Xiaomi Mi 11: The Ultimate Movie Studio And Cinema Experience In Your Pocket

Equipped with a best-in-class flagship chipset and an outstanding battery capacity, it is without a doubt that the Xiaomi Mi 11 is one of the most powerful Android smartphones currently available in Malaysia. The handset also comes with the largest camera sensor ever on mobile devices, a high-resolution display and immersive audio system, much like having a movie studio and cinema – all neatly packed in a compact size that will fit nicely in your pocket.

So how powerful is it? Let’s take a detailed look at what Xiaomi has to offer on its latest flagship-tier smartphone.

Snapdragon Powerhouse

 

The Mi 11 holds the honour of being the first ever smartphone in the world and in Malaysia to showcase the capabilities of Qualcomm’s latest high-end Snapdragon 888 processor. It is fitted with eight Kyro 660 CPU cores and an onboard Adreno 660 GPU, which is capable of delivering 35% faster graphics rendering with 25% higher performance than its predecessor and competitors.

This in turn enables the Mi 11 to provide users with the best image quality and superior power efficiency. Regardless whether for your daily drive or for gaming, you can expect the Xiaomi flagship to effortlessly provide you with the best performance ever found in a handset.

All-In-One Imaging Studio

Combining the capabilities of a DSLR and a cinema camera into a smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s imaging setup ensures that you’ll never miss a moment, or even the slightest detail in every frame. This is thanks to its onboard 108MP main camera sensor which is capable of capturing crisp and vivid images, as well as recording videos of up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. Complementing it is a 13MP ultra-wide angle and a 5MP telemacro camera, enabling for high quality panoramic shots and bokeh portraits respectively.

Further enhancing the imaging capabilities of the Mi 11 are a slew of photo and video modes such as one-click AI cinema features, Pro Time-lapse, HDR10+ and more. These give the user more freedom to control every aspect of their shots, while at the same time providing post-processing conveniences without having to edit their photos or videos via external means.

Also not forgetting the new BlinkAI-powered night mode technology, which allows for real-time low light enhancements for video recording – a first for mobile imaging. Thanks to the power of machine learning, the Mi 11 is able to brighten videos shot in poorly lit environments on the fly while retaining a respectable amount of detail in the process.

Home Entertainment In Your Hands

Whether you’re watching a video, reviewing your captured images or enjoying some mobile gaming, you’ll be treated to an incredible view via the Xiaomi Mi 11’s display. The smartphone is equipped with a large 6.81-inch AMOLED WQHD+ curved screen, along with an eye-pleasing 120Hz refresh rate. It also boasts a tremendous colour range of one billion, ensuring accurate and rich colour visuals for your viewing pleasure.

Of course, no immersive video or gaming experience is complete without including an equally powerful audio system. Luckily, the Mi 11 has got you covered in that regard. Thanks to its onboard Harman Kardon enhanced dual front-facing speakers, you won’t be needing any external speakers in order to enjoy your favourite music, TV shows, movies and games.

Fully Charged In No Time

The Mi 11 is fitted with a large 4,600mAh battery that will ensure hours upon hours of entertainment and use. Even on its last legs, you can be rest assured that the phone will jump back into the game in mere minutes.

Thanks to Xiaomi’s groundbreaking fast charging technology, the Mi 11 is able to support speeds of up to 55W via USB-C. This enables it to top-up about 50% of its capacity in half an hour, and 100% in just 50 minutes. In addition, the phone also comes with wireless charging support at 50W, as well as 10W reverse wireless charging.

Rest assured that its 55W GaN charger is included in the box in order for you to enjoy the flagship phone’s incredible fast charging capability at its fullest potential.

Premium At An Attractive Price Range

Phones that come with powerful chipsets, advanced camera setups, and a wide array of astounding features often fall into an intimidating price range. Fortunately for consumers, this isn’t the case for Xiaomi’s latest flagship.

Despite currently being the brand’s most premium smartphone offering, the new Mi 11 is available at a competitive price – enabling fans and new users alike to experience top-of-the-line performance and features without needing to break the bank!

Xiaomi’s brand new flagship smartphone is priced at RM2,799 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration and RM2,999 for the 8GB + 256GB. It is also available in two colour options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue. Those interested in owning your very own Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship smartphone may check out the brand’s official store on Lazada, as well as all Authorised Mi Stores nationwide.

And that’s not all! Each purchase of the new handset will also include 24 months warranty and 12 Months Screen Protection Guarantee from Xiaomi Malaysia!

