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China's most promising smartphone maker reveals first LTE phone, $13 fitness band

China's most promising smartphone maker reveals first LTE phone, $13 fitness band

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Mi Band will reportedly come with a 30-day battery life

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Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi announced two new devices today: the Mi 4 smartphone and the Mi Band, which is also the company's first wearable. Branded as the "fastest and most gorgeous Mi Phone ever," the Mi 4's list of features includes a Snapdragon 801 chipset, 3GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel front camera, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-inch 1080p display. This is also the first LTE phone for Xiaomi, though it is currently only compatible with China's LTE networks.

The Mi Band is arguably more interesting, as it promises a 30-day battery life and a shockingly low price tag of approximately $13. On top of being able to monitor the user's activity levels and sleep, Xiaomi's fitness band will be able to unlock Mi phones without the use of a password and double as a "smart alarm." It is currently unclear as to whether the Mi Band will only work with Xiaomi products or if it is compatible with other Android handsets. Although the company has enjoyed considerable success in its home region, it is merely an intriguing blip in international markets, where it is pushing to be recognized as Mi instead of Xiaomi.