Affordable Android: The Redmi Note 3 is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature a fingerprint sensor.
Metal unibodies and fingerprint sensors used to be synonymous with premium phones but it's no longer the case now that Xiaomi has unveiled the Redmi Note 3 smartphone.
The smartphone, which has both, only costs 899 yuan (RM600) for the 16GB model with 2GB RAM and 1,099 yuan (RM730) for the 32GB version with 3GB RAM. It’s also the first Xiaomi device to feature a fingerprint sensor.
For those unfamiliar with Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone maker is known for its direct-to-market approach for selling its products which allows it to price its devices cheaper.
The Redmi Note 3 has a 5.5in screen, flagship-grade MediaTek Helio X10 processor and a huge 4,000mAh battery.
The front-facing camera is 5 megapixels while the rear camera is 13 megapixels with PDAF (phase detection auto-focus), which promises faster focus.
Even with its metal body and massive battery, the Redmi Note 3 measures just 8.65mm at the thickest point and weighs 164g, which is 4g lighter than the previous model.
The 5.5in full-HD screen features Sunlight Display, a hardware-level technology which adjusts the contrast of the pixels in real time for less glare and improved clarity. Not only that, the Redmi Note 3 also features Night Display and Reading Mode.
Xiaomi claims that it takes only 0.3 seconds to unlock the device with the rear fingerprint sensor, located just below the lens.
The device will be available in three colour variants – gold, silver and dark grey.
Mi Pad 2
Xiaomi also unveiled the Mi Pad 2, which also comes in full-metal body. The 7.9in tablet has a Sharp 2K display with a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels and 326ppi (pixels per inch).
Measuring only 6.95mm, the Mi Pad 2 is 18% thinner than the previous model. It is also 38g lighter.
The new Android tablet will be powered by the 64-bit Intel Atom X5-Z8500 processor, and has Intel HD Graphics and 2GB RAM. It also comes in two storage options – 16GB and 64GB.
The camera remains unchanged from the last model – 8-megapixel for the back and 5-megapixel for the front.
The Mi Pad 2 marks another first for Xiaomi – it has a USB-C connector.
Battery life shouldn’t be an issue as the 6,190mAh battery is expected to last about 12.5 hours with video streaming or reading, according to Xiaomi.
The Mi Pad 2 will retail for 999 yuan (RM650) for the 16GB model and 1,299 yuan (RM861) for 64GB.
Surprisingly, there will also be a variant of Mi Pad 2 64GB that runs on Windows 10.
The Mi Pad will be available in two colours – dark grey and champagne gold.
Mi Air Purifier 2
Xiaomi’s growing presence in the Smart Home Ecosystem has gone largely unnoticed here due to the products being limited to China.
At the event, the company announced the Mi Air Purifier 2, which is smaller and thinner than the previous model. It’s also 58% more power efficient and 11% quieter.
Like its other smart device such as the Mi Smart Scale, Yi smart camera, and Yeelight, the air purifier can be controlled via Bluetooth using a mobile app.
The device is priced at 699 yuan (RM450).
All three devices will only available in China in the coming months for now.
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