In the latest episode of Chinese-Exclusive Smartphone Launch: Season 10/25, Redmi (or Xiaomi) unsurprisingly launches their latest and greatest flagship killer, the K90 Pro Max.

First “Pro Max” Midranger

Much like the its flagship Pro Max cousin from Xiaomi, this also marks Redmi’s first-ever “Pro Max” offering.

Redmi’s past handsets only had “Pro” and “Ultra” superlatives within. Although it seems like this branding isn’t just here for naming’s sake.

Ultimately, the Redmi K90 Pro Max is also the company’s first ever smartphone with a massive 6.9-inch 1.5K OLED 120Hz display.

Much like any high-end phone nowadays, it’s capable of displaying HDR10+ content, 100% DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, as well as with Dolby Vision certification. However, its 12-bit color depth is a far cry, supporting up to 68.7 Billion Colors (versus 1.07B).

Brightness levels even go as low as 1 nit all the way to 3500 nits. Beneath it lies a faster ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor.

That’s then covered by Xiaomi’s Longjing Glass for utmost durability and protection in the long run.

That familiar “Pro Max” camera island isn’t just there for aesthetics though. Enclosed within is a powerful triple 50MP system.

First, there’s the 50MP f/1.88 main camera based on LightHunter 950 large 1/1.31-inch sensor with a flexible 13.5EV High Dynamic Range. ICYMI, that new sensor is also the same one found in the base Xiaomi 17.

Surprisingly, last year’s Pro telephoto module was replaced by a 50MP f/3.0 periscope telephoto unit based on Samsung’s ISOCELL JN5 image sensor.

From a 2.5x optical zoom, it now doubles to 5x optically (and 10x lossless) thanks to that upgraded lens structure. It can also take macro shots with a minimum focusing distance of 30cm.

Lastly, there’s the 50MP f/2.4 102-degree ultra-wide module based on the OmniVision OV50M sensor. A rare 1G+6P glass-plastic hybrid lens setup was used as well.

Xiaomi AISP 2.0 further refines what the imaging hardware captures by blending in various AI algorithms for a more desirable image output.

Rear cam video recording is capped at 8K/30fps or 4K/60fps.

First smartphone powered by Bose

Aside from acquiring the first ever “Pro Max” Redmi phone, the company also brings another first on the table — and it’s actually the first ever Android smartphone to do so.

Redmi dares to battle those JBL-quipped phones by bringing in the power of Bose sound onto K90 Pro Max’s speakers.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

It’s not just there for blatant branding.

Aside from the two stereo speakers placed on both ends, there’s an independent subwoofer that’s placed beside the cameras on that back island.

Harmonized together, it brings a 2.1 stereo sound field that makes bass fuller, more detailed, and overall immersive.

This goes to show how Redmi tries to ace not just its performance, but in the acoustics department as well.

Another flagship killer was born

Redmi, at least in China, has always been THE “flagship killer” — and it continues to do so.

Equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 3nm SoC plus choices of 12/16GB of LPDDR5x memory and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage, rest assured that Redmi’s latest smartphone brings unrivaled power at an unbeatable price tag.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

There’s even the dedicated and AI independent D2 Display Chip with GEX Module. It’s responsible for bringing in image quality comparable to PC-level hardware.

For full-on gaming experience, the K90 Pro Max has a 6700mm² 3D ice-covered circulating cold pump that alleviates heat dissipation for prolonged periods of usage.

Ultimately, it has a gigantic 7560mAh battery that can be charged through 100W wired or 50W wireless — USB-C PD chargers also supported.

It can also serve as your other devices’ power bank with its 22.5W reverse wired/wireless charging capabilities.

Speaking of, it has a USB 3.2 Gen1 port that supports up to 5Gbps of fast data transfer speeds.

Lastly, it also has a durability rating of IP68.

Another reborn

Aside from the black glass slate, flowy gold and white mix, plus an all-new Tech Denim-infused K90 Pro Max, another first in Redmi’s partnership history is by collaborating with Automobili Lamborghini in bringing in this special Champion Edition colorway.

It’s then based from the Italian brand’s prototype Squadra Corse sports car, the Lamborghini SC63.

As seen in its design, it evokes the race car’s lines and grooves. All while still incorporating the outstanding visual elements of the K90 Pro Max.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

And much like any other phone collab, this phone also comes in a very special packaging.

As well as Lamborghini-themed Xiaomi HyperOS 3 when you purchase one.

Just a refresher, the Redmi K90 Pro Max is only the fourth Android smartphone to have this luxe Lambo-skin. Historically, there was the Special Edition for OPPO Find X2 Pro way back in 2020 preceded by the Alpha-One in 2017 and Tonino Tauri 88 more than a decade ago.

