Biggest mobile news in Korea is Xiaomi Mi 9 will launch in Korea very soon.

Xiaomi Mi 9 will launch in Korea very soon.

photos from Xiaomi Korea - facebook page

photo source: Xiaomi Korea - facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Xiaomikorea/posts/2466980393536012


I think this is the first photo that appear in online from Lotte Himart facebook page:

photos from lotte himart - facebook page

photo source: Hi-mart - facebook page https://www.facebook.com/himart/photos/a.497185556997055/2265694890146104/



Competition makes better for all of us.....

This is actually great news because Korea smartphone market became terrible for customers--because Samsung dominated market too long.--One of most expensive Samsung smartphone in the world.
No competition is terrible for consumer which led to slow innovation because company just charge more without any improvement.

That's why Huawei ban is terrible for whole world--see this Huawei P30 Pro has not only super zoom. Dark sight, too. @ June 6, 2019
You can see how much Huawei improved P30 Pro from previous P20 Pro.


I tweeted this before because people don't realise how important for having a competition.

Sadly. People were way and way too much #brainwashed. "If there was no #Apple to help show us the world, we would not see the beauty of this world."
Maybe I see world differently but #competition makes better for all of us. If you understand that very meaning, you will agree.. https://t.co/gPhhs7bnMA

— Seong Ara (@thinklogically) May 28, 2019

If you read  Huawei P30 Pro has not only super zoom. Dark sight, too. @ June 6, 2019, you realise that Huawei already leading the new smartphone camera technology--innovation--but people still believe iPhone or Galaxy was the best smartphone camera in the world.
In truth, even Xiaomi Mi 9--which is one of cheapest smartphone in the world, already taking better photos than Apple iPhone.


You can see the review from DxOMark: Xiaomi Mi 9 camera review - DxOMark @ February 20, 2019.
And you can read this: DxOMark: Xiaomi Mi 9 camera better than every iPhone @ February 20, 2019.


If you read about camera review of Huawei P20, P20 Pro, Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro and recent P30 and P30 Pro, you can find that video wasn't that great than iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S series.
But Xiaomi Mi 9 is not only good at photos and video footage, too.

It should also be noted that the Mi 9 scored the highest ever in DxOMark’s video tests. With a score of 99, the Mi 9 is the best smartphone you can buy for video footage, according to DxOMark.

quoted from DxOMark: Xiaomi Mi 9 camera better than every iPhone @ February 20, 2019

Now Galaxy S10 5G got one more point--100 than Mi 9 though.

Even if you don't put much stock into DxOMark scores for various reasons, it can't be denied that Xiaomi is offering the full package with the Mi 9. With a top-of-the-line camera, a state-of-the-art processor, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and many other high-end features, a Mi 9 gives you most everything you could want for hundreds less than the competition.

quoted from DxOMark: Xiaomi Mi 9 camera better than every iPhone @ February 20, 2019


Xiaomi Mi 9 will costs around USD $450 which is 6GB + 128GB version.

The Xiaomi Mi 9 in its base, 6GB/128GB tier will cost 2,999 yuan, just about $445. The 8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB tiers cost 3,299 yuan and 3,999 yuan respectively.

quoted from Xiaomi Mi 9: Official specs, pricing, release date w/ Snapdragon 855, triple-camera, 20W wireless charging, $445 - 9to5Google @ February 20, 2019



Smartphone markets need more competitive price.

It can be much cheaper because there has 6GB + 64GB version.
Someone asked about price in Korea--in Xiaomi Korea's facebook page. Mi 9 wasn't released yet in Korea so I'm just guessing--I wrote it like this:

I think it probably cost around USD $420-ish. Or 420,000 won ~ 549,000 won for 6G 64G version--I'm just guessing.
If it's expensive than that, you can always buy from Aliexpress which you can buy it for USD $385-ish--without tax though.

In Korea, Samsung Galaxy S10 costs about USD $890. And Galaxy S10 plus costs about USD $976. You can compare this price with Amazon--I just saw about $680 for Galaxy S10 and $780 for S10 plus. Why do you think Samsung can charge this much--one of most expensive smartphone in world. Because there is no competition in Korea--that's why I said 'competition is better for all of us.'

In Korea, you can buy much cheaper price but that means you have to pay more for mobile carrier's plan. If you spend so much money to the mobile carrier's plan, you will get discount price for the phone. So it's not really the discount.

So Mi 9 costs less than half price of Samsung's.
So it will be good for the customer and good for the market, too. Because they cannot charge more for the brand-name.

Huawei P30 Pro has not only super zoom. Dark sight, too.

I heard about Huawei P30 Pro's super zoom capabilities. Because P30 Pro has periscope lens which can optically zoom in for 5x.
It isn't end there because it can do 50x zoom which isn't optical zoom though.

