Xiaomi made headlines on Friday with the launch of its first flip phone, the Mix Flip, which offers a unique twist: the ability to print photos instantly using a separately sold portable printer. The Mix Flip, priced at 5,999 yuan ($825), is now available for preorder, with deliveries set to begin on Tuesday. The portable printer, which includes photo paper, costs 499 yuan ($68).
In addition to the Mix Flip, Xiaomi introduced the latest version of its folding phone, the Mix Fold 4, maintaining the same price as its predecessor at 8,999 yuan. At the product launch event, Xiaomi's founder, Lei Jun, highlighted the Mix Fold 4's capability to handle simultaneous translation with different languages displayed on each side of the screen. However, he did not delve into other artificial intelligence features.
Lei also cautioned that the supply of the portable printer would be limited. This launch comes on the heels of Xiaomi's recent foray into the electric vehicle market with the release of its SU7 sedan in March, priced more competitively than Tesla’s Model 3. Lei announced that cumulative deliveries of the SU7 had surpassed 30,000 vehicles, with expectations to deliver 100,000 cars by November, a month ahead of schedule. To meet rising demand, Xiaomi's factory in southern Beijing has doubled its shifts to 16 hours a day, employing around 2,000 workers and 700 robots.
The SU7 will receive updates in August, enabling voice control from outside the vehicle. Lei also shared insights from his fifth annual speech, reflecting on the challenges posed by U.S. sanctions in January 2021, which prompted Xiaomi's board to explore new ventures, including the development of an electric car. After extensive research and a substantial $10 billion investment, Xiaomi entered the automotive industry, turning down early investment offers that valued the car business at $10 billion.
Lei's passion for the automotive sector was evident as he recounted driving over 170 different cars and obtaining a race car license alongside more than 100 company executives and engineers. Looking ahead, Lei announced Xiaomi's ambitious goal to create the fastest four-door electric car to drive the Nurburgring race track in Germany, with tests of a new SU7 race car version beginning in October.
Xiaomi's innovative products and strategic moves underscore the company's resilience and adaptability in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, positioning it as a formidable player in both the smartphone and electric vehicle markets.
