In a dramatic turn of events, Samsung has reclaimed its throne as the smartphone king in India for 2023, toppling Xiaomi’s six-year reign. Despite this, Xiaomi showcased remarkable resilience by maintaining its supremacy in Q4 with an impressive 18.3% market share, courtesy of Redmi and Poco brands.
The overall smartphone shipments for 2023 stagnated at approximately 152 million units. The industry faced a challenging first half, but a spirited recovery in the second half, fueled by 5G upgrades and robust festive sales, breathed life into the market. Notably, Apple achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 10 million shipments in India.
Samsung’s resurgence was attributed to aggressive offline marketing and stellar performance from the A series, while the premium segment adopted a focused strategy. Vivo secured the second spot with its innovative CMF design approach, prominently featuring the vivo V29 series and achieving success with the T series in the offline segment.
Xiaomi maintained its edge in the final quarter by introducing 5G phones in the affordable segment and streamlining its portfolio, avoiding duplication and consumer confusion. The premium smartphone market in India experienced a staggering 64% YoY growth, propelled by financing schemes that enabled more customers to embrace higher-priced smartphones.
As the industry looks ahead, the forecast for the upcoming year anticipates a surge in demand for devices supporting Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and Generative AI. Foldables are poised for a prosperous future, with Counterpoint predicting the segment will surpass 1 million shipments in 2024.
Home surveillance is the need of the hour. Xiaomi has launched its latest smart surveillance camera – Xiaomi 360 Home Security Camera 2K. Equipped with a 3-megapixel camera and 2K HD video capability, the Xiaomi 360 Home Security Camera 2K is designed to address the unique yet affordable requirements of users, including new parents and pet parents.
Xiaomi’s latest smart surveillance camera comes with AI Human Detection for precise human alerts and reduces any false alarms due to pet movement. The 360-degree Panorama View captures every corner of the room, eliminating blind spots with its 6P lens. The Full-Color feature in low-light conditions enhances nighttime surveillance and provides vivid, detailed footage even in poor lighting conditions. The camera supports standard and inverted mounting to enable easy installation with 360-degree horizontal movement and 108-degree vertical movement, providing a wide range of coverage. It also features two-way audio, facilitating real-time communication through the camera.
The 2K resolution delivers sharper, more detailed video footage with clear zoomed-in visuals, surpassing standard HD quality, making it an ideal choice for users across small businesses, shops, garages, or monitoring homes. The Xiaomi Home App makes monitoring simple and seamless, and users can also playback captured footage from various devices, including smartphones, tablets and desktops, adjusting playback speed with optimised H.265 Video encoding that saves significant video storage space. It additionally has voice-controlled smart home functionality with seamless integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Price and Availability:
The Xiaomi 360 Home Security Camera 2K is retailing for INR 3299 exclusively from 13th January on the official Xiaomi website. Starting January 22nd, this affordable home security camera will also be available on Amazon and Flipkart
Xiaomi India recently launched the Redmi Buds 4 Active, an affordable earbuds priced at ₹1,399, alongside the Xiaomi Pad 6. The budget-friendly TWS earbuds are offered in two colour variants in India and will be available for sale from June 20th. The company has also announced a special launch price in which the buds will be available for sale at ₹1,199, valid till June 23.
The TWS market in India is dominated by audio brands like Boat, Boult and Mivi due to their affordable prices. However, audio devices made by smartphone brands like Oppo, Redmi, Samsung and OnePlus enjoy a decent share of the clustered audio market. The Redmi Buds 4 Active feature several decent features that make it an appealing buy for the price. Let’s see where they stand out.
Available Colours – Bass Black and Air White
Design
The design language of the Redmi Buds 4 Active is drastically different from the Buds 3 Active, which had a lock-in design. While the Buds 4 Active arrives with a stick earpiece, which makes them more appealing. The generically designed charging case of the Buds 4 Active houses Redmi branding at the back, a small LED indicator, and a USB-C port at the bottom.
