Smartphones

Xiaomi teases a ‘king’ phone and a gaming phone

Is this the Mi 11 Ultra?

Published

March 15, 2021

Luigi Leonardo

By now, everyone knows that domination is the name of the smartphone game. Competing smartphone makers are racing to create the perfect smartphone to one-up the other in several segments. Currently, the race centers around foldables and other quirky form factors. However, no one has forgotten about the ongoing flagship race — least of which, Xiaomi. Teased by the company itself, Xiaomi is working on a “king” phone.

Current Xiaomi vice president Lu Weibing teased the smartphone through his Weibo account. In his post (originally written in Chinese), Lu teased the existence of two upcoming phones: one that roughly translates to “the real king” and another that translates to a “gaming phone.”

To tackle the easier of the two first, the “gaming phone” will likely come from the company’s Black Shark lineup, Xiaomi’s entries into the gaming segment. Last year, the series launched the Black Shark 3. It stands to reason that a sequel, the Black Shark 4, will launch this year.

On the other hand, the “king” phone is more of a mystery. Merely judging by the teaser, the phone will likely belong to the company’s flagship segment. If the series goes on as projected, the phone is the Mi 11 Ultra, slated for a launch later this year.

However, though the name is relatively easy to decipher, the phone’s “king” moniker is harder to decipher. How can Xiaomi easily call its upcoming flagship a “king” phone? Presumably, the flagship will launch with the Snapdragon 888 chipset. With a processor already in the bag, it can compensate with a better camera and, as previously reported, a massive charging solution.

Related Topics:Black Shark 4 Mi 11 Ultra Xiaomi

News

Report: ‘Accessible flagship’ smartphones might provide best value this year

Next-gen hardware, AI optimization among consumer demands to justify price hike

Published

April 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

As global smartphone prices continue to rise, the “accessible flagship” segment could be the only bright spot for manufacturers this year.

But that’s only if they gamble and improve specs significantly for attractive devices. According to a recent Counterpoint report, taking into consideration MWC 2026 Barcelona insights, consumers are looking for significant upgrades for their next smartphone purchase instead of iterative updates.

This includes a combination of next-generation hardware, deeply optimized AI software, and affordability for a premium-grade experience.

The demand for these upgrades from one generation to another stems from a massive spike in memory costs. With smartphone manufacturers increasing their prices drastically, consumers in turn are demanding more in return to justify such adjustments.

As such, manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Google, HONOR, Motorola, and OPPO continue to democratize features once reserved for the most expensive handsets.

Chance for smartphone manufacturers to shine

It is clear that leading smartphone companies are focusing on next-generation chipsets, professional-grade imaging, and high-efficiency batteries, as well as AI adoption.

So those who successfully integrate cutting-edge hardware with deeply optimized AI software into such accessible flagship ((US$ 700 to US$ 999) devices will more likely win the battle.

According to the report, only Samsung and Xiaomi have released phones falling under the “accessible flagship” category so far this year. These are obviously the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Xiaomi 17 series, although OPPO has also launched the Reno15 series.

This means there is an opportunity for other OEMs like Google, Motorola, and HONOR to launch better packages later in the year.

The report specifically mentions HONOR as a brand that has seen considerable growth in its accessible flagship tier (HONOR number series) sales outside of China in the last few years.

The report concludes by mentioning that in 2026, shipments are predicted to drop by 12% (year-on-year). Along with this, only improving specs significantly shall enable brands to stand out.

News

Apple’s iPhone Fold reportedly hits engineering delays

But it’s still supposedly on track for a September launch.

Published

April 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The foldable iPhone might be the most mythical device in technology today. Rumoured as far back as the launch of the very first Galaxy Fold, the so-called iPhone Fold has peeked in and out of the spotlight over the years but has yet to make its full debut. Sources today have speculated that Apple is readying its much awaited launch for this year; however, a few hitches might derail the expected unveiling.

According to Nikkei, Apple has pushed forward with the foldable iPhone’s test production phase, which marks an advanced stage in the device’s production. However, a source indicates that the device has encountered engineering issues, potentially pushing its launch back by an undisclosed amount of time. Apple is reportedly working on the issues now.

Opposite this report, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports that the iPhone Fold can still reach its projected launch later this September. As any fan of the iPhone can attest to, September is the usual ground zero for the latest generation of iPhones. Should Apple meet its September launch, the iPhone Fold will launch alongside the iPhone 18 series. This also makes it possible to be Apple’s “one more thing” for September’s event.

There’s a lot riding on Apple’s foldable phone. Fans have been clamoring for the iPhone Fold for a while now, especially since Samsung remains an undisputed cornerstone in the foldable market. Despite the demand, it might take a while for the foldable to truly take off. If Apple’s gingerly approach to foldables is any indication, the iPhone Fold will likely take a few iterations to match Samsung in terms of supply and market share.

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