Xiaomi has introduced a proof-of-concept device called the Xiaomi Mi MIX, which could be the smartphone everyone has been waiting for.
Revealed alongside the Xiaomi Mi Note 2, it features a custom 2040 x 1080p panel that takes up a whopping 91.3% of the front. This bezel-less display is only really flanked by the sides, making the entire panel blend seamlessly into itself. The small bezel at the bottom of the handset is purely there for utility purposes, harboring the front camera and speaker. For the earpiece itself, Xiaomi had to completely re-design the way it was implemented. Situated behind the panel, a special ceramic driver uses the display surface itself as a speaker. Even the proximity sensor has undergone crazy refinement, using ultrasound to sense when your looking at the display.
The body of the Mi MIX is fully ceramic, with even the buttons crafted from this premium material. The design uses a mortise and tenon joint for attaching the display to the body, a common practice implemented by woodmakers for creating furniture. The upside of this is that there’s no need to use glue or other adhesives. The industrial design has been done by French designer Philippe Starck, famous for masterminding the SLS Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
It’s not just about the design either, as Xiaomi has kitted the Mi MIX with market leading hardware to boot. With the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor abd 4GB of RAM (the 256GB model gets 6GB because why not), it’s every bit as speedy as you’d hoped. The rear camera uses a 16 megapixel sensor with phase detection autofocus, while a headphone jack remains with a 192kHz/ 24-bit DAC for extremely high quality audio playback. There’s also a huge 4,400 mAh battery thrown in for good measure, which should no doubt last a good couple of days without much hassle.
The Mi MIX is priced at RMB 3,499 (£425.68) for the 4GB/128GB model and RMB 3,999 (£486.50) for the 6GB/256GB model. Both variants come with a leather case. It’s highly unlikely we’ll ever see this go into mass production but the concept is still pretty incredible. In the event we somehow manage to get our hands on one, we’ll let you know how good it is (or if it’s even a working model).
For more news, visit what Mobile’s dedicated news page.
Via Xiaomi