Pricing and Availability

The Redmi K90 Pro Max (at least in Mainland China) is available in various configurations:

• 12+256GB = CNY 3999 (US$ 565 / EUR 485 / GBP 420 / SG$ 730 / MYR 2365 / PhP 32,680 / INR 49,615)
• 12+512GB = CNY 4499 (US$ 630 / EUR 545 / GBP 475 / SG$ 820 / MYR 2660 / PhP 36,765 / INR 55,815)
• 16+512GB = CNY 4799 (US$ 670 / EUR 570 / GBP 500 / SG$ 870 / MYR 2840 / PhP 38,700 / INR 59,730)
• 16+1TB = CNY 5299 (US$ 745 / EUR 635 / GBP 560 / SG$ 960 / MYR 3130 / PhP 42,730 / INR 65,950)
• Champion Edition = CNY 5499 (US$ 770 / EUR 660 / GBP 570 / SG$ 985 / PhP 43,700 / INR 66,720)

*  These are just estimated conversions for pricing reference

It’s a very direct competition to the realme GT 8 Pro launched just a day ahead.

Only time will tell when will this arrive for global markets.

If you’ll look at the pattern though, high-end Chinese Redmi models is always being transitioned by Xiaomi to POCO phones slated for global release.

We’ll just have to wait and see if this is the upcoming POCO F8 Ultra — or not.

TechTober is far from being over.

Aside from vivo, OPPO, iQOO, and HONOR announcing their all-new high-end handsets, realme also steps into the arena and reveals the GT 8 series — their latest and greatest flagships for 2025.

Swap for some pop!

The realme GT 8 Pro dares to stand out with its brand new Mechanical Assembly Design.

This new design language provides swappable camera shapes for the GT 8 Pro.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Aside from the usual square and round cutouts, that rare transparent cover gives a nice Nothing-like touch of aesthetics.

For those who truly dare, you can keep its bare form — dubbed as “Robert” which mimics a robot-like look.

And with realme’s Design Studio, the possibilities are limitless.

And while we’re already at the design talk, its back can either be made of frosted glass or paper-like recycled leather that’s both resistant to wear and corrosion.

It’s also said to be lighter and thinner than conventional skins. Moreover, it’s also the industry-first to include Photon Nano-Sculpting Process that enables engraving process that’s both accurate and environment-friendly.

Frame is then made from matte-frosted metal.

GT meets GR

Camera swap-outs are for one. Revolutionary camera system is for another.

With almost every Chinese brand having their camera collab, realme says it’s better late than never as they finally join the game of camera collabs by partnering with Ricoh.

This also marks the first imaging partnership between a Chinese phone brand and a Japanese imaging company.

First and foremost, it brings Ricoh GR’s anti-glare properties.

To be precise, it’s a 7P high lens with ultra-low anti-coating alongside an Ultrasound lens glass with Double layer AR coating.

There are more nerdy stuff such as Deep Absorbent Blue Glass and IR Spin Filter.

The lens prowess is then partnered by Ricoh GR’s Intuitive Algorithm Engine.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Last but definitely not the least, Ricoh GR’s five classic film tones are here: Standard, Positive Film, Negative Film, Monotone, and Hi-Contrast B&W.

You can even play with Ricoh GR Blue and Green Shadows for that added personal feel onto your snaps.

For that ultimate Ricoh feel, swiping downwards the regular camera shutter brings you Ricoh GR mode with various options such as Fast Shot, Classic F 28/40mm, and even the Immersion Viewfinder.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

All beneath that Ricoh goodness lies the powerful camera hardware.

On top of the standard 50MP f/1.8 main module, there’s also another 50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide lens.

But, the star of the show has got to be its 200MP f/2.6 3x periscope shooter — which also shares a large 1/1.56-inch image sensor as its wide (main) camera.

It’s also enabled by both OIS and EIS for that shake-free close-ups.

The realme GT 8 Pro also gives possible users utmost freedom between 8K/30fps video recording or 4K/120fps — either in flat 10-bit Log profile or in Dolby Vision format.

The Latest Grand Tourer

The realme GT 8 Pro is the brand’s grandest flagship smartphone so far.

It’s the fourth smartphone in the list to run Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 3nm SoC headlined by the Xiaomi 17 series then followed by the HONOR Magic8 series and iQOO 15 respectively.

More flagship-grade specs are found within.

You can choose between 12 or 16GB of LPDDR5X memory with plethora of storage options between 256GB / 512GB / 1TB in a newer UFS 4.1 protocol.

There’s even a 7000mm²  Vapor Cooling (VC) chamber for in-demand gaming.

Up front, there’s a large 6.79-inch 144Hz 2K AMOLED display based on BOE Q10+ panel.

It’s capable of displaying 10-bit color depth, support of up to 1.07 Billion Colors, and up to 4000 nits of outdoor brightness (and a whopping 7000 nits local peak).

It also goes as low as 1 nit to protect your eyes when using it at dimly-lit surroundings.

Pixel density is 508ppi (Pixels per inch) with streamlined R-corners for that uniformed rounded rectangle look.

Beneath the display is (thankfully) an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor.

