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Energy Notch battery indicator adds support for the OnePlus 6/7/7T, POCO F1, Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G, Redmi Note 7/7S, and the Motorola One Power
Energy Notch battery indicator has been updated to support the camera notch of the OnePlus 6/7/7T, POCO F1, Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G, and several other phones.
Android is all about customization, and the aftermarket development community is the driving force behind that liberty. The developers often come up with creative ideas to re-use an existing design component in a completely different way than the one it is intended for. Take the example of Energy Notch by XDA Recognized Developer jagan2 - a cool app that puts the display-notch of the OnePlus 6T to use by turning the space around the notch into an animated battery indicator.
Xiaomi India spins-off POCO into an independent brand
Xiaomi India has spun off POCO into an independent brand, now running independent of Xiaomi with its own team and go-to-market strategy. Read on for more!
Xiaomi started off POCO as a sub-brand back in August 2018, with Xiaomi's then Lead Product Manager Mr. Jai Mani at the helm of the brand. POCO had a very successful start with the POCO F1, which was launched in the same month in India as well as internationally. POCO's beginnings echoed that of OnePlus, and the POCO F1 brought on board some of the same qualities that people had loved on the OnePlus One. Now, as was done with the Redmi brand, Xiaomi has announced that POCO will now operate as its own independent brand.
The reaction to the Redmi K20's price shows there's still a place for a POCO F2
The Xiaomi Redmi K20 stirred a controversy with its "high" pricing. Is the K20 series the perfect replacement for the Poco F2, or is it too pricy?
In the middle of 2018, information first surfaced about Xiaomi working on a new flagship smartphone featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. What made this information interesting was the fact that Xiaomi intended this phone to be launched in India under a new sub-brand called "POCO". At that stage, Xiaomi's flagship Mi series had failed to capture the hearts of the Indian audience, so Xiaomi's decision to grant a "flagship" product to a new sub-brand was rather brave and ambitious. The POCO team had an uphill task ahead of them, as they had to compete in a price bracket where Xiaomi phones had not managed to break into, especially in regions like India. And with the launch of the POCO F1, they set out to make smartphone history. Now, Xiaomi is back with the Redmi K20 series, but is the magic still there?
MIUI 11 will bring dark mode to the POCO F1
Xiaomi is the latest smartphone company to bring dark mode to its OS with MIUI 11 and the feature will also be brought to the POCO F1.
Xiaomi's MIUI is something of a mixed bag. For users outside of China, it doesn't always offer the most appealing UX, but MIUI has undoubtedly come a long way since its inception. MIUI Product Director Liu Ming and Design Director Ge Rui held an AMA session about MIUI 11 back in March, in which we learned about the latest and greatest OS from Xiaomi. Features such as ultra power saving mode, automatic screenshot management, and a system-wide dark theme were discussed as part of the AMA.
POCO Launcher 2.0 beta brings custom app categories
The version 2.0 of the POCO Launcher beta brings customizable app categories, app drawer background transparency, and other performance improvements.
Xiaomi's POCO F1 was a major head-turned when it launched in India last year with class-leading specs including a Snapdragon 845 SoC, up to 8GB RAM, IR face unlock, a premium kevlar finish special variant and all of this at a price of slightly more than just $300. The POCO Launcher played a central role in the brand's identity which Xiaomi intended to separate from its own MIUI. The launcher brings features like an app vault, color-based sorting, and most importantly an app drawer, which many MIUI users have been asking for, for a long time.
MIUI 10.3.4 Global Stable for the Xiaomi POCO F1 brings Widevine L1, 4k@60 video recording, Game Turbo, and more
The POCO F1 is currently receiving a new MIUI OTA update that adds support for Widevine L1, 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, and more.
The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is an interesting smartphone for a much-needed market of the smartphone industry. We have flagship smartphones that are going so far to please the high-end buyers that the prices have gone up to $800 and higher. We have a few OEMs right now that are working on bringing high-end hardware to a lower price point and Xiaomi is one of these companies. They have made their mark on the sub $200 segment with their Redmi devices and the Poco F1 seems like their next big push. The device is currently receiving a new OTA update that adds support for Widevine L1, 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, and more.
A real Geekbench test of a fake POCO F1 Lite fooled dozens of blogs
Benchmark leaks can't be trusted, so why do people still fall for them? This time, a real Geekbench listing of a faked POCO F1 Lite is making the rounds.
Leaks of new hardware and software are a staple of online technology publications, which includes XDA-Developers. Every leak should be treated with some skepticism, but leaks originating from benchmarking services even more so. There's no way to tell if the device details listed in a benchmark are real, so it's best to ignore benchmark leaks when there's no corroborating evidence. Unfortunately, there are dozens of popular online publications that still publish articles based on benchmark results, whether it be to drive clicks or because they actually believe the result is really from an unreleased device. The latest benchmark leaks to fool dozens of online tech publications are two Geekbench listings that show off a "POCO F1 Lite" allegedly code-named "uranus."
