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The all-new Xiaomi MIX Flip 2 is full of glitz and glamour

Going head-to-head against the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Right before Samsung announces their latest flip next July, Xiaomi is taking the spotlight for now as they just announced the MIX Flip 2 in China.

Itzy Bitzy Glitzy

If a luxurious timepiece is in the form of a flip-style foldable, it would definitely be the all-new Xiaomi MIX Flip 2.

Xiaomi’s latest flip iteration focuses more on glitz and glam — at least the Gold colorway.

If it’s not your cup of tea, there are the White and Purple color choices.

The Xiaomi MIX Flip 2 still keeps its 7.57mm thickness when unfolded (16mm when folded), though has weighed a bit more at 199 grams (versus 190 grams).

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Xiaomi says the MIX Flip 2 has a new “Keel Hinge” which is an industry-first hinge mechanism with “three-stage connecting rod combined with four floating plates”.

This makes the flip last up to 200,000 folds. Albeit, last year’s flip was promised up to 500,000 folds.

Combined with an ultra-tough flexible glass, the screen is flatter and has lesser crease visibility around 50μm.

Beauty and Brains

The Xiaomi MIX Flip 2 may just look like a luxe-coated flip phone but, it’s more than that. It’s beauty and brains in compact form.

First and foremost, it runs the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version by Qualcomm.

This makes the only flip that has the said 3nm SoC — well, maybe until the arrival of Samsung’ next Z Flip (which only the company staff, insiders, and leaksters know by heart).

That’s backed by an upgraded dual VC (Vapor-Cooling) chamber that it’s absent in most folds and flips.

Second, Xiaomi truly listens to its community.

The dual 50MP Leica-Summilux camera system now features a main + UWA (Ultra-Wide Angle) combo.

This ditches the 2x telephoto module of the first MIX Flip. Still, it can take 2x lossless photos through the main sensor.

But, the biggest upgrade has got to be its 5165mAh battery.

The MIX Flip 2’s battery bump not only breaks the last record (HONOR Magic V Flip at 4800mAh), it also breaks barriers past the 5000mAh limit among modern-day flip phones.

It promises an improved endurance — lasting two hours longer than the iPhone 16 Pro.

MIX and Match

Xiaomi still kept all the good stuff from last year’s flip.

The 67W HyperCharge support is still there, but with added wirless charging of up to 50W.

Moreover, the already large 4.01-inch 120Hz triple micro-curved cover screen with Xiaomi Shield Glass protection still remain (which was already the limit to begin with).

That also means the MIX Flip 2 has the same 6.56-inch 1~120Hz foldable AMOLED display as its predecessor.

The inner display possesses a 1.5K display resolution, 460ppi pixel density, up to 3200 nits of peak brightness, and other eye care features.

The Xiaomi MIX Flip2 runs Xiaomi HyperOS 2 with better cover screen functionality including more widgets, wider app support of over 500, and even quirkier animal character animations for lock screen and charging.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

There are new animals in the set such as a bird, sheep, and seal. Moreover, you can even make your own pets as your cute animated avatars through Xiaomi’s AI magic.

Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi MIX Flip 2 is currently available for pre-orders in China.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Pricing are as follows:

  • 12+256GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 840 / EUR 720 / GBP 615 / SG$ 1070 / PhP 47,760 / INR 71,940)
  • 12+512GB = CNY 6499 (US$ 905 / EUR 780 / GBP 665 / SG$ 1160 / PhP 51,740 / INR 77,940)
  • 16+1TB = CNY 7299 (US$ 1020 / EUR 880 / GBP 750 / SG$ 1305 / PhP 58,110 / INR 87,533)

Just like any China-first launch, global availability is relatively unknown.

Still, we have to wait and see as the first MIX Flip was launched in certain Asian markets last year — including Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

News

Qualcomm is raising its prices this year

Will the price of smartphones follow suit?

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The price of technology isn’t fun these days. Because of the ongoing RAM shortage wrought by AI, companies across the industry are raising the prices of their products. Some, however, are still willing to shoulder the burden for their customers. Unfortunately, Qualcomm is soon leaving that list.

As reported by Bloomberg, Qualcomm will raise the prices of its products starting in September. Though the exact figure is unknown, the company did confirm that it’s in the double digits, percentage-wise. According to them, they can no longer shoulder the costs for its customers.

If you’re just a regular user, Qualcomm’s prices might not mean much for you. After all, the chipmaker doesn’t make phones of its own.

That said, Qualcomm is still one of the biggest suppliers for smartphone chipsets, including those that Samsung uses. Pushing the burden from chipsets to phone manufacturers reduces one more buffer against costs being ultimately pushed to consumers.

All things considered, Samsung managed to keep its prices hikes relatively low with the latest batch of foldables. However, with chips getting more price increases, it’s still within the realm of possibility that Samsung will also increase the price of its smartphones. The same can be said for any Qualcomm-powered smartphone available today.

SEE ALSO: Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, Ultra

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Apple is reportedly delaying its smart glasses due to privacy concerns

The brand wants to squash malicious recording.

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Smart glasses are in a weird place right now. While early adopters are celebrating the ability to record everything, a growing group of critics are decrying the loss of privacy. Formerly at full throttle, Apple, in response to these controversies, will reportedly delay its version of smart glasses to next year.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is heading back to the drawing board to further emphasize the unreleased wearable’s privacy protections, which includes “hardware and software-related privacy features not available on current products.” The report, however, doesn’t enumerate what these features are.

If anything, these features will likely prevent malicious recording. Most smart glasses today have a light that tells passersby that the device is actively recording video. However, users have discovered ways to tamper and disable this light, so their devices can start recording without alerting others. Apple will likely introduce better measure to prevent such tampering.

Additionally, it’s also possible that Apple introduces a version of the smart glasses without a camera attached.

Because of these new initiatives, the brand will delay the launch of the wearable to sometime next year. Previously, there was heavy speculation that the smart glasses will launch later this year.

On the bright side, there’s still substantial reason to believe that Apple is launching its first ever foldable device later this year.

SEE ALSO: New York becomes first state to ban smart glasses

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God of War Laufey finally confirms its highly anticipated launch date

Set your calendars next year.

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It’s about time we get excited for God of War Laufey. The upcoming entry into the acclaimed franchise takes off on a tangent as it follows Faye, Kratos’s late wife, as she traverses an afterlife filled with similarly deceased gods. It’s a different perspective but with still the same action we’ve come to expect from the series. Now, we know when to expect it: February 16.

In the ongoing Norse saga, Faye’s death is everything. Her passing pushes Kratos and Atreus towards a path that eventually led to Ragnarok. In Laufey, a deceased Faye wakes up in Everywhen, an afterlife where gods from different mythologies converge. She then discovers that the carefully laid plans she made to help her husband and her son are unravelling, so she has to find a way to save the living world from past the veil.

Laufey will still have the iconic battles that the God of War series is known for. However, because Faye is nimbler than the burly Kratos, fighting is more fast-paced with a mix of grounded and air-based fighting. All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about for Laufey, despite its different take on the series.

Over the weekend, during San Diego Comic Con, PlayStation confirmed when the title is launching. Thankfully, it’s not a long wait. God of War Laufey is launching for the PlayStation 5 on February 16 next year.

Additionally, Santa Monica Studio has also confirmed that Kratos will lead another entry after Laufey.

SEE ALSO: God of War Laufey puts Faye in the spotlight

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