Xiaomi Mi 5s, Mi 5s Plus with ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, dual-camera setup launched: Price, specifications, features

Xiaomi Mi 5s, Mi 5s Plus with ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, dual-camera setup launched: Price, specifications, features

Xiaomi has launched the much talked about Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus smartphones today in China. As the names suggest, these are in essence upgraded versions of the flagship Mi 5 smartphone with better internals and features. Xiaomi’s Mi 5s has been launched in two variants — 64GB with 4GB RAM priced at 1,999 Yuan (Rs 19,900 approximately), and 128GB variant with 6GB RAM priced at 2,299 Yuan (Rs 22,900 approximately). The Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus similarly comes in two variants — 64GB variant priced at 2,299 Yuan and 128GB variant priced at 2,599 Yuan (Rs 26,000 approximately).

In addition to top-of-the-line specifications, both new Xiaomi smartphones come with some notable features. Let’s start with the Xiaomi Mi 5s first, and its highlight is the Qualcomm Sense ID ultrasonic fingerprint sensing technology. The fingerprint scanner is basically placed below the front glass, is extremely fast at recognizing fingerprints and is also more accurate. The technology uses ultrasonic waves to map the pores and ridges on a user’s finger, and the best part is, it also works when the finger is wet, dirty or oily. This technology is unsurprisingly more accurate and secure than standard fingerprint sensing tech.

Speaking of which, Xiaomi has surprisingly opted for a more orthodox fingerprint scanner for the Mi 5s Plus. The scanner is placed at the back underneath the rear cameras, which brings us to the Mi 5s Plus’ highlight — dual-camera setup. This setup includes a pair of 13-megapixel cameras with Sony sensors — one RGB sensor to capture color information, while the other is a black and white sensor. Again, this feature is only restricted to the Mi 5s Plus, and Xiaomi has opted for a standard 12-megapixel snapper at the back with a Sony IMX378 sensor.

The Xiaomi Mi 5s will be available in four color variants — dark gray, silver, gold and rose gold. The gold and dark gray comes with brushed metal on the back and rose gold and silver back with matte anodizing process. There is also a special 3D ceramic version, similar to one launched with the Mi 5 earlier this year. Surprisingly, the back panel of the Mi 5s is marred with ugly antenna lines that remind us of last year’s iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Thankfully that is not the case with the Mi 5s Plus, which looks more like a Redmi Note Pro. It will also be available in four colors, and boasts a brushed metal body.

Xiaomi Mi 5s specifications

Xiaomi Mi 5s smartphone features a 5.15-inch full HD (1080p) display with 2.5D glass and 600 nits brightness. Another highlight of the Mi 5s is the pressure-sensitive display on the smartphone’s 128GB storage variant. Powered by Synaptics’ technology, the pressure-sensitive display can distinguish between light and hard taps. The overall functionality is pretty similar to what you get on Apple’s new iPhones.

The Xiaomi Mi 5s also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, and its rear camera comes with features 4-axis camera image stabilization, f/2.3 aperture. Up front, there is a 13-megapixel selfie camera, and the smartphone also features 3,200mAh battery, and connectivity options like 4G LTE support, NFC, and USB Type-C port.

Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus specifications

Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus, on the other hand, features a 5.7-inch display with 2.5D curved glass, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, a 3,800mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, and USB Type-C port.

Apart from launching the Mi 5s and Mi 5s Plus smartphones, Xiaomi today also launched the Mi TV 3s. This new smart TV is quite slim with a 9.9mm thin body, and features a 65-inch 4K display, and fifth generation engine and HDR display technology. It comes with 2GB RAM and 8GB onboard storage and is powered by Amlogic 64 Wei flagship processor clocked at 1.8GHz and paired with Cortex-A53 and Mali-T830. The Xiaomi Mi TV 3s is priced at  4,999 Yuan (Rs 49,000 approximately).