Xiaomi Mi 5 release date Jan. 21? specs include fingerprint scanner?

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More Xiaomi Mi 5 leaks turn up, hinting the possible release date and the design changes Xiaomi is making in its next flagship. A leaked render of the handset recently made it online, thanks to a tipster who shared it on Weibo.

The render shows that the device features a physical home button, which is a complete departure from its predecessors. The Chinese tech firm hasn't made use of such, but with reports that it will sport a fingerprint scanner, it comes as a little surprise.

Rumor has it that Xiaomi Mi 5 will boast the UltraSonic Fingerprint Scanner technology. However, analyst Pan Jiutang already claimed that the said instrument is still very raw for it to be used on a flagship, so the forthcoming smartphone will most likely get a standard sensor instead.

This also meant that the device may not end up with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor under its hood. The chipset was to be used for its capability to support the new tech, which is reportedly more secure and basically works on any surfaces such as plastic, glass, metal and many more.

Interestingly though, a recent Antutu benchmark listing showed that the Xiaomi Mi 5 broke the 100,000 score mark. To be specific, it garnered 101,339 points and this is believed to be the work of Qualcomm's new-gen processor, as what has always been said in previous reports.

Meanwhile, it is also being said that Xiaomi Mi 5 will have Android 6.0 Marshmallow pre-installed, making it the first Xiaomi offering to don the OS. In addition, it will reportedly get a pressure-sensitive touchscreen, which will be Xiaomi's version of Apple's 3D Touch feature in the iPhone 6s line.

There's also word that the premium smartphone, believed to get a 5.2-inch Quad HD display, will come with a big brother called Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus that boasts a much larger, 5.7-inch display.

The last thing Weibo revealed was that Xiaomi will apparently take the covers off the Xiaomi Mi 5 on Jan. 21 and make it available to the market by February. Whether or not all this is accurate, only time will tell.