From www.techadvisor.com
Image: Chris Martin / Foundry
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has had the biggest launch event at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 so far, with a raft of different devices unveiled for the world to see.
Some of these had already been announced in China, so this was something of a global/international launch for products like the Xiaomi 14 series smartphones.
Still, there was a lot to see beyond phones with Xiaomi bringing everything a mobile lover could need including phones, a tablet and a trio of wearables.
Here’s everything we saw at Xiaomi’s big show in Barcelona:
Xiaomi 14 series
The least shocking announcement, since Xiaomi wasn’t shy about it in advance of the keynote, was the launch of its new flagship range of smartphones: the Xiaomi 14 series.
There are two models launching in the UK – the regular 14 and 14 Ultra – meaning we miss out on the Xiaomi 14 Pro. But these are still two excellent phones.
Starting with the regular Xiaomi 14, it’s something of a pocket rocket with a compact chassis but premium specs, including a triple 50Mp rear camera array co-engineered with Leica. You get a regular main camera, an ultrawide and a 3.2x optical zoom telephoto.
It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and no less than 12GB of RAM with either 256- or 512GB of storage. There’s also a 6.36-inch CrystalRes AMOLED 1.5K screen which can hit 3000 nits of brightness, according to Xiaomi.
It will be available in Black, White and Jade Green. Check out our initial impressions of the Xiaomi 14 after 24 hours with the phone.
Chris Martin / Foundry
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra really goes all out starting with its ‘Xiaomi Guardian Structure’, which comprises of a nano-tech vegan leather rear, Xiaomi Shield Glass and an aluminium frame crafted from a single block. There’s also an ‘IceLoop’ cooling system.
It’s powered by the same processor as the regular 14 but has a whopping 16GB of RAM. However, photography is a key focus here with a “professional quad-camera configuration” with focal lengths from 12-120mm.
Chris Martin / Foundry
All four rear cameras are 50Mp, again developed with Leica, including a 1-inch main sensor with variable aperture (f/1.63-f/4.0), ultrawide, periscope and floating telephoto. There are also plenty of camera-focused software features, including a new ‘Master Portrait’ mode.
A special Photography Kit for the 14 Ultra provides you with a dedicated grip and case if you’re willing to spend extra. Turning it into a full-blown camera, you get a two-stage shutter button, a zoom lever, a customizable video recording button, and an additional custom dial. As a bonus, a 1500mAh battery will keep you shooting for longer.
Other specs include a 6.73-inch WQHD+ CrystalRes AMOLED screen, plus 90W wired charging and super-fast 80W wireless HyperCharge. It comes in Black or White finishes.
Here is the Xiaomi 14 pricing and models for the range. They are available immediately with pre-order gifts also detailed below.
- Xiaomi 14 – 12/256GB – from £849/€999 – free Xiaomi Pad 6 and Xiaomi Band 8 Pro.
- Xiaomi 14 – 12/512GB – £899 – free Xiaomi Pad 6
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 16/512GB) – £1,299/€1,499 – free camera kit and £300 to spend on Xiaomi ecosystem products
Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4
Complimenting the Xiaomi 14 flagship ecosystem is the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4. This large tablet is ideal for streaming, as it boasts a 12.4-inch 3K display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 3048 x 2032, giving it a 3:2 aspect ratio.
Xiaomi
If you want to use this tablet for work and creative tasks, you’re covered. The Pad 6S Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and can be paired with either 8- or 12GB of RAM alongside the 256GB of storage.
You can also buy the ‘Xiaomi Focus Pen’ and ‘Touchpad Keyboard’ (both optional extras), giving you the ability to take digital notes and/or replicate a classic laptop setup.
Xiaomi is going big on rewarding users who buy multiple products in its lineup. ‘Home Screen+’ gives users the option of responding to messages and calls from Xiaomi smartphones directly on the tablet’s interface.
‘Xiaomi Smart Hub’ allows you to connect up to seven devices at once, while ‘Cross-Device Notes’ gives you the option of adding images from your phone onto your tablet.
All these features are backed up by a weighty 10,000mAh battery and 120W fast charging. We were big fans of the Pad 6, which is one of the best mid-range tablets you can buy. Whether the 6S Pro can go up against more premium rivals remains to be seen.
Unlike the phones, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 only comes in one colour, Graphite Grey, and costs either £599 for the 8GB variant or £699 for the 12GB version.
Xiaomi Watch 2
Google fans, rejoice. Following on from the Watch 2 Pro in 2023, Xiaomi is releasing its next device with Wear OS, so you can get your hands on common apps such as Google Maps, Spotify, WhatsApp and many more.
32GB worth of storage also means there’s plenty of space for apps and downloadable content.
Xiaomi
The Xiaomi Watch 2 is fitted with a Snapdragon W5+Gen 1 Wearable chip, plus well as a 495mAh cell that allegedly will provide up to 65 hours of battery life under ‘typical usage’.
Made from an aluminium alloy (with a choice of black or silver straps), the Xiaomi Watch 2 has a 1.43-inch AMOLED display and is relatively lightweight at 37g. It also supports over 160 different sports modes, including dedicated exercise tracking for skiing and other winter sports.
The 12-channel heart rate monitoring module provides blood oxygen and breath data during sleep and can generate a ‘sleep animal’ based on a user’s data.
The Xiaomi Watch 2 starts from £169.99 and is available to pre-order from today. Customers can get £20 off the typical price if they buy the smartwatch before 18 March 2024.
Xiaomi Watch S3
If you want a smartwatch that’s both a little more affordable and customisable – and don’t mind forgoing Wear OS – then the Xiaomi Watch S3 could be for you.
It runs on Xiaomi’s own HyperOS system instead, which now supports new hand gestures for specific tasks. For example, you can flip your wrist to reject calls.
Xiaomi
Hardware-wise, the Xiaomi Watch S3 has interchangeable bezels and straps, so you can change up the look to suit your tastes. It also has a 1.43 AMOLED display and aluminum alloy body.
The watch has over 150 exercise tracking modes – including the same winter sports tracking seen on the Watch 2, as well as the same health monitoring features. It can also last up to 15 days on a single charge.
The Xiaomi Watch 2 costs £129.99 and is available to pre-order now. If you buy before 18 March, you can get £10 off and a free interchangeable bezel.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro
If all you want is a fitness tracker rather than a full-blown smartwatch, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro has a lot to offer.
This wearable is super slim and lightweight, measuring 9.99mm thick and weighing 22.5g.
It has a 1.74-inch rectangular AMOLED display, protected by Corning’s tough Gorilla Glass Victus. It’s available in black or silver, though users can get many additional straps to change out easily, as the band supports quick release.
Xiaomi
There’s tracking for over 150 different sports, with a dedicated smart running feature that encourages wearers to stick to a specific pace during their workout. There are 10 running courses available on the band, and animations to help users warm up and stretch both before and after workouts.
Under the hood, the Smart Band 8 Pro has a 4-channel heart rate monitor, as well as a 298mAh battery that can supposedly provide up to an impressive 14 days of typical usage. It’s also equipped with a 5ATM water resistance rating, so it’s perfectly suited for swimming.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro is the cheapest wearable on offer from the brand at MWC 2024, priced at just £59.99. If users pre-order before 18 March they can get £5 off.
Related articles
[ For more curated tech news, check out the main news page here]
The post Everything Xiaomi announced at MWC 2024 first appeared on www.techadvisor.com
