Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi on Friday launched its first flip phone and an upgraded version of its foldable phone.
Evelin Zheng
BEIJING — Xiaomi on Friday launched its first flip phone that can print photos instantly using a portable printer sold separately.
The company announced that the Mix Flip will start at 5,999 yuan ($825).
Pre-orders start on Friday, with shipping starting on Tuesday.
The portable printer costs 499 yuan ($68), including photo paper.
The Chinese company also released the latest version of its foldable phone, Mix Fold 4, priced at the same price as the previous version, 8,999 yuan.
At the product launch conference, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun introduced how Mix Fold 4 can achieve simultaneous translation of the same language on both sides of the screen. But he did not additionally emphasize the capabilities of artificial intelligence.
He also warned that supplies of portable printers were tight. , and he expects to deliver 100,000 vehicles by November, a month earlier than previously announced. hours to meet higher demand.
The factory has about 2,000 workers and about 700 robots.
Ray said an August update for the SU7 will allow voice control from the outside.
He delivered his fifth annual speech during the first part of a three-hour product event.
This year’s presentation highlighted how US sanctions against the company in January 2021 prompted Xiaomi’s board to ask Lei Jun to consider other options, such as producing cars if they could no longer sell smartphones.
He said he decided to do so after careful consideration and warned the board it would require $10 billion in spending. He said he turned down an early investment offer from venture capitalists that would have valued the independent auto business at $10 billion.
Lei Jun said he tried to drive more than 170 different cars in three years and even obtained a racing license with more than 100 company executives and engineers.
“Three years ago, an accident led me to join such an interesting industry,” Lei said in Mandarin (translated by CNBC).
Xiaomi appealed the U.S. sanctions in 2021 and was removed from the blacklist in May of that year.
Lei Jun announced on Friday that Xiaomi aims to have the fastest four-door electric car to drive around Germany’s Nürburgring in the next decade, with a new SU7 racing version set to begin testing in October.
Zeekr, owned by Geely, launched a limited edition of the F1-inspired 001 electric car in October 2023.
