Just announced the Mi 4 from Chinese company Xiaomi.

Specs include: [...]"The firm is marketing the steel handset's 5in (12.7cm) screen as offering 17% greater resolution than Apple's higher priced iPhone 5S.

It adds that the wristband (£7,50) acts as an ID authenticator, allowing the phone to be unlocked without a password.The Mi 4 places its own users interface on top of Android 4.4 Kitkat

High colour saturation screen from Sharp and the "fastest" 13 megapixel rear camera from Sony, Metal-framed build, powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.5Ghz processor - the same as used by the UK edition of Samsung's Galaxy S5. However, Xiaomi offers 3 gigabytes of RAM memory, 50% more than Samsung's device. It is also significantly cheaper, costing £189 for the version with 16GB of storage and £235 for the 64GB edition." (China Prices)

If they launch a 4G version for the UK it would definitely cause a huge shake up.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28416796

Really hope they start selling officially in Europe some time soon.

They have had some great devices lately.

Scheduled for release in Turkey and some other developing markets this year with plans for further distribution in 2015. They sell directly so it may take time setting up distribution and service in Western Europe but when they do the majors are in for some fierce competition. This company may even change the way people acquire their mobile phone by cutting out the networks and the retail margins.

Another great product from Xiaomi at an amazing price. 4G International version should be available at the end of the year.

One thing to note is the sales figures of their previous phones. The Redmi series has been their most popular smartphone to date with over 17.9m sales and it's less than a year old.

To put that into perspective, The HTC One (M7) sold around 6.4m units in 1 year and the Huawei Ascend P6 sold about 4m units in one year.

Xiaomi smartphones are selling by the millions despite being in one main market.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...88370729_o.jpg

I don't know how they get away with cloning the look of iOS to the degree they do. You'd think if, or when, this and their recent tablet is offered in a Western market Apple will have them up in court pretty sharpish.

Lol, since when are they cloning iOS.

MIUI is much better has more features and enhancements compared to iOS.

And regarding the tablet. Perhaps you missed this from xiaomi which came out before the iPhone 5C.
http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/a...b/xiaomi-1.jpg

Basically your saying that Nokia copied apple with the coloured phones when we all know that's not true. Same with Xiaomi, they did it before Apple and they do it much better.

MIUI was around for a long time BEFORE Apple copied the look of it for iOS7. Apple are the ones who copy and should be sued.

Sheesh


What's a phone got to do with the mi Pad tablet?


Am I? When? Where? Get a grip.

Its because Apple are the cloners in this case. Samsung are one of the biggest cloners in the world and have been for 30+ years.

You said Apple would sue Xiaomi for selling their tablet in Western markets.
I'm assuming this is because it's "similar" to the iPad Mini and iPhone 5C.

What I was saying was that Xiaomi did the coloured back things before Xiaomi. And there are other tablets with the same aspect ratio as the iPad as well.

Yeah, that's a very nice looking phone.

There are quite a few elements in hardware, software, marketing and presentation when packaged together that make it "similar" to me which has me thinking on whether Apple legal will have their antennae twitching. It seems others are as misguided as me judging by Hugo Barra's need to set the record straight that they are not 'ripping off Apple'. Definitely not.

The reference to Western markets was more about the more litigious and IP protective environment rather than colour. Not that I care much about Apple's IP, or have a vested interest, more so about having access to buy handsets such as this in the UK.

I guess that 17% simply means it only has a 720p Moto G like screen. And I'm guessing those in China are happy to admit liking saturated screens rather than the less seeable natural type.

I don't see the problem with phones copying each other. It's not like there is much significant innovation in mobiles now anyway. Let them copy each other and the most attractive phone is chosen.

It's a 1080p screen.

When can we buy this phone?

It's not launching in the UK.

The WCDMA/FD-LTE version will probably be available for import before the end of the year.

Where did they dig up 17%?

They mean 'near 250%' then.

It's a mis-translation.

What Xiaomi actually said is the screen is more vivid by 17%. They're talking about colours and saturation. Not screen resolution.

Its all well and good that more Chinese manufacturers are creating/releasing devices that are apparently set to challenge the status quo....yet they never seem to make to release in the west? Why is that?

I honestly think its a load of hot air, as the release of these handsets rarely if ever make it outside of the far east and what impact they would have here would be questionable.

Take OnePlus One handset, I think we can all universally agree how much of a balls up the launch of that handset has been. They were receiving a lot of goodwill and hype from the technology community, but the stupidity of the release and apparently screen faults have ensured any remaining excitement has evaporated.

