Xiaomi has unveiled its best contender yet to the iPhone 7. The company's latest flagship, Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus costs $390, less than half the price of Apple's top-of-the-line model. It is a plus-sized device with dual cameras and a pressure-sensitive screen.
With the new smartphone, Xiaomi that was once referred to as a source of cheap but innovative phones is set to topple premium devices in the market. The smartphone comes with one of Qualcomm's fastest processors and 6 GB of RAM. The Mi 5S Plus has a screen that detects different degrees of pressure and 13MP cameras, stacking up well against the iPhone in the specification area.
Although Xiaomi is slipped behind Huawei and Oppo in the home market that it once dominated, the Chinese tech giant's efforts to compete in Latin America and India have stalled.
The recalling of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 opens a window of opportunity not only for Apple, but also for Xiaomi to take market shares away from the global leader. In fact, Lei Jun, the co-founder and chief executive of Xiaomi told Bloomberg about the Mi 5S Plus at the launch event in Beijing, wherein they also introduced a 65-inch, 4K smart TV.
"We were aiming to challenge Samsung and Apple in camera capability. With the Mi 5S, I believe we beat both of them," Jun said.
Apple is relying on its latest iteration of the flagship product to regain the top position in its largest overseas market, China, according to another report by the same publication. However, as opposed to the past years, the iPhone 7 provides little that reverberates with Chinese consumers - no cheaper models like the SE or 5C, a radical revamp, or features that truly push the technological sphere. Investors are even speculating that sales for the iPhone 7 will lag behind last years.
The new iPhone 7 features a water resistant design, improved camera, and faster processor. Its larger Plus counterpart features a back-facing dual camera that enables for crisper photos, especially in low light. While it comes with a pressure-sensitive Home button that gives a vibrating sensation as opposed to a click, the high-end version goes for more than $899 in China.
On the contrary, the price tag of the Mi 5S Plus makes it very competitive. With all the advancements, the smartphone is just a few dollars more expensive than the Mi 5. Here is a sneak peek for more information on Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus: