Finally, a phone that takes your music as seriously as you do.
Moondrop, a renowned Chi-Fi brand, is entering the smartphone market with its upcoming MIAD 01 (Mobile Internet Audio Device).
This phone blends usual smartphone features with the advanced audio capabilities typical of digital audio players. It aims to be an all-in-one solution for audiophiles who are tired of carrying multiple devices for their music-listening needs.
What Audiophiles Can Expect From the MIAD 01
In 2016, Apple started a trend by taking out the headphone jack from the iPhone 7. Pretty soon, Android brands quickly did the same.
Because of this, audiophiles sought devices that could deliver high-quality audio without sacrificing functionality. This shift increased the demand for digital audio players (DAPs) running Android.
Moondrop wants to close this gap with the MIAD 01 by providing a smartphone that mixes the best of both worlds.
That’s why, the MIAD 01 introduces a unique set of features that set it apart from typical smartphones.
Central to its appeal to audiophiles is the presence of both a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 4.4mm balanced audio output jack, serving both balanced and unbalanced connections. This lets the device send a quieter audio signal with more power, making sure high-impedance headphones work their best.
The phone also has stereo speakers for an immersive audio experience.
In addition, the MIAD 01 has a “flagship decoding chip,” a low-dropout power supply, and a gold-sinking audio circuit. All of this aims to help give excellent sound quality and reduce interference, which haunts typical smartphones.
Design and Display Specifications
Based on the leaked photos, the MIAD 01 has a square camera module and a grooved finish on the back panel.
The device appears to have two rear cameras. According to Moondrop, each camera has 64 megapixels for high-definition photography.
Based on the design, we can also speculate that the protruding camera bump might accommodate a thicker 4.4mm female connector. It can also have additional hardware so it’s isolated from electrical interference without changing the device’s internal layout.
On the front, the MIAD 01 boasts a 6.7-inch flexible OLED screen with curved edges. This promises to offer a 1080p resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and 1920Hz PWM dimming to improve image quality.
Adding to the device’s modern style, the screen also has a punch-hole cutout for the 32-megapixel selfie camera. The device also device has flat sides with sharp corners with orange power and volume buttons that give it a unique touch.
The smartphone offers a 5000mAh battery with 33W PD fast charging, ensuring long-lasting usage. This offers up to 27 hours of battery life with the DSD playback and a 4.4mm balanced output.
The MIAD 01 is also equipped with powerful features including a Mediatek Dimensity 7050 8-core processor with Cortex-A78 processors clocked up to 2.6GHz and Cortex-A55 processors clocked at 2.0GHz, 12GB LPDDR4x RAM, and 256GB UFS3.1 flash storage. It also supports a storage expansion card of up to 2TB capacity.
It is believed that Moondrop might be collaborating with OnePlus to modify an existing model slightly and market it under the Moondrop brand. This is especially because the design is similar to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.
This partnership could allow Moondrop to concentrate on adding high-end internals and audio features into an existing Android device, instead of making a fully equipped DAP with calling and camera support from scratch.
When Can We Expect It?
Moondrop first hinted at the MIAD 01 in February on their website, saying that the device was “coming soon.”
However, the company has not yet shared information about the device’s official launch date and pricing. There is also no information on plans for sale in the US market at this time.