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Xiaomi 12 series unveiled in China

These are the world’s first Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones

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Right before 2022 even started, Xiaomi unveiled its latest flagship-grade smartphones in China. Lo and behold, the Xiaomi 12 series — successor to the Mi 11 series that was announced earlier this year as well.

Similar stellar performance

With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 official announcement last November, expect the latest chipset running the new smartphones. Not only does it promise better performance when it comes to multitasking and gaming, but it also supports a lot of improvements in hardware.

The smartphone’s cooled by Xiaomi’s large VC (vapor cooling) chamber of 2600mm² paired with a graphene film, to protect from overheating.

You can choose between 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage for both devices as well.

Same same, but different

While both are equipped with 120Hz AMOLED displays, the Xiaomi 12 has a 6.28-inch screen with a Full HD+ resolution while the 12 Pro features a bigger 6.76-inches with 2K/QHD+. This means future Xiaomi users who want to switch or upgrade have two options between a smaller and a bigger display.

The other difference is that the bigger one has an LTPO display that switches between 1 to 120Hz depending on usage. This helps reduce battery consumption. In contrast, both have under-display fingerprint scanners and Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

Another headlining feature is the 120W fast wired charging while the base variant has 67W. Albeit, both support 50W fast wireless charging and 10W reverse charging. Aside from the fast charging capabilities, the Xiaomi 12 Pro has a slightly bigger 4,600mAh compared to Xiaomi 12’s 4,500mAh battery capacity.

To alleviate overcharging and power management issues, Xiaomi has its in-house Surge P1 chip inside the phone. This is pretty much like comparing the Xiaomi 11T Pro versus the 11T all over again — but with a stark difference in screen sizes.

Different 50MP cameras, different setups

The Xiaomi 12 Pro has three 50-megapixel cameras. Meanwhile, the smaller sibling is equipped with one 50MP main (wide) camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP tele-macro lens. Both phones feature a 32MP front camera for selfies. Unlike previous Xiaomi phones, the punch-hole cutout moves from left to the center of the camera just like the 11T series.

While both possess a 50-megapixel main camera, there’s a massive difference between the two smartphones. The Xiaomi 12 is equipped with Sony IMX766 which is a 1/1.58″ sensor. On the other hand, the Xiaomi 12 Pro has a Sony IMX707 sensor with a bigger sensor sizing to 1/1.28″.

There’s also a new camera trick by Xiaomi called ‘CyberFocus’ that aims to challenge the iPhone 13 series’ Cinematic mode feature. This feature originally came from Xiaomi’s CyberDog AI robot. It has the ability to identify various subjects and control the camera’s focus.

 

Another improved camera capability is the new night mode algorithm that can still light up dim subjects while reducing the amount of noise.

But wait, there’s more!

There’s also a trimmed-down version of the Xiaomi 12 dubbed as the ‘Xiaomi 12X’. It mostly has the bells and whistles of its pricier sibling minus the wireless charging. Also, it doesn’t have the latest computational photography features of the new Xiaomi 12 series such as CyberFocus.

The performance is reduced too. From Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 down to Snapdragon 870 5G chipset. RAM and storage options are still the same.

Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro are available in four different colors. There are black, blue, and pink options in the lineup. Moreover, there’s the green one featuring a special vegan leather back.

Here are the pricing details in China along with their specific set of configurations:

Xiaomi 12 Pro

  • 8GB/128GB – CNY 4699 (US$ 738)
  • 8GB/256GB – CNY 4999 (US$ 785)
  • 12GB/256GB – CNY 5399 (US$ 848)

Xiaomi 12

  • 8GB/128GB – CNY 3699 (US$ 580)
  • 8GB/256GB – CNY 3999 (US$ 628)
  • 12GB/256GB – CNY 4399 (US$ 690)

Xiaomi 12X

  • 8GB/128GB – CNY 3199 (US$ 502)
  • 8GB/256GB – CNY 3499 (US$ 550)
  • 12GB/256GB – CNY 3799 (US$ 597)

Global availability has yet to be announced.

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TECNO unveils the world’s first 0mm bezel-less phone

Is this the future of smartphones?

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It seems like the race towards an all-screen smartphone isn’t over just yet.

While most in the tech industry are currently obsessed over Samsung’s latest wide foldable, TECNO announces a more refreshing sight — at least for the regular “slab-type” phone form factor.