[Update: First game announced] POCO's Game Development Academy will help a small team make an Android game
Xiaomi's new sub-brand has announced what they're calling the POCO Game Development Academy to create mobile games with a small team.
While the build material (and quality) of the Xiaomi POCO F1 may be questionable, the phone has certainly grabbed the attention of us frugal customers in the Android community. The company seems to be doing something similar to what OnePlus did with the release of their first phone. So far, it has allowed them to sell over 700,000 units within the first 3 months of release. Now, Xiaomi's new sub-brand has announced what they're calling the POCO Game Development Academy to create mobile games.
The Xiaomi POCO F1 gets Widevine L1 support in the latest MIUI beta
As promised, Xiaomi has updated the POCO F1 with Widevine L1 certification. Support for L1 is rolling out in the latest MIUI 10 beta update.
The POCOPHONE F1, or POCO F1 as its known in India, is one of the best smartphones from 2018 thanks to its affordability, flagship-tier hardware, acceptable camera quality, and custom development support. Unlike its closest competitors the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T, however, the POCO F1 shipped from the factory without Widevine L1 certification. Our first introduction to Widevine DRM came about when we learned about its necessity to stream Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in HD quality. The controversy that arose after this revelation pushed OnePlus to offer users the chance to physically send in their devices to receive Widevine L1 certification. After POCO first announced that they would be bringing Widevine L1 support to the POCO F1, we assumed this meant that users would have to send their devices to Xiaomi. However, we've since learned that it's actually possible to provision devices with Widevine L1 after they leave the factory, and as Xiaomi promised, the POCO F1 is finally getting an update with Widevine L1 certification in the latest MIUI 10 9.2.25 beta.
[Update 2: 4K@60 Development Complete] Xiaomi POCO F1 will get 4K 60 FPS video recording next month
A future stable version of MIUI 10 on the Xiaomi Poco F1 will include 4K 60 FPS video recording. The update is set to be released next month in February.
The Xiaomi POCO F1 has been praised as one of the best value flagship smartphones of 2018, putting it head-to-head with smartphones like the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 6/8GB RAM, a large 4,000 mAh battery, and the latest version of Android, it's a compelling option if the phone is available in your region. Xiaomi's commitment to provide frequent software updates makes an already great device even better. Last month, the latest MIUI 10 beta for the device brought 960fps video recording and super night scene mode. These features will make it to the stable build of MIUI 10 later this month, but more features are on the way.
Enable 4k@60fps video recording on the Xiaomi POCO F1 [Root]
If you don't want to wait, it's possible to enable 4K@60FPS on the Xiaomi POCO F1 right now with a Magisk module. Check out this article to find out how!
Despite the fact that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 supports 4K recording at 60FPS, it's not enabled by default on the Xiaomi POCO F1. The general manager for POCO India tweeted that support would roll out next month, but it's possible to enable it now thanks to the work of XDA Senior Member defcomg. defcomg is one of the developers that we chose to receive a Xiaomi POCO F1 for development because of his work on the Google Camera ports. You can check out the full list of developers here.
[Update: Essential Phone too] Paranoid Android is back with Android Pie ROMs for the Xiaomi POCO F1, Mi 8/6/5, and Mix 2S
Paranoid Android is back with Android Pie ROMs for the Xiaomi Poco F1, Xiaomi Mi 8, Xiaomi Mi 6, Xiaomi Mi 5, and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S.
One of the most well-known custom ROMs around, Paranoid Android, is finally back. While its development has been on somewhat of a hiatus for a few months now following its Android Oreo release, Paranoid Android is back and based on Android Pie. It already boasts support for the Xiaomi POCO F1, Xiaomi Mi 8, Xiaomi Mi 6, Xiaomi Mi 5, and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, with beta releases coming to the Essential Phone, OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T, and the Moto G5 Plus in the near future.
Xiaomi's POCO F1 Armoured Edition is now available in a new RAM and Storage variant
The Xiaomi Poco F1 is now available in a brand new Armoured Edition variant, which features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
The Xiaomi Poco F1 has been a global hit, with it being revered in particular for providing a flagship chipset at an affordable price. The Xiaomi Poco F1 retails at Rs. 20,999 in India, with pricing across the globe varying from $300 to $400. Leading up to Christmas, the general manager for POCO India tweeted that there would be a new POCO announced soon. Xiaomi's POCO F1 Armoured Edition is now available in a new RAM and Storage variant, 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage.
Xiaomi POCO F1's stable Android Pie update is rolling out
After a short beta test of MIUI 10 based on Android Pie, Poco F1 customers are now seeing its official stable update beginning to roll out.
