Liu Jianyu stood steady on stage as the final segment of the presentation began.
"Let's wrap up what matters most to day-to-day users."
"We've added professional traffic monitoring—no more background apps stealing your data.
You'll also find new themes and wallpapers, refreshed animation effects, and a fully optimized UI under Hongmeng OS 3.0."
He didn't linger on minor upgrades. Instead, he kept the pace tight.
"There's more under the hood, but I won't waste your time. The full Hongmeng 3.0 update will roll out tomorrow at noon to all China Star Technologies (CS) users."
The applause rose again, but Jianyu raised a hand before it peaked.
"Let's talk games."
That grabbed attention.
"The Zhulong A2 processor in the S2 easily handles every mainstream mobile game.
And with Professional Game Mode, we push performance by another 20%, while blocking calls, texts, and distractions."
Gasps and cheers followed. But he wasn't done.
"We've partnered with QQ Speed Mobile, and every Hongmeng S2 buyer will get an exclusive redemption code for premium in-game content."
That alone guaranteed a sales spike. The crossover appeal was enormous.
With that, Liu Jianyu closed the spec reveal. The S2's configuration wasn't just comprehensive—it was complete.
But of course, that's not what the crowd cared about most now.
Everyone—whether in the stadium or on the livestream—had one question left.
"President Liu, how much?!"
"Just tell us the price already!"
Jianyu smiled, eyes scanning the audience below.
"Are we satisfied with the product?"
"Satisfied!"
"More than satisfied!"
"Best release of the year!"
Still smiling, he kept them hanging for just a few seconds longer.
"Then let's talk price."
Behind him, the big screen flickered and displayed the full lineup.
Hongmeng S2 Series:S2 Base 2GB+16GB ¥2999 (≈ $413)S2 Standard 2 GB+32GB ¥3299 (≈ $454)S2 Premium 2GB+64GB ¥3699 (≈ $509)
Hongmeng S2 Pro Series:Pro Lite 2GB+32GB ¥3499 (≈ $482)Pro Standard 3 GB+32GB ¥3699 (≈ $509)Pro Premium 3 GB+64GB ¥3999 (≈ $550)Pro Ultra 3 GB+128GB ¥4499 (≈ $619)
Starting at ¥2999 ($413) and topping out at ¥4499 ($619), the S2 family planted itself firmly in high-end territory.
Some audience members who were ready to buy hesitated—those were real flagship prices.
But most? Still tempted.
Considering the build, camera, battery, chip, and software… it was a fair ask.
Online and offline, comments flew:
"That's cheaper than I expected."
"They're aiming at Apple and Samsung with this, for sure."
"I was hoping for ¥2599, but this still feels worth it."
"Good price for this much tech."
Executives at rival phone companies breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's a strong phone," one admitted, "but at this price, it won't completely undercut our mid-range line."
But they were still envious. In China's premium phone segment above ¥3000, only two brands honestly held ground:
Apple
China Star Technologies
Backstage, Lei Jun finally exhaled.
"They went high. We've got space to fight."
The Mi 4 could still compete on value, at least for now.
On stage, Jianyu concluded with calm assurance.
"These are the two new products we're bringing you this year. Sales open tomorrow at 10 a.m. I hope we have your support."
The applause was steady. Earned.
As the lights onstage dimmed, Jianyu stepped down and disappeared into the wings. The audience slowly rose, the press conference over—but the buzz had just begun.
Millions of people watching online closed the livestream tabs and are already heading to forums and store listings. The Hongmeng S2 wasn't just a phone. It was a message.
Late that night, the mood was still and heavy inside Xiaomi headquarters.
Lei Jun sat silently, watching his monitor's replay fade to black.
The message was clear:
"China Star isn't just catching up. They're pulling ahead."
He had once believed they'd meet in the middle, equal rivals. Now, that gap felt wider than ever.
Lei Jun murmured to himself:
"Terrifying... and admirable."
He wasn't the only one shaken.
Xiaomi's senior team sat quietly, worried looks on every face.
Lei Jun finally waved them off.
"Go rest. We'll figure it out."
CS's launch had hit the whole industry. Xiaomi's warehouses might be lean, but not every company has that flexibility.
For brands with large backstock? This new standard would hurt.
Hard.
Oppo and Vivo—normally calm—were scrambling to rethink their roadmap.
CS had done more than launch a phone.
They had reset expectations.