The colour variant we received for the review is branded Air White, and at first look, the charging case seemed like a portable egg. Inside the case, the earbuds are nestled, and once you open the lid, they’ll welcome you with two bright LED indicators. Like the case, the Redmi Buds 4 Active are featherlight and sit comfortably in the ears. Along with the default ear tips, the earbuds come with three additional pairs of ear tips.
Touch Controls
The Redmi Buds 4 Active is loaded with basic touch gestures; for example, a single tap on the buds leads you to play and pause the music/video, a long tap means accessing voice assistant, and a double tap lets you shuffle the playlist, like the most rivals. In the case of Redmi Buds 4 Active, the gestures do the job 6 out of 10 times; not bad, but not that good either.
Connectivity
When it comes to connecting the Redmi Buds 4 Active with your smartphone or laptop, it’s a simple process. Just go to the Bluetooth menu and then wait for a second, and it’ll pop up on your screens, ready to serve. Besides the old convenient way, the buds have another Android-only option, where the buds will show on your Android device in close range. I’ve paired it with Samsung Galaxy A54, and OnePlus 7, it works smoothly.
Audio Performance
The Redmi Buds 4 Active boasts powerful 12mm drivers, on par with the OnePlus Nord Buds’ 12.4mm drivers, delivering a sound that will make your eardrums dance with joy. The earbuds offer an immersive sonic experience and hit the sweet spot at 70% volume, where vocals and instruments take centre stage. However, cranking it up further leads to a loss of detail and audio distortion, a treacherous path to walk.
The Buds 4 Active don’t have a dedicated customization app, and that’s where it stays behind in the race. The hardware inside is ready to handle multiple profiles but missing the resources to make it happen. However, the earbuds offer a great calling experience matching the Nord Buds’ prowess. The crystal-clear audio and flawless microphone of the buds make every conversation shine.
Battery
With a promised battery life of 30 hours (with the case), the Redmi Buds 4 Active won’t leave you hanging. Realistically, you’ll get around 25 hours, depending on usage. Light users can have a week without a charge, yes, that’s right. Just 10 minutes of plugging in and the case grant you a heavenly 90 minutes of battery life. Perfect for those frantic moments when you’re racing against the clock.
Verdict
Rating –⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Redmi Buds 4 Active blend power, clarity, and convenience, crafting a symphony for your ears. However, when you compare them with rivals like the OnePlus Nord Buds 2, they seem stammering. The earbuds offer solid audio performance, a fast pair option and decent battery life at the price of ₹1,399 or ₹1,199* (valid till June 23). So, if you are looking for something at an affordable price, just go for it.
Get ready, India! Xiaomi is about to make a grand entrance into the tablet scene with a bang! Brace yourselves for the highly anticipated release of the all-new Xiaomi Pad 6, available for sale from June 21st. Xiaomi is back in action, ready to captivate your tech-loving hearts after a seven-year hiatus from the Indian tablet market.
The tablet has a sleek, feather-light design that will make heads turn. At a mere 6.51mm thick and weighing just 490g, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is the epitome of elegance and portability. Crafted with an all-metal construction, this tablet is a true fashion statement. But it’s not all about looks – the Xiaomi Pad 6 packs a punch when it comes to performance. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 processor, this beast is ready to handle anything you throw at it.
And with a colossal 8,840mAh battery supporting lightning-fast 33W charging, you won’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of your Netflix binge. Speaking of binge-watching, feast your eyes on the 11-inch 2.8K LCD display that brings your favourite movies and shows to life. With a stunning 144Hz refresh rate and a dazzling peak brightness of up to 550nits, every scene will be a visual extravaganza. And let’s not forget the HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support – prepare to be immersed in a world of vibrant colours and stunning clarity.
