With Its Sights On Apple, China Smartphone Maker Xiaomi Unveils First Tablet

[Ron Burgundy]

By Paul Carsten BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese budget smartphone maker Xiaomi unveiled on Thursday its first tablet, expanding its product lineup to directly challenge established rivals Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Apple Inc. The Mi Pad, which comes in six colors, will have a 7.9 inch screen, the same size as an iPad Mini. "We wanted the hardware to come close to, or even surpass Apple's iPad," Xiaomi's founder Lei Jun said at the launch event in Beijing. Xiaomi's flagship smartphones, which are among the fastest selling in China, resemble Apple's iPhone. It was also not clear if the Mi Pad would be sold outside China.

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