BYD Group premium sub-brand DENZA is officially entering the Philippine market.

The move marks a strategic shift to capture the luxury “new energy vehicle” (NEV) segment, beyond the company’s existing mass-market offerings.

This expansion follows a period of rapid growth for BYD in the Philippines under its distributor, ACMobility.

By introducing DENZA, the group aims to offer a tiered ecosystem of electrified transport that ranges from budget-friendly options to high-output luxury ones.

The sub-brand’s initial lineup could possibly include the high-end MPV, DENZA D9.

It features a triple-motor system and high-capacity batteries that provide significant electric-only range before the gasoline generator engages.

Potentially, SUVs DENZA B5 and DENZA B8 will also be introduced locally, positioned as plug-in hybrid EVs.

Offerings under the DENZA sub-brand will be distributed locally by BYD Philippines Corp.

Advanced technology, comfort

DENZA’s entry focuses on “passenger-centric engineering” rather than traditional luxury excess.

The vehicles will feature two of BYD’s flagship technologies: the DiSus system and e3 platform.

The first is an intelligent body control system that manages vehicle motion to balance executive-level ride comfort with sharp handling.

Meanwhile, the e3 Platform is a high-performance architecture utilizing a three-motor drivetrain.

This setup lets drivers pull off advanced maneuvers such as “crab-walking” and “compass turns,” while enhancing stability during high-speed travel or emergency situations.

Strategic presence

DENZA will establish a dedicated retail network separate from standard BYD showrooms to support its positioning.

The sub-brand is planning four initial locations in Makati, Greenhills, Alabang, and Cebu.

Once it officially rolls out, DENZA expects to compete against luxury vans like the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM.

Xiaomi has launched two new audio wearables on the same day it launched the REDMI Note 15 in the Philippines.

These two wearables are the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses and the REDMI Buds 8 Lite.

The two new offerings expand Xiaomi’s ecosystem, bringing innovative features in different form factors to users.

Mijia Smart Audio Glasses

The Mijia Smart Audio Glasses house a speaker system and four built-in microphones in a stylish eyewear design.

This enables users to stay aware of surroundings while enjoying crystal-clear audio and 4.5m/s wind noise reduction.

It is an ideal accessory for city walks, outdoor travel, and even more discreet scenarios like meetings and calls with a new privacy mode.

This mode leverages a custom algorithm to ensure clear audio while significantly reducing sound leakage.

Inside the glasses are non-coaxial steel-cased batteries. Full charging takes just about an hour, and fuels up to 13 hours of music playback.

Users can connect the wearable to the Xiaomi Glasses app for greater customization and control.

The Mijia glasses are available in three styles: Titanium, Pilot-Style, and Browline. All lenses can be replaced with prescription ones if needed.

In addition, the Browline and Titanium come with up to 25% blue light protection lenses while the Pilot-Style features up to a 99.99% UV light blocking rate.

Pricing:

• Browline and Pilot-Style: Starts at PhP 10,999
• Titanium: Starts at PhP 12,999

REDMI Buds 8 Lite

On the other hand, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite are built for those who seek practicality and crystal-clear sound at the same time.

The buds house large 12.4mm titanium-diaphragm drivers for clear sound and rich detail. They support Bluetooth 5.4 connection for AAC and SBC audio codecs for high-quality audio across a wide range of devices.

Moreover, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite feature up to 42dB hybrid active noise cancellation, on top of a Transparency Mode.

The ANC uses a combination of talk and feedback microphones to effectively detect and suppress ambient noise.

And with the Xiaomi Earbuds app, users can tailor-fit the sound better to their liking with five pre-installed EQ modes and the option to customize EQ tuning.

The Buds 8 Lite is available in Black, White, and Blue starting at PhP 1,199.

Joining the two new Xiaomi audio wearables are other AIoT devices that are now available at online and offline Xiaomi stores: the Mijia Smart Air Purifier Max, Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6, and 6 Lite.