You can easily find article like this:

Seeing the Huawei P30 Pro 50x Zoom In Action Is Really Impressive @ April 1, 2019

or you can see super zoom in action from youtube video:

Huawei P30 Pro's 50X SuperZoom in Action! @ March 27, 2019

And then suddenly the US president Trump and his administration added Huawei to the entity list which means any U.S company is not allow to do business with Huawei. More simple term is "Huawei ban".

So I didn't have time to know more about Huawei P30 and P30 Pro.

And I just found this youtube video:

The Huawei P30 Pro Is The Low Light Camera King And It's Not Close by ben's gadget reviews.

P30 Pro can take photo in the pitch black--dark sight.

I took screenshot from the video:

Screenshot of youtuber ben's gadget reviews' P30 Pro pitch black dark shot.

As you can see, it was very dark alley. And P30 Pro can take a photo like that.

Screenshot of youtuber ben's gadget reviews' P30 Pro pitch black dark shot.

Here is the comparison shot--P30 Pro vs iPhone XS vs Galaxy S10 vs V40.

Screenshot of youtuber ben's gadget reviews' P30 Pro pitch black dark shot.

Same comparison shot but different location-indoor pitch black shot.

As you can see, P30 Pro made whole new concept of nighttime photography--with just smartphone.
I would say P30 Pro blows competition--Google's night sight, out of the water.
And I'd like to name the P30 Pro's night mode as 'dark sight'.


Here is interesting comments that I'd like to share:

Screenshot of youtuber ben's gadget reviews' P30 Pro pitch black dark shot video's comments.

jim kuan commented:
If Apple were to do this, they will make a huge deal out of it.  They will have convention style announcement and give it names like "Quantum Retina Night" technology of the future.  And Huawei just puts it in their phones and says, "oh, by the way, we got a camera that can shoot in dark." 

Anyway, when I saw that video, I tweeted about it like this:

I know @Huawei #P20Pro #nightmode can beat the #Pixel3XL which most of people believe best #lowlight in @Android #smartphone.
Now #P30Pro changed whole concept of #nightmode-it's #darksight
The Huawei P30 Pro Is The Low Light Camera King And It's Not Close https://t.co/Idmr5K9v2w

— Seong pill kon (@ungeekiness) June 5, 2019

You probably need more evidence. So I will put some more articles.

Huawei's P30 Pro has the best low-light camera, better even than Google’s Pixel Night Sight, and it sets a new benchmark for night photography.

quoted from Huawei's P30 Pro raises the bar for low-light photography @ April 1, 2019 by Vlad Savov

Very low light: No contest

The P30 Pros ability to shoot in the dark is downright amazing. In fact, the darker it gets, the more stunning the results compared to any other smartphone out there.

quoted from Huawei P30 Pro vs Pixel 3 XL: The ultimate low-light camera comparison @ April 2, 2019


Below one is the good example. Author tried to do the blind test but he couldn't...

Huawei ruined our comparison

The initial idea behind this article was to take the best smartphones available on the market in terms of photographic capabilities, take pictures in dimly lit environments or at night, and then have you vote to choose the best shot. However, Huawei managed to ruin the comparison: P30 Pro in most scenes is unbeatable and too easily recognizable.

quoted from Huawei P30 Pro ruined our night camera blind test @ April 24, 2019 by Luca Zaninello



Huawei sets new standards in mobile photography with P20 Pro--and P30 Pro, too.

Many people think that Google Pixel 3 XL's night sight is game changer. But Huawei P20 Pro and Mate 20 Pro actually beat the Pixel 3 XL include night sight--which not many people know.


Here is the some of things you probably didn't know because people in your country don't use Chinese smartphone.

Marvelous! Huawei sets new standards in mobile photography with the Leica Triple Camera, and....

Overall, the P20 Pro offers the most comprehensive and flexible package, with the best image quality in terms of our comparison devices.....

The big advantage for the P20 Pro is its Leica Triple Camera, which blows the Mate 10 Pro and the competition out of the water.....

Huawei has set new standards for mobile photography with its Leica Triple Camera. The P20 Pro is the device against which all other smartphone cameras will now be compared.

quoted from NotebookCheck.net Reviews - Huawei P20 Pro Smartphone Review @ April 20, 2018 by Daniel Schmidt


I don't really bother to checking out DXOmark score because DSLR cameras and lenses weren't that reliable source to get to know the DSLR camera and lens.
But smartphone was quite simpler than DSLR or mirrorless camera. Because photographer's diversity of photographing chances and styles with variety combination of DSLR camera and lenses makes hard to justify the DXOmark score.


When the Huawei P20 Pro was reviewed, there has no match to any other smartphone.
You can read more details in the review.

