Camera That Even Lei Jun, Founder, Was Impressed By... Xiaomi Unveils New Model Priced Around 1 Million KRW

Xiaomi to Unveil 'Mi 11 Ultra' on 29th
First to Feature Samsung's Latest Image Sensor
Supports Simultaneous Operation of 3 Cameras
Uses Qualcomm's Latest Semiconductor Chip
Base Model Priced Over 1 Million Won

Xiaomi's new smartphone 'Mi 11 Ultra' Photo by GSM Arena

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Xiaomi, once synonymous with 'cost-effectiveness,' has launched a premium smartphone with top specifications priced over 1 million won. The company aims to capture a portion of the premium smartphone market dominated by Samsung Electronics and Apple, while gaining an advantage in competition with Chinese companies seeking to fill the void left by Huawei.

According to GSM Arena and CNBC on the 30th, Xiaomi's newly released smartphone, the Mi 11 Ultra, includes high-end cameras, wireless battery charging capabilities, and Qualcomm semiconductor chips.

One of the features highly praised by foreign media is the camera. GSM Arena stated, "It is very difficult to pick the best feature of the Mi 11 Ultra, but if we had to choose one, it would be the camera." Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder and CEO, reportedly spent a significant amount of time explaining the camera functions during the product launch event the day before.

The Mi 11 Ultra is the first to be equipped with Samsung's latest image sensor, the 'ISOCELL GN2.' Released by Samsung in February, the GN2 sensor is the largest in mobile phone history, measuring 1/1.12 inches. The sensor also features OIS, enabling fast and accurate autofocus. It can capture HDR-quality photos that are more than 10 times clearer than standard UHD.

The three cameras attached to the rear have also received acclaim. The three cameras pair with sensors of 48MP (two units) and 50MP (one unit), all capable of night photography. It is also possible to shoot with all three cameras simultaneously.

First, the two telephoto lenses on the rear offer 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom functions. These correspond to the 48MP and 50MP sensors respectively. The ultra-wide camera pairs with a 48MP sensor. This lens provides a 128-degree field of view and features autofocus and macro photography capabilities. This camera can also record 8K video.

The battery features are also notable. The battery has a capacity of 5000mAh, supports fast charging, and is designed to allow 67W wireless charging. Wired charging is also possible at 67W, and it takes about 36 minutes to fully charge the battery.

The latest specifications for existing flagship smartphone models include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. It connects to a new three-phase cooling system and is equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. It is also a 5th generation (5G) phone.

Compared to the internal specifications, the display is considered relatively ordinary. The Mi 11 Ultra uses a 6.81-inch AMOLED display with a resolution exceeding 1440 pixels and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The screen received an A+ grade from DisplayMate and is calibrated to the DCI-P3 color space. It supports 900 nits of brightness and can be increased up to 1700 nits.

The materials used for the smartphone's exterior are ceramic, a type of porcelain, available in black and white colors. It lacks dustproofing but has waterproof capabilities that can withstand immersion in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes.

CNBC evaluated, "With the Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi is preparing to compete not only with industry leaders Samsung and Apple but also with Chinese competitors like Oppo and Vivo." It is also analyzed as an effort to strengthen its position in the European market, where Chinese companies are rapidly expanding.

Xiaomi is expected to begin sales starting in China on the 2nd of next month, followed by Europe and other regions. No official confirmation has been made for releases outside China. The Mi 11 Ultra price in China for the base model (8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage) is 6000 yuan (approximately 1.03 million won). The mid-tier model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at 6500 yuan (about 1.12 million won), and the highest-spec model with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage costs 7000 yuan (about 1.2 million won). The European price is expected to be 1200 euros (approximately 1.6 million won) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB model.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.