Review of Xiaomi Redmi 13 phone. Price review, technical specifications, camera, hardware, software, battery, charging speed, and other features of Xiaomi Redmi 13 phone.
Xiaomi Redmi 13 review
Introduction
The Redmi 13 is a good little entry-level phone. Well, not literally, at 6.79 inches it’s actually pretty big. The Redmi 13 is not the cheapest phone in the current Redmi lineup. For example, with Redmi 13C, you can go even lower. However, a basic 6GB/128GB Redmi 13 will run you just $180/€170. This price is potentially a good deal, especially if you value a good camera experience.
Redmi 13 is the first phone in the Redmi Number series with a 108-megapixel main camera. It looks impressive on paper, and there seem to be only a few obvious competitors in the price range that offer a similar main camera.
Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi 13 at a glance:
Body: 168.6 x 76.3 x 8.3mm, 205g; Glass front, plastic frame, glass back; IP53, resistant to dust and water splash.
Display: 6.79 inch IPS LCD, 90 Hz, 550 nits (HBM), resolution 1080 x 2460 pixels, aspect ratio 20.5:9, 396ppi.
Video recording: rear camera: 1080p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
Battery: 5030mAh; Wired 33 watts
Connectivity: LTE; hybrid of two SIM cards; Wi-Fi 5; BT 5.4; NFC; FM radio; IR blaster; 3.5 mm jack
Other features: Fingerprint reader (mounted on the side). Virtual proximity sensor
The Redmi 13 comes with some cut corners here and there. It’s a 4G phone rocking one of the older Helio chipsets (well, it’s older on the inside). The Helio G91 Ultra is not that impressive. And it’s paired with eMMC 5.1 storage chips, which are pretty slow by today’s standards.
The Redmi 13 also comes with a speaker instead of a stereo setup, basic intrusion protection, and a rather bland 90Hz LCD panel.
The positive thing is that Redmi 13 supports two SIM cards. One of the nano SIM slots is hybrid, meaning you can expand the microSD storage as well. There is also a 3.5mm jack on the Redmi 13 and an FM radio receiver, IR blaster, and NFC in some markets. The nicely sized 5,030 mAh battery also supports 33W wired PD charging, which is pretty fast potential for a lower mid-range phone. Unfortunately, you don’t get a charger in the box in every region.
Unboxing
The Redmi 13 comes in a simple two-piece cardboard box. Its upper part is painted red to a large extent, which makes it stand out a lot. The box is nice and sturdy. Apparently, there is no plastic in the packaging, and the phone stand inside the box is made of cardboard.
As we mentioned earlier, the Redmi 13 unfortunately does not come with a charger in every region. You’ll only get one in some markets.
You get an original USB Type-A to Type-C cable in the box. Nothing special, but it’s wired for data, which is nice.
Our review unit also came with a nice clear TPU case. However, you should check if your local retailer offers it.
Design, build quality, handling
There is nothing special about the design of the Redmi 13. It’s your basic phone, with multiple circular camera modules on the back, a punch hole on the front, and a decent size, well-proportioned and balanced.
Perhaps the choice of color is the only thing that catches our attention in the design of the Redmi 13. If you want to keep things simple, there’s Midnight Black. It doesn’t get any easier than that. Sand gold is also relatively unpretentious.
We are part of our pink review unit. It’s a very subtle and playful pink that you rarely see on a phone. Ocean blue should be the “hero color” of some sort. It is the only one of the many that has a wavy color pattern.
Redmi 13 has a fairly standard set of controls. The layout is also as expected. You have a volume rocker and power button on the right side. The latter has an integrated capacitive fingerprint reader that is both fast and reliable. We have no complaints about it.
The buttons are well placed in terms of height and are very clicky, which is nice.
Redmi 13
The left side of the phone is mostly empty, only the SIM and microSD tray. At the bottom is the main microphone, single speaker, and Type-C port. The top of the phone houses a 3.5 mm audio jack and an IR blaster. Both of these are small extras.
The front of the phone has a typical budget design. This includes relatively large display bezels. Wide enough to hold the light sensor above the screen. There’s a punch hole for the selfie camera, which is also on the larger side.
Then about the material. Despite its budget nature, the Redmi 13 still has two flat glass panes in its build – one on the front and one on the back. The front is Corning Gorilla glass. Although, we don’t know exactly what kind.
The middle frame is made of plastic, but it looks and feels good in the hand. This also applies to the entire phone. There are no noticeable bends in the chassis or hollows anywhere. As mentioned earlier, the Redmi 13 only has basic IP53 protection for entry.
The Redmi 13 feels solid in the hand and is quite comfortable thanks to its beautiful rounded corners. The surfaces don’t crease or show stains too badly, which is always appreciated.
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Redmi 13 has a very large 6.79-inch screen. The FHD+ resolution is 1080 x 2460 pixels, which has a very sharp pixel density of about 396 ppi. While the display itself doesn’t look half bad in a dark room, any kind of light source reflecting off its extra reflective surface ruins the experience.
And the Redmi 13 simply lacks the brightness to adequately combat reflections. Officially, the phone should be able to do 550 nits in high-brightness mode. In our benchmark test, we measured just 342 nits with the slider maxed out and 448 nits at high brightness. Unfortunately, this is not enough for outdoor comfort. In fact, as we have said, even proper anti-reflection indoors is not enough.
The minimum brightness we measured in the white point was 3.3 nits, which is quite respectable. This screen also supports DC dimming, which is of little value in an LCD whose brightness is not controlled via PWM like OLEDs.
The Redmi 13 panel uses the standard 8-bit color depth. You can choose from several color modes, and there’s even manual color temperature adjustment. However, you can never set the colors perfectly. The Redmi 13 targets the sRGB color space in all its color modes, and it always seems to come up short.
Redmi 13 has a refresh rate of 90 Hz. Admittedly, it’s not as good as what some of its rivals offer, like the Poco M6 Pro and its 120Hz OLED panel. However, 90 Hz is better than 60 Hz.
Redmi 13 has automatic refresh rate change logic which is on by default. This display can actually work at 36 Hz, 48 Hz, 60 Hz and 90 Hz. You don’t see such low and unusual refresh rate modes every day. Depending on whether you’re interacting with the phone, what’s happening on the screen, and what app is in focus, the phone will oscillate between modes. The game seems to run well and consistently with a high refresh rate. We got all of our test titles to cooperate and break the 60fps mark.
Redmi 13 has no HDR support on the display. It has some HDR decoding capabilities for HDR10 and HLG. No HDR10+ or Dolby Vision though. On the plus side, it supports the highest Widevine L1 DRM certification, allowing apps like Netflix to deliver FullHD streams to saturate the display resolution.
Battery life
Redmi 13 has a very large battery of 5030 mAh. However, based on historical data on the Helio G85 and G88 (which are essentially the same chipset as the G91 Ultra), we came into the battery test with very low expectations. And Taming is basically what we got. With an active usage rating of 10:28 hours, the Redmi 13 is decent but largely unremarkable in the battery department.
Charging speed
Redmi 13 touts 33W fast charging with its 5030mAh battery. In many markets, there’s no charger in the box, and we couldn’t find any detailed information on exactly what charging standard the Redmi 13 supports. Since Xiaomi makes and sells a 33W charger, we can only assume it’s the best charger.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have Xiaomi’s 33W charger available when testing the Redmi 13, so we opted to test it with Xiaomi’s 67W HyperCharge adapter.
Redmi 13 does not charge very fast. In fact, we’d say it’s a little slow.
Speaker – loudness and quality
The Redmi 13 has a single bottom-firing speaker. There is no stereo setup, not even a hybrid. Don’t expect too much from this speaker. In our testing, we only got an average loudness score. It is not great in terms of quality. It doesn’t scream too much, but it gets distorted at high volumes. The mids are a little muddy, but overall no problem.
Use playback controls to listen to phone recordings (best with headphones). We measure the average loudness of the speakers in LUFS. A lower absolute value means a louder sound. A look at the frequency response graph tells you how far the reproduction of bass, treble, and midrange frequencies is from the ideal flat “0db” line.
Connectivity
Redmi 13 is a 4G/LTE dual SIM device. The phone has two nano SIM card slots, one of which is a hybrid slot that shares microSD expansion.
There is GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS support for location services. Local connectivity is provided by dual-band Wi-Fi AC and Bluetooth 5.4 with LE support. You also get an FM radio receiver, a 3.5mm audio jack, an IR blaster, and NFC in some markets. Contact your retailer for more information.
The Type-C port on the Redmi 13 is backed up by a simple USB 2.0 data connection, which means data transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps. It has OTG/Host support but nothing fancy like video output.
Redmi 13 has a BMA510 accelerometer, MMC5603 magnetometer and compass, and SIP1328 light sensor. Unfortunately, the gyroscope and proximity sensor are both virtual. There is no barometer.
