Xiaomi CEO gives fans an early look at the Mi 9

Xiaomi Lei Jun on Thursday gave Mi fans the first look at the upcoming Mi 9 smartphone. The Mi 9 will be launched on Wednesday, 20 February—just a few days before the Mobile World Congress kicks off on 24 February. Xiaomi has made the gamble of launching its flagship smartphone on the very day Samsung will launch the Samsung Galaxy S10 as well as its flexible smartphone.

Going by the renders, it is clear that Xiaomi is going big with its new design philosophy—replacing its traditional metal backs with shiny, glittery glass panels. The Mi 9 will come with a gradient back which reflects light in different patterns at different angles, resembling an aurora.