Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has officially confirmed that its new generation bezel-less phone will be named "Mi Mix 2", and it will be unveiled on September 11.
The date is just one day before Apple releases its much-anticipated iPhone 8, an incident seen by many as a direct confrontation rather than a mere coincidence.
The company said on Weibo – one of China’s largest social media platforms and similar to Twitter – that it's holding an event in Beijing to showcase the product.
Xiaomi founder Lei Jun posts a Weibo to show he's already using the new bezel-less phone. /Weibo Screenshot
Xiaomi founder Lei Jun posts a Weibo to show he's already using the new bezel-less phone. /Weibo Screenshot
Previous leaks suggested that the screen of Mi Mix 2 will feature a 93% screen-to-body ratio, even more than its predecessor. The original Mi Mix had an edge-to-edge display with 91 screen-to-body ratio, according to Xiaomi's calculation.
To make a comparison, that ratio is only 68% for iPhone 7 plus and 83% for Samsung S8.
How the ratio matters
Screen-to-body ratio, which indicates how much the screen occupies the front face of a phone, is a new spec that the phone companies are battling on.
In other words, the phone makers are making their flagship products as bezel-less as possible.
In a world that almost all phones look alike, bezel-less devices look more appealing to consumers.
The original Xiaomi Mi Mix. /Xiaomi Screenshot
The original Xiaomi Mi Mix. /Xiaomi Screenshot
"It looks so cool," an original Mi Mix user nicknamed Steven told CGTN reporter in Beijing.
"I tried the curve-screen S6 before, but it was a great disappointment. Now with the Mix, I finally got a bezel-less phone that works," he added.
Previous trials
The word "bezel-less" may sound quite new to a lot of people. But many companies have been trying to build devices like Mi Mix since years ago.
The first famous trial dates back to 2014, when Japanese company Sharp introduced its Aquos Crystal smartphone. The phone does not have a "forehead". The earpiece is replaced by "bone conduction" technology while the front camera is put on the "jaw" of the device. /Sharp USA Screenshot
The first famous trial dates back to 2014, when Japanese company Sharp introduced its Aquos Crystal smartphone. The phone does not have a "forehead". The earpiece is replaced by "bone conduction" technology while the front camera is put on the "jaw" of the device. /Sharp USA Screenshot
After Aquos Crystal inspired the industry, China's ZTE launched an "edge-less" phone in 2015 called Nubia Z9. But the phone only has the left and right edges removed. /Nubia Screenshot
After Aquos Crystal inspired the industry, China's ZTE launched an "edge-less" phone in 2015 called Nubia Z9. But the phone only has the left and right edges removed. /Nubia Screenshot
Samsung joined the bezel-less game in 2016 by introducing S6 Edge, a phone utilizes the company's curved-screen technology to remove the left and right bezels. /Samsung Screenshot
Samsung joined the bezel-less game in 2016 by introducing S6 Edge, a phone utilizes the company's curved-screen technology to remove the left and right bezels. /Samsung Screenshot
In the same year, Xiaomi also launched its Mix series, sharing similar bezel-less design with Sharp. But the Mix is powered by the fastest chips available to the Chinese phone maker. /Xiaomi Screenshot
In the same year, Xiaomi also launched its Mix series, sharing similar bezel-less design with Sharp. But the Mix is powered by the fastest chips available to the Chinese phone maker. /Xiaomi Screenshot
Getting ahead
It's rare for Xiaomi to reveal a product ahead of Apple.
Xiaomi's flagship Mi 5s was introduced two weeks after Apple launched the iPhone 7 in September 2016.
It's the same schedule in 2015 when Xiaomi launched the Mi 4c model 12 days after Apple did to the iPhone 6s.
But for 2017, the Chinese company is introducing its new bezel-less Mi Mix 2 one day ahead of Apple's event.
It's widely suspected in the Chinese tech media websites that Xiaomi is challenging Apple on bezel-less design.
Apple's next smartphone will also feature bezel-less design, as suspected by many tech-related media.
So which company's design will eventually make the consumers move? We will watch the two events together with you on September 11 and 12, and write about our first impressions of the two devices.
["china"]
