With Apple all set to launch the iPhone 8 tomorrow, things are pretty quiet in the Android world except in the Chinese smartphone market where Xiaomi today unveiled the Mi Mix 2. Additionally, Google is all set to bring the Android One brand to the US with a Moto X4 variant running stock Android. All this and more in our daily briefing for September 11, 2017.

Xiaomi Launches the Mi Mix 2, Coming Soon to India

The Mi Mix from last year was more of a concept phone that was sold in limited quantities. This year, Xiaomi is launching the Mi Mix 2 as a smartphone which people will actually be able to buy. Even better, Xiaomi has improved the Mi Mix in every possible way and ensured that it comes with powerful internals and global LTE band support.

Unlike last year when the company only sold the Mi Mix in China, Xiaomi intends to bring the Mi Mix 2 and some of its other Mi Home products to India very soon.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Also Launched

Alongside the Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi also unveiled the Mi Note 3. A bigger version of the Mi 6, the handset features a 5.5-inch display and a dual-camera setup at the rear. It is also the first device to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 chipset. The handset will soon go on sale in China.

Galaxy Note 8 Pre-orders shatter records in the US

Samsung has announced the Galaxy Note 8 pre-order numbers in the US has been the highest for any Note device ever. This is despite the handset’s exorbitantly high price tag and the ill-fated Note 7 from last year. If you did not pre-order a Galaxy Note 8, you can head over to your nearest carrier store and buy the device as it hits the retail stores in the country from today.

So much for the Note brand being dead, eh?

➤ Samsung

Moto Is Working on an Android One Phone

As per the prolific leaker @evleaks, Moto is working with Google on bringing an Android One version of the Moto X4 to the United States. This will make it the first handset to launch in the US with the Android One branding. Additionally, the handset will also support Project Fi.

Well isn't this interesting… pic.twitter.com/QrC8bJz1pX

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 9, 2017

This is not the first time we are hearing about Google bringing the Android One branding to the US this year by working closely with Motorola. It is likely we will see Google announce the Moto X4 Android One edition alongside its new Pixel handsets in October.

Impressed with the Mi Mix 2? Getting a Galaxy Note 8? Or are you going to wait until the iPhone 8 launches? Drop a comment and let us know!