When Xiaomi launched the flagship Mi 8 last year,
one of the models that stood out was the limited Explorer edition with a
translucent body. The popularity, perhaps, outweighed Xiaomi’s expectation so
it was a surprise they decided to launch the Mi 8 Pro with the same translucent
body but a more robust availability. Xiaomi’s president Lin Bin, today asked a
question on Weibo about the Mi 8 Explorer edition, after extolling the
translucent back feature of the model. The question was to the effect that if
the phone (apparently referring to Mi 9) is configured the same, how much
buyers will be willing to pay.
The question very much suggests the company may be
toying with the idea of replicating the Mi 8 Explorer’s translucent back design
on the Mi 9 flagship. This isn’t a bad idea but according to Lin Bin, the
design is not cheap to produce. Despite the pricing of the Mi 8 Explorer
edition, the model was always sold out each time it goes on sale.
If the company finally decides on an Explorer
edition for the Mi 9, the difference should lie only in the design. The model
will utilise the same specification as the regular Mi 9. The flagship Mi 9 is
expected to pack a Snapdragon 855 chipset. the device may likely feature the
waterdrop notch design and triple rear cameras.