HyperOS on top of Android 14
The Redmi 13 runs on Xiaomi’s relatively new HyperOS – in their words, “a human-centric operating system designed for the ‘Human x Car x Home’ smart ecosystem.”
We can’t find any reliable information about how many years of software support the Redmi 13 will have. However, Xiaomi is advertising a “new 36-month software experience” for the phone, something that comes with HyperOS improvements compared to MIUI.
The new OS still looks and behaves very much like MIUI, and while we’ve no doubt there are improvements to come, long-time Xiaomi phone users will be right at home. However, there are subtle differences, such as a slightly smoother design and more rounded edges for many design elements.
HyperOS on Redmi 13
Interestingly, despite running HyperOS, the Redmi 13 lacks the new style of quick settings. You also have no choice to enable or disable Control Center. We didn’t find an option to run multi-window apps on the Redmi 13 either.
HyperOS on Redmi 13
Apparently, there are a few artificial intelligence features on the Redmi 13, similar to those on recent Poco devices like the Poco F6.
Benchmarks and performance
No point here – performance is a problem on the Redmi 13. So much so, in fact, that even the UI stutters and slows down while doing trivial day-to-day tasks.
The Mediatek Helio G91 Ultra isn’t a powerful chip to begin with. It has two ARM Cortex-A75 cores with a frequency of 2.0 GHz and another 6 Cortex-A55 cores that work up to 1.8 GHz. The Mali-G52 MC2 internal GPU is also not powerful.
However, we think the eMMC 5.1 storage chips are what really let the performance down. You can get the Redmi 13 with 128 or 256 GB of internal memory. which can be expanded through the microSD card slot. For RAM, you get 6GB in the base 128GB variant or 8GB with either 128GB or 256GB storage. Our review unit is the base 6/128GB version, and we’ve set the memory expansion to the default 2GB option.
The Gelio G91 is a relatively new chipset introduced in 2024, but at its core, it’s not much different from the G85 or G88. This chip has the same CPU and GPU configuration as TSMC’s 12nm chips and manufacturing process. The G91 has an upgraded ISP with support for primary cameras up to 108MP – a feature that the Redmi 13 takes full advantage of.
Let’s get to some real benchmarks to show just how slow the Redmi 13 is, starting with some CPU and GeekBench. The Redmi 13 and its Helio G91 Ultra are near the bottom of the CPU benchmark table in both single-core and multi-core scenarios.
AnTuTu is a bit kinder than the Redmi 13, but not by much. It’s still at the bottom of the table, barely outpacing the Helio G85 and G88 devices.
The situation in the GPU department is not much better. Once again, we find the Redmi 13 near the bottom of the chart. The Mali-G52 MC2 outperforms the likes of the Adreno 613 and 610, and again, not by much.
To be honest, the performance offered by Redmi 13 is very poor and definitely not enough for a 2024 phone, even a budget phone. To put things into perspective, the 2020 Redmi Note 9 has practically the same CPU and GPU configuration.
Thermal-throttling
The Helio G91 Ultra may not be particularly powerful, but on the other hand, at least it doesn’t get too hot.
Thermal-throttling
Powerful 108-megapixel main camera
The main camera is the highlight feature of Redmi 13. This is the first 108MP camera to come to Redmi’s numbering series. The device uses Samsung’s s5khm6 sensor, commonly referred to as the HM6. It’s a 1/1.67-inch sensor with 0.64 µm pixels. The sensor is behind an f/1.8 lens and has PDAF.
The affordable price of the Redmi 13 apparently doesn’t leave enough budget for anything more than a very basic 2MP macro camera on the back. There is no ultra-wide telephoto, and certainly no dedicated ones.
The ultimate selfie camera is 13 megapixels. It’s pretty basic, based on the fixed-focus OmniVision ov13b10 sensor and f/2.5 lens.
Nothing much has changed in terms of camera UI. You get a well-organized interface with a mode wheel on the right, next to the camera shutter, a few keys on the left, and a drop-down menu for more options.
Day photo quality
Main camera
The Redmi 13’s main camera takes good overall photos with plenty of detail and beautiful, mostly natural colors. The dynamic range is also good and the contrast is good.
Redmi 13: samples of the main camera of 12 megapixels
However, when you start the Pixel, it quickly becomes clear that these photos are slightly processed. There is a lot of sharpening. Some noise is also left behind, and color fringing can be seen in more subtle patterns. Overall, though, these are pretty decent shots for a budget device.
The Redmi 13 also performs well with human subjects. Skin color and texture appear and look completely realistic. The main camera can also do portraits. While these aren’t perfect, and the algorithm sometimes crashes, they’re pretty good. We like the accuracy of subject detection and separation and the quality of the background blur.
Redmi 13: 12MP main camera portrait examples
There’s no dedicated telephoto on the Redmi 13, but the main camera still has plenty of resolution for decent digital zoom. There is a 3x shift in the camera UI. 3x photos look great, practically identical to 1x photos. There is plenty of detail, beautiful colors, great contrast and good dynamic range.
Redmi 13: 12MP main camera samples with 3x zoom
You can force the main camera to shoot at full 108MP resolution. We’re not necessarily saying you get better detail from these photos, but the processing is much less aggressive, resulting in more natural-looking photos, especially when looking at pixels.
Redmi 13: 108-megapixel main camera samples
If you don’t mind the larger file size, then the 108MP mode might be the way to go for the best quality possible from the Redmi 13.
Macro camera
The dedicated 2MP macro camera isn’t that impressive. Given its limited resolution and fixed focus, it performs about as well as can be expected. With enough fiddling, you can take interesting pictures. Just don’t expect extreme close-ups or crisp quality.
Redmi 13: 2-megapixel macro camera examples
Selfie camera
Despite its relatively average specs, the Redmi 13’s selfie camera takes surprisingly clean photos. These have a lot of detail and beautiful colors, especially the skin tone. Contrast and dynamic range are also good.
Redmi 13: examples of 13-megapixel selfie camera
Camera quality in low light
The main camera takes decent photos in low light, but not much else. The results are hardly spectacular. There is enough detail in the frame and the darker areas are well defined. However, the corners are too soft and the light sources are very weak and almost always turn off.
Redmi 13: Examples of the 12-megapixel main camera in low light
There is a dedicated night mode, but it hardly does anything useful. In fact, it seems to soften the photos a bit, which is not a desirable effect in this situation.
Redmi 13: samples of the 12-megapixel main camera in night mode
Everything is not better at 3x zoom. You get what we’d normally consider usable photos, but you have to be a bit steady and struggle with the autofocus to get a decent blurry result.
Redmi 13: examples of the 12-megapixel main camera in low light with 3x zoom
Night mode doesn’t really do much for 3x zoom shots. Shot-to-shot variance is normally higher due to autofocus and slight camera shake.
Redmi 13: 12-megapixel main camera, night mode with 3x zoom
Low-light selfies look really soft and noisy and are barely usable.
Redmi 13: examples of 13-megapixel selfie camera in low light
However, night mode does almost nothing to improve photos. Well, maybe it cleans up a bit of noise and sometimes handles light sources better, though the effect is hardly consistent and thus not likely due to night mode processing at all, but rather due to shot-to-shot variance.
Redmi 13: samples of the 13-megapixel selfie camera in night mode
Video quality
The MediaTek Helio G91 Ultra may have an upgraded ISP compared to the G85 and G88, but it’s still limited to a maximum of 1080p video. This is unfortunate as the main camera has more than enough resolution to capture 4K, but it’s not entirely unexpected on a budget device either. Both the main and selfie cameras can do 1080p@30fps. This is not the only drawback of video recording. Another thing is that the Redmi 13 only records mono audio. On the plus side, you can choose between the default AVC/h.264 format and the more space-efficient HEVC/h.265.
Full HD videos from the main camera look decent enough, but nothing to call. Given the resolution, detail is good, and aggressive sharpening is being done to give the illusion of a sharper, sharper image. The colors are nice, but not what we would call real. Saturation is greatly increased. Dynamic range and contrast are decent.
Just like photos, there’s a 3x zoom button for videos. These don’t sound as good as the 1x examples and are understandably a bit softer but still quite sharp.
Redmi 13 lacks any video stabilization. Any kind of movement results in extremely shaky videos that are almost unusable. This applies to both the main camera and the selfie camera.
When it comes to the selfie camera, it performs decently, but again, nothing spectacular. Regarding the resolution, the details are good and the colors are very nice. However, contrast and dynamic range are far from ideal.
Unlike low-light photos, the main camera’s videos are decent in low light, but not much else. There is enough detail for the resolution, colors look good and even some detail is developed in the darker parts of the frame. The light sources, however, are very weak and almost always explode.