Xiaomi Mi 11: The Ultimate Movie Studio And Cinema Experience In Your Pocket

Equipped with a best-in-class flagship chipset and an outstanding battery capacity, it is without a doubt that the Xiaomi Mi 11 is one of the most powerful Android smartphones currently available in Malaysia. The handset also comes with the largest camera sensor ever on mobile devices, a high-resolution display and immersive audio system, much like having a movie studio and cinema – all neatly packed in a compact size that will fit nicely in your pocket.

So how powerful is it? Let’s take a detailed look at what Xiaomi has to offer on its latest flagship-tier smartphone.

Snapdragon Powerhouse

The Mi 11 holds the honour of being the first ever smartphone in the world and in Malaysia to showcase the capabilities of Qualcomm’s latest high-end Snapdragon 888 processor. It is fitted with eight Kyro 660 CPU cores and an onboard Adreno 660 GPU, which is capable of delivering 35% faster graphics rendering with 25% higher performance than its predecessor and competitors.

This in turn enables the Mi 11 to provide users with the best image quality and superior power efficiency. Regardless whether for your daily drive or for gaming, you can expect the Xiaomi flagship to effortlessly provide you with the best performance ever found in a handset.

All-In-One Imaging Studio

Combining the capabilities of a DSLR and a cinema camera into a smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi 11’s imaging setup ensures that you’ll never miss a moment, or even the slightest detail in every frame. This is thanks to its onboard 108MP main camera sensor which is capable of capturing crisp and vivid images, as well as recording videos of up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. Complementing it is a 13MP ultra-wide angle and a 5MP telemacro camera, enabling for high quality panoramic shots and bokeh portraits respectively.

Further enhancing the imaging capabilities of the Mi 11 are a slew of photo and video modes such as one-click AI cinema features, Pro Time-lapse, HDR10+ and more. These give the user more freedom to control every aspect of their shots, while at the same time providing post-processing conveniences without having to edit their photos or videos via external means.

Also not forgetting the new BlinkAI-powered night mode technology, which allows for real-time low light enhancements for video recording – a first for mobile imaging. Thanks to the power of machine learning, the Mi 11 is able to brighten videos shot in poorly lit environments on the fly while retaining a respectable amount of detail in the process.

Home Entertainment In Your Hands

Whether you’re watching a video, reviewing your captured images or enjoying some mobile gaming, you’ll be treated to an incredible view via the Xiaomi Mi 11’s display. The smartphone is equipped with a large 6.81-inch AMOLED WQHD+ curved screen, along with an eye-pleasing 120Hz refresh rate. It also boasts a tremendous colour range of one billion, ensuring accurate and rich colour visuals for your viewing pleasure.

Of course, no immersive video or gaming experience is complete without including an equally powerful audio system. Luckily, the Mi 11 has got you covered in that regard. Thanks to its onboard Harman Kardon enhanced dual front-facing speakers, you won’t be needing any external speakers in order to enjoy your favourite music, TV shows, movies and games.

Fully Charged In No Time

The Mi 11 is fitted with a large 4,600mAh battery that will ensure hours upon hours of entertainment and use. Even on its last legs, you can be rest assured that the phone will jump back into the game in mere minutes.

Thanks to Xiaomi’s groundbreaking fast charging technology, the Mi 11 is able to support speeds of up to 55W via USB-C. This enables it to top-up about 50% of its capacity in half an hour, and 100% in just 50 minutes. In addition, the phone also comes with wireless charging support at 50W, as well as 10W reverse wireless charging.

Rest assured that its 55W GaN charger is included in the box in order for you to enjoy the flagship phone’s incredible fast charging capability at its fullest potential.

Premium At An Attractive Price Range

Phones that come with powerful chipsets, advanced camera setups, and a wide array of astounding features often fall into an intimidating price range. Fortunately for consumers, this isn’t the case for Xiaomi’s latest flagship.

Despite currently being the brand’s most premium smartphone offering, the new Mi 11 is available at a competitive price – enabling fans and new users alike to experience top-of-the-line performance and features without needing to break the bank!

Xiaomi’s brand new flagship smartphone is priced at RM2,799 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration and RM2,999 for the 8GB + 256GB. It is also available in two colour options: Midnight Gray and Horizon Blue. Those interested in owning your very own Xiaomi Mi 11 flagship smartphone may check out the brand’s official store on Lazada, as well as all Authorised Mi Stores nationwide.

And that’s not all! Each purchase of the new handset will also include 24 months warranty and 12 Months Screen Protection Guarantee from Xiaomi Malaysia!