Conclusion: Game changer

We are used to every new smartphone camera generation being slightly better than the previous one, but looking at the images and test results from the P20 Pro, it seems Huawei has skipped one or two generations. The results are simply that good. The P20 Pro’s triple camera setup is the biggest innovation we have seen in mobile imaging for quite some time and is a real game changer.

quoted from Huawei P20 Pro camera review: Innovative technologies, outstanding results @ March 27, 2018 by Lars Rehm


You can find similar talking like this about people in your country don't use Huawei smartphone:

A majorly disappointing aspect of this entire test is just how unlikely it is for the US is ever to see a Huawei-made handset.

quoted from Pixel 3 Night Sight vs Mate 20 Pro Night Mode - 9to5Google @ December 3, 2018 by Damien Wilde
I will just quote some:

There isn't tons of detail but from what we had to work with initially, I think that Huawei seems to handle lighting a little better than the Pixel in my experience with both smartphones.....

Instantly with the Pixel and Night Sight, we see a greater level of detail, but it feels a little whitewashed overall.

As you can read this 'a little whitewashed overall', right?

The Pixel's eagerness to whiten up images in Night Sight is....

The Pixel tends to whiten up warmly lit scenes, which we feel does rob them of their ambience....

....it will handle incandescent lights better and preserve the vibe of the scene.

quoted from Night mode ON: Pixel 3 vs. Mate 20 Pro : Night Sight vs. Night mode @ November 23, 2018 by GSMArena team

You can read last part--"preserve the vibe of the scene".

Is this the reason why people trying to take photo of?
If you are familiar with computer, you will know the term wysiwyg--what you see is what you get. Whitening the scene wasn't that great way, right?

I'm not just making this up.
Here is the comment from Pixel 3 Night Sight vs Mate 20 Pro Night Mode - 9to5Google @ December 3, 2018

Screenshot of comments from Pixel 3 Night Sight vs Mate 20 Pro Night Mode - 9to5Google.

Skipper commented:

I use a Pixel 3, but one of its problems is photos look fake. Don't get me wrong, I love tinkering with instagram's filters, but come on, if you compare 3's photos with the 20pro, it's pretty obvious that 20pro is more realistic with 3 physical cameras capturing a "wider" aperture look, while Pixel's digital light enhancement is just that, "digitally enhanced", which mean "fake" look by tuning up highlights and shadows.

SF Media commented:

both are amazing..but the pixel is too bright for a night.

Anyway, Pixel 3's night sight probably improved a lot and Pixel 4 which wasn't come out yet, might be better.

But Huawei P30 Pro again made whole new concept of nighttime photography--with smartphone. And super-zoom, too.

Game changer phones which not many countries were available to buy. Because the U.S president Trump and his administration trying to destroying one private company--Huawei.

$150-ish Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Global Rom version already support widevine L1.

I don't watch Netflix or Amazon prime so I didn't know what this widevine thing is.

But I could find some question about it in Xiaomi MIUI Official Forum which currently merged with Mi Community.

Xiaomi flagship Mi 8 is still L3.

Mi 8 is Xiaomi flagship smartphone line--Mi series which was released last year and this year, Xiaomi released Mi 9.

So people are saying Mi 8 is Xiaomi's flagship smartphone but why Mi 8 don't support widevine L1 which is important because L1 device only support HD in Netflix and Amazon prime.

Screenshot of Xiaomi Mi 8's DRM Info 1/2

Screenshot of Xiaomi Mi 8's DRM Info 2/2

If you see the first screenshot, you can see the Mi 8's firmware version info. - 10.3.2.0 which is Miui global stable newest version.

And L3 from the second screenshot.

You can read about Widevine from Wikipeida

or I will just quote from important part from Widevine digital rights management explained @ December 11, 2017

Android devices support either L1 or L3 security levels, depending on hardware and software implementations, as does Chrome OS. 

If your device is only L3 compliant, you're capped at sub-HD resolutions. Only L1 secure devices.....play back HD or higher quality content...

Redmi Note 7 launched in Korea and it's widevine L1.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 was launched in Korea at April 15, 2019. And this model probably is same model like European version which had global version.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Korean version - Global Version.

After launched in Korea, I heard that Redmi Note 7 support widevine L1 from Xiaomi community in Korea. But I don't have a Redmi Note 7 to screenshot myself.

And I just bought it a few days ago so I did capture the screen.

Screenshot of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7's DRM Info 1/2

Screenshot of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7's DRM Info 2/2

You can see the Redmi Note 7's firmware version info. - 10.2.8.0 which is Miui global stable version.

And L1 from the second screenshot.

HD streaming isn't available yet in Netflix, probably.

I don't subscribe to Netflix so I don't know.

But some people are saying HD streaming wasn't available in Redmi Note 7 which suppose to work because it support widevine L1.
But I heard that you can download HD video files in Redmi Note 7.

I don't know much about this so you should ask about it to Netflix.

And you can check Netflix's help page about the "Using Netflix on your Android phone or tablet".