Xiaomi has announced today two powerful China smartphones, the Mi 5s and the larger version Mi 5s Plus. Both of the handsets are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and start the standard edition empowered by 64GB of internal memory. The Xiaomi Mi 5s starts with 3GB of RAM and 64GB storage, while the Mi 5s Plus begins with 4GB of RAM plus 128GB flash storage, the larger version is the most advanced one because it sports a dual 13MP camera on the rear. The most amazing feature of these two hi-end smartphones is undoubtedly the price tag. Xiaomi Mi 5s with 3GB RAM + 64GB storage is set to sell for 1999 Yuan ($300), the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage for 2299 Yuan ($345) while the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus with 4GB RAM + 64GB storage will cost 2299 Yuan ($345) and the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage will sell for 2599 Yuan ($390). Best hi-end smartphones for the budget.
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus specs and features
The Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus sports a metallic design with curved edges on the back and sports 5.7-inch full-HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution. It comes powered by the upgraded version of the Snapdragon 820 SoC, the 64-bit Snapdragon 821 processor with four Kryo CPU cores clocked at 2.35GHz paired with the Adreno 530 GPU and 3GB/4GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB storage (goodbye 16GB and 32GB editions) and the new MIUI8 operating system based on Android.
Xiaomi’s Mi 5s Plus comes sporting unique cameras, there are two 13MP cameras on the rear but one of them is Black and White. The uniqueness of this camera is that it doesn’t use a filter to snap black and white photos or record videos, it is a real black and white camera that can provide you with black and white cinematic filming. Both of the cameras support phase detection autofocus, HDR, face detection, and enable you to record 4K videos at 30fps. To capture more light, there’s a LED flash on the right side of the cameras which are placed vertically one over the other.
For selfies, Mi 5s Plus has reserved a 4MP selfie camera with a large f/2.0 aperture lens, face recognition, and beauty selfie effects. The selfie camera enables you video recording at 1080 pixels so do not get disappointed by the 4MP camera.
In the terms of connectivity, the Mi 5s Plus sports a fingerprint sensor on the back side, two SIM cards, 4G LTE network, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, and USB Type C. The handset gets powered by 3,800 mAh battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology, measures dimensions of 154.6 x 77.7 x 7.95 mm, and weighs only 168 grams.
Xiaomi Mi 5s Specs and features
There are different ways the Mi 5s differs from the Mi 5s Plus, but calling the smaller flagship version as a downgraded version would be such a mistake. The Xiaomi Mi 5s shares most of its DNA with the Mi 5s Plus, like they run the same Snapdragon 821 processor, but in this case, there are 3GB RAM + 64GB storage and 4GB RAM + 128GB memory models.
The Mi 5s sports the same metallic design but with a smaller size. The 5.15-inch touchscreen display with FHD resolution offers higher pixel’s density than the Mi 5s Plus. The uniqueness on the Xiaomi Mi 5s is the Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor featured below the glass (not available on the Mi 5s Plus). Xiaomi has ditched the multi-functional physical button with an embedded fingerprint for the Ultrasonic Fingerprint technology that enables fingerprint recognition from beneath the screen.
The main camera of the Mi 5s is also a different unit. This time, there’s a 12MP Sony IMX378 CMOS sensor on the rear with 6-element lens, f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, and HDR for recording 4K videos at 30fps. The selfie camera remains the same 4MP full HD unit.
Connectivity supports are the same top-notch, Ultrasonic Fingerprint is an addition, and the battery is a smaller 3,200 mAh also supporting Quick Charge 3.0 tech.
Xiaomi Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus will be available in Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold colors and currently are available for pre-orders in China.