GSC Announces The Acquisition of MBO Cinema’s Assets

Back in October last year, news broke out that the local cinema chain, MBO Cinemas had decided to go through creditors’ voluntary liquidation after facing difficulties operating under the Movement Control Order (MCO) which has generally put the local cinema industry to a halt.

As it turns out, the liquidation will not be the end of the story for MBO Cinemas though as Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) have agreed to purchase the majority of the cinema chain’s assets from its former operators, MCAT Box Office and Reel Entertainment Holdings.

Even though GSC admitted that the current business environment is still quite challenging, the company which is a subsidiary of PPB Group Berhad stated that the acquisition is a strategic move. In addition to that, GSC is confident that the acquisition, as well as the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines in Malaysia, will help accelerate its recovery from the current slump caused by the pandemic.

GSC also pointed out that big-screen experience can’t be replicated at home, despite the emergence of other media such as television, home video, and the Internet. Hence, the company is quite confident that the cinema will continue to prevail.

However, GSC didn’t reveal the financial cost behind the acquisition in its announcement today. That being said, it expects that the deal will be completed by the end of this June.

Sony FX3 Cinema Line Camera Now Official; Arriving In Malaysia This May

Sony has officially announced the latest member of its Cinema Line cameras with the new FX3, which also happens to be the smallest of the bunch. As you may recall from our previous report, the camera had already been leaked last week – with its overall design and some of its key specifications revealed ahead of its launch.

As previously pointed out in the leaks, the Sony FX3 Cinema Line does indeed carry some hardware elements from the A7S III, packed into a more compact A7C-like body. However, the camera does feature a different sensor – specifically, a back-illuminated full-frame 10.2MP which Sony claims to offer low noise, up to 409,600 ISO in sensitivity and over 15 stops of dynamic range. Included onboard is the same S-Cinetone colour matrix that is also featured on the brand’s FX6 and FX9 cameras, as well as eleven different picture profile settings such as S-Gamut3 and S-Gamut3 Cinema. However, unlike its Cinema Line brethren, the FX3 does not come with an internal electronic ND (neutral density) filter.

The new camera is able to capture videos in 4K with 10-bit 4:2:2 colour sampling internally or 16-bit RAW output via HDMI. Frame rate-wise, it can record up to 120 fps in 4K resolution and up to 240 fps in Full HD 1080p. Much like the Sony A7S III, the FX3 Cinema Line does not have the ability to record 8K footage, although that is to be expected considering its size. It is also worth noting that it does come with better internal cooling than the aforementioned model, allowing it to shoot videos at up to 13 hours uninterrupted. According to Sony, the cooling system’s fan can be customised to operate in three modes: Auto, Minimum and Off.

Further assisting with the FX3’s imaging capabilities is a 627-point focal-plane phase-detection autofocus system. This comes with several functionalities such as Eye-AF, Real-Time Tracking AF and Touch Tracking via its rear LCD screen. The camera is the first from the Cinema Line series to be equipped with a 5-axis on-sensor image stabilisation system (IBIS), which can be further enhanced with digital stabilisation by activating the onboard Active Mode. However, the company noted that the mode is only available for low frame rate video recording.

Despite its slight resemblance to the A7C (or rather, a bulkier version of it), the Sony FX3 Cinema Line does not include an electronic viewfinder – somewhat reminiscent of the brand’s older NEX mirrorless camera models instead. For image framing, the new camera relies on a tilt-swivel 1.44 million-dot LCD screen on its back, which also enables for touch-based autofocus control, selection and tracking. Sony says that its body is supported by stainless steel substructure, making it sturdy enough to handle challenging situations. It is also noted to be dust and moisture resistant to an extent, although no IP rating was provided.

Other than that, the camera comes with five 1/4-20 inch UNC thread holes on its upper body for mounting external peripherals, one USB-C port, a microUSB port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full size HDMI Type-A port. It is also worth noting that the USB-C port can be utilised to keep the device powered for extended periods. Storage-wise, the FX3 features dual CFexpress Type A and SD memory card slots.

Sony has confirmed that the new FX3 Cinema Line is expected to arrive in Malaysia this May. The camera will be sold at a recommended retail price of RM18,999 – a tad higher than the Sony A7S III (currently at RM16,599), but still considerably affordable than the other devices in the brand’s Cinema Line series.

Malaysian Cinema Industry Claims Unfair Treatment From The Government

The Malaysian Association of Film Exhibitors (MAFE) has sent out an open letter to the government, calling out to its unfair treatment to the cinema industry. Since the implementation of MCO 2.0 in January, cinemas have been required to cease operations due to COVID-19 concerns – with hopes of curbing the virus’ spread, which have recorded in the four digit range during the time.