Black borders begone

Modern flagship smartphones already have incredibly slim bezels, but there’s still a thin black border separating the active display from the frame. That’s due to the internal circuitry and safety clearances required by current display technology

TECNO proves it’s possible to dissolve that with their Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone. And this is actually the industry’s first smartphone with a true 0mm display bezel.

With this fresh concept, the uprising brand says it has solved that “final millimeter” by redesigning the phone’s internal structure and display packaging. The result is a display with a visible border measuring 0 microns (0mm). This makes the screen appear to stretch all the way to the edges.

Removing the bezel completely isn’t just about aesthetics. The company says such uninterrupted display makes a more immersive experience — whether you’re watching videos, playing games, browsing photos, or simply reading.

Without these visible borders, content appears to flow naturally from edge-to-edge, making the display look as if it’s floating in your hand.

A glimpse at TECNO’s future

As with most concept devices, there’s no word yet on whether this exact design will make it into a commercial smartphone. Still, TECNO says the engineering behind the concept goes beyond the display itself.

The technologies developed for the project (such as improvements related to cameras, touch responsiveness, audio, and AI-driven user interactions) could eventually find their way into the brand’s future flagship devices.

Whether or not a true bezel-free phone becomes reality anytime soon, the concept offers a glimpse at where smartphone design could be heading next. After all, TECNO’s super slim concept last 2025 actually became an actual retail product with the existence of TECNO Slim.

The concept is set to make its public debut on the upcoming ShowStoppers at IFA 2026 this September 3.

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Apple introduces Apple Upgrade leasing program

Flexible leasing arrives

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Apple has introduced Apple Upgrade, a new leasing program that makes it easier to get an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch through monthly payments. The program also gives customers more flexibility to upgrade to newer devices over time.

Apple Upgrade replaces new enrollments for the iPhone Upgrade Program with a single offering that covers four product categories. Apple partnered with Klarna to power the service.

Customers can lease an iPhone or Apple Watch for one or two years. Mac and iPad leases are available for two or three years.

At the end of the lease, customers have three options. They can upgrade to a newer device, purchase the leased device by paying the remaining balance, or return it with no further obligation.

Monthly payments start at US$17.99 for iPhone and US$24.99 for Mac, depending on the selected model and configuration. Customers must also qualify through Klarna before enrolling.

More than iPhones

Apple Upgrade expands beyond the company’s previous iPhone-only financing program. It brings iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch under one leasing service, making upgrades more consistent across Apple’s hardware lineup.

Customers can manage their lease through Apple, while Klarna handles financing and lease administration. They can also pay off their device early, although additional terms and fees may apply depending on the agreement.

Apple Upgrade is currently available only in the United States. Apple has not announced plans to expand the program to other regions.

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Is the Pixel 11 copying a feature from Nothing?

A new ad is hinting at something like the Glyph interface.

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August 12 cannot come soon enough. On that date, Google is set to launch the upcoming Pixel 11 series. There isn’t much to indicate that the brand is changing the formula this year. Now, a rampant rumor, now seemingly confirmed by Google’s own ad, is hinting that a popular feature from Nothing is making its way to the Pixel.

Besides the transparent rear, Nothing prides itself with numerous iterations of the Glyph interface, a lighting system that serves as customized notifications for your phone. It’s mostly a novelty, but the feature is a unique take in a smartphone market plagued with too much sameness. It looks like Google wants to take a page from that same notebook.

For a while now, it’s been rumored that Google is adopting a version of the feature for the Pixel 11 series. The so-called Pixel Glow will reportedly add a light-based notification feature. Now, Google itself has seemingly confirmed the rumors.

In a new ad, titled “The Obvious Next Move,” Google is teasing a new feature coming to the flagship series. Though the ad leaves the feature untitled and without a description, it’s clear that it’s a circular glowing thing similar to Nothing’s take. The glowing thing is right on the Pixel’s iconic camera bar, just like Nothing.

But again, Google didn’t name the feature. However, if it helps, the ad says that we already use the Pixel for Gmail, Maps, Search, Calendar, and Docs, so the next evolution is whatever is depicted in this ad. August 12 really cannot come soon enough.

SEE ALSO: Google will host its Pixel 11 event on August 12

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