The Xiaomi 17 series, slated for a 19:00 release tonight, has truly captured widespread attention across the digital landscape. While the official has confirmed that the standard version will boast enhanced features without a price hike, the starting price of 4499 yuan may still pose a challenge for certain users. In contrast, the K series under the same sub-brand has garnered more popularity among users, thanks to its lower price point and comparable overall feature set. The remarkable success of the K80 series since its launch has undoubtedly instilled greater confidence in Xiaomi for crafting the K90 series, ensuring they will exert every effort within the constraints of the product tier. Over a week ago, one model made its debut online, followed by two more models yesterday.

The arrival of new models online signals that no further alterations, including the release date, will be made. Drawing from last year's practices, the release date can be inferred. Considering the 28-day gap between the Xiaomi 15 and Redmi K80 releases, the K90 series is anticipated to hit the market around October 23rd. The crux lies in whether the cost-effectiveness will remain appealing. Judging from the leaked information, there's no cause for concern in this regard.

Firstly, the CPU chip is confirmed. The K90 will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, while the K90 Pro will undoubtedly feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5. According to the leaks, the K90 series will come standard with 100W charging capabilities. Although this doesn't represent a significant leap from the 90W charging of the K80 series, it would be quite impressive if it could support the same 100W PPS charging as the Xiaomi 17 series, a possibility hinted at by the leaker. The battery life enhancement is modest, with a 7000mAh battery aligning with current cost-effective models.

Personally, I suspect the previous leak of a 7000mAh battery might be a deliberate misdirection. Barring any surprises, it should sport an 8000mAh battery. Otherwise, as a next-generation model, merely increasing the battery by around 500mAh would seem somewhat "stingy." The standard version may see limited improvements across the board, as maintaining a starting price of 2499 yuan without a price increase indeed leaves little room for substantial upgrades.

However, the Pro version tells a different story. With a starting price exceeding 1000 yuan more, there's ample room for enhancements. In addition to featuring the same 2K screen and 3D ultrasonic fingerprint recognition as the standard version, the imaging capabilities will be a focal point for upgrades. Given that the Xiaomi 17 series has already adopted the new Light Hunter 950L sensor, there's a high likelihood that the 900 sensor will be utilized in the K90 Pro. As for whether it will be incorporated into the standard version, I personally doubt it. The lens pixel count will likely remain unchanged, but the Pro version will undoubtedly switch to a periscope telephoto lens, a move that seems inevitable.

There will also be aesthetic adjustments, featuring larger R-angles and improved screen quality. Eye protection will be further enhanced, complemented by the optimization of HyperOS 3. Regarding AI, storage, and other aspects, these are upgrades that can be easily anticipated and don't warrant extensive elaboration. The user experience of the K90 series is definitely something to look forward to.

As long as the K90 series can uphold its cost-effectiveness, sales are virtually guaranteed. Whether it can outperform the K80 series, I personally believe there's a high possibility. What are your thoughts?