Checking the Competitors
A basic 6GB/128GB Redmi 13 will only run you around $180/€170, and a top-of-the-line 8GB/256GB version should cost around €190-200. It’s a very affordable price, but not quite unbeatable. Affordable devices just keep getting better and better, and there are plenty of options to consider.
Perhaps the closest competitor is the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. It also has a 108-megapixel rear camera and a similarly sized 6.72-inch IPS LCD (FHD+) display with a higher 120Hz refresh rate (the Redmi 13’s LCD runs at 90Hz). 5000 mAh battery charging is faster. 67W Note that the Snapdragon 695 chipset is more powerful than the Helio G91 used in Redmi and has 5G connectivity.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite • Realme C55 • Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro • Samsung Galaxy A25
Then there’s the Realme C55, which can be found for €150 or more (128/6GB unit). This one uses the Helio G88, which is similar enough to the G91, except that it can’t support 108MP cameras. And it doesn’t have to, it’s paired with a 64-megapixel base module. The phone has a 6.72-inch IPS LCD screen with FHD+ resolution at 90 Hz and a 5000 mAh battery with 33W charging, which is very close to Redmi in terms of specifications.
The Poco M6 Pro can be bought for less than €200 in the 256/8GB configuration, but note that we’re looking at the 4G model with the Helio G99. Unlike the two phones above, this is the 2024 model. And it’s IP54 rated, while none of the others are rated for dust or water resistance. The camera also switches to an OLED, 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz display. While the 64-megapixel main camera isn’t that impressive, the 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera stands out as the others just have their regular main camera. The 5000mAh battery charges at 67W.
Samsung Galaxy A25 is also priced below 200 euros for a 128/6GB unit. The Exynos 1280 gives the phone 5G connectivity. This model is paired with a smaller 6.5-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED display. This model also has an 8-megapixel ultra-wide screen that sits alongside a 50-megapixel primary camera – the first and only camera on this list to offer 4K video. Samsung usually charges. 5000 mAh 25-watt battery.
Note that all the phones listed above have a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD slot. Most of them also have stereo speakers. Not Redmi or Realme though.
The Redmi 13 looks great on paper, especially in the camera department with its 108-megapixel primary camera. While it can actually capture pretty decent photos, even this hardware highlight has some cut corners that are primarily notable for video capture. It is limited to 1080p@30fps and there is no EIS and only mono audio.
We believe it’s all about the details. For example, while we like its build quality, with Gorilla Glass on the front and glass on the back, it only offers basic IP53 protection.
The display looks good on paper, too, and we’d appreciate more attention to the refresh rate and switching modes. However, it lacks maximum brightness for outdoor use.
The battery life is only decent on the phone and the charging speed is not that impressive. It also lacks a stereo speaker setup, although we’d welcome the addition of a 3.5mm jack and an FM radio receiver.
Its gyroscope and proximity sensor are virtual hardware as opposed to hardware. And although the Redmi 13 has HyperOS, it seems that the Redmi 13 lacks the new operating system.
But Redmi 13’s biggest flaw has to be its performance. MediaTek Helio G91 Ultra is only closed for performance. He has trouble even with normal daily tasks. Even the UI of the phone sometimes stutters, which is not acceptable even in an affordable device.
For all these reasons, we can’t honestly see ourselves recommending the Redmi 13 over some of its competitors we’ve already listed.
Why should we buy Xiaomi Redmi 13?
Solid build quality with Gorilla Glass on the front and glass on the back.
Good refresh rate control with low refresh rate situations.
The all-in-one fixed function of still image.
Why should we avoid buying the Xiaomi Redmi 13 phone?
Some markets do not have a charger in the box.
The screen isn’t bright enough to be comfortable outdoors, and it lacks HDR video support.
Single speaker and not good.
Virtual gyroscope and proximity sensor.
The MediaTek Helio G91 Ultra and eMMC memory provide poor performance with frequent stuttering and slowness.
Video recording with mono audio is limited to 1080p and there is no EIS
andConjunction: As a coordinating conjunction; expressing two elements to be taken together or in addition to each other.
Conjunction: Expressing a condition.
Conjunction: Connecting two to create a new well-formed formula that requires it to only be true when both of the two formulas are true.
Noun: In rhythm, the second half of a divided beat.
Noun: breath.
Noun: ; steam fog.
Verb: To breathe; whisper; devise; imagine.
The largest and most luxurious passenger ship, Icon of the Seas, is five times the size of the Titanic and is referred to as a city on water.
The Icon of the Seas cruise ship, a city on water
On January 27, 2024, the first passengers of Icon of the Seas stepped on the deck of the world’s largest ship to experience an enchanting discovery in the west and east of the Caribbean Sea; A journey for eight days and seven nights.
The cruise tourism industry set a new record in 2023 with an increase of 2 million passengers over four years; But the biggest news on the high seas in 2024 was the maiden voyage of the world’s largest cruise ship, three times the length of a football field and five times the size of the Titanic.
Icon of the Seas ship with 20 decks and gross weight of 250,800 tons and a capacity of 9,950 people is the most amazing human-made phenomenon that goes to unknown waters like a luxurious metropolis. The 2,805 bedrooms in 28 groups, including family cabins with infinity-view balconies and bunk beds, offer a relaxing feel to adventurers looking for unique accommodations during their travels.
The Icon of the Seas is three times the length of a football field and five times the size of the Titanic
The symbol of the seas, the newest member of the Royal Caribbean cruise family, has dethroned its previous generation counterpart, the Wonder of the Seas, as the world’s largest ship, but beyond its gigantic and astonishing dimensions, this ship has also broken other records and claims various It is “the first” and “the most”.
The unveiling of Icon of the Seas sparked a wave of surprise, excitement, and curiosity among Internet users. The images that were published during the first voyage of the ship, followed endless discussions, comments, and questions of the interested people on social networks. Let’s take a look at some fascinating and stunning facts about this maritime marvel:
Icon of the Seas key features at a glance
The largest ship in the world with a length of 365 meters, a width of 67 meters, and a weight of 250 thousand tons
It has the largest and most optimal interior space with more than 20 decks
It has advanced technical equipment and luxurious cabins for 7514 passengers and 2350 crew members
The most compatible with the environment and the least carbon emissions with LNG engines
Using artificial intelligence for optimal energy consumption on board
The highest cost of building a cruise ship with about 2 billion euros
It has more than 20 restaurants with international menus
Extensive recreational facilities such as a floating bar, rock climbing walls, large slides, and infinity pools.
Also, in December 2023, Lionel Messi’s name was registered as the sponsor and “godfather” of Icon of the Seas.
The beginning of the story
In 1996, the architects of two companies, Royal Caribbean (Royal Caribbean) and Wilson Butler (Wilson Butler) defined a new mission for themselves: “Providing an environment for the best family vacations on the planet.” Over the past 28 years, these two companies have launched 24 giant cruise ships, each of which was recognized as the world’s leading floating artifact of its time.
In the mid-2010s, the cruise industry was growing rapidly and major cruise lines were looking to create different experiences and more innovations to attract passengers. In this regard, in 2016, Royal Caribbean proposed a new idea, the implementation of which challenges the innovation boundaries of the entire industry:
“Launching a project to build a new cruise ship that will be unique not only in terms of size but also in terms of technology, amenities, and environmental sustainability.”
Builders and designers
To implement its plan, Royal Caribbean Group prioritized several main goals:
First, the optimal use of ship space to build multiple sections with different uses that at the same time work in an integrated and coordinated manner. The second priority of the builders was to significantly reduce the harmful effects on the environment, and for this purpose, the use of green technologies, energy consumption optimization systems, and reduction of carbon emissions were considered in all stages of design.
In addition, in order to provide a unique experience, the new ship had to meet all the needs of passengers, including recreation, relaxation, and adventure; Therefore, the companies had to design each area as a multi-purpose, modern, and intelligent space.
Therefore, the Finnish company Meyer Turku, one of the largest and most reliable shipbuilders in the world, was chosen as the main contractor for the construction and design of the ship’s structure and hull. This company, which had previously collaborated with Royal Caribbean in the construction of two Oasis-class ships and had a lot of experience in the construction of cruise ships, was responsible for the design of the hull, mechanical systems, and structural integrity of the ship.
The Swedish company Tillberg Design of Sweden, as the second partner of the project, is committed to creating a unique and inspiring space by using the latest techniques and production materials. Tilburg Design had to focus on the priority that the interior of the ship should not only be luxurious and luxurious, but also efficient and innovative.
Finally, Royal Caribbean’s oldest partner, the American company Wilson Butler, which is famous for designing public and cultural spaces, entered the project as the third partner with the aim of creating a space that evokes the feeling of a city floating on water for passengers. In addition to these partners, during the construction of the ship according to the needs of each department, other teams from different countries of the world were invited to cooperate.