Xiaomi's new sub-brand, Poco, has made quite the splash since it was introduced to the Android community. Their first phone, the Xiaomi Pocophone F1, has made headlines for its incredible price to performance ratio. It even came close to winning a blind camera test recently. The device has sold over 700,000 units in the first three months since it was launched and it's very easy to see why. After a short beta test of MIUI 10 based on Android Pie, customers are now seeing its official stable update beginning to roll out.
Xiaomi's POCO F1 nearly wins a blind smartphone camera comparison of 16 devices
The Xiaomi Poco F1 almost won a 16-device blind smartphone camera test conducted by popular YouTuber MKBHD. Read on to know more!
Xiaomi's devices are known not just for their specifications, but also for their value for money factor. While the specifications may not always beat the competition, their aggressive pricing makes it very hard to not recommend the devices, especially to people on a tight budget. Such is also the case for the Xiaomi POCO F1 -- a $300 smartphone that perfectly fits into the "affordable flagship" category pioneered by the OnePlus One. Not only do you get an impressive set of specifications, you get so at a price that is really hard to ignore. There are a few shortcomings to the device, notably in the choice of build materials (subjective, as some people like myself would prefer a polycarbonate back over a glass back) and a few other areas. The camera is also seen as a shortcoming, mainly because even the premium segment phones are unable to get it right.
MultiROM now available on Xiaomi POCO F1 for dual booting
MultiROM is a mod that, once installed, lets the user dual-boot a variety of different ROMs. This ROM is now available for the Xiaomi POCO F1.
Customization and mods from the developer community are one of the many reasons that make Android the most popular mobile operating systems in the world. Many of you already know all there is when it comes to installing a custom ROM on a smartphone, but MultiROM allows the user to take things to the next level. The average Android enthusiast installs one custom ROM on their phone but variety is the spice of life. MultiROM is a mod that, once installed, lets the user dual-boot many different ROMs.
Download Google Camera port with Night Sight for the Xiaomi POCO F1/Mi 8
A new Google Camera port from the Google Pixel 3 brings a working Night Sight mode to the Xiaomi POCO F1 and the Mi 8 running Android Pie. Check it out!
Google's Night Sight feature lets the Google Pixel 3 and other supported devices take surprisingly good low light photos. Rather than use the conventional LED flash to illuminate the scene, Night Sight utilizes machine learning to assess the context and choose the right colors, allowing the user to take detailed low-noise pictures in super low light. The difference between a Night Sight shot and even an HDR+ shot is night and day. In situations where even your eyes may not be able to pick out details due to the darkness, Night Sight actually manages to capture a picture that isn't pitch black. You can see Night Sight in action on the Google Pixel 3 in our dedicated article.
POCO Launcher now lets you customize the desktop grid and icon size
An update is now rolling out to Xiaomi's POCO Launcher. It brings the Customize Layout feature to change the desktop grid as well as the icon size.
Until the Xiaomi POCO F1, MIUI-powered Xiaomi phones did not come with an app drawer. The MIUI launcher has always been polarizing because of its iOS-like functioning of just having a home screen and skipping the app drawer. This meant that all app icons were shown on the home screen, and many users missed the flexibility of the app drawer, where apps could be arranged alphabetically. Of course, this problem could easily be solved by downloading a third-party launcher, and the likes of Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, and Rootless Pixel Launcher all come with app drawers.
Download MIUI 10 Global Stable for Xiaomi POCO F1
The MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM has started rolling out for the Xiaomi POCO F1. We have the download link for it, which can be flashed via the MIUI Updater.
The Xiaomi POCO F1, also known as the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 in international markets, is one of 2018's best smartphones in terms of its value proposition. This is because in some specifications, it competes with more expensive smartphones such as the OnePlus 6, Asus ZenFone 5Z, now the OnePlus 6T, while managing to significantly undercut them in pricing. In our performance review, we praised the phone's real-world and gaming performance. The first phone released under Xiaomi's POCO sub-brand, the POCO F1 has a high-end list of specifications including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 6GB/8GB of RAM with 64GB/128GB/256GB of storage, 6.18-inch Full HD+ (2246x1080) 18.7:9 IPS LCD, dual 12MP + 5MP (depth sensor) rear cameras, a 20MP front-facing camera with pixel binning, and a 4,000mAh battery. The phone shipped with MIUI 9.6 on top of Android 8.1 Oreo.
The Pocophone F1 will be updated to at least Android Q
The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 shipped with Android 8.1 Oreo but a spokesperson says that it will "at least" receive an update to both Android Pie and Android Q.
The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is an interesting experiment for the company and I for one am curious to see how it pans out for them. Many have said they are taking the OnePlus approach by offering high-end specs at a respectable price. They are also being quite friendly to the developer community with a promise of only a 3-day wait for their bootloader unlock program. Which still shouldn't even be needed, but it's a lot better than having to wait over 2 months like some other Xiaomi devices. Some new information has come out about the smartphone from Xiaomi's sub-brand as we've now been told that it will be updated to at least Android Q.