Thanks to the continuous push of Si/C tech, battery capacity is pretty massive at 7000mAh which is promised to last for 2.3 days and rated to last for five long years. It can also withstand cold conditions of -15ºC.

It’s joined by a super fast 120W charging (that’s also UFCS integrated) then paired by 50W wireless charging.

For third-party charging adapters, they can still be used and maximized with 55W USB-C PPS and 14.4W QC.

To finish it off, it boasts triple IP69 + IP68 + IP66 water and dust resistance ratings.

Lastly, it runs the latest realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16 with revamped looks and smarter AI tools in mind.

Base GT 8 ain’t left behind

As expected, the vanilla variant is as capable as its Pro sibling.

Aside from the absence of that swappable camera cutout mechanism, almost 90 percent of their specs are identical.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Still, there are notable differences. The base GT 8 has last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, “slower” 100W fast charging without USB-C PPS support, even the absence of wireless charging.

Camera systems are also different: 50MP 3.5x periscope shooter, a lot smaller 1/4.0-inch 8MP UWA, and a 16MP front-facing camera (versus 200MP 3x periscope, 1/2.88-inch 50MP UWA, and 32MP selfie on the Pro).

Finally, not a stark gap but GT 8 has UFS 4.0 internal storage protocol (over UFS 4.1).

Pricing and Availability

The realme GT 8 series are available in three color choices alongside five configurations.

GT 8 Pro (Blue, White, Green)

• 12+256GB =  CNY 3999 (US$ 565 / EUR 485 / GBP 420 / SG$ 730 / MYR 2365 / PhP 32,680 / INR 49,615)
• 16+256GB =  CNY 4299 (US$ 605 / EUR 520 / GBP 455 / SG$ 785 / MYR 2540 / PhP 35,130 / INR 53,335)
• 12+512GB = CNY 4499 (US$ 630 / EUR 545 / GBP 475 / SG$ 820 / MYR 2660 / PhP 36,765 / INR 55,815)
• 16+512GB = CNY 4699 (US$ 660 / EUR 570 / GBP 495 / SG$ 860 / MYR 2780 / PhP 38,400 / INR 58,300)
• 16+1TB = CNY 5199 (US$ 730 / EUR 630 / GBP 550 / SG$ 950 / MYR 3075 / PhP 42,485 / INR 64,500)

GT 8 (White, Green, Navy)

• 12+256GB =  CNY 2899 (US$ 405 / EUR 350 / GBP 305 / SG$ 530 / MYR 1715 / PhP 23,690 / INR 35,965)
• 16+256GB =  CNY 3199 (US$ 450 / EUR 390 / GBP 340 / SG$ 585 / MYR 1890 / PhP 26,140 / INR 39,690)
• 12+512GB = CNY 3399 (US$ 480 / EUR 410 / GBP 360 / SG$ 620 / MYR 2010 / PhP 27,775 / INR 42,170)
• 16+512GB = CNY 3599 (US$ 505 / EUR 435 / GBP 380 / SG$ 660 / MYR 2130 / Php 29,410 / INR 44,650)
• 16+1TB = CNY 4099 (US$ 575 / EUR 500 / GBP 430 / SG$ 750 / MYR 2430 / PhP 33,495 / INR 50,850)

* These are just approximate, rounded-off pricing conversions

Much like any China-exclusive announcement, global pricing and availability are yet to follow.

HONOR has announced a strategic partnership with new-energy vehicle manufacturer BYD. The collaboration merges HONOR’s smart connectivity solutions with BYD’s next-generation DiLink system. This aims to create intelligent, AI-powered mobility experiences for everyday drivers.

The agreement was formalized in Shenzhen, witnessed by HONOR CEO James Li and BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu.

A new phase in intelligent mobility

This partnership expands on years of cooperation between the two tech leaders. Their collaboration will now move across three key fronts:

• Core technology and features: Joint innovation in cross-device ecosystem integration, AI agent functions, and high-precision Bluetooth-based digital keys.
• Channel ecosystem and user benefits: A shared model that connects HONOR’s vehicle tech with BYD’s ecosystem for smoother cross-platform experiences.
• Joint communication and engagement: Coordinated marketing efforts and shared launch milestones to engage users more directly.

Building on a strong foundation

HONOR and BYD’s partnership began in 2023 with smartphone NFC car keys. This allowed BYD drivers to unlock vehicles using HONOR devices. In 2024, they expanded to in-car fast charging. This year, Denza became the first brand to integrate HONOR Car Connect, paving the way for other BYD models to adopt the system for seamless phone-to-car connectivity.

Driving the AI era

Both companies aim to push the boundaries of AI-driven mobility, with upcoming projects centered on digital keys, deeper phone-to-car integration, and smarter safety features.

The collaboration will also take center stage at the 2025 HONOR Global Developers Conference and AI Device Ecosystem Conference on October 23, where HONOR will showcase the HONOR AI Connect platform and its role in building human-centric, scenario-based AI solutions.