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

vivo introduces refurbished versions of X300 FE, X300 Ultra for less

vivo offers consumers more affordable way of owning smartphones

Published

September 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

vivo is offering its market an affordable way to own its smartphones without necessarily purchasing a brand-new unit: vivo refurbished phones.

Unlike ordinary second-hand phones, the refurbished vivo units are brand-managed devices that undergo inspection, cleaning, and necessary repairs by vivo customer service professionals.

After undergoing such a process, the phones are then made available for resale. This gives consumers a more accessible way to own a vivo smartphone — with added assurance of professional quality checks and warranty support.

@vivo_philippines

vivo Refurbished Phones are NOW AVAILABLE! Get high-end flagship smartphones at a lower price and watch to learn what makes it different from second-hand devices. Meet the star of our refurbished lineup, the vivo X300 Ultra! https://bit.ly/vivoX300Ultra_refurbished More units COMING SOON! #vivo #vivoX300Ultra #fyp #foryoupage #viral

♬ original sound – vivo_philippines – vivo_philippines

vivo says the refurbished units include those previously used by KOLs or ambassadors, as well as store display and demo units. They will be divided into two main types: Pre-owned (LDU) and Near New.

Once these devices are returned, they are handled by vivo customer service professionals and undergo the necessary inspection, cleaning, and repair processes before being relisted for sale.

This gives consumers another option when looking for a vivo smartphone that fits their budget. Refurbished units can make selected vivo devices more accessible.

Furthermore, the units will still come with a standard one-year warranty, with the warranty start date determined according to the unit’s classification and available proof of purchase.

To purchase a refurbished vivo phone, consumers can visit the vivo official website. Currently available are the vivo X300 FE and vivo X300 Ultra.

News

A casemaker just revealed the foldable iPhone Ultra ahead of time

The surprise is gone.

Published

September 9, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As of now, we’re still around 12 hours ahead of the most anticipated event of the month, the launch of the iPhone 18 series. Besides the ubiquitous flagship lineup, the event is also heavily rumored to reveal the upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra. Well, while Apple has been secretive about the device itself, Dbrand has just spoiled the surprise for fans.

The often-sarcastic casemaker has just released a series of phone cases for the iPhone Ultra. The series doesn’t stray at all from Dbrand’s usual slew of designs. You’ll still get the traditional Teardown skins (which offers a peek into the iPhone’s internals) and the Leather skins (with real leather).

The main point here, of course, is that it’s already available ahead of the scheduled launch. As for looks, the cases confirm that the foldable will have the passport-style format popularized by the Galaxy Z Fold8. The device will also have a slightly elevated camera bump and two buttons on top of the bump.

Other than that, there’s still a lot to be revealed in the upcoming event. There are high hopes that the iPhone Ultra will fix the persistent pain points of the foldable segment. Unfortunately, it will likely come with a pretty exorbitant price tag, making it a much harder buy for regular iPhone users.

Accessories

Sony resurrects the WH-1000XM4 with a refreshed model

The return of the king.

Published

September 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

For a lot of people (me included), the Sony WH-1000XM4 was the first taste of what Bluetooth headphones could be. It was the first time I desperately wanted a new pair of headphones. It took me until the current XM6 to get a pair, but I can’t forget what came before. And, apparently, neither can Sony.

Today, Sony is resurrecting the WH-1000XM4 with the refreshed WH-1000XM4C. Straying from the lineup’s usual releases, the WH-1000XM4C is the second generation of the universally acclaimed headphones, while the XM6 is still the current flagship model.

It’s not just a simple rerelease, too. Though it still rocks the QN1-based active noise cancellation, the new pair tweaks the sound profile to more closely match the modern standard. It also comes with 10-band and gaming-specific equalizer presets. It will have a slightly smaller battery but with better fast charging to juice up quickly.

The new WH-1000XM4C will be available in Lavender, Black, and Platinum Silver. It will also cost US$ 299.99 — 50 bucks cheaper than the first generation.

Besides the refreshed flagship, Sony is also launching the WH-CH730N, a midrange pair built for commuters, and the WH-CH530, an entry-level pair with more colorful colorway options.

The WH-CH730N will come in White, Pink, Blue, Black, and Oat. It sells for US$ 179.99.

Meanwhile, the WH-CH530 come in Black, Cobalt, Coral, Mint, White, and Pink. It sells for US$ 69.99.