News

Mi Mix is Xiaomi’s ceramic concept of the future

Published

October 26, 2016

Marvin Velasco

In the tech world, you either imitate or innovate. Xiaomi has always been known as an imitator, but all that’s about to change with the unveiling of the practically borderless Mi Mix. Unlike other concept devices, however, this stunner will actually see the light of day sooner than you think.

Although Xiaomi calls the Mi Mix a “full-screen concept phone,” there’s so much more to it than that. With a 6.4-inch 2040 x 1080-pixel display (for an unusual 17:9 ratio) taking up 91.3 percent of the front, the only comparison we have is Sharp’s Aquos line of edge-to-edge smartphones, but those never really took off.

Xiaomi Mi Mix front and back

Of course, there’s still a chin at the bottom, where the speaker and front-facing camera are located. If it’s anything like the awkwardly placed selfie shooters of the Aquos phones or Dell XPS laptops, expect some unflattering photos of your own chin.

Another standout element is the use of ceramic for the frame and buttons — yes, the same nonmetal material used in your grandparent’s pottery collection. Credit goes to French designer Philippe Starck for coming up with the head-turning physique, and Xiaomi for maintaining a practical 7.9-millimeter profile and 209-gram weight.

With all this bezel cutting, you may be wondering how to make a phone call with this thing. Xiaomi employed a piezoelectric driver that creates vibrations to produce audio through the glass, and ultrasound is used in place of a proximity sensor. Basically speaking, it’s still a phone — a powerful one, at that.

Xiaomi Mi Mix’s highlighted specs and pricing

The same Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset used on the Mi Note 2 runs the show here, and the rear and front cameras are armed with 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel image sensors, respectively. A battery capacity of 4400mAh and Quick Charge 3.0 ensure your investment won’t die in less than a day of use.

As amazing as the Mi Mix is, the announcement isn’t a total surprise. When we uncovered leaks of a borderless Xiaomi handset a week ago, we thought it was that of the just-launched Mi Note 2. Turns out we’ve been looking at the Mi Mix all along.

[irp posts=”7220″ name=”Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has curved display, high-end specs”]

Configurations and their respective prices come in two options; the 4GB of memory with 128GB of storage model costs CNY 3,499 ($516), while the 6GB RAM with 256GB storage variant retails for CNY 3,999 ($590). The latter is extra special with 18-karat gold accents encircling the camera lens and fingerprint sensor located on the back.

Here’s the best part: Both models come with a leather case, and will be available beginning November 4 in China. We’ve never wanted a Xiaomi to experience a global release as badly as we do now.

Xiaomi Mi Mix’s gold accents

News

Budget smartphone realme C100 Series launches

Long battery life, ruggedness, more

Published

June 18, 2026

GadgetMatch

The realme C100 Series, the brand’s latest rugged essential smartphone in the budget segment, has officially launched in the Philippines.

The series introduces up to an 8,000mAh Titan Battery on the realme C100 model, as well as IP69 Pro certification.

This means the handset has IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings to handle high-pressure water exposure and submersion for up to six meters and 30 minutes.

The C100 also supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging for quick battery top-ups. It even has a 10W reverse charging support to power other small devices.

On the other hand, the realme C100i comes with a 7,000mAh Titan Battery to likewise power all-day use. This model supports a steady 15W charging and 6W reverse charging. It is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.

In addition, both models support Rain Touch Mode, making the 6.8-inch 120Hz display optimized for touches even when it is wet. This panel also comes with ArmorShell Glass protection.

Powering the C100 is the MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor while the C100i has as Unisoc T7250 processor. The devices run on realme UI 7.0 (Android 16).

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the realme C100 Series comes in various storage configurations:

C100i (4GB+64GB): PhP 6,313 (SRP: PhP 8,999)
C100i (4GB+128GB): PhP 7,379 (SRP: PhP 11,999)
C100i (4GB+256GB): PhP 8,199 (SRP: PhP 13,999)
C100 (4GB+256GB): PhP 11,195 (SRP: PhP 16,999)
C100 (8GB+256GB): PhP 14,000 (SRP: PhP 19,999)

Limited-time launch offers are available through Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok from June 18 to June 30.

The phones are also available at realme concept stores, kiosks, and partner retailers nationwide. Potential freebies include a TechLife Smart band, extended warranty and screen damage protection, privilege card, or additional cash discount.

News

Did Tim Cook just confirm that iPhone prices are going up?

Once again, it might be because of the RAM crisis.

Published

June 18, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

If there’s one thing you can count on in the smartphone world, it’s the high price of an iPhone. Unfortunately, with the ongoing RAM shortages, things might get worse. Apple’s Tim Cook has essentially confirmed that the brand is about to raise its prices.

Via an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Cook said, “Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable.” As with other companies, the outgoing CEO is talking about the RAM crisis. With a lot of chips going to AI, consumer-ready silicon is getting scarcer and scarcer. Thankfully, some brands are shielding its users from the increases, but it’s reaching levels that aren’t sustainable for business.

“We’re doing our best to mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable,” he said.

Cook did not explain how much prices will go up or when. However, with the iPhone 18 series (and a potential iPhone Fold) just on the horizon, it seems nigh.

Apple isn’t the first brand to react to the shortages (nor will it be the last). Now, regardless of whether or not Apple has the capabilities to tank the crisis, the biggest culprit is still AI. Companies today are more than willing to use AI as a scapegoat, real or otherwise, for shady cost-cutting or profit-enhancing practices.

News

Apple might launch an iPhone Air 2 next year

This is despite the iPhone Air’s reportedly low demand.

Published

June 18, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Is this the most varied that an iPhone lineup has ever been? With an iPhone Fold supposedly coming out later this year, the current lineup includes a base model, two Pro models, an ultra-thin Air model, and the affordable 17e. There’s now an iPhone for everyone. According to a new report, next year won’t be any different. Apple is reportedly launching the iPhone Air 2 early next year.

Among all the current models in the lineup, the iPhone Air does seem like the oddest of the bunch. Whereas the other models already have established niches, the Air is positioned simply as a thinner iPhone, riding on the short-lived ultra-thin phone trend. In fact, recent reports suggest that the Air isn’t as popular as its contemporaries.

Apparently, Apple doesn’t see it that way. According to Bloomberg, the brand is still surging forward with an iPhone Air 2. The upcoming version might even add a second camera and an improved processor.

Despite reports that it isn’t that popular, Apple might still believe in the model’s future. At this point, they should; Apple has always had a problem with the base model’s partner. Years of flip-flopping around what it should be, Apple wants to stay a little bit longer on the Air.