Xiaomi[1] launched three new things on Wednesday in China: the Android 7.0 Nougat-based MIUI 9[2] software that will soon power many of its phones[3], the Mi 5X[4] smartphone, and a smart speaker in Mi AI Speaker[5]. In fact, the MIUI 9 custom skin has made its debut with the Mi 5X. The company has baked in its own version of Google features with MIUI 9, including image search, and a smart assistant. It also has a smart app launcher that suggests apps depending on screen text and context, but Xiaomi has noted that some features will only be available in China. MIUI 9 will roll out a China developer beta on August 11 for Mi 6, and Redmi Note 4X, with other phones said to get it later.
Coming to the Xiaomi Mi 5X, the company's latest smartphone is a mid-range Nougat device[6] with a dual rear camera setup – 12-megapixel f/2.2 wide-angle sensor, and a 12-megapixel f/2.6 telephoto sensor. Packing an octa-core Snapdragon 625, the smartphone features a 5.5-inch full-HD display, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, 5-megapixel front camera. The Xiaomi Mi 5X priced is CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 14,200), and the device will go on sale in China on August 1.
That leaves the Mi AI Speaker[7], which is Xiaomi's take on the voice-controlled digital assistants that began with the Amazon Echo[8], and have led to the Google Home[9] followed by Apple HomePod[10] later this year. The Mi AI Speaker looks closest to the Echo with its curved tall cuboidal shape; it has a six-microphone array and advanced echo cancellation to catch your voice. Being a Xiaomi...