit twice more resolution than its regular counterpart making it effectively a WQHD+ display. It also protects your eyes better with SGS Eye Care Display certification.
Source: xiaomiSource: xiaomiSource: xiaomi
Dolby Atmos and Harman Kardon tuning should be enough for the immersive feel of movies on your smartphone. Not for the Xiaomi 12 Pro though. Instead of the regular dual speaker set-up, the larger body allows Xiaomi to shoehorn four speakers, two tweeters and two subwoofers, for an even more immersive audio experience without the need to use Bluetooth speakers.
To keep all these things working for you an entire day and more is a larger 4,600mAh battery pack. You can also charge the battery at 120W that fully charges the battery in 18 minutes. It also comes with 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse charging like the Xiaomi 12.
Prices and Availability
The Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro is now available for pre-order until the 23rd of March 2022. You can pre-order yours directly from Xiaomi. The new flagships will set you back MYR 2,899 (8GB + 128GB, MYR 2,999 for 8GB + 256GB) and MYR 3,899 respectively. Unfortunately, you do have to arrange to collect your device from a Xiaomi Flagship store near you once it is available though. Still, every pre-order entitles you to an array of premium free gifts worth up to MYR 2,197 like a 3.1 Channel Soundbar for example. For more information on the Xiaomi 12 series devices, you can visit their website.
Xiaomi’s quest to be the king of the Internet of Things (IoT) is no secret. The company has more than one subsidiary working on its IoT products. To date, we’ve seen IoT products branded as Mi, Soocas and even Dreame. ROIDMI is yet another brand that works on IoT particularly cordless vacuums. Its laser focus on the niche seems to have worked in its favour as their line-up of cordless vacuums seems to be one of the more popular options on platforms like Shopee and Lazada.
That said, Robot Vacuums are no revolution when it comes to cleaning. They’ve been available on the market for quite a while now, but they’ve always had their quirks when it comes to cleaning. ROIDMI’s EVE Plus is looking to address many of these quirks with some interesting approaches and smart implementation of AI technology. These small innovations have made for one of the easier, hands-off cleaning experiences for robot vacuums we’ve experienced.
The ROIDMI Experience
The ROIDMI experience isn’t just a manual plug-and-forget experience; it comes with a host of “prep work” and setup that you’ll have to undertake at the beginning which lends to a more automated experience later on. Of course, it is in no way a deal-breaker when it comes to the overall experience.
Being an IoT device, the robot vacuum requires some setup. However, the process is pretty straightforward, simple and very app-centric. The EVE Plus Robot Vacuum itself doesn’t come with many interactive components. Most of the interactions and settings are done through the app. This actually makes setup a breeze. However, the ecosystem itself can be a little quirky as it isn’t as integrated as you would think.
When you initially unbox and set up your EVE Plus Robot Vacuum, you’ll need to make sure that you remove the plastic and Styrofoam pieces that have been placed to prevent damage to moving parts during shipping. If you look at the manual, it says that the vacuum can be integrated into the Mi Home app or the ROIDMI app. However, this particular model of the robot vacuum isn’t listed in the Mi Home app, instead, you will need to use the ROIDMI app to set it up.
Set up was very simple and quick. All you had to do is plug in the base, place the EVE Plus in the cradle and power on. Once you do, you just have to tap the add product option in the app which is denoted by a “+” on the top right. When you do this, it will automatically look for the local WiFi being broadcast by the vacuum and proceed to program the Wi-Fi settings for the vacuum. To be frank, that’s all the setup that is required. After this, everything else is automated and done by the vacuum itself during its first cleaning.
App Design & Usability
The ROIDMI app is a simple, well-designed app. Unlike a lot of other IoT apps, it cuts to the chase and immediately allows you to set up and manage your products after you sign in. The simplicity and straightforward design are some of the best features of the app. The no-frills in your face design lets you get things done without fumbling and digging for functions.
After your initial set-up of registering and logging in, you’ll be greeted by a screen with a list of your appliances. Each appliance can be set up and monitored through the app. The main screen shows you pertinent information such as the battery level, active time, and area that the vacuum has cleaned previously.
Clicking further into the app brings up more detailed information. In the case of the EVE Plus Robot Vacuum, you’ll be able to see a map of the space it’s in and the cleaning path it took on the previous cleaning session. It also gives you quick access to its cleaning modes and map customisations. It also gives you quick access to the recharge and clean options. You can also customise how much water it will dispense when mopping and even the suction power of the vacuum.
Designed for Real Living Spaces
While the app is the core of their user experience, the ROIDMI EVE Plus Robot Vacuum itself comes packed with hardware and design that makes using it a more seamless experience.
Let’s start off with the overall design of the vacuum. The ROIDMI EVE Plus Robot Vacuum is designed to be able to manoeuvre through real living spaces. While it shares a similar design to many of the robot vacuums available, it is short enough to fit under most spaces in a room. The circle design of it gives it more manoeuvrability that allows the vacuum to get out of tight situations with minimal intervention.
ROIDMI has also struck a balance in the size of the vacuum and the size of the internal tank. It is large enough that the vacuum doesn’t need to make multiple trips back to the docking station to be emptied even in larger rooms but small enough that the robot vacuum is still able to fit in most nooks and crannies of a space. It also doesn’t come with many parts which click into space. All the components of the robot vacuum are securely in place either with screws or by a secure locking mechanism.
