Major Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi held an event on December 9 at 15:00 to mark its entry into the Japanese market.
Xiaomi is the company behind handsets like the "Mi 9T Pro," which ditched the notch by using a pop-up front camera, and the Redmi series, but they also sell a wide range of other products like earphones and electric scooters — making them a manufacturer with reach far beyond just smartphones.
What was announced at the event
You can also follow along with the Japan launch event on the official Twitter account (@XiaomiJapan).
What time is it? It's launch tiiime! We'll bring you everything starting now! #ThisIsMi #SmartLifeMadeSimple — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
A look at the venue right at the start of the event.
We've become the world's 4th largest smartphone maker. — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
They are now the world's 4th largest smartphone maker, right behind Apple.
It's finally here! The Japan debut of #MiNote10! Dream big, shoot epic. #DareToDiscover with #MiNote10 — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
At the event, the long-rumored "Mi Note 10" was announced.
A summary of the design of #MiNote10. Elegant and bold from every angle. Be sure to discover it for yourself. #DareToDiscover with #MiNote10 — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
The iPhone 11 Pro made waves with its triple-camera setup, but this phone goes even further with five cameras on board. The resolution? A staggering 108 megapixels (108MP).
Take a look at this beautiful photo. The detail is incredibly fine, with stunning vividness. #MiNote10 #DareToDiscover — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
Looking at the actual sample shots, you can really see how high-resolution they are.
So just how much zoom is possible? Let's take a closer look. #DareToDiscover with #MiNote10 — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
Looking at the zoom samples, even at 10x magnification it still looks like this. It really shows that 108 megapixels is no gimmick.
The beautiful photos this device can capture also include wide shots and close-ups. Just switch to ultra-wide mode or macro mode. #MiNote10. #DareToDiscover with #MiNote10 — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
There's also a "macro mode" and a 20MP ultra-wide-angle lens. Having five cameras means the device can handle a wide variety of shooting situations on its own — that versatility is one of its big draws. There's also a "night mode" for shooting in the dark.
The best camera, the best design, and the best performance. #DareToDiscover with #MiNote10 — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
For the CPU, it ships with the Snapdragon 730G — a variant of the 730 with the GPU clock bumped up from 650MHz to 700MHz. The standard model carries 6GB of memory. 6GB is the same as the iPad Pro 1TB model — quite generous. The Pro model goes even further with 8GB, matching the kind of capacity you'd find in a typical laptop.
Pre-orders start today, December 9! #MiNote10 #MiNote10Pro — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
Pricing is 52,800 yen (excl. tax) for the Mi Note 10, and 64,800 yen (excl. tax) for the Mi Note 10 Pro. Pre-orders open on December 9 through Amazon, and you can place your order from the Amazon page. The release date is December 23. Several compatible accessories are already on sale on Amazon as well, so it might be a good idea to grab them at the same time as your pre-order.
A rice cooker was also announced at the event
One more announcement about a smart product. The #MiIHRiceCooker. Priced at 9,999 yen (excl. tax). — Xiaomi Japan (@XiaomiJapan) December 9, 2019
Beyond the phones, the event also featured accessories and a rice cooker. The taste of an overseas-made rice cooker is a bit of a curiosity, though…
