Edge-to-edge displays on smartphones aren’t a new concept. We’ve seen them before with the Sharp AQUOS Crystal and the ZTE Zubia Z9, to name just two. However, such smartphones have always utilised optical illusions to give the impression of incredibly thin bezels. Xiaomi, a smartphone manufacturer known for surprising us at every turn didn’t opt for parlour tricks when it came to its new concept phone, the Xiaomi Mi MIX.
The phone was showcased after the company revealed their new flagship phone, the Mi Note 2. The Mi MIX’s biggest feature is its whopping 6.4-inch, edge-to-edge, 1080p IPS LCD display. That comes down to a pixel density of 362 PPI, quite below most modern day flagship smartphones but well within the “retina display” category. Furthermore, considering that Xiaomi are using on-display navigational keys, their first attempt ever, they can fill out more of the phone with the display giving a 16:9 display area.
Once you get over the huge screen, there are some other oddities to note. For one, it doesn’t have an earpiece or a proximity scanner, the former being something every phone since their inception has had and the latter being a perk you expect with modern day smartphones. Instead of an earpiece, Xiaomi is utilising “Cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic technology,” a string of words that will let you use the Mi MIX to take calls despite the lack of an earpiece. As for the sensor, Xiaomi has hidden an ultrasonic proximity sensor behind the display. This and the lack of an earpiece cleans up the top of the smartphone.
What about the front-facing, selfie camera? That’s been shifted to the bottom of the phone. An odd location that will take some getting used to, but since the Xiaomi Mi MIX does have auto-rotate, you can just flip your phone upside down for a portrait picture. Meanwhile, the primary, rear-facing camera will boast 16 megapixels, a f/2.0 aperture, gyro-powered EIS and the usual features including phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR and panorama. It will also be capable of shooting video in 2160p at 30fps.
There will be two versions of the Mi MIX, each with a different set specs and price tag. For $516, you get a 2.35GHz Snapdragon 822 (the same one in the Mi Note 2), 4GB of RAM, 128GB of UFS 2.0 storage and a 4400mAh battery. The more premium Mi Mix 18k” version, upgrades the specs to 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $590. You also a ring of 18K gold around the rear camera lens. Both versions also feature a fingerprint sensor.
Unfortunately, the phone isn’t slated for international release. However, considering that the Xiaomi is looking to markets abroad with the Mi Note 2, this could change.
