Xiaomi Promises Super-Thin 'Mi 5 Plus' As Leaked Photos Surface; Will It Copy The iPhone Again?

All eyes will be on Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi Thursday when it announces a new flagship smartphone, positioning the company to do battle with Samsung and Apple around the world. The company sent out teasers for its Beijing unveiling event Tuesday, and on Wednesday a leaked image of the supposed Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus smartphone surfaced, shared by informant @leaksfly.

Showing a device that looks very official and iPhone-like, the leaked image -- whether legitimate or an artist's rendering -- suggests that Xiaomi’s next smartphone will be a high-end product. The Mi line has offered the brand's most technologically advanced and expensive smartphones thus far -- but they're still priced at a fraction of what high-end smartphones by players like Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. cost.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus’ standout feature is reportedly an extremely thin frame, at 5.1mm -- as one of the recent teasers says:“As [blank] as paper.” Other hardware may include 5.2-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) display, a Snapdragon 805 or Snapdragon 810 chip, 3GB RAM and 16GB and 64GB internal-storage options. The smartphone may also feature a 16-megapixel or 20-megapixel main camera, as well as an 8-megapixel front camera.

A new teaser shared by Xiaomi Wednesday is a lot more ominous than others. Pundits can't figure out whether it reads “Not 5” or “Not S.” Previous reports have suggested that Xiaomi might announce the Redmi Note 2, which would be a new device in the manufacturer’s phablet line.

Xiaomi’s also suggests it may be announcing more than one device; another teaser reads “[Blank] is better than one.” Watchers will have to wait and find out at Xiaomi’s Beijing event, set for 2 p.m. (1 a.m. EST) Thursday.