Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite confirmed, European launch coming next week

Update, September 13, 2019 (4:24AM ET): The Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite name first surfaced earlier this year, followed by Google certification in August. Thankfully, the Chinese brand has confirmed the device and a launch date.

The company posted an image showing the Mi 9 Lite name and September 16 launch date on its Spanish Facebook page, confirming a European launch for the device. Check it out below.

Xiaomi’s Mi 9 Lite is tipped to be the previously launched Mi CC 9 with a new name. So that means you can expect a Snapdragon 710 processor, 4,030mAh battery, 32MP selfie camera, and 48MP triple camera setup (with an 8MP ultra wide camera and 2MP depth sensor).

We wonder what kind of pricing the new phone will have in Europe though, as the Mi CC 9 retails for 1,799 yuan (~$254) in China. It’ll likely be more expensive in Europe, but will it encroach on the ~$300 Mi 9T‘s territory?

Original article, September 2, 2019 (8:45AM ET): Back in July, Xiaomi launched three phones under its Mi CC 9 series in China. Called the Mi CC 9, Mi CC 9e, and Mi CC 9 Meitu Edition, the devices are targeted at young buyers and photography enthusiasts, complete with a 32MP selfie camera and a triple rear camera setup offering a 48MP main shooter.

Rumors ignited by a certification on Russia’s EEC website earlier this year have suggested that the Mi CC 9 could launch as the Mi A3 Pro globally. However, new information suggests it could be called the Mi 9 Lite instead.

A tweet from Mishaal Rahman, editor-in-chief at XDA-Developers, suggests that the Mi CC 9 could be the Mi 9 Lite instead of the Mi A3 Pro. Rahman says the Mi 9 Lite has appeared on Google’s list of certified Android devices with the codename Pyxis — the same reported codename as the Mi CC 9. Meanwhile, the Mi A3 Pro name has not officially appeared anywhere yet.

It was an obvious assumption that the more premium Mi CC 9 could launch outside China as the Mi A3 Pro. This is due to the fact that the Mi A3 has identical specs to the Mi CC 9e launched in China earlier this year — aside from the A3’s Android One certification.

This wouldn’t have been the first time Xiaomi launched the same phone in China and the West while adding Android One support to the Western model (see the Mi 6X and Mi A2, and the Mi 5X and Mi A1).

It’s also notable that the Mi CC 9 and Mi A3 have a similar camera setup and battery capacity, with the exceptions being the chipset (Snapdragon 665 on Mi A3 vs Snapdragon 710 on Mi CC 9) and the display (HD+ on Mi A3 vs FHD+ on Mi CC 9).

So do we finally have a global (and better) name for the Mi CC 9? Well, we can’t be too sure since we don’t have much else in the way of confirmation apart from the aforementioned Google listing. But it’s possible Xiaomi is readying the global launch of the device sometime soon.

The company has had a tradition of switching up smartphone names in different markets too, such as the Redmi K20 and K20 Pro being known as the Mi 9T and Mi 9T Pro in Europe.

We will update you when we get more information on the apparent Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite. Would you buy a Mi 9 Lite over a Mi A3 Pro? Let us know in the comments!