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Xiaomi launched the first device in the Mi MIX lineup all the way back in 2016, featuring a revolutionary bezel-less display. The device was launched as a concept phone that only intended to showcase what smartphones could look like in the future. But its success triggered the launch of a new series from Xiaomi that showed off innovative technologies like the piezoelectric earpiece solution on the Mi MIX and the slider mechanism on the Mi MIX 3. Late last year, Xiaomi launched another concept smartphone as part of the Mi MIX series, taking innovation to a whole new level. The Mi MIX Alpha features a wrap-around pOLED display that continues over the edges all the way around to the back, giving the smartphone an unbelievable 180.6% screen-to-body ratio. We recently got a chance to experience the Mi MIX Alpha first hand at a media briefing in New Delhi and here are our first impressions of the device.
At first glance, the Mi MIX Alpha looks like a smartphone straight out of science fiction, with its wrap-around display and bezel-less design. Its display seamlessly wraps around the titanium alloy frame, leaving just a narrow strip on the back to house the triple camera module. Unlike the frame, this strip is made up of ceramic and it has a sapphire glass at the top to protect the cameras from unwanted scratches. I personally can’t comment on the in-hand feel as Xiaomi didn’t allow any of us to touch the device, however, the materials used lead me to believe that the Mi MIX Alpha would definitely feel premium.
In order to achieve this futuristic design, Xiaomi has packed in a number of innovations in the Mi MIX Alpha. To accommodate the nearly bezel-less wrap-around display, Xiaomi has made use of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) antenna design with a clearance of just 0.8mm, piezoelectric speakers to replace the traditional earpiece, and ultrasonic proximity sensors that are embedded under the display.
Now with a curved display that goes all the way over the sides, it’s quite natural for users to be worried about accidental touches. This is one major gripe I’ve had with smartphones that feature a curved display. To overcome this issue, Xiaomi makes use of multiple sensors and artificial intelligence on the Mi MIX Alpha. The device features precise screen usage detection that automatically deactivates inactive areas to avoid accidental touches.
In the camera department, the Mi MIX Alpha features the 108MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX S5KHMX primary camera with 1/1.33-inch sensor size, f/1.69 aperture, 7P lens, and four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS). We’ve also seen this camera on the Mi Note 10 and it’s capable of taking ultra-high resolution (12032 x 9024) images and it can also capture 4K video with OIS.
The primary sensor is accompanied by a 20MP ultra wide-angle camera with a 117-degree field of view, 1.28-inch sensor size, f/2.2 aperture, and a 6P lens. The camera setup is rounded off by a 12MP telephoto camera with a 1/2.55-inch sensor size, f/2 aperture, 6P lens, and dual PD autofocus. The device doesn’t include a selfie camera because it simply doesn’t need one. You can just turn the device around and the camera app flips to the display on the back, allowing you to take high-resolution selfies with the 108MP main camera.
On the inside, the Mi MIX Alpha features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855+ SoC, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage. The device features dual SIM 5G support and it’s backed by a 4,050 mAh nano silicon cathode battery with 40-watt fast charging. As you’d expect, the port selection is minimal with the smartphone featuring a single USB Type-C port on the bottom flanked by the SIM slot on one side and a downward-firing speaker on the other. Up at the top, the device has a physical power button that is needed to power on the device, but not for screen locking and unlocking.
Thanks to the unique form factor, the Mi MIX Alpha runs a custom version of MIUI that enables some really handy features like the selfie camera mode and the accidental touch detection feature that we just talked about. The device features pressure-sensitive virtual side buttons on the edges of the display, which is the main reason why the physical power button is not needed for screen lock/unlock. The software power button stays on even when the display is turned off. Xiaomi claims that these buttons are customizable and can switch positions depending on the orientation of the device.
But that’s not the only thing that changes with the orientation. The software can automatically detect when the user flips the Mi MIX Alpha over to the back, allowing the phone to display useful information on the right half of the display on the back. The software makes use of real-time AI scenario detection to display this information. So if you have booked a cab, flipping over the device will show you details about your booking. This feature can also be used to display information about your flight or train bookings and it can also be used to control your smart home devices on-the-go.
Additionally, the edges of the Mi MIX Alpha show crucial information like the battery percentage, network coverage, alarms, and other information that you’d usually see in the status bar on a traditional smartphone.
The entire edge also glows whenever you receive a new notification, which is definitely a nice touch. But the coolest thing about the Mi MIX Alpha is its charging animation. When the device is plugged in, the entire screen lights up indicating the current battery percentage. As you can see in the video below, the animation keeps moving up the display as the device charges and the color goes from red to green depending on the battery level.
