Xiaomi has recently confirmed the launch date of the long-awaited Mi 5 smartphone. Prior to its February 24 debut, details about the company's upcoming smartphone continue to make rounds on the rumor mill.
International Business Times reported that the Xiaomi Mi 5 will be released in China and at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016, Barcelona, on the very same day. This will be the first time in the company's history to reveal a smartphone outside China, suggesting it is ready to enter developed markets of Europe and America.
As the Mi 5's release is imminent, speculations have become rampant online. According to some reports, Xiaomi is expected to unveil two 5.2-inch based Mi5 models; one having QHD (2560x1440p) and another with full HD (1920x1080p) resolution.
Both of these Xiaomi Mi 5 models will arrive with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor. But, there will be a couple of differences between the two in terms of storage and RAM. The full-HD model will be packed with 3GB RAM and 32GB in-built memory, while the QHD variant will come armed with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage capacity.
When it comes to OS, this handset is almost certain to come shipped with Android Marshmallow out-of-the-box. However, some talks are stating that Xiaomi may launch separate limited edition Mi 5 models with Microsoft Windows 10 mobile OS.
Camera-wise, Christian Today stated Mi 5's new snapper is more powerful and a better one than its predecessor. This is based from the photo shot with the Mi 5 that has surfaced recently. The supposed leaked images reportedly came from Xiaomi's Vice President Hugo Barra who posted the photos on his Facebook page to show people how the Mi 5 leveled up in terms of its features.
The image Barra uploaded was taken in HDR automatic mode, using the 16-MP main shooter of the Mi 5. Accordin to his post, the image was taken using the advantage of the HDR feature in the camera but no user intervention such as filters were used. He also recapped that the image did not use the full resolution of the Mi 5's camera.
Moreover, Tech Times added that the Xiaomi Mi 5 will be powered by a huge 3,600 mAh capacity battery that will offer long productivity to users. It was also rumored that this handset will arrive with two variants, one with a glass panel at the rear and the front, and the other featuring an all-metal frame giving more premium feel to the smartphone.
Nowadays, most of the top-end smartphones are armed with a fingerprint scanner, so Xiaomi is also predicted to include one at the back of the phone, just under the camera lens. This fingerprint scanner will help owners keep their handsets secure and unlock it without the need of a passcode.
The upcoming device's 16 GB version is expected to be tagged at $625 while the 64 GB variant may cost $728.
After its debut, the Xiaomi Mi 5 is expected to be first released in China; and most probably, a month later in other markets.