Scott Butler, director and founder of the Wilson Butler Company in 2023, said about the design of this ship:
The design of a ship is not much different from the design of a building on land. Our work is like designing a building that is in a constant state of vibration. In fact, the great design of a ship proceeds just like the planning of a city.
What makes Icon of the Seas look like a city on the water are the “neighborhoods” or planned areas named Aquadome, Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside, Hideway, and Central Park, which we will take a look at in the following sections.
Ship building
The construction of Icon of the Seas officially started in early 2019. The first stage, as is usual in the construction of any large ship, involved checking the details and carrying out preliminary tests.
At this stage, the designers carefully focused on the body shape, propulsion, and energy systems, as well as environmental sustainability. Advanced fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were also performed to ensure high efficiency and reduced hull drag in water.
In October 2019, Mir Company inaugurated the project, according to the common tradition of shipbuilders, by cutting the steel sheets used in the ship’s hull.
Azipod propulsion systems and LNG fuel
The Icon ship’s six engines were provided by the Finnish company Wärtsilä with a dual propulsion system to use heavy oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.
The LNG propulsion system produces much less nitrogen oxide than traditional fuels, which is a big step towards cleaner seas. Accordingly, two 307-meter tanks with a capacity of 27 tons were transferred to the ship for LNG fuel.
The ship’s fuel system was equipped with “high pressure tanks” and “heat exchangers”, which allowed the storage and optimal use of LNG. Also, this system was connected to the combustion management unit, which continuously adjusts the fuel quality and combustion efficiency, and prevents the creation of harmful NOx gases by precisely controlling the fuel-air mixture.
LNG fuel tanks being transferred to the ship
Royal Caribbean
The Icon of the Seas propulsion system was designed based on azipods, which are among the most advanced electric propulsion technologies in the marine industry. Unlike conventional propulsion systems where a fixed propeller is driven by a shaft, the Azipod enables the propeller to rotate 360 degrees.
Azipods increase the maneuverability of the ship
This complete rotation capability increases the ship’s maneuverability reduces the need for lateral propulsion systems such as rudders, and particularly facilitates the stopping or moving of the ship in narrow harbors. Also, the design of azipods is such that it minimizes the turbulence created in the water, and by reducing water resistance, it reduces fuel consumption by 20% compared to conventional systems.
The deployment of three 20MW Azipod drives on the Icon ship increased the speed of this modern cruise to 22 knots (41 km/h).
Engineering-wise, azipods operate using induction motors and are powered by diesel generators or a combination of diesel and natural gas. These engines have high efficiency due to not having many moving parts and reducing friction, and on the other hand, using an efficient cooling system in Azipods increases their lifespan.
Two 307-meter LNG fuel tanks with a capacity of 27 tons provide the ship’s propulsion energy
Artificial intelligence not only recognizes the paths that require the least energy but also controls the energy consumption of numerous internal equipment such as air conditioning and elevator systems.
The lighting department of the ship was entrusted to Helamarine company, which creates a safe and pleasant atmosphere in the open seas with 20,000 low-consumption LEDs. At the same time, several complex and extensive optical systems provide accurate control of the light in the public areas of the ship digitally to the ship’s officials.
Intelligent ship control
Ship control includes an integrated management system (Integrated Bridge System) that is driven by advanced software and modern user interfaces. This system provides real-time monitoring and control of all operational parameters of the ship, including positioning, speed, route, and fuel consumption.
In addition, the IBS system is equipped with multiple sensors and warning systems that detect sudden changes in environmental or operational conditions and notify the crew.
The IBS system controls all operational parameters of the ship with multiple sensors
Using artificial intelligence and predictive algorithms, the intelligent control system can suggest the best sea routes and optimize fuel consumption. Also, the stabilization system (Stabilization System), which works in coordination with IBS, reduces the ship’s oscillating movements in turbulent sea conditions, which results in more passenger comfort and reduced depreciation of the ship’s structure.
Executive stages of ship construction
Part of the Icon of the Seas construction process
The process of building the Icon of the Seas went through three complex but coordinated stages:
Design and simulation: The first stage included the initial design and computer simulation of the systems. Using specialized software and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulators, accurate models of propulsion and fuel systems were prepared. These models were tested under different operational conditions to identify any possible defects or challenges before starting the actual development of different sectors and areas.
Construction and assembly of parts: In this stage, different parts of the ship were made in a modular way in special workshops. Then these parts were moved to the main ship building site and installed using super heavy cranes. To avoid any mistakes, the assembly process was done using automatic welding robots and laser measurement systems.
Aquadome dome assembly stage
Testing and commissioning: After the completion of the assembly, the ship was subjected to detailed tests. All sections were examined and adjusted separately and in combination with each other. At this stage, navigational tests including maneuverability tests, fuel efficiency, and response of control systems to variable conditions were conducted. These measures were accompanied by the simulation of different sea scenarios to prepare the ship to face any conditions.
Different parts of the ship are made modularly in special workshops and then transferred to the hull of the ship.
During the coronavirus pandemic, when the raw materials for construction were not available, the design personnel simulated, tested, and calibrated their designers in 3D by making replicas of different parts of the ship in appropriate sizes.
Testing the Aquadome waterfall in the workshop
Even the cabins were assembled in sections called “mega-blocks,” or modules, at the manufacturing plant, then at the docks, and then transferred to the ship. This reduced the build time and was like building a giant Lego.
Commitment to environmental technologies
As part of Royal Caribbean Group’s SEA the Future program, the company’s new ships are equipped with MAP and MAG systems that synthesize solid waste into gas and reuse it to generate energy.
These technologies not only minimize waste but also produce valuable by-products such as biochar, which can be used as a soil conditioner. According to the recycling programs of this ship, 90% of the waste is never buried in the soil. The energy obtained from the MAP system is also used in the ship itself.
MAP and MAG systems convert solid waste into gas
Another noteworthy point is that Royal Caribbean plans to reduce the food waste of this ship by 50% by 2025. In this futuristic plan, artificial intelligence is used for immediate food production according to existing needs and requests, and training of the ship’s crew with sustainable solutions is also on the agenda. The above program has led to the saving of 24% of food waste to date.
In another environmental innovation, the heat from the engine houses is used to desalinate seawater. 93% of the ship’s fresh water is produced and purified by the reverse osmosis system in the ship itself. Also, by producing small bubbles that cover the whole body of the ship, the compressors reduce the friction between the water and the body and subsequently reduce fuel consumption.
93% of the ship’s freshwater is purified and produced by a reverse osmosis system in the ship itself Mockler, Chief Decarbonisation Manager for the new build, describes Icon as a great example of how sustainability is being considered for the future:
What we did on board Icon was the beginning of a path, not an end goal. We want to use these ships as platforms to advance the development of technologies that we will need in future products; Because our effort is to draw the next modern ships in the most stable state possible.
Different departments and quarters of the ship
Icon of the Seas is described as a city on water because it consists of different neighborhoods; Including Hideway, Gobd Cascade, and Central Park, and we will have a close look at these amazing neighborhoods.
The Pearl: The pearl of the ship’s entrance
The Pearl section was designed and introduced by one of Brooklyn’s media artists. This spherical piece with a diameter of 15.3 meters is covered with more than 3,600,000 moving computer tiles and is now known as the largest kinetic art sculpture in the world, which displays an unprecedented fusion of art and technology.
This awe-inspiring work stands out not only for its grandeur, but also for its depiction of the essence of the ocean, as it beautifully simulates various natural phenomena such as rolling waves, gentle breezes, meteors, and a dynamic ocean surface. Inspired by the sea, the tiles are arranged in a Fibonacci sequence and reflect the patterns found in marine life.
The movements of “Marwaid” are influenced by the tide and wind data of the Caribbean Sea. This data, obtained from the web or the ship’s sensors, allows the massive pearl to constantly change and reflect the current environmental conditions in an ever-evolving display.
More than 3,600,000 computer-animated tiles inspired by marine life patterns are arranged in a Fibonacci sequence.
The Pearl area, like the entire ship, is an architectural masterpiece and a prime example of the innovative use of modern technology in the cruise industry. This spherical pearl is spread over four decks of the ship and welcomes passengers as a gateway as soon as they board. In the center of the pearl, a beautiful marble staircase connects the floors.
The Pearl derives its spherical form from a steel ball that acts as a supporting structure. Prominent engineers have also planned and deployed the infrastructure technologies of this sector: a combination of more than 5 thousand controllable LED lights and interactive media technology creates stunning visual effects and adapts to the environment at every moment.
The moving tiles, produced with Linear technology, create computer-controlled lighting effects. Also, the integrated sound system of more than a thousand watts enriches the listening experience of passengers and elevates their mood to higher levels. The total structural load of this section is estimated to be around 20 tons.
The iconic pearl is not just an eye-catcher but serves as a central point of reference for passengers exploring the heart of the ship.