As we are aware by now, the government has continued to extend the duration of the MCO, now expected to continue until 4 March 2021. At the same time, it also gradually loosened some of the restrictions in the process, such as the recent lifting of the 10km limit for inter-district travel and allowing dine-ins to resume at eateries.

In that regard, MAFE argues that several economic sectors including non-essential services such as spas, gyms, casinos and recreational fishing have been allowed to reopen, but cinemas across the nation are still forced to remain closed. It also points out that other neighbouring and developed countries including Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia have already permitted their cinemas to open, with India recently allowing its establishments to operate at 100% capacity.

The organisation says that in totality, over 25% of cinema establishments in Malaysia have been permanently closed due to the long-term closures. This in turn inevitably resulted in long-term effects including job losses, permanent closure of cinema locations and a significant downsizing of operations for all of its exhibitors across the board. In some instances, it added, cinema employees have even received extensive pay cuts of up to 70%.

Such drawbacks also saw the exit of the country’s third largest exhibitor MBO, which was forced into voluntary liquidation back in October last year. Meanwhile, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) had recently shuttered two of its Klang Valley branches in early January 2021, namely GSC Cheras Leisure Mall and GSC Berjaya Times Square.

As of late, the Malaysian cinema industry has already suffered up to 90% losses of revenue year-on-year with more than RM500 million recorded in 2020 alone. This, in which MAFE noted, is a stark contrast compared with previous years where the industry has collectively contributed over RM1.08 billion in income and over RM250 million in entertainment tax duties to the country.

The organisation also emphasised that cinemas are the safest form of out-of-home entertainment, stating that no COVID-19 clusters have ever been discovered to have originated from cinemas – even on a global level, citing a study conducted by Celluloid Junkie in October 2020. Prior to the long-term closures, it added that local cinema operators have followed an established set of SOP guidelines from authorities. These include mandatory contact tracing, temperature checks, and social distancing – the latter applied in the form of gap seating, which reduces each cinema hall’s capacity to less than 50%. Even while the establishments are closed, operators also continue daily maintenance of seats and equipment, which MAFE noted are expenditures that are becoming too overwhelming to bear without income.

“This is no longer just a crisis for the cinema industry; it is evolving into a financial catastrophe that is likely to affect thousands of jobs across a larger supply chain, which serves the entire trade from end-to-end including smaller organisations in manufacturing, logistics, cleaning, F&B, and retail, among others,” the organisation wrote. “The collapse of the cinema industry is also estimated to directly impact the livelihoods of the larger local Malay film industry, where over 20,000 Malaysians are currently employed in filmmaking and production, creatives, distribution, talent, and much more.”

In addition, MAFE pointed out that the unfair treatment also includes the cinema industry’s unanswered pleas for financial aid from the government. It noted that the RM225 million allocation to support the arts, culture and entertainment industry in June 2020 did not include cinemas, and the same can be said for the Budget 2021 RM100 million allocation to the creative industry in November. The organisation had also made several concerted appeals for assistance from the government via the National Security Council (MKN), Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), mainly requesting for an exemption or reduction of entertainment taxes for exhibitors.

“The cinema industry cannot sustain closure for much longer and it will undoubtedly collapse, affecting the livelihoods of every Malaysian serving across the entire supply chain,” said MAFE Chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Mohd Ghazali Dato’ Mohd Seth. “We hope that the Government will seriously reconsider their decision to allow us to reopen.”

GSC Closes Cheras Leisure Mall And Berjaya Times Square Cinemas Permanently

The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously not been good for cinemas. And it’s hitting GSC pretty hard. The cinema chain has announced that it’s closing two outlets, the ones in Cheras Leisure Mall and Berjaya Times Square.

GSC made the announcement via its official Facebook page. The statement itself attributes the CMCO as the reason behind the closures. But on the flip side, the company says to keep an eye out for its reopening in the Klang Valley. Of course, it’s too early to give a specific fate for any of that.

It’s a little sad for moviegoes who have frequented these two specific GSC outlets. The company also points out that the one in Cheras Leisure Mall was operated since 1995, and the one in Berjaya Times Square started a decade later, in 2005. This also means that the company lost two outlets in the Bukit Bintang area in the span of a year.

And with the number of cases in the country hitting new highs in recent weeks, the situation will likely remain unchanged for quite awhile. Hopefully no other outlets suffer the same fate in the meantime, which is a possibility that should not be discounted.