Xiaomi is already ranked third in the global smartphone market and there is nothing stopping the Chinese upstart from aiming at the number one spot. The smartphone vendor is looking to apply its low-price, high-value strategy to tablets as well.
It is reportedly working on a new Android based 9.2-inch tablet with iPad Mini-like performance.
According to industry sources, the low-cost tablet will feature 1280x720 pixels resolution, a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 1GB RAM and Adreno 306 for graphics. Other specs include two cameras, 8GB onboard storage and expected LTE versions, Business Korea reported. Based on these specs, an industry source revealed that the price of the supposed Mi-Pad will be around 599 Yuan (US$98).
There is no exact date for the release of the Xiaomi tablet but the same source told Business Korea that the tablet will be released early next year. Xiaomi is already expected to launch its next flagship, the Mi5, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month, so it won't be surprising to see two new product releases. But there is no evidence to support the product's release at the CES 2015 trade show.
This is not the first time that news of Xiaomi's Android based tablet has come out. In October, Gizmobic spotted the affordable tablet in GFXBench listing where all the specifications were confirmed.
Xiaomi has secured a strong place in the smartphone industry. The company's first tablet was released in July last year and is highly successful in China. Xiaomi recently entered the Indian market with its low-cost Android phones, where it held a series of flash sales. After being counted among the top smartphone vendors, Xiaomi is ready to go global with its devices. It is now extending its presence in Russia, Brazil and some parts of South America.
Emerging markets are the main target for Xiaomi. It is not clear how the company will survive in well established markets like the U.S. but its low-cost offerings should certainly hold some appeal.
