Xiaomi unveiled its latest premium flagship product, Mi MIX 3, today at the Forbidden City (also known as the Palace Museum), one of China’s most important historical landmarks. As the newest device in Xiaomi’s Mi MIX series, Mi MIX 3 once again merges technology and art, sporting a ceramic back that comes in three colors and a magnetic slider.

In addition to the full-screen display experience, Mi MIX 3 features a camera setup that achieved a DxOMark photo score of 108, a four-sided curved ceramic back panel in a new Sapphire Blue variant, and up to 10GB RAM.

At the launch event, Lei Jun, chair and CEO of Xiaomi also revealed that Xiaomi Corp. expects its shipment of smartphones to exceed 100 million units by the end of October 2018, reaching the full-year target set at its global core suppliers conference on Sept. 13, 2017. Xiaomi will reach the target two months ahead of schedule, and it exceeds the unit shipment of 90 million in 2017.

Interactive experience

Mi MIX 3’s patented slider incorporates neodymium magnets that have been carefully calibrated. Once the screen is pushed down, the magnetic mechanism immediately kicks in and finishes the opening in a snap with just the right amount of force. Xiaomi has dedicated substantial resources to the production process to ensure the slider has a life expectancy of 300,000 cycles in lab tests.

The slider design not only creates space for front cameras and antenna but also allows for the maximum full-screen display. Mi MIX 3 employs a 6.39-inch, 2340 x 1080-pixel FHD+ Samsung AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Its bezels have been further reduced from its predecessor to achieve an extreme screen-to-body ratio of 93.4 percent.

The full-screen slider is fully customizable. Users can slide open the phone to answer calls or customize it to launch different functions. Additionally, there is a special in-game function for the slider, allowing users to access screen capture, screen recorder, or hide notifications during gaming sessions.

Rated 108 by DxOMark

Mi MIX 3 features a 12MP + 12MP rear dual camera that uses the same sensors as Mi 8. To further improve performance in low-light environments, Xiaomi introduced a steady handheld night photography mode in Mi MIX 3, bundling various useful features including hardware multi-frame noise reduction, AI light metering, and AI image stabilization and calibration. Coupled with the rear camera’s 4-axis OIS, Mi MIX 3 is Xiaomi’s best smartphone for low-light photos to date. The rear dual camera also features 4K video recording and 960 fps slow-motion video capture, supported by an AI background music feature that automatically adds sound effects according to the flow of motion in the video.

The 24MP + 2MP front module sports a Sony IMX576 main sensor can capture more details than ever before. In low-light conditions, the sensor uses Super Pixel technology to combine the information of four pixels into one large pixel, resulting in 1.8µm large pixels that greatly improve clarity, especially in indoor and low-light scenarios. The secondary 2M sensor captures depth information to facilitate an AI bokeh effect.

With these enhancements, Mi MIX 3 achieved a DxOMark photo score of 108, ranking among the world’s best smartphones for photography.

Curved ceramic back

Mi MIX 3 continues the series’ tradition of using unique materials with artistic design, adding a new Sapphire Blue version inspired by the Palace Museum’s ceramic collections. These ceramic pieces are renowned for their beauty and were meticulously made using a complex production process with very precise temperature control.

During the launch event, Xiaomi and the Palace Museum co-launched a special edition Mi MIX 3 featuring the legendary Chinese creature Xiezhi, a mythical beast that symbolizes justice, engraved on its back cover. This version is also one of the first smartphones in the world to come with 10GB RAM for extreme performance.

Mi MIX 3 supports Qi standard wireless charging and comes with a 10W wireless charger that is 30 percent more efficient than its predecessor.

Dedicated AI button

For the first time, Xiaomi added a dedicated AI button to the left side of the phone. Users can wake the Xiao Ai voice assistant by holding the AI button and customize one-click and double-click to perform different functions. Xiao Ai can now understand seven Chinese dialects and can automatically adjust its loudness according to a user’s voice.

Mi MIX 3 will be available in Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Onyx Black through online and offline channels in the Chinese mainland, with 6GB + 128GB for RMB 3299, 8GB +128G for RMB 3599, and 8GB + 256GB for RMB 3999. The 10GB + 256GB Mi MIX 3 Palace Museum Edition is priced at RMB 4999.

Availability in the Philippines will be announced closer to the local launch date.