The vacuums movement is dependent on two rather large plastic wheels. They function similar to the hoverboards we’ve seen in the market. This decision actually allows the robot vacuum to find its way through tough spaces. It also allows it to move over ledges objects about 2cm in height. So, if you have a table with a stand design that runs on the ground or running cables across a room, it’ll be able to move over them. However, for cables, if they aren’t fastened to the ground securely, you might have electrical items connected to these cables falling over.
The ROIDMI EVE Plus has a small, elevated component on the top where the LIDAR sensor is. This allows it a 360° field of view allowing it to map and detect quicker and more accurately. In fact, it managed to map the room it was in even during setup. The sensor also allows the robot vacuum to gauge the height of furniture, so it doesn’t get stuck under them. This is complemented by sensors on the side and bumpers on the front to help with movement and manoeuvring. There are only 3 physical buttons on the EVE PLUS – the power button, the home button and a button that acts as a quick clean command.
The base station or dock is also designed minimally. It’s a relatively small unit with a single touch screen for status monitoring and a space for the EVE Plus to come home to. The main, 3-litre dust bag is accessible through the top. It also has a HEPA filter to prevent odours from escaping. This also means that you won’t be emptying the bag too often. ROIDMI does highlight that they’ve designed the base in a more compact fashion. This apparently allows them to minimise noise while dust is being emptied.
Dealing with the Dust in a Smart Way with Some Quirks
To be really frank, I’ve never really understood the allure of robot vacuums even after reviewing earlier models ages ago. In fact, they always seemed like more hassle than they are worth. However, the Xiaomi ROIDMI EVE Plus robot vacuum did a good job of convincing me otherwise.
The AI that comes programmed into the EVE Plus makes it one of the simplest, most seamless robot vacuum experiences I’ve had to date. It can intelligently detect the height of furniture and even detect slopes or ledges. It was able to avoid getting stuck most of the time thanks to this. However, even if it got stuck you simply had to put it immediately beside the area it got stuck in and it would avoid it.
The way the EVE Plus cleans is also different from other robot vacuums. It intelligently partitions large areas into smaller rooms. It wasn’t immediately apparent when I was observing the vacuum itself but when I glanced at the app, the map was sectioned into multiple smaller areas. Using this mapping and guidance, it would optimise its route to efficiently clean the area. It’s also the only robot vacuum I’ve seen that has a unique Y cleaning pattern that allows it to clean more effectively. If you’re like me, you’ll also turn on the 2X clean feature which makes the EVE Plus do a second run when cleaning. Its ability to mop with spaces with water is also a welcomed feature. However, this feature is limited to 250m2 space as the water tank on the robot vacuum is limited.
However, the ROIDMI EVE Plus is not without its quirks. During our review period, the vacuum actually lost mapping data spontaneously. This isn’t a major issue as it is able to rebuild the data pretty quickly. The robot vacuum is also a little quirky when it comes to dealing with carpets and rugs. It’s able to handle thicker carpets but tends to wrestle with rags.
It also communicates through the app which is an added advantage – if your phone doesn’t put the app to sleep. The app never requests to allow it to run in the background either so when you launch your ROIDMI app, it tends to spam you with notifications. It also does cry for help with a voice when it’s stuck.
Of Raised Slopes & Tassels – ROIDMI Eve Plus Kryptonite
If the ROIDMI EVE Plus was Supergirl, tassels and slopes are its kryptonite. The robot vacuum seems to enjoy wrestling (and losing) with tassels. Rugs or carpets with tassels are things you may want to remove when using the EVEL Plus. In fact, I had to cut tassels off a floor mat cause the EVE Plus had a bout with them and couldn’t break free. The other thing that the EVE Plus seems to have trouble with is raised slopes and platforms. This is particularly apparent if you use a stand fan in your room. If the stand fan is designed with a base that is slightly sloped, the EVE Plus will try to run over the slope and eventually get stuck.
This was irritating at first. However, you can easily prevent this by creating no-fly zones on the map through the ROIDMI app.
Not Just About Removing Dust – It Zaps Bacteria with Activated Oxygen
Earlier we mentioned the HEPA filter that helps prevent odours from escaping. This is actually part of a larger disinfection system that is integrated into the base station of the EVE Plus. When the dust is emptied from the robot vacuum to the main 3-litre bag, it is bombarded by activated or ionised oxygen. A little bit of a science refresher here – activate or ionised oxygen is a charged molecule that readily destabilizes cellular structures and intracellular structures. Using this understanding, ROIDMI has created a solution that is able to kill 99.99% of bacteria or so they claim.
This technology is also responsible for the odourless storage of dust in the base station. The ionised oxygen can also help neutralise bad odours. This working together with the HEPA filter that is integrated into the docking station minimises harmful particles and allergens from escaping.
A Simplified, Smart Robot Vacuum that is able to handle small to medium spaces with a user experience that changed the mind of a non-believer
It’s very rare for a piece of technology to make me reconsider my initial experiences and change my mind. However, the ROIDMI EVE Plus robot vacuum did just that. It provided a seamless, simplified experience which convinced me that there is a time and space for smart cleaning devices. In my case, with a busy day to day life and older parents at home, the robot vacuum provided us with a means to maintain our most used spaces keeping them clean and dust-free without sacrificing time and conserving time.
The features of the EVE Plus are what made the difference. Its simple app and set-it-and-forget-it experience allowed me to get things done without the need to worry about the robot vacuum when it’s running a cleaning cycle. If the vacuum had poorer manoeuvrability or got stuck in spaces regularly, this review would have been very different. However, the fact that it was able to handle a busy space without much hassle, was a welcomed surprise.