AquaDome waterfall dome; Manifestation of art and technology
Located at the front of the ship, the Aquadome has a huge space with a magnificent glass dome that offers viewers a wide and captivating view of the ocean. This area has the “highest waterfall” in the middle of the sea along with other exciting attractions. The construction of this dome set the record for the largest glass and steel structure installed on a ship.
AquaDome; The highest waterfall in the middle of the sea with a height of 16.7 meters
Of course, the waterfall itself with a height of 16.7 meters attracts attention as one of the engineering miracles of shape change. The Aquadome transforms throughout the day, offering passengers a variety of delightful experiences, from breathtaking sunrises to vibrant daytime activities. During the day, travelers can tour the AquaDome Market, eat at its restaurant, or sit and watch the 220-degree view of the surrounding ocean.
As evening approaches and sunset approaches, the waterfall becomes a dynamic backdrop for a diverse range of entertaining shows that take place nightly. In this way, the Aquadome creates a dramatic scene beyond a tall waterfall, with energetic movements and captivating lighting, which enhances the quality of every show beyond imagination. The show center of this neighborhood is called AquaTheater.
Michael Bailey, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, says about the construction of this section:
We went through an amazing journey with the engineers, architects and designers to build the AquaDome, and what amazes travelers is a testament to the innovation and creativity of the teams.
Aquadom neighborhood with an area of more than 33 thousand square meters extends from deck 14 to deck 22. The beautiful dome was built outside the ship so that other teams could complete the forward deck at the same time. The sea dome weighing 367 tons consists of 12 different modules with 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels and it took 8 months to assemble them.
The first marine dome with 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels
The process of lifting and connecting the dome to the spreader was done with 54 cables, and when the crane wanted to place it in a special position on the ship, another 12 cables were added. Just maneuvering it into place using a specialized rig took 80 hours. During this time, a separate team monitored the weather conditions to find the safest time to depart.
Central Park: Green Paradise in the heart of the sea
Central Parks are usually one of the most popular parts of Royal Caribbean cruises: a green and playful atmosphere that evokes the experience of being immersed in a park, and even the sound of birdsong. The presence of bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops in these areas makes them a pleasant environment to work.
But the Icon ship has also improved the class of Central Park in a surprising way: the central park with an area of several thousand square meters contains more than 33 thousand natural plants of different species that grow well with intelligent irrigation and lighting systems.
The largest cruise ship park with more than 33 thousand natural plants
To manage water in this section, a multi-layer drainage system was created under the ground surface. This system collects excess water and returns it to the smart irrigation system. In addition, the plants that were planted in this neighborhood were selected based on their resistance to sea conditions, including strong winds and direct sunlight, and each plant was carefully placed in a suitable place according to the light and irrigation needs.
This neighborhood also uses the fresh sea air to create a cool and comfortable environment by using advanced ventilation techniques. Smart lighting systems have been developed in a way that preserves the sense of naturalness of the environment even at night.
Royal Promenade: The beating heart of the ship
Royal Promenade is a busy and exciting street located in the center of the ship and is considered a place for gathering, shopping, and entertainment for passengers. This neighborhood, with a large area spread over two floors, is considered one of the most important and busiest parts of the ship.
From clothing boutiques to electronics stores, travelers can find almost anything they want in the department stores on this street. In addition to restaurants that offer a variety of international cuisines, the daily performance of live shows, music, and dance also doubles the vitality of the Royal Promenade.
The roof of this neighborhood is designed as a large digital screen that displays the sky views and attractive images, and the glass elevators also provide the opportunity to see all the surrounding scenery while moving passengers.
Surfside: a space for families
The space that was known as the Boardwalk in the Oasis class ships is designed in a unique and more advanced way in the Icon ship.
The most diverse entertainment facilities with smart security systems
For example, a large water playground is installed for children, and facilities such as splash pads, smaller water slides, Ferris wheel, face painting, arcades, sports areas, video game halls, and even a DJ play a significant role in entertaining families.
Separate restaurants and bars also make it possible for parents to grab something to eat or drink while the children are playing nearby while keeping an eye on their children. Easy access to Playmakers and an ice rink makes this neighborhood ideal for families.
From another angle, smart security systems guarantee the safety of all children in all parts of this neighborhood. Interactive applications also enable parents to manage their children’s entertainment programs online.
Chill Island: an ocean of tranquility
Chill Island is a neighborhood where travelers can get away from the daily hustle and relax in a calm and pleasant atmosphere. This neighborhood with artificial beaches and beautiful swimming pools provides the best atmosphere for travelers to relax and unwind.
It has the largest pool in the middle of the sea
In this three-story neighborhood, which occupies a good part of the middle of the ship, there are beaches with soft sand and comfortable chairs for relaxing, swimming pools with a curved design and jacuzzis with a view of the sea, and beach bars with a variety of cool drinks for passengers.
Some of the pools in this area are:
Royal Bay: The largest pool in the middle of the sea, designed for all ages and located on the 15th deck.
Cove Pool: A pool that is designed to face the ocean, and for this reason, it is also called an infinity pool.
Cloud 17: Another pool overlooking the ocean with swirling water and a personalized and customized beverage bar that stands out on Deck 17.
Swim & Tonic: The first water bar brand, a shallow pool with in-water seats that allow passengers to sit or stand comfortably and order their favorite drink. This pool is located on the 16th deck.
The water in the pools is purified and heated using modern technologies. Also, the surround sound systems reproduce the sound of waves and nature realistically so that passengers have the feeling of being on a real island.
The Hideaway: a modern and dynamic space for young people
Hideaway was originally designed with the aim of creating an attractive and modern space for young people and couples, and with a combination of fun and trendy facilities, it provides a great opportunity for travelers to spend their free time in a friendly and pleasant environment.
The floating pool can be considered one of the most prominent features of The Hideaway, which is located on the edge of the ship and offers a wonderful view of the sea. Several social spaces with live music and professional DJs provide revelers with lively nights, not unlike Texas clubs.
Smart lighting systems create subtle changes in the spectrum of colors and light intensity according to the event and time, and the advanced surround sound systems also bring a unique music experience to passengers.
In addition, if young people need to relax after several hours of fun, they can separate themselves from the surrounding noise in the exclusive lounges that have a very stylish and modern design, with comfortable chairs and light.
The interesting point is that Hideaway has spaces with multiple uses that can be changed quickly. For example, a lounge can be transformed from a daytime lounge to a nightclub.
Thrill Island Amusement Park: Innovation in Exciting Structures
A neighborhood located on the back deck of the ship, with a series of challenging games and activities for lovers of excitement and adventure. For example:
The six water slides, which are the tallest marine specimens in the world, leave a unique memory and experience of free fall and speed in the minds of travelers.
Adventure park with rope climbing routes, suspension bridges, and towers to climb
Surfing simulator miniature golf and all kinds of energizing entertainment, each of which has its own fans.
It has the tallest water slides in the world and a surfing simulator
The construction of Thrill Island required advanced design and engineering to provide the desired facilities in a safe and efficient manner. For this purpose, in the structure of the water slides and adventure park, light, resistant, and stainless alloys were used, which can withstand high pressure and weight and have a long life.
One of the other requirements for the success of this neighborhood was intelligent safety monitoring and control systems that continuously monitor the condition of structures, equipment, and even weather conditions and take preventive measures if needed. For example, in case of sudden changes in wind speed, the FlowRider surf simulator automatically changes its settings to keep passengers safe.
On the other hand, due to the high volume of Thrill Island activities, special energy management systems were designed for this neighborhood. These systems help reduce overall energy consumption on board while maintaining an exciting experience for passengers.
District 6 in this neighborhood has a free fall slide called Pressure Drop, which falls from a height of 33 meters at an angle of 66 degrees.
Crown’s Edge in Thrill Island
The most daring passengers can also go to the ship’s edge and make their way along the skyway that extends beyond the ship’s perimeter towards the open sea: Crown’s Edge, a suspended walkway 47 meters above the ocean, is a first-of-its-kind attraction. It is installed in the icon ship and has no similar example in the marine technologies of the world.
Absolute Zero: The Show on the Ice Arena
This area is considered to be the largest ice skating rink on ships in history, completely redesigned for bigger feats to amaze all passengers.
Passengers can sit on the seats around the square to watch star actors and artists perform high takeoffs and spectacular turns on skates. During the day, fans can enter the ice rink themselves and perform.
Suite Neighborhood: luxury accommodation
With special facilities and private space, the Suite Quarter offers the highest level of comfort and VIP services to passengers who have booked the ship’s luxury suites. Private lounge, modern design and stunning views, exclusive restaurants and bars, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and private sun deck are just some of the facilities reserved for VIP passengers.
Each suite uses soundproof walls and is equipped with smart systems that allow travelers to manage the temperature, lighting, music, and even their orders in a personalized way.
