Xiaomi Global VP Hugo Barra will be in Malaysia next week, as Xiaomi will be holding a regional launch event in Kuala Lumpur for its latest product to enter the country.
This will mark the first time that Xiaomi has held a regional launch event, as previously the company has preferred to hold smaller-scale events in individual countries. Members of the media from Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong will be present, which indicates that the launch event may be for an important product in the company’s portfolio.
Based on the invite, there is a strong chance that the company will be launching the Redmi Note 2 next week. Besides hints of the new Redmi Note 2’s colourful back covers, this device has also just been certified in SIRIM’s database earlier this week. Despite holding a contest for Mi Fans in Malaysia to show off what they can do with the Yi Action Camera, the presence of Barra is another strong indicator that Xiaomi will be announcing the Redmi Note 2 – it will be, after all, the first time the new device would be released outside of China.
The Redmi Note 2 is a huge upgrade over its predecessor. It is powered by the same MediaTek Helio x10 octa-core chipset that runs on the RM2,599 HTC One M9+. Other notable specs include 2GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, and a 3,060mAh battery. For the camera, Xiaomi has fitted the Redmi Note 2 with a 13MP Samsung or Omnivision rear sensor with phase detect autofocus (PDAF) capable of focusing speeds of 0.1s, while the front camera is a 5MP shooter. The Redmi Note 2 will also run on MIUI 7 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop, while offering dual-SIM LTE connectivity.
Finally, the Redmi Note 2 comes in a standard and Prime version, where the standard model will come with 16GB of storage and the Prime having 32GB of internal storage as well as a higher-clocked processor. Both models will also feature a microSD card slot.
For now, it is unclear which model Xiaomi will be bringing in to Malaysia; the company pulled a pleasant surprise by offering the 64GB variant of the Mi Note, so there is a slight chance that the company may offer the Prime version of the Redmi Note 2. Pricing details will also be revealed at the launch event, though the 899 (Standard) and 999 (Prime) Yuan – about RM605 and RM670 respectively – price tags should give an estimate of the retail price in Malaysia.
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