Chinese manufacturing in the west has an image problem, several companies like ZTE or Xiaomi are relatively unknown. There is a massive trust issue with Chinese branded products, its the reliability. The only way a company like Xiaomi will make it in the west is if they do a JV with a massive retail partner say CPW in Europe or Best Buy in the states.

The simple fact is these new handsets will rarely make it outside of the enthusiast community. What they don't have is recognition and sadly that only works to the advantage of companies like Apple, Samsung, LG et al. If I am honest I rarely ever get excited about these product launchs as it either never makes it to release over here or availability means its so restricted when we do get access it is already been surpassed by newer/better alternatives.

Possibly to do with patents.

A total guess but the cost of valid patents outside China would likely cost big time.
I think US firm Qualcomm apparently owns vital ones, which is why no one really competes with mobile chipsets, except in China.

When a company like Xiaomi is the 4th largest smartphone manufacturer in the world (even bigger than LG) and 97% of it's shipments are in China then why do you even need to release your phones worldwide.

International launches will come, but they'll be limited. Not many people know but a lot of the branded phones from networks are built by ZTE, Huawei and Coolpad. (Even HTC as well).

There are plenty of Chinese brands that sell outside of China, but there are plenty of domestic brands who don't and don't need to. Some will but just like the others they'll probably release lower end handsets first before releasing flagships worldwide.

Maybe you are right why would Xiaomi need to release phones outside of China....if thats the case then why report it or create a thread that has little relevance to us in the west?

Your point regarding "Network Branded" devices that has been existence for some time, back in the day with O2 XDA range of windows mobile phones. But again you confirm my point that Chinese brands would find it very difficult to gain traction in the west. HTC took the leap around 2009 but even then that was very much a calculated effort.

Chinese brands don't really sell well outside of developming markets, and when they do its as a result of brand aquisition...Lenovo buying the rump from IBM or Motorola. Name me one mainland Chinese company that has gained traction in the west on its own merits?

Huawei doesn't count as it is still releasing "branded" handsets, you need only look at the range of handsets stocked by retailers to understand how difficult it is for a new brand to enter the market without a massive partner. If the Oppos Find 7 was released tomorrow at retail in Europe and US how successful do you think it would be? I'm betting questionable.......people are stubborn when it comes to brands be it Apple or Samsung (and the rest).

Now this being said Motorola did something amazing effectively growing its share of the UK market 500% overnight. Motorola is still a brand recognised in the west, even the lack of device releases in recent years doesn't seem to have damaged the brand. I will concede however that western shoppers are beginning to develop similar trends to their Chinese cousins, in that they are expecting more bang for their buck. The market is transitioning to Mid-Range pricing for flagship level devices.

Lenovo has pulled a blinder in this respect purchasing Motorola, it gives them access to the western market umatched by any other domestic Chinese manufacturer. This will serve them well going forward.

But the point remains companies like Huawei or Xiaomi have limited exposure in consumer devices in the west. They former may produce network equipment, that is something unseen from a consumer level. The only market they are advancing is their own demestic one, the rest of the world follows at a different pace and largely different direction.

The right JV or partner for Xiaomi and the like, would set the western mobile market on fire....but for reasons both political and economical this is unlikely to happen this year.

Because typically most phones are still 'sold' as part of a contract, and both the network and retailer want to make a nice profit out of it. Why would anybody effectively pay back £200+ for a Chinese phone over a 12 or 18 month contract, when they could buy the same phone Sim Free for £110 direct from China via Ali-express or DX

Plus its far easier to sell a 'name' in a brand hungry Western market, you only have to read the many Chinese phone threads to see that there are a majority of consumers who still don't trust Chinese brands and will opt for name like Apple or Samsung before they will consider even buying a Cubot or Xiaomi and they are happy to pay three or four times the price in order to do it - which ultimately probably also means a better mark up, and profit return for the retail side, than buying up and offering for sale Chinese brands which are already available for sale very cheaply in the public domain, shipped direct to the end user.

I suspect that the Networks & Retailers prefer to retail brands which are not available more cheaply 'direct from the factory' or from a vendor on the trading estate next to the factory, (unlike most of the Chinese phones). They probably prefer to concentrate on names which are only available through official outlets, as it protects their profits.

I agree most phones are sold as part of a contract, however the sim only segment of the market is growing massively quarter on quarter. Devices like the Moto G have shown people can get a good mid range handset at upper low range prices (forgive me if that sounds confusing).

I do think its a shame that some of the Chinese brands aren't readily available in the West. Oppo seems to have garnered a lot of good will with its range of devices, Find 5 and Find 7/a have be released to positive reviews. This would be a brand that could do well here with the right partner, CPW would be able to shift these en masse and still profit. But its not going to happen any time soon sadly.