In addition, passengers in this neighborhood have priority and faster access to all parts of the ship. The spacious deck area with plenty of seating in this two-story neighborhood provides a quiet and well-equipped area for families to relax.
Cabins
Although Icon of the Seas has fewer cabins (2,805 cabins compared to 2,874 rooms) than the largest ship of the previous generation, Wonder of the Seas, it hosts more passengers.
The reason for this difference is nothing but the focus of Icon designers on larger cabins that accommodate more than two people. In fact, more than 82 percent of the ship’s staterooms are designed for three or more guests, making them an ideal choice for family vacations.
The largest cabin on the ship is a three-story suite with an area of 540 square meters, two bedrooms, and a maximum of 8 passengers, with a cinema room, two balconies, and a private backyard.
But beyond the room size, the family-oriented design can be seen in every detail: from room layout to amenities and in-suite activities.
Icon of the Seas family cabin
For example, the tube-like slide that connects the upper floor to the ground floor living area, along with the popcorn machine, ping pong table, whirlpool, video games, and other entertainment can keep children entertained for hours.
These luxury suites have both a high cost ($8,000 per week) and an ever-increasing demand so that the entire complex is fully booked until the end of 2024.
All of these innovations have been developed based on “customer intelligence,” says Michael Bailey, president of Royal Caribbean International, about the ship’s smart technologies. He said during the round table of senior managers at a media event in Turku:
Understanding customers and understanding how they want to interact with each other is fundamental to creating innovation and new products like Icon of the Seas.
This is not done like throwing darts at a sable board. We use a huge amount of data, not just the data of the guests who travel with us, but much more. We actually have a lot of questions from this data, trying to understand if our guests are enjoying the product or the experiences we’re offering, or what they like and don’t like.
The highest ship booking rate
Since its introduction in October 2023, Icon of the Seas has captured the attention of the world with numerous record-breaking events, but apart from the features and facilities, this ship has also broken the ticket booking record. Prior to this ship’s maiden voyage, Royal Caribbean set the record for the most booked ship in one day and the most weekly booked in history.
All tickets for the first voyage of the Icon ship, which took place in January 2024, were sold out within 24 hours. On this cruise, which started from the port of Miami, the ship made stops in the following ports according to the schedule of the Eastern Caribbean: Buster in the country of St. Kitts, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and then Kokoki in the Bahamas.
The ship will continue to sail year-round on routes covering the eastern and western Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean symbolized the endless horizons of the modern shipbuilding industry and set new benchmarks and standards for future cruise ships.
According to this company, the second Icon class ship will be unveiled in the summer of 2025 under the name Star of the Seas. Now it seems that in the endless world of innovation, the boundaries of possible and impossible are shifting every day.
During the Cold War, the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union was not only limited to space, nuclear and weapons achievements, but this competition even extended to the design of processors. So in this article we will take a look at the story of the first Soviet chip.
Designed in California, copied in the Soviet Union; The story of the first Soviet chip
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a breathtaking competition in various fields, and each tried to prove its ideological superiority by showing its progress. This competition was not limited to the battlefield and extended to space, nuclear capabilities, technological innovation, and even competition to discover new super-heavy elements.
The space race, which culminated with the launch of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union and the United States’ Apollo landings on the moon, attracted everyone’s attention and became a symbol of the Cold War at that time. Similarly, the arms race led both superpowers to amass and develop advanced nuclear arsenals, a constant reminder of the unstable balance of power. This extensive competition fueled technological advancements in the military and space fields and influenced the process of innovations.
One of the examples of this technology competition was the development of computer technologies. In the early 1970s, the Soviet Union began to imitate key Western innovations in the field of microprocessors, aiming to close its technological gap with the West. One of these innovations was the Intel 8080 microprocessor, which was considered a significant development in the computer field. The Soviet version of the 8080, known as the KR580VM80A (aka the 580 series), represented their broader strategy of reproducing Western technology.
This competition for copying and innovation during the Cold War illustrates the interplay between geopolitical conflicts and technological advances. Due to the silence of news in the Soviet Union at that time, little has been written about the details and the story behind this processor. In this article, by examining most of these sources, we are trying to discuss the story of the design and introduction of the Russian copy of the 8080 microprocessor.
Soviet Union before the Silicon Age
Before going into the history of the Soviet 580 series microprocessors, it is necessary to briefly talk about the level of Soviet technology before the emergence of integrated microprocessors.
In 1950, the “Small Electronic Computing Machine” (SECM) was developed in the Soviet Union. It should be noted that SECM was launched in the Soviet Union when there were only a few computers in Europe; including the English EDSAC, which had been launched a year earlier, and the Z4 Zuse in Zurich, which had been built around 1947. However, the SECM processor was much more powerful because it processed the calculations in parallel.
In the construction of SECM, all the basic principles of computer construction, such as the presence of input and output devices, coding and storing the program in memory, automatic execution of calculations based on the stored program, and other such things, were used. Most importantly, this computer was built on binary logic (processing based on zeros and ones) used in digital computing engineering.
Large Soviet BESM-6 electronic calculating machine at the London Science Museum
During the historic Soyuz-Apollo space mission in 1975, mission control was handled by a complex system that included a large computer called the BECM-6 (Big Electronic Computing Machine). This computer was developed directly from SECM and was able to perform the calculations needed to launch a missile in one minute; While on the American side, the calculations related to this mission lasted 30 minutes. This time difference in calculations indicated the technological differences between the two countries at that time.
So far, Soviet computing superiority over the West has been evident. But the real disaster occurred when the Soviets decided to produce copies of the IBM-360 mainframe computer; It meant the transition from innovation to copying American design. It is clear that copying does not stand a chance of being overtaken; However, the Soviets usually upgraded Western designs to make them look more indigenous and innovative.
The Soviet SECM performed calculations in one minute, but the American computer in 30 minutes
Copying only makes sense when it is used as a learning step in the absence of technology necessary for innovation. Of course, the logical end of such an approach is still moving towards the development of dedicated systems, which today, China has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of this method. However, this story did not have a happy ending for the Soviet Union. From the moment the decision to copy was made, the Soviet Union was in an impossible scramble for advancement in the chip industry.
Copy instead of innovation
In late 1962, by order of the Soviet Union government, the Kyiv Design Bureau was established in the capital of the Ukrainian Socialist Republic, later known as the Kyiv Institute of Micro Devices (KNIIMP). This institution was associated with an experienced manufacturing plant. In August 1976, the institute’s first official mission was to create a copy of the Intel 8080 microprocessor, which had only been introduced for two years.
The design team of the KR580VM80A processor included a group of talented engineers and specialists working under the supervision of the Electronics and Engineering Design and Research Center. The team, led by Nikolai Beretsky, one of the most prominent Soviet engineers at the time, was responsible for the design and development of the new processor.
At the beginning of the work, the design team faced problems such as a lack of resources and advanced equipment. In particular, the production of semiconductor products in the Soviet Union faced serious problems due to the limitations of technology and raw materials, which directly affected the quality and performance of the processor. These issues caused delays in the project and the need for adjustments in the design.
Kiev Institute of Micro Devices with strange architecture during the Soviet era
On the one hand, funding technology projects during the Cold War was a big challenge. Due to the strategic sensitivity of the issue, the KR580VM80A project was funded through the Soviet Ministry of Electronic Industry and was specifically allocated for this project. This budget included research and development costs, purchase of laboratory equipment, and the supply of raw materials.
Since at that time, the semiconductor production technology in the Soviet Union was limited, part of the budget was allocated to upgrade the manufacturing equipment and technologies. The scope of the research and the lack of private investors, along with the economic crisis that engulfed the Soviet Union, faced serious challenges in funding this project.
The Soviet Union was facing the problem of funding and limited access to Western technologies
On the other hand, looking at the tense relations between the Western and Eastern Blocs, Soviet engineers had limited access to the 8080A microprocessor. Instead, they relied on existing documentation, technical articles, and spy intelligence that provided detailed information about the architecture and performance of the microprocessor. This information was often obtained from public sources, technical publications technical descriptions in manuals, or from insiders in companies.
Hence, Soviet engineers used reverse engineering to analyze the hardware design of the 8080A. The first step was the preparation of physical samples of this processor, which was purchased from America under the cover of fake companies.
The reverse engineering process involved opening the processor package to study the design of the silicon chip and its circuits. Soviet engineers used techniques such as decapsulation (removing the protective package of the chip) and microscopic study of the chip to examine the internal structure of the microprocessor. This allowed them to identify logic gates, circuit paths, and other critical components of the chip.
In addition to the physical examination, the Soviet team also had to understand the functional behavior of the 8080A. They performed various tests to see how the processor reacts to different commands and inputs. By running a series of software programs and checking the processor outputs, they were able to deduce the operational characteristics and architecture of the instruction set of this microprocessor. This step was very important to ensure the compatibility of the copied product with the software designed for the original processor.