The REDMI Note 15 Series has been officially launched in the Philippines. It comes in four variants: the Note 15 Pro+ 5G, Note 15 Pro 5G, Note 15 5G, and Note 15.

Featuring “REDMI Titan Durability”, the lineup highlights long-lasting battery performance, reinforced drop resistance, and enhanced dust and water protection.

Alongside these physical upgrades, the REDMI Note 15 Series also comes with enhanced imaging capabilities, reliable performance, and a seamless overall user experience.

Xiaomi also introduced the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses and REDMI Buds 8 Lite, among others, expanding their ecosystem.

The top-of-the-line variants, the REDMI Note 15 Pro+ 5G and REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G, feature 6,500mAh batteries with 100W HyperCharge.

Making its REDMI Note Series debut, the Silicon-Carbon battery technology enables higher energy density within a compact form factor.

The Pro variants also come with better protection, with the Pro having a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and the Pro+ having a tough fiberglass back panel.

In addition, the Pro+ comes with IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings.

Meanwhile, the REDMI Note 15 5G and REDMI Note 15 house 5,520mAh and 6,000mAh batteries, respectively. These two models also have SGS Comprehensive Shock and Drop-Resistance certifications.

Cameras

Onto the series’ cameras, both Pro models boast of a new 200MP ultimate-clarity camera, along with the global debut of a 200MP HPE image sensor.

This large, 1/1.4-inch sensor backs 2x and 4x optical-level in-sensor zoom, triple-focal length DAG HDR, and advanced AI processing. This way, users can get detailed and true-to-life images across in various lighting conditions.

The two Note 15 variants, meanwhile, come with 108MP main cameras. These offer up to a 3x optical-level telephoto experience.

Creative and AI-powered tools complement the shooting experience. There’s ultra-clear portrait algorithm, Dynamic shots 2.0, and AI Creativity Assistant on the Pro models.

Across the entire lineup are everyday creativity features like AI Remove Reflection and AI Beautify.

Upgraded performance, smarter connectivity

The REDMI Note 15 Series also delivers balanced performance in the segment. Powering the Note 15 Pro+ 5G is a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 mobile platform and introduces the Xiaomi IceLoop cooling system.

The entire lineup also come with new generation Snapdragon and MediaTek chipsets for faster performance and smoother graphics.

All models support Google Gemini and Circle to Search with Google out of the box. The Pro+ also integrates Xiaomi HyperAI for a more personalized and intelligent experience.

And for enhanced connectivity, the Pro models support Xiaomi Offline Communication which allows for voice transmission even without network coverage.

Immersive audiovisual experience

In front, the series offers an upgraded viewing experience. The Pro models have 6.83-inch displays, while the base models have 6.77-inch screens.

These have up to 3,200 nits brightness and triple eye-care certifications. Complementing these are up to a 400% volume boost capability.

Price, availability

The REDMI Note 15 Pro models retail for the following prices:

• Note 15 Pro+ 5G: PhP 27,999 (Mocha Brown, Glacier Blue, Black)
• Note 15 Pro 5G: Starts at PhP 19,999 (Mist Purple, Black)

Early bird purchases (January 16 to 29) include a PhP 2,000 savings, Xiaomi Smart Band 10, and Black Box Gift Set.

From January 30 to February 8, the same freebies (minus the discount) are still available to claim.

On the other hand, the REDMI Note 15 base models are available for:

• Note 15 5G: Starts at PhP 14,999 (Glacier Blue, Mist Purple, Black)
• Note 15: Starts at PhP 9,999 (Glacier Blue, Purple, Black)

Customers can grab an additional PhP 1,000 off, REDMI Buds 8 Lite, and Xiaomi Black Backpack until January 29, with the two freebies available for purchases made until February 8.

Other perks include:

• 4-year battery replacement warranty
• 2-year liquid damage coverage
• 2-year front & back cover replacement
• 3 months Spotify Premium
• 3-month 100GB cloud storage

All models are now available across Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, and mi.com.