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Xiaomi will reportedly release a $600 smartphone this year
Xiaomi co-founder Li Wanqiang has reportedly told GizmoChina that the company will be releasing a ¥4,000 ($600) smartphone this year. No further details on the device or its release timeline were given. However, it is being assumed the device in question will be the high-end variant of the Mi Note 2 which has recently been teased.
If the story is true – and we’ve reached out to Xiaomi for confirmation of the story – then the Mi Note 2 will more than likely be released at IFA 2016 in September. The rumor mill claims there are three models incoming. The most premium of these reportedly features a dual curved screen combined with high-end specs. It stands to reason that this will be the $600 device mentioned by the company’s co-founder.
The move would represent a culture shift for Xiaomi, which has traditionally been known for its solid build quality and high-end specs in very low priced devices. The company has been doing exceedingly well with this strategy. Still, a tentative move into higher profit margin territory can’t hurt. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see if Xiaomi can operate successfully at both ends of the market.
What do you think of this news? Will Xiaomi succeed in the high-end?