Home Technology Xiaomi unveils new handset with a wrap-around screen

Xiaomi unveils new handset with a wrap-around screen

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When it comes mobile phones, one of the biggest features I look out for is durability and drop resistance because I’m the kind of person that will inevitably drop their phone at least several times in a year. It’s part of the reason I never spend money on the latest versions of phones and rather hold back and get older models so that even if I do end up breaking the phone, I haven’t shattered all the hopes and dreams from my wallet too.

It’s also the reason why Xiaomi’s new device the Mi Mix Alpha (via Engadget) gives me heart palpitations and why I could never own one. While the likes of Samsung and Huawei are putting in a considerable effort in making foldable phones, Xiaomi has instead gone and made a mobile device which features a screen that nearly wraps around the entirety of its body.

While the phone certainly looks pretty, it does look incredibly impractical and fragile, having its screen wrap all the way around. It’s the kind of feature that I can initially see having very little value as I’ve never really felt the desire to have that much screen real estate, but I guess if they can utilise a variety of apps and features to make full use of this kind of UI, then their efforts could certainly be justified.

The only aspect of the device that is not a screen is the back portion which features space for its several camera lenses. Space that is needed as the device certainly has some impressive camera specs featuring a 108-megapixel camera that can capture photos with a 12,032 x 9,024-pixel resolution, a 20-megapixel ultra-wide camera with 1.5cm super macro photography capabilities and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and dual PD focus. What is sadly missing is a front-facing camera, though considering the screen wraps around the whole body, I guess there isn’t a clear front screen and therefore not really needed.

The device also doesn’t feature any physical buttons outside of the power button on the top of the device, rather utilising its pressure-sensitive screen to allow for customised inputs instead. The same applies to things like its fingerprint reader and acoustic technology which are all hidden below the screen.

To power this fragile piece of beauty, the company has certainly pulled out all the stops as it contains a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That is some impressive power which will likely be needed to keep a device like this displaying sharp graphics. Ans speaking of power, while the company didn’t reveal the battery life of the device, they did reveal that it contains a 4,050mAh battery with 40W fast charging capability.

All this new tech does come at a rather hefty price of $2810 (R43 000), which would only add to my anxiety should I ever hold a device such as this. The company has already started small scale production of this phone for a rollout in China this December before launching to the rest of the world at an unspecified later date.  Just remember that if you ever are fortunate and rich enough to afford one of these, please don’t ever pass it my way.

Last Updated: September 25, 2019

17 Comments

  1. Yahtzee

    September 25, 2019 at 14:31

    Can you imagine the level of fear when you drop this thing that cant be put in a cover when you drop it.

    Reply

  2. SagatatiaRZA

    September 25, 2019 at 14:31

    I own a Hyundai Tiburon that cost just over half of this phone. Bruh.

    Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    September 25, 2019 at 14:31

    Can’t wait to see someone from parliament drop one of these

    Reply

    • Pariah

      September 25, 2019 at 14:31

      We taxpayers will pay for both anyway.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 25, 2019 at 14:31

        This is true, fuck this country

        Reply

  4. HvR

    September 25, 2019 at 15:03

    So it is phone with a built in upside down…..

    https://media2.giphy.com/media/3Mhqvg0YKbnfSg3qox/giphy.gif

    Reply

  5. HvR

    September 25, 2019 at 15:03

    R43000!!!!!!!!!!! Wel slaan my met ‘n teflon pan en noem my ‘n p…….

    Reply

    • Yahtzee

      September 25, 2019 at 15:13

      Wag. Die ding is R43000… ja nee, slaan my met n pofadder and noem my Jacob.

      Reply

  6. Pariah

    September 25, 2019 at 14:31

    How much is that 2nd hand car?

    Reply

  7. G8crasha

    September 25, 2019 at 14:41

    It looks cool, but my inner OCD is screaming about the finger prints that will be left behind when your phone suddenly rings, and your hand has just been in a pack of wet biltong (or chips, or popcorn, or chocolate, or anything else that has fats/oils), or worst still, the scratches from moving around in your pocket/bag/whatever else holds it. PS: They better throw in a decent cover for that price, and considering the nature of the device. Completely impractical – BUT COOL!!!

    Reply

  8. Original Heretic

    September 25, 2019 at 15:23

    I’m usually a Xiaomi fan.
    But this is making me doubt my fandom.

    Reply

    • Yahtzee

      September 25, 2019 at 15:23

      Is this fandom by any chance called “The 1%”

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        September 25, 2019 at 16:03

        No, just by virtue of the fact that they usually have good phones that are also quite cheap.

        Reply

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