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Xiaomi has finally released their top of the range flagship phone of the year, and it is a beast. The launch confirms much of what has been leaked already.
50MP 1/1.12” Samsung GN2 Sensor – larger then Huawei Pro Pro camera
The new phone has the latest Samsung GN2 50-megapixel primary camera, which was co-developed between Xiaomi and Samsung. This sensor is now the largest on the market at 1/1.12-inches in size, giving a pixel size of 1.4µm before any pixel binning is done. The previous largest was on the Huawei P40 Pro, which is also a 50MP camera but with a 1/1.28″ / 1.22µm sensor.
On top of this, and unlike the more affordable Xiaomi MI 11, you get a proper zoom lens with a 48-megapixel 5x telephoto zoom with 10x hybrid and 120x digital zoom capability.
Finally, there is the 48 MP Sony IMX586 ultra-wide which is likely the weak spot for the Ulta; this is a 1/2.0″ sensor with 0.8µm pixel size. In comparison, the OPPO Find X3 Pro used the same 50MP Sony IMX 766 1/1.56″ sensor for both the main and ultra-wide, while the OnePlus 9 Pro also uses the Sony IMX 766 for its ultra-wide.
Front & Rear Display
Then, as leaked, this phone has a gigantic camera bump, this isn’t just housing those big cameras, but also housing a secondary rear display on the rear that functions as an always-on-display and a selfie mirror.
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The display is as impressive as you would expect, being 6.81-inch quad-curved Samsung AMOLED with 120Hz refresh, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, 1700 nits peak brightness, and protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The battery has seen a bump from the Mi 11, this now has a 5,000mAh battery with 67W wired and wireless charging for 0-100% charge in 36 minutes and almost no difference between wired and wireless options.
The rest of the spec is typically flagship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.
Launch price and UK availability
Similar to the Xiaomi Mi 11 launch, this phone is coming to the UK, but who knows when and for how much.
However, it is launching in the EU for an RRP of 1199-euros. When the Mi 11 was announced for the UK, it launched for £749 while the EU price was €749. Xiaomi then offered a £100 discount when ordering via Amazon. So it is likely that the same will happen here with a £1199 launch price with the chance of £100 off. That is incredibly expensive, but basically, the same price as the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and I would say this is just as, if not better, specced.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.