Now that we’ve addressed all of the unique features of the Mi MIX Alpha, it’s time to talk about pricing and availability. The device was launched in China at a staggering CNY 19,999 (~₹2,05,690) and since Xiaomi just has one specialized production line in China that can produce this device, the company claims that the price could shoot up to ₹2,50,000 keeping in mind India’s customs duties and tariffs. While this definitely is a fair price for a device that’s this innovative, Xiaomi currently has no plans to bring the device to the Indian market. The phone has yet to go on sale in China too, but we can cut it some slack keeping in mind the challenges involved in mass-producing such a phone.
Xiaomi does plan on showcasing the Mi MIX Alpha in select Mi Home stores across India. As of now, the device is running an early beta build of MIUI and Xiaomi still has a long way to go before the software is polished enough to be displayed at a Mi Home store near you. Xiaomi hasn’t revealed a timeline for the same, but we’ll update this post as and when we receive more information from the company.
Huawei is gearing up for its next flagship release, coming to us in the form of the Huawei P40 and Huawei P40 Pro. We know that the company plans to go ahead with the release of the next iteration, despite no improvements in its political situation, because of which it will ship the phones with Huawei Mobile Services instead of Google Mobile Services. Early renders of both the devices had already surfaced last month, but they are unclear on several key areas. Now, we have our clearest look yet at the Huawei P40 thanks to new device renders.
These renders come to us from 91Mobiles, and they show off the device from all the important angles. As shown off in the render, the standard variant of the P40 series will come with a flat display. We can spot the dual selfie camera housed in the display cutout/punch-hole in the top left corner of the phone. Upon very close inspection, you can also make out the top and bottom bezels on the phone.
The back of the device shows off the triple rear camera setup, set within a rectangular camera island located in the top left on the back — which is becoming a trend for phones released in early 2020. We can also spot the Leica branding besides the camera, as well as the dual-LED flash. The camera does protrude from the phone. There is no fingerprint sensor to be spotted on the back of the phone, which means that it will come with an in-display fingerprint sensor.
We can also spot the speaker holes on the bottom, the USB Type-C port, the microphone hole, and the SIM card slot. The right side of the phone bears the volume rocker and the power button. The top and left angles of the phone are not pictured, which leads us to believe that these sides may be devoid of any interesting hardware — indicating that we are unlikely to see a headphone jack on this phone either, in line with previous leaks and rumors.
The P40 series is scheduled for launch in late March 2020 at an event in Paris. We hope to learn more about the phone before then.
If one of your goals for 2020 is to be more productive, you’re probably looking to upgrade to a better laptop. But, if another one of your goals is to save money, then you’re probably better off shopping for a refurbished model, which is usually just as good as new, but, since it’s pre-owned, comes at a discount. Here are 10 from top brands like Samsung, Dell, and Lenovo that you can get right now.
Thiszippy Chromebooktakes just three seconds to boot, while the six-cell battery lasts for eight hours on a full charge. It also has a 180-degree camera and a crisp display. The N21 retails for $599, but you can get a refurb model now forjust $89.99.
Running Chrome OS on an Intel Celeron N3050 processor,the N22lets you work for 14 hours on a full charge. You can make video calls with the 720p HD webcam, and add more space via the memory card slot. It was originally $249.99, but you can get a certified refurb model nowfor $99.99.
Lenovo Tab 4 8″ 16GB Tablet Black (Refurbished)
Perfect for gaming, messaging, and more, this8-inch Lenovo tabletoffers HD visuals and Dolby Atmos sound. The 64-bit quad-core Snapdragon processor makes this razor-thin device well suited to multi-tasking.Order now for $79.99to get a refurb Tab 4, worth $329.
With an 11.6-inch touchscreen display on a 360-degree hinge, theAcer R11works as a laptop and a tablet. Under the hood, it has 4GB of RAM and a quad-core Intel Celeron processor.Order now for $139.99to get a refurb, worth $298.
With reinforced corners and extra rib panels, thisAcer machineis more durable than most laptops. It provides 9 hours of battery life, with 16GB of SSD storage and an Intel Celeron processor. Originally $199, certified refurbs are nowonly $99.99.
Another great touchscreen option is the highly-ratedAcer Chromebook. The 11-inch display has a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, and the 1.6GHz processor can handle multitasking. Normally $399, certified refurbs arecurrently $249.
ThisDell powerhousehas a 2.16GHz processor that can handle loads of tabs. The 11.6-inch anti-glare display is perfect for working outdoors, and you get nine hours of battery life. Refurbs are now 66% off the full priceat $84.99.
