Lei Jun, Xiaomi founder and CEO
Lei Jun, Xiaomi founder and CEO, speaks at a launch ceremony for the Xiaomi Phone 4 in Beijing in 2014. Reuters/Jason Lee

A leak showcased the rear shell of the upcoming Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 in October. But now, a new set of images of the aforesaid Xiaomi handset have surfaced. Apart from the images, the leak also sheds some light on the upcoming device's much-awaited specifications and launch date.

Known as the "affordable beast," the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 phablet will reportedly feature a 5.5-inch display, similar to the original Redmi Note. Nonetheless, the screen resolution of the handset has reportedly been improved to 1,080 x 1,920 pixels. Under the hood, the handset will be powered by either one of the 64-bit, octa-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 615) processor or the MediaTek (MT6752) processor. Plus, the device will be backed by a good 2 GB of RAM. On the software side, the Xiaomi device will run on Android v4.4 OS with MIUI v6 on top of it, reports Phone Arena.

When it comes to memory configuration, the handset will come equipped with 16 GB of internal storage capacity. However, there is no information available to confirm the expandable storage option. With respect to the camera spec, the Redmi Note 2 will reportedly sport a solid 13 MP rear-facing unit and a surprisingly good 5 MP front-facing shooter for selfies.

It is worth noting that earlier rumours showcased the Note 2 with very different set of specifications, when compared to the aforesaid configurations. The rumoured specifications included a 3 GB of RAM, 20.7 MP rear-facing snapper like the Sony Xperia Z3 and an 8 MP frontal camera. In addition, the company was also speculated to offer 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB of storage options at a price of $165, $215 and $245, respectively. But then, the price of the 128 GB version was never revealed, says Phone Arena.

Aside from these rumoured specs, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 will reportedly be launched between Jan. 21 and Jan. 28. Interested readers can check out the leaked rear panel images from Gizmo China. What do you think of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2? With not much difference between the original and the upcoming version, will Xiaomi be able to rock 2015? Feel free to leave a comment.

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