Xiaomi unveils the new Mi 4s handset at an event in Beijing, shortly before introducing its new Mi 5 flagship.
Carrying an affordable price tag, the Mi 4s is a new version of the 2014 Xiaomi Mi 4 and aims to bring a small upgrade on the handset.
The 5-inch Xiaomi Mi 4s runs MIUI 7 that is based on the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It comes with a full HD IPS display that has a pixel resolution of 1,080 x 1,920 and a pixel density of 441ppi.
As for the processor, the Mi 4s packs a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 and pairs it with an Adreno 418 GPU and a RAM of 3 GB. It is a dual-SIM handset that features internal storage of 64 GB.
The Mi 4s has a 13-megapixel rear camera which comes illuminated by a dual tone LED flash. Compared to the Mi 4, the Mi 4s' front camera has been downgraded to 5-megapixel. However, the new handset does have a larger battery of 3,260 mAh, which is also non-removable.
It should be noted that while the Mi 4s is a new version of the Mi 4, it is actually not the successor.
The handset that will be succeeding the Mi 4 is the Xiaomi Mi 5 which the company unveiled shortly after its announcement on the Mi 4s.
One of the Mi 4s' most notable features is the microSD card expansion support, which somehow gives it an edge against the Xiaomi Mi 4, Xiaomi Mi 4c and Xiaomi Mi 4i.
The Mi 4s also comes with a USB Type-C and a fingerprint scanner, which is nestled at the handset's rear panel. The smartphone supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology and offers a number of connectivity options. These include GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G and LTE.
Design-wise, the Mi 4s will sport a metal frame that comes with a glass panel at the rear. It will be available in four color options that include: white, black, purple and gold.
The Xiaomi Mi 4s will retail at about $259, almost similar or perhaps cheaper than other mid-range handsets in the market. It will start to go on sale in China on the first day of March.
The China OEM announced the Mi 4s at the same Mi 5 launch event during the MWC 2016 in Barcelona.