Are you ready to capture life’s precious moments? The Xiaomi Pad 6 has you covered with its 13MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing camera. Whether it’s a breathtaking landscape or a fabulous selfie, this tablet will help you seize the perfect shot. And with the MIUI 14 software, based on the latest Android 13, you’ll experience a smooth and intuitive interface that’s a joy to navigate.
Wait, there’s more!
Alongside the Xiaomi Pad 6, get ready to groove with the affordable Redmi Buds 4 Active wireless earbuds. Immerse yourself in pure audio bliss with these sleek and pocket-friendly earbuds. So, mark your calendars, folks! On June 20th and 21st, Xiaomi takes India by storm with the budget-friendly Redmi Buds 4 Active and the revolutionary Xiaomi Pad 6, respectively. Prepare to be amazed, entertained, and utterly captivated by the Xiaomi experience.
Xiaomi India, the country’s pioneer Smart TV brand today announced the completion of 5 years journey of Smart Televisions in India. Celebrating this milestone, the company announced the launch of its next-gen streaming device – Xiaomi TV Stick 4K. Designed to offer an all-new multimedia experience, the new streaming device focuses on further accelerating the 4K adoption in the country.
Boasting of industry-leading technologies, Xiaomi TV Stick 4K aims to revolutionize the 4K adoptions in the country anytime, anywhere. Sporting a compact design, the new streaming device delivers exceptional colours for an immersive and true-to-life viewing experience with Dolby Vision®. Featuring Dolby Atmos™ technology, Xiaomi TV Stick 4K supports a clear and immersive theatre-quality sound experience at home.
Seamless streaming in 4K
Consumers get to experience stunning clarity and astounding picture with 4K resolution on Xiaomi TV Stick 4K. The ultra-high-resolution output combined with Dolby Vision® technology offers the most realistic colour and contrast just as the content creator intended. Consumers can also easily cast content from their smartphones and tablets onto a larger screen using the built-in Chromecast function.
Elevating the Audio Experience
Xiaomi TV Stick 4K brings premium audio technology to this segment by bringing the best-in-segment surround sound experience with Dolby Audio. Supporting a crisp audio system for an immersive viewing, the new streaming device comes with the support of DTS-HD Technology.
The Smart Experience – PatchWall
Focused on offering solutions that are more immersive, collaborative, and interactive than ever before, the streaming device also features the latest version of PatchWall. Users will now be able to discover YouTube Music Playlists directly from the PatchWall Music Tab.
In addition, consumers will get to experience30+ international and Indian content partners and also make smart recommendations and content from 10+ languages. Designed specifically for Indian consumers, there are a plethora of features in PatchWall including IMDb integration, 300+ live channels, a dedicated sports section and a Universal Search
Smoother Performance
The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K comes equipped with an interactive PatchWall, delivering a simple yet immersive experience. The compact form factor of the streaming device features quad-core processor which delivers powerful performance. The newly launched device also features 2GB RAM + 8GB Storage.
Lightweight and Portable Design
Featuring a sleek and slim design, the lightweight Xiaomi TV Stick 4K is easy to use and carry. With a compact size of just 106.8 mm x 29.4 mm, the new streaming device can convert any non-smart TV into a smart TV. Consumers can watch their favourite video content on 4K, whether they are at home or on a holiday
Xiaomi Remote
The new streaming device comes with a sleek, minimalistic remote that ensures ease of usage across a wide range of functions and control. Users can directly access Google Assistant, Netflix, Hotstar and Prime Video using the dedicated buttons on the remote.
Easy Connectivity
Xiaomi TV Stick 4K supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. It also comes with HDMI 2.1 support for uncompromised connectivity and a holistic viewing experience.
Price and Availability
Xiaomi TV Stick 4K will be available at a price of INR 4,999 exclusively on Mi.com on 20 February 2023.
We’re only 40 days into 2023 and have already witnessed the two biggest tech launches of the year. First, Samsung unveiled three smartphones from the S23 Series at the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event and then at Cloud 11, OnePlus launched two smartphones, the OnePlus 11 5G and the OnePlus 11R 5G.
