Xiaomi may launch new series or sub-brand aimed at tech enthusiasts: report

Xiaomi is reportedly working on a number of new devices that are likely aimed at tech enthusiasts. The Chinese tech giant could launch a new series of handsets or even unveil an entirely new sub-brand, according to a report that claims that the lineup could include new smartphones and tablets. These devices are expected to offer a stock Android experience. The tech enthusiast segment has largely been dominated by smartphones from Google and OnePlus in India. However, Pixel handsets have been relatively absent in the country, with OnePlus seemingly moving towards more mainstream offerings.

According to a report According to The Mobile Indian citing anonymous industry sources, Xiaomi could be planning to target tech enthusiasts, a segment that the company has largely overlooked since it ditched its Android One smartphone line. The company previously launched Poco in 2018 for hardcore tech enthusiasts, which has since become a mainstream brand.

The report claims that the smartphones in this series will be powered by Qualcomm 700 series chips and run on stock Android. Xiaomi apps and other bloatware will reportedly be missing from these smartphones. Xiaomi will reportedly provide up to three OS updates for these devices and up to four years of security patches.

These smartphones are expected to be priced between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000. The cheaper models of this rumored series are said to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 SoC. Meanwhile, the top-end models could feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778 chipset. It is worth noting that Xiaomi is yet to officially announce any plans to launch a new smartphone series targeted at tech enthusiasts.

According to the report, opinions seem to be divided on whether Xiaomi should revive the A-series or come up with an entirely new series or a sub-brand. The Chinese tech giant is said to be interested in this segment since OnePlus apparently does not target the tech enthusiast segment. Moreover, Google’s Pixel smartphones have been relatively absent from the Indian market with the company only recently launching the Pixel 6a smartphone, the first Pixel handset to launch in India since the Pixel 4a made its debut in 2020.