Xiaomi Mi Note 2 release date, specs, price: New flagship to feature SD 821; price tag to go as high as $520

A promotional image for the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Xiaomi MiUI website

Xiaomi has made official its newest flagship, with a number of surprises for fans.

The new Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has just been launched, and the announcement confirmed previous rumors while also debunking some prior speculations on the device. Some of the major points that have been confirmed for the Mi Note 2 include its processor, the new Snapdragon 821 chipset. The Mi Note 2 is also confirmed to come out in two variants, with the base model having 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage. The step-up version will have 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of onboard storage. In addition, only the step-up variant will have a global version.

Meanwhile, the launch also debunked major rumors on the new flagship, the most notable of which is its improved camera setup. Previous speculations suggested that Xiaomi will join the dual-cam bandwagon. However, the Mi Note 2 features a single-lens assembly for its main camera, although there is a massive upgrade over the predecessor, the original Mi Note. The new Mi Note 2 sports an IMX318 Exmor RS sensor from Sony, and it managed to come out with a 22.56-MP high-resolution setup for its main camera. Its selfie shooter is an 8 MP camera with the IMX268 sensor.

There are also some major changes in its design, as the Mi Note 2 features a 5.7-inch OLED flexible display, which made its body feature two-sided dual-curved edges. This means that the Mi Note 2 has curved edges on both the front and back panels.

As for its price tags, the base version is available for about $413, while the 6 GB variant will have a $487 price tag. The global, unlocked version which has global LTE support will reportedly retail for approximately $520.

Meanwhile, the launch has also confirmed the "surprise" previously teased by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun. The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 was launched alongside the company's new VR headset, as well as the concept phone, the edgeless display Mi MIX.

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