Samsung Chromebook 11.6″ 16GB (Refurbished)
Made by the same people who design Galaxy phones, theSamsung Chromebookhas an Exynos 5 Dual-Core 1.7GHz CPU and a bright 1366 x 768 display. It was originally $599, but you can pick up a refurb nowfor $99.99.
Built to meet the U.S. Military Standard, theDell Chromebook 11packs a 2.1GHz Intel chip into a rugged case. This device also has an HD anti-glare display and 16GB of SSD storage.Order now for $104.99to get a certified refurb model.
This2018 touchscreen Chromebookcan withstand spills and drops, making it great for kids. It also works as a 2-in-1 device, with a 2.4GHz Intel processor and 32GB of storage. You can grab a refurbished model now foronly $199.99.
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GitHub is probably one of the most beloved products in the developer community. It is the most popular code hosting platform, which makes working on big projects easier for a lot of users. GitHub is where most of the source codes for custom kernels or ROMs from our own forums are hosted. The platform was acquired by Microsoft back in June of 2018. By now, we can tell that the acquisition has played out nicely for developers. Just now, GitHub has released its first-ever official Android app to the Play Store, as promised couple of months ago.
The GitHub for Android app is currently in beta testing, so you should expect more features and stability when the final version is released. As of now, the functionality of the app is quite limited. You can browse repositories, read their ‘readme’ files and view and create pull requests and issues. Unfortunately, you can’t currently view or edit the code, though I’d expect this feature in the stable build.
GitHub for Android also has a dark theme. You can turn it on manually in the settings. By default, the application’s theme will match system settings, as all apps should. The search and notifications features are also integrated, making it easier to browse the repositories and/or developers. Per GitHub’s promise, the app should soon let you review code and share feedback with contributors.
The YouTube app on Android is packed full of features and Google keeps adding new features with each successive update. Late last month, the company rolled out a new remote and voice commands in the casting menu of the app, making it easier for users to control playback while casting videos to a smart TV. Before that, the company rolled a new layout for the app which hid the comments section below and replaced it with an Up Next section. Earlier this month, we learned that YouTube was testing a new feature that shows users a channel preview in an overlay on top of the comment section. And now, the company is rolling out filters in the Subscription feed of the YouTube app.
As per a recent post from the company, the new filters have started rolling out to the YouTube app on iOS. These new filters will allow users to catch up on videos from their favorite creators. The new filters, that Google is calling “Topics”, will appear in the Subscription feed and users will be able to simply tap on a Topic and find all related videos in reverse chronological order. Google claims that these new Topics encouraged more users to visit their subs feed daily to look for new updates during testing. Here are all the new Topics that will be available in your subscription feed:
All: Lists all videos from channels you’re subscribed to from latest to oldest. This will continue to be your default setting.
Today: Shows you videos that were published within the past 24 hours.
Continue Watching: Only shows you videos that you previously started watching but haven’t finished yet.
Unwatched: Only shows you videos you haven’t yet watched.
Live: Only shows you livestream videos and YouTube Premieres.
Posts: Shows you Community posts from channels you’re subscribed to — you won’t see any videos in this view.
As of now, these new filters are rolling out to the YouTube app for iOS and will make their way to the Android app in the near future.
The Xiaomi Mi A3 was launched in July 2019 with Android 9 Pie, and the good-looking smartphone made its way to India a month later. Being an Android One device, users expected that the Google-flavored Android UX would receive fairly quick updates to the latest version of Android. But that hasn’t really been the case, as the phone continues to be on Android Pie straight into 2020. Now, Xiaomi has finally broken silence on when the phone will receive its official update to Android 10.
Thanks for your excitement and patience. Glad to announce the update will be out in mid February for Mi A3.
According to a response by Xiaomi India’s official Twitter account, the Android 10 update for the Xiaomi Mi A3 will begin its rollout in mid-February 2020. While this is not an exact date but a wide date range around the middle of the month, this does give users an approximate ETA for when they can expect the update to land on the phone.
Xiaomi has already released the kernel sources for the Mi A3’s Android 10 update, alongside the kernel sources for the Mi A2’s update. We took an educated guess that the update would be on the horizon, and for the Mi A2, it was — the Mi A2’s Android 10 update was spotted a day later. We do not know why the Mi A3’s update is this delayed, but we certainly do prefer communication from Xiaomi over radio silence. We hope that the update does release sooner rather than later; but for official rollouts, the stability of the update takes priority over the promptness of update delivery since the average user can get deeply impacted by unattended critical bugs. If you simply cannot wait to try out Android 10 on the phone, you can always install an Android 10 custom ROM on the Mi A3.
