Week 21 in review: Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 11T and Mi Band 7, Oppo Reno8 series unveiled

We saw week 21 come and go now and the announcements kept on pilling up. Xiaomi kicked things off with the Redmi Note 11T Pro and Pro+ launch in China. The two devices bring similar specs like 6.6-inch 144Hz IPS LCDs. Dimensity 8100 chipsets and 64MP main cams.

The major differences come in the storage, battery capacity and charging speed departments. Note 11T Pro+ gets up to 512GB built-in storage, a 4,400 mAh battery with 120W charging while the regular Note 11T Pro sticks to a 5,080mAh cell with 67W charging.

Redmi Note 11T Pro starts at CNY 1,799 ($270) for the base 6/128GB trim and tops out at CNY 2,199 ($330) for the 8/256GB model. Note 11T Pro+ will retail for CNY 2,099 ($315) in its base 8/128GB trim while the top of the line 8/512GB model will go for CNY 2,499 ($375). Both models are currently exclusive to China. Xiaomi also released a Redmi Note 11 SE which carries a 6.5-inch 90Hz LCD, Dimensity 700 chipset and a 48MP main cam. It starts at CNY 1,099 ($165).

The popular Mi Smart Band lineup got its newest member with the Mi Band 7. The wearable gets a 1.62-inch AMOLED screen, up from the 1.56” diagonal on its predecessor. There are over 120 fitness tracking modes while health tracking now features automatic oxygen saturation (SpO2) reminders if you fall below 90%. Xiaomi Mi Band 7 retails for CNY 239 in China. Xiaomi also announced its Redmi Buds 4 (CNY 199) and Buds 4 Pro (CNY 369) wireless earbuds.

Oppo Reno8 series brought three phones with the Reno8 Pro+ sitting as the leader with its 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED, Dimensity 8100 Max chipset and 80W charging for a grand total of CNY 3,699 ($556). Reno8 Pro is the first Snapdrgoan 7 Gen 1 phone on the market and also gets a 120Hz OLED and 80W charging for CNY 2,999 ($448). The regular Reno8 brings a 90Hz AMOLED, Dimensity 1300 and 80W charging for CNY 2,499 ($375).

Oppo also unveiled its latest Android tablet - the Oppo Pad Air with a 10.36-inch IPS LCD, Snapdragon 680 chipset and a 7,100 mAh battery with 18W charging. Retail is set at CNY 1,299 ($195). In addition, we got the Enco Buds R wireless earbuds for CNY 299 ($45). Realme Pad X also went official with Snapdragon 695 and 8,340 mAh battery.

Tecno Pova 3 was announced with 90Hz LCD and 7,000 mAh battery. The budget phone runs on MediaTek’s Helio G88 chipset and brings a 50MP main cam. In the Philippines, the baseline 4/64GB trim is priced at PHP 8,999 ($172).

MediaTek unveiled a trio of new chipsets with Dimensity 1050, Dimensity 930 and Helio G99. The 1050 is fabbed on TSMC’s 6nm process and is MediaTek’s first SoC with mmWave 5G support while the Dimensity 930 is a step above the 920 with faster connectivity and support for 120Hz displays. Helio G99 is a 6nm, LTE-only successor to the Helio G96.

In other news, Xiaomi and Leica inked a strategic partnership that will see the two brands collaborating on smartphone photography. Nothing’s phone (1) will bring a translucent back with wireless charging capabilities and a rumored €500 asking price. Samsung demoed its 200MP HP1 sensor in a short video ad which saw it print a giant cat billboard while Motorola is expected to debut a phone with said sensor later this year. Apple’s iPhone 14 selfie camera will reportedly cost three times more than those on its predecessor.

These were the most notable news from the past week. See you again in seven days.