The biggest challenge for the Soviet design team was the exact reconstruction of the microcode
One of the biggest challenges in this process was the exact reconstruction of the microcode design. Microcode is the low-level on-chip instructions that control the internal operations of the microprocessor and is very difficult to understand without detailed documentation.
Microcode instructions, like a cooking recipe, control the sequence of assembly code entry steps in calling, executing, and storing the results. Without having the correct combination and sequence of microcodes, the microprocessor will not be able to perform processing tasks. Soviet engineers had to reverse engineer the microcode by carefully analyzing the behavior of the processor in response to various commands and transferring it to their design.
The first series of processors produced at the Kyiv Microdevices Institute
CpusHack
Finally, between 1977 and 1978, the manufacturing of the first prototypes of the chips was completed. The first base set of this series included three chips: K580IK80, K580IK51, and K580IK55. These chips were produced in flat metal-ceramic packages with 48 pins, which was 8 pins more than Intel’s original architecture. Contrary to popular belief, these chips were not exact, layer-by-layer copies of Intel’s 8080 processor; Some blocks were similar, but the design and position of the metal joints were dramatically different.
Technical details of the Soviet chip
On November 6, 1980, The New York Times published an article entitled ” Soviet Advances in Computers ” in which the author analyzed the features of the KR580VM80A. The Soviet chips operated at 2 MHz (500,000 operations per second) and were manufactured based on the nMOS fabrication process with a channel width of 6 microns. The nMOS fabrication process involves the use of lithographic techniques to pattern different layers on a silicon wafer, which by applying high temperature, N and P semiconductor regions are precisely created within the silicon structure.
Compared to the 8080 with 4500 transistors, the Soviet chip had 4758 transistors
Western researchers’ analysis showed that this chip had exactly 4758 transistors; While there were rumors about the existence of 6000 or 4500 transistors. In 1981-1982, the packaging of these chips was changed to standard DIP (double-in-line pin package) packages with pin spacing corresponding to the Soviet standard, and later versions were released in the 40-pin format. Both versions were produced for domestic use in plastic frames and for special applications in metal-ceramic frames.
In 1983, the name of the IK80 model was changed to VM80, the IK55A model to VV55A, and the IK51 to VV51. The addition of the letter “A” at the end of the name of these models indicates an upgraded version that uses more of the basic set of this series. In this version, the processor speed increased to 2.5 MHz. Also, the area of the part was reduced by 20%, which happened due to the miniaturization of the production process to 5 microns.
The 580 series was produced by many Soviet integrated circuit design companies over the years. Among these companies, we can mention Quasar, Electronpribor, Radon, Kuvator, and Dnieper. Chips produced for export were marked “Сделано в СССР” (Made in the USSR) and were marketed without the manufacturer’s logo. In fact, it was the “manufacturer” of the Soviet Union, because the propaganda aspect of the government was more important than the name of the company that produced the chips.
Exported chips were marked “Made in the Soviet Union”.
With the widespread entry of these microprocessors into the market, microcircuit manuals were also prepared, which resembled a very high-quality translation from English to Russian. The importance of the manuals was that they not only had to fully explain the main purpose of the product but also technologically led the domestic manufacturer to build a product that was compatible with these microprocessors. Due to the minor differences between this product and the original, this was very difficult.
Although during the era of 8080 and 8086 microprocessors, the Kyiv Microdevices Institute succeeded in fulfilling its task, this company could not produce chips similar to Intel’s 80286 and then 80386 microprocessors.
Comparison with Western examples
Although at first glance, the Soviet version is completely compatible with the Intel 8080 processor in terms of software, there is a slight difference in the interrupt processing logic between the two processors. This difference seems to originate from a bug in the microcode of the KR580VM80A processor.
In 8080 processors, the interrupt response cycle begins when the processor detects an interrupt and intends to respond to it. In this cycle, the processor sends a signal that indicates the acknowledgment of receiving the interrupt, and with its help, the relevant hardware can send more information or perform the necessary requests. In this process, the CALL instruction tells the processor to go to a specific subroutine and transfer program execution to this subroutine. If a call instruction is received during the interrupt response cycle and the interrupt input remains active, the processor must properly update its internal flags and jump to the appropriate subroutine.
The microcode of the Soviet processor had a bug that caused the subroutine call stack to overflow
However, even if the interrupt output was disabled in the KR580VM80A processor, the processor could not clear the internal interrupt flag. This problem causes the processor to enter a microcode loop that continuously responds to the interrupt and adds the program counter to the stack, eventually leading to a stack overflow. In a typical hardware configuration, this problem is covered by the behavior of the 8259A interrupt controller, which disables the interrupt during the detection cycle. The Romanian MMN8080 processor also behaved similarly to the KR580VM80A, but other 8080 copies do not seem to be affected by this bug.
Although Russian engineers produced a large number of specialized microcontrollers for special tasks that had no direct Western equivalents, the focus on copying rather than innovation has put the Soviet Union forever behind the United States in the development and production of modern microprocessors.
Although the 8080 processor was quickly replaced in the West by newer and more advanced chips, the Soviet copy remained popular until the 1990s. Even to this day, Russia continues to produce various versions of Western processors, including the MCS-96 series and the PIC17 chip; While it seems that China’s chip industry is only four years behind the US despite the sanctions.
Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch offers an attractive design, high build quality, and accurate sensors in an affordable product.
Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch review; Alternative economic option for iPhone owners
These days, the market of economical smartwatches with a premium appearance and almost all the functions that we expect from these popular wearables is very hot; the time has passed when reliable tests for measuring heart rate and blood oxygen level and even sleep monitoring were only limited to Apple Watch and It was Galaxy Watch. Let’s say that our eyes are slowly getting used to seeing more luxurious features such as answering calls in economic wearables and even from lesser-known brands.
In a market almost saturated with smartwatches and wristbands with their limitations and capabilities, Xiaomi’s Glorimi products have been able to gain considerable popularity within a year or two, using the formula of attractive appearance, high build quality, accurate sensors and, of course, an affordable price tag. Find users. The Glorimi M2 Max smartwatch, which was recently received by Zomit for review, is easily included in the list of the best smartwatches and wristbands in the Iranian market by filling almost all the boxes that make it worth buying.
To say without exaggeration; The Glorimi M2 Max was one of the few watches that I felt I had to own while reviewing! It’s not because of the bright screen or very accurate sensors and the ability to contact the iPhone effortlessly; But because of the wonderful user interface of notifications!
But before I talk about the unique display of notifications, let me start the review with a quick look at the general specifications and design of the watch.
Glorimi M2 Max specifications at a glance
Dimensions
46.8 x 46.8 x 11.8 mm
weight
50 grams (with strap)
body
zinc alloy
Display
AMOLED 1.6 inches, 480 x 480 pixels, brightness 1350 nits
Built-in GPS
does not have
Storage space
4 GB (photo, song, and voice recording storage)
battery
360 mAh (about 6 days of daily use/20 days of standby)
waterproof
IP68 certified
Sensors
Optical heart rate sensor with the ability to calculate blood oxygen level (SpO2), accelerometer
Speaker and microphone
has
operating system
Exclusively compatible with Android 5 and iOS 9 and later
Connections
Bluetooth version 5.3
Eye-catching design with extra strap
The Glorimi M2 Max watch uses a large 1.6-inch circular screen in a zinc alloy frame, with a rotating button an aluminum action button, and a black/orange magnetic strap, which of course is available in black/blue, black/red, and white/blue colors. It is also available, it has an attractive and premium look. The 46.8mm size of the watch has an acceptable effect on narrow wrists, and its 50g weight does not cause any problems in long-term use; However, the magnetic strap makes you sweat a lot on hot summer days.
Glorimi M2 Max uses the IP68 degree of resistance against dust and water penetration up to a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes; Therefore, it is not suitable for recording swimming activities in the pool. Inside the box, apart from the magnetic strap, there is an additional silicone strap with a screen protector and a magnetic charging cable.
Bright with more or less brilliant performance
The screen on the Glorimi M2 Max is almost flawless; 1.6-inch 60 Hz AMOLED with a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels and a brightness of 1,350 nits, which is a step higher than similarly priced watches with 600 nit screens. Colors are vivid and bright on this watch, the pixel density is such that icons look sharp and clear, and text is easy to read, even under the summer sun. However, due to the lack of an ambient light sensor, there is no automatic brightness and you have to manually adjust the screen brightness.
Glorimi watch is one of the few watches that does not discriminate between different ecosystems in the true sense of the word. Changing the language of the watch is done immediately without the need to restart, and by the way, the translation of the words is accurate and fluent.
Glorimi watch uses a proprietary operating system compatible with iOS and Android and a dual-core processor with a 2.5D graphics engine to display animated watch faces with a 3D feel. In this price range, you should not expect perfect performance from the watch, and sometimes we see a little lag in the corners of the operating system; For example, there is a slight delay in displaying the clock after lifting the wrist or switching between screens. The animation of moving watch faces is also a bit slow.