Now, to steal the attention of all the hyped launches, Xiaomi revealed its plan to launch Xiaomi 13 Pro in India. The flagship 5G smartphone with a Leica-powered camera was unveiled in China in December. The company recently confirmed that it will launch the device globally on February 26 at Mobile World Congress (MWC), including India.
The detailed specifications of the Xiaomi 13 Pro were already available online as the phone was announced in China in December last year. The smartphone will carry most of them in its Indian expenditure. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and will come up with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB of storage onboard.
The smartphone will run on Android 13-based MIUI 14 out of the box and sport a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Along with these, it will also boast features like Dolby Vision and HDR10. The display of the Xiaomi 13 Pro operates at QHD+ resolution and is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro is expected to be priced around the 55-60k bracket and will arrive with a Leica-powered triple camera system which includes 50.3MP primary (with OIS), 50MP telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide units. On the front, the smartphone boasts a 32-MP camera. In terms of battery, the device runs on a 4,820 mAh battery with 120W wired, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging support.
Mobile photography is an ever-growing landscape in the tech industry. over the years, we have seen a number of smartphone brands collaborating with mainstream camera makers worldwide to take mobile photography to the next level. There is no denying that mobile photography in its current state does not compare to the quality of DSLR cameras and there is a big gap to bridge. However, smartphone manufacturers making efforts to make phone photography better with collaborations with camera pioneers is definitely a step in the right direction. Xiaomi India has now announced a long-term strategic partnership with German camera maker Leica to develop innovative solutions in the smartphone camera module segment.
Xiaomi x Leica
Xiaomi India and Leica Camera have announced a long-term partnership revolving entirely around mobile imaging. According to an official statement, the aim of this collaboration “is the joint development of innovative solutions in the smartphone camera module segment as well as the optimization of optical performance. The strategic alliance between Xiaomi and Leica Camera AG demonstrates the passion to continuously push the limits of what is technologically possible. In addition to innovative strength and premium standards, the two companies are united by the commitment to uncompromising quality. The collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica provides fantastic opportunities. Both are global brands with a clear focus on the entire customer journey and successfully engage with their customers across multiple languages, cultures, channels, and devices.”
According to the official statement, Xiaomi and Leica’s partnership aims at bringing advanced camera capabilities to the smartphone photography arena. The partnership aims at pushing the boundaries of mobile photography with Leica providing expertise in optical engineering, design, imaging software, and consumer experience to help Xiaomi achieve the best imaging prowess. The statement reads – “Xiaomi has been making breakthroughs in the smartphone photography space and has extensive experience in the research and development of imaging systems and AI algorithms. Leica brings its comprehensive expertise in optical engineering, design, imaging software and consumer experience related to the art of photography to the partnership. Leica supports Xiaomi in its efforts to achieve the best possible imaging results in the field of smartphone photography – and to take it to the next level of quality. The globally recognised expertise of Leica is based in large parts on its ability to guarantee the tightest tolerances on the market. This justified claim to excellence is of course also an integral part of the technology partnership with Xiaomi and is implemented in the production processes of the camera modules to ensure supreme quality.”
Last week, Redmi India launched 3 smartphones in the much-anticipated Note 12 series – Redmi Note 12, Redmi Note 12 Pro and Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus. The smartphones from the Redmi Note 12 series have arrived with various segment-first features, along with some significant differences in terms of camera, battery, and charging. The Note 12 series smartphones are available on Flipkart, Mi.com, Mi Home and Mi Studio and retail stores.
Redmi Note 12
The 5G ready Redmi Note 12 smartphone is the most affordable in the segment and is available in two variants – i.e. 4GB+128 GB and 6GB+128GB. The Note 12 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, sports a 48MP AI Triple camera, a 6.67″ Super AMOLED display with 120Hz Refresh Rate, and delivers vivid picture quality along with sharp details.
