China's Xiaomi Inc, the world's third-biggest smartphone manufacturer, has launched its flagship Mi Note in Beijing in a bid to rival top player Apple's iPhone 6 Plus, according to a report by Reuters.
During the launch event, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun made several references to the iPhone 6 Plus as he discussed the features and specification of the Mi Note.
A model with 16 gigabytes of memory retails for 2299 yuan , or $371 dollars, which is almost two-thirds less than the price of the iPhone 6 Plus. The 64-gigabyte model, meanwhile, is priced at 2,799 yuan, or $450.
The 64-bit Mi Note Pro, with an 8-core Snapdragon 810 processor and 4 gigabytes of RAM, sells for 3,299 yuan, or $535. It is the most expensive phone Xiamoi has produced.
The Mi note has a 3,000 mAh battery manufactured by LG.
Lei said that the Mi Note, which has a 5.7-inch screen, is thinner and lighter than the Apple gadget. The CEO said that the device has a rear-facing camera that doesn't stick, unlike that of the iPhone 6 Plus, TechCrunch says in a report.
The Ni Note's front-facing 13-megapixel camera sports an optical stabilization.
During his representation, Lei took pride in the great achievements of Xiaomi within the short time that it has been in existence. The company was founded only in April 2010.
"Xiaomi is an innovative start-up company, with a short history," he said. "In 10 years, we will have tens of thousands of patents," he continued.
However, Xiaomi, said to be the world's most valuable start-up, has frequently drawn flak for allegedly copying other technologies, mostly those of Apple.
Xiaomi released its first smartphone three years ago. The company, often referred to as the "Apple of China," was valued last month at $45 billion.
The Mi Note will be available in China starting Jan. 27. Xiaomi hasn't announced yet when the device will start selling in foreign markets.