I tested the Glorimi M2 Max with firmware version 1.0.5 on an iPhone and most likely the lag issue will be fixed in future updates. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any bugs during the review, and the display of notifications and calls was lag-free; The Bluetooth 5.3 connection was always established and, unlike most watches of the same category, it had no problem maintaining the connection with the iPhone.
This watch also uses four gigabytes of storage space to store photos, songs, and voice recordings. Transferring photos and songs is done through the HaWoFit watch app, and it is possible even on the iPhone.
Best implementation of the notification display
Glorimi M2 Max’s operating system, while similar to many other smartwatch OSes, benefits from a unique and interesting feature that Xiaomi refers to as a “Split Screen Browser”. While on most watches, swiping left and right simply switches between different apps, swiping right on the Glorimi M2 Max displays a small split screen in the left corner of the main screen. In this small space, you can see the time and date, quick access to notifications and the complete list of applications; You can also define a shortcut to access up to four applications by keeping your finger in this space.
The user interface of the Xiaomi watch is simple, clean, and straightforward and uses standard gestures to access different parts of the watch; By pressing the rotary button, the list of applications will open, and you can change their arrangement from the watch settings section. By rotating this button on the home screen, you switch between watch faces, control the volume in the Music app, and scroll through other pages. If you haven’t activated Always-on and Raise-to-wake to increase battery life, you can turn on the watch face by pressing the rotary button.
The second button is also a shortcut to the workouts screen by default, but you can replace it with any other app. A swipe down reveals quick settings that include brightness adjustment, Do Not Disturb mode, silent mode, raise-to-wake feature, power saving mode, watch face and sound settings, AOD mode, and several other options.
Split Screen’s right swipe and left swipe switch between several frequently used apps, including activity overview, heart rate test, blood oxygen level, stress, sleep monitoring, music control, and weather, and you can remove some of these shortcuts. Finally, swiping up reveals the notifications screen.
I am not exaggerating; Glorimi M2 Max has the best notification display implementation among all the smart watches reviewed by Zomit. Apart from the complete and perfect support of the Farsi language and emojis, it is as if there is no limit defined for the notifications of the Xiaomi watch! First, notifications are placed in separate categories depending on the application, and each application has its own official icon. Scrolling is also enabled for each notification so you can read messages almost completely (the only thing that doesn’t show fully is the link).
Notifications will be saved in any category you want; For example, the number of X social network category notifications reached more than 60 and continued! In comparison, the CMF Notting Watch Pro only keeps 10 notifications, and new notifications overwrite the previous ones.
Ability to call even for iPhone
Apple’s closed ecosystem does not allow many smartwatches to be compatible with the iPhone, and call support is usually one of the first features that fall under Apple’s monopoly; However, with the Glorimi M2 Max, you can easily connect it to the iPhone and enjoy all the functions of this watch, including answering calls, except for sending a quick reply.
Answering calls with the Xiaomi watch is done without problems and delays, and the performance of the speaker and microphone is satisfactory for use in a low-noise environment. The watch has a relatively weak vibration and is not suitable for waking up; But you can use several different ringtones for alarms and calls that have a suitable volume.
Glorimi M2 Max’s proprietary operating system does not support any app store and you have to go with the pre-installed apps on the watch that meet most of the user’s needs; Including weather app, calculator, watch lock with password, find phone, camera shutter control, alarm, stopwatch, timer, photo album, reminder, flashlight, Pomodoro timer, voice recorder, music control, and four mini-games. Of course, it is possible to synchronize information from the iPhone’s Health app with the watch, but Strava’s place is empty.
The shutter control unfortunately only works with the camera interface of the HaWoFit app, but the music control allows you to play songs from the watch itself or even save songs for the iPhone. Voice recording is one of those apps that are usually not found by default in smartwatches; However, the sound recording quality of Glorimi M2 Max does not disappoint.
In the watch application, you can access a diverse and colorful collection of watch faces with five different styles for AOD mode. Most watch faces are very busy and many of them use animated elements that may not suit all tastes. Fortunately, it is possible to use a custom watch face, and the process of installing it on the watch takes less than 30 seconds. In the personalization section of the watch face, you can choose from 5 different styles, although the front of the watch is too simple and does not match the design of the official watch faces.
Extremely accurate sensors
The Glorimi M2 Max smartwatch uses an accelerometer and an “advanced” heart rate sensor with the ability to calculate the blood oxygen level (SpO2) and an accelerometer, but there is no gyroscope or skin temperature and ambient light sensor; However, many of the health features the user needs are available in this watch; Including 24-hour heart rate measurement, heart rate alarm, blood oxygen measurement, sleep monitoring, a reminder of water consumption and movement, stress test, monthly habit tracker, breathing exercise and a new feature called Mood, which seems to be closely related to stress test.
But just providing health features is not enough; You should be able to trust their results. Fortunately, the Xiaomi watch showed an extremely accurate performance in the health and sleep monitoring tests, so that we can safely recommend the Glorimi M2 Max to people whose purpose in buying a smartwatch is health monitoring. As you can see in the table, the test results of the three health functions of the Xiaomi watch are almost equal to the results of the Galaxy Watch 4, which has accurate sensors.
Tests
Glorimi M2 Max
Galaxy Watch 4
heartbeat
86 beats per minute
85 beats per minute
blood oxygen level (SpO2)
98 percent
97 percent
stress test
normal
normal
I usually don’t expect much from the accuracy of sensors or even pedometers in this price range, but the Glorimi M2 Max blew me away in all tests. The sleep monitoring results are quite accurate and the pedometer did a great job of recording 100 steps with only one step difference.
The Xiaomi watch supports more than a hundred different workouts and all of them can be seen and selected from the watch itself. Since the watch does not have a resistance level of 5ATM, there is no mention of a swimming workout in the list of sports activities. For sports activities, information such as the number of steps, the amount of calories burned, the duration of the activity, the heart rate, and the speed of the steps are recorded. The Glorimi M2 Max lacks built-in GPS, but the map app has accurate positioning.
Satisfactory battery life
In terms of battery life, the Glorimi M2 Max fares very well. Xiaomi announced a battery capacity of 360 mAh and claims that it will last about 20 days in standby mode and 3 to 5 days in heavy use.
In my review, with 50% brightness, AOD and BT Switched off, notifications on, heart rate, stress, and oxygen levels constantly monitored, and about half an hour of calls and exercise per day, the watch lasted about six days on a charge. . If you enable AOD and BT Switch, the battery life will probably decrease to about 3 days. The watch is charged with a special magnetic cable and it takes about two hours to charge from 0 to 100 percent.
Is Glorimi M2 Max worth buying?
The Glorimi M2 Max smartwatch is an attractive product in many ways, and considering the price tag of about three million tomans, it has outstanding features that make its purchase worthwhile; Including a clear and bright AMOLED screen, full support for Farsi language in the menu and messages, very accurate sensors, the ability to call even with an iPhone, great implementation of notification display and satisfactory battery life.
But on the other hand, this economic watch also has limitations; Including the lack of built-in GPS, the lack of the ability to install external applications, the lack of ability to respond to messages (in Android phones, it is possible to send a quick response) and the lack of support for 5ATM resistance level to record swimming activity.
If texting, installing third-party apps, and built-in GPS are important to you, you might want to consider buying the Galaxy Watch 4, which, despite being three years old, costs almost twice as much as the Glorimi M2 Max, and isn’t compatible with the iPhone.
The Galaxy Fit 3 is roughly the same price as the M2 Max and offers 5ATM resistance, fast performance, and drop detection, but lacks built-in GPS, calling, and app installation.
Along with its attractive appearance and built-in GPS, Notting’s CMF Watch Pro uses accurate and responsive touch sensors compatible with the iPhone, but at the time of review, it suffered from numerous software bugs.
In addition to the M2 Max model, the Glorimy brand also has two models, the M2 and the M2 Pro, where the M2 model is cheaper and the Pro model is more expensive and has a more luxurious appearance. The Max and Pro models share the same processor, but the Pro model has a slightly smaller screen, two extra straps in the box, and no storage space. The M2 has the same screen as the Pro but uses a possibly weaker processor. All three models do not differ in terms of features and capabilities.
The specifications of all Glorimy products can be seen on the official Glorimy website. Fortunately, these products benefit from 12 months of after-sales service, including a 6-month replacement warranty, and it is possible to register a service request and inquire about authenticity from the glorimi.ir website.
Why should we buy the Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch?
Excellent display of notifications
The ability to call even with an iPhone
Bright AMOLED screen
Very accurate sensors
Satisfactory battery life
Affordable price
Why should we avoid buying the Xiaomi Glorimi M2 Max watch?