The 4GB/128GB variant of the slimmest note is priced at ₹17,999, while the 6GB/128GB variant is priced at ₹19,999. The Note 12 is backed by a 5000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging and delivers 50% charge in just 22 minutes. Besides all, the Redmi Note 12 also features an infrared blaster, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a side fingerprint scanner, an IP53 rating and up to 5GB of virtual RAM.
Available colours – Forest Green, Matte Black, Mystique Blue
Redmi Note 12 Pro
The Redmi Note 12 Pro is branded as a Supernote and looks very similar to Redmi Note 12 (vanilla model) in terms of design. It offers extraordinary visuals on the 120Hz Pro AMOLED Display with variable refresh rates and features a punch-hole display. The Pro variant of Note 12 is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1080, backed by a 5000 mAh battery, supports 120W charging and sports a 50-MP primary camera.
The Redmi Note 12 Pro is available in three variants –
6GB/128GB – ₹24,999
8GB/128GB – ₹26,999
8GB/256GB – ₹27,999
Available colours – Glacier Blue, Onyx Black, Stardust Purple
Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus
The most premium device amongst the Redmi Note 12 series sports a 200MP ultra-high res camera, 120W hypercharge, 3D arc design, 120Hz Pro AMOLED display, and Dolby Vision Atmos dual stereo speakers. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1080 and marks the India debut of the Pro-Grade HPX Sensor. The Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus is available in two variants – 8GB/256GB at ₹29,999 and 12GB/256GB at ₹32,999.
Available colours – Arctic White, Iceberg Blue, Obsidian Black
After several leaks and rumours, Xiaomi finally announced its 13-series smartphone lineup in China on Sunday. The flagship lineup consists of two smartphones, Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, will feature a 120Hz OLED display, up to 120W fast charging support, a triple-camera setup with Leica branding and Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Along with the smartphones, Xiaomi also announced its next-gen skin, the MIUI 14.
What’s New?
The first MIUI was launched in 2010, and over the last 12 years, we have seen how Xiaomi jumped up from offering a budget smartphone segment to a premium smartphone segment. MIUI 14 is the latest Android 13-based interface for Xiaomi devices which is focused on providing a simpler experience to users without taking up too much space on their smartphones. Ex. Compared to MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 takes up to 1.5GB less smartphone space.
The latest custom Android skin from Xiaomi arrives with fewer pre-installed apps, and now users will have to encounter only 8 uninstallable pre-installed apps. With MIUI 14, the company aims to provide the most optimised and streamlined MIUI to date. The new MIUI 14 runs 60% smoother compared to its predecessor and has features like duplicate file merge, automatic compression of low-frequency apps, and the ability to easily turn off permanent notifications.
The design of MIUI 14 features customisable folders with normal and large icons like we’ve seen earlier on the Nothing (1) phone, as well as new widget options in different shapes and sizes. Along with all the changes mentioned above, the design changes also include animated cat/dog avatars on the home screen. Xiaomi also claims that end-to-end encryption and local data processing with a new user interface offer better privacy.
Which devices will get MIUI 14?
Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro will be the first lineup of smartphones to feature MIUI 14. In contrast, the rest of the smartphones* will receive the update by Jan 2023.
MIUI 14 by Jan 2023
Xiaomi 12S, Xiaomi 12S Pro, Xiaomi 12S Ultra
Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition
The festivities of Diwali may have come to an end and I hope you’ve had some of the best times of your life with friends and family. However, when it comes to the smartphone market in India, the festivities never seem to come to an end. Each month brings in a slew of new mobile devices and November is no different. Be it flagship or budget devices, there is definitely a device or two launching to fit each price category! So, without further ado, let’s jump right into the exciting upcoming devices launching in November 2022 in India!
