Xiaomi Mi 4: Hi-Tech Yet Affordable

Xiaomi, often referred to as the Apple of China, has finally unveiled its much awaited flagship smartphone, the Mi 4. Sporting a premium looking stainless steel metal frame with chamfered edges, the Mi 4 reminds one of the iconic Apple iPhone. But do not be fooled by its exterior, it is powered by the latest technology available to an Android flagship device. It comes with a 5-inch 1080p Full HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC clocked at 2.5GHz, 3GB RAM, a 13-MP rear camera, an 8-MP front camera, LTE connectivity, and a 3,090 mAh battery pack. It also comes in two storage versions: 16GB and 64GB for just $320 and $400, respectively. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card so you better get the 64GB variant if you consume a lot of media. The MIUI 6 skin on top of Android KitKat will come standard. Lastly, the Mi 4 comes in black or white color options and will have a variety of colorful and textured back covers available.

Image by Xiaomi

At this price point, the Xiaomi Mi 4 can easily dominate the worldwide smartphone market if it does not face production issues (like the OnePlus One) or if it does not become available worldwide. Along with the Mi 4's announcement comes the MiBand, which is a fitness tracking wrist band that monitors fitness activities and sleeping pattern. The MiBand features a Bluetooth chip and an accelerometer. It can stay powered for up to 30 days in one charge. It also works as an alarm clock and can even unlock the Mi 4 without a password. What's more exciting is that it costs only $12. So, what do you think of this Android heavyweight and the accompanying MiBand?