Xiaomi 12T series
Both Xiaomi 12T and 12T Pro made their global debuts back on October 5, 2022. The long-rumored devices are finally expected to make an entry into the Indian market in late November! The 12T sports a 6.67-inch CrystalRes AMOLED display flaunting smart features like AdaptiveSync. The standard variant is powered by the MediaTek 8100 chipset, 120Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Whereas the 12T pro houses the beast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Both variants are coupled with up to 256GB of storage. While the 12T Pro offers up to 12GB RAM, the standard variant is limited to 8GB. The Xiaomi 12T is expected to be launched in the 50K price category, and the 12T Pro in the 60k price category.
Realme 10 4G
While 5G has become a common feature for even budget to midrange devices in India, Realme is sticking to its guns with 4G launching the Realme 10 4G this month. The company has officially revealed that will be hosting the Realme 10 launch event this month but the exact date of the same is still under wraps. Leaks around the internet claim that the upcoming device will feature a 6.5-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen. The refresh rate of the device is still unknown. It will be backed by the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC and sport a 50MP camera coupled with a 2MP macro sensor. The front of the device is expected to rock a 16MP shooter. It will pack a 5000 mAh battery and support 33W fast charging. The expected price of this device is said to be between 17K to 19K thus putting it in competition with the likes of Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G and Moto G72 in India.
iQoo Neo 7
Vivo’s sub-brand iQoo has just recently launched the iQoo Neo 7, the successor to the previously launched neo 6. It is equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with HDR 10+ certification with Full HD+ capabilities and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The device runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC paired with up to 12GB of RAM. It rocks a Sony IMX766V 50MP camera lens with optical image stabilization coupled with an 8 MP ultrawide and a 2 MP macro lens. The 5000 mAh battery of Neo 7 can be juiced up quickly thanks to its 120W charging support. Neo 7’s top model with 12GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage is priced in China at approx Rs 37,000. While the device is right now available only in China, it will be making its global launch in the coming month.
OnePlus Nord 3
OnePlus’ Nord brand has quickly become one of the front liners in the smartphone market in the midrange section. Doubling down on its Nord branding, OnePlus has unveiled the Nord N300 in the US. The budget smartphone comes with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The device sports a waterdrop notch which is a first for the OnePlus brand. It comes with a 48MP main camera and a 2MP depth lens. It has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. The 5000 mAh battery of the Nord N300 can be juiced up with 33W fast charging support. It runs on the Oxygen OS based on Android 13 sporting 4GB RAM and 64GB storage options. There is not much choice here when it comes to colors as it comes in only one shade – Midnight Jade. It is priced in the US at $228, which is roughly 19K in India. If released at the same price in India, it will make the OnePlus Nord 3 the cheapest offering by the company in the country. The new OnePlus device is expected to be launched in India in the fourth week of November.
Redmi Note 12 Series
Redmi fans are all set to receive yet another treat from the company with the launch of the Redmi 12 series. The series has officially launched in China in three variants, namely, Redmi 12, Note 12 Pro, and Note 12 Pro+. As one would expect, all three devices come with different features and are placed at different price points. The standard Redmi Note 12 comes with the latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, whereas the Pro and Pro+ variants house a Dimensity 1080 chipset. Another difference between the three is that the standard Note 12 houses a 48MP primary shooter, whereas the 12 Pro sports a 50MP primary camera with OIS, and the 12 Pro+ flaunts a massive 200MP beast of a camera. The Redmi 12 series is expected to be launched in multiple price points starting at Rs 13.5K up to 25K.
Moto Edge 30 Neo
Moto will be adding yet another device to its successful Edge series with the Edge 30 Neo. The device is already available in the UK and US and now it’s time for it to shine in the Indian market. It is expected to house a Snapdragon 695 coupled with 8GB RAM and an internal memory of 128GB. The device will flaunt a P-OLD 6.28 inches display with 1080P resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The dual camera setup of the device features a 64-MP lens and a 13-MP secondary lens. In the front, the device houses a 32-MP lens. It is expected to launch in the 25k to 30K price segments in India in November.
