Xiaomi Mi5 release date and price
The latest flagship from Xiaomi takes to the market in three different versions. The most affordable model costs 1,999 CNY (about US$305) and brings 32 GB of internal storage and a 3D glass rear panel, but has a lower clock speed than the other two models, 1.8 GHz instead of 2.15 GHz.
The middle model has 64 GB of internal storage and a 3D glass rear panel, and will be priced at 2,299 CNY (US$352).
Finally, there's the Pro version, which will haul along 4 GB of RAM, compared with the 3GB at the disposal of the other two versions, and a 3D ceramic back, all for a price of 2,699 CNY (US$413).
The only problem is that, despite being presented at an event for the international press, the only countries that Mr Barra has confirmed for the device’s release are China and India. The Chinese market is set to receive the device on March 1, India will receive it at a later, as yet unspecified, date.
The chances of the Mi 5 appearing in Europe and the US are virtually nil, based on statements that Mr Barra has made in the past.
Xiaomi Mi5 design and build quality
Xiaomi has said that design is the reason we have had to wait almost two years to see a successor to the Xiaomi Mi 4.
According to Hugo Barra, Xiaomi undertook a major effort to place a camera lens in the same position as on the iPhone 6 (upper back), and install a home button with fingerprint scanner, like on the Samsung Galaxy S6 (elongated and found at the bottom of the front panel), and reduce the device's body-to-screen ratio.
The result, unfortunately, is a phone that looks like an uncharismatic cross between the latest Samsung and Apple flagships. It's a little disappointing that a manufacturer that has earned international acclaim, whose recent efforts have kept us on the edge of our seat, has fallen foul of imitation.
Having said that, one of the highlights, especially at this early stage of consideration, is the striking resemblance the device’s rear panel bears to the Galaxy S7. 3D glass (or 3D ceramics in the case of the Pro model) curves towards the device’s edges, binding elegantly to the metal frame.
At 129 g the Mi 5 is one of the lightest flagships of recent times. Neither the 152 g Galaxy S7 nor the 159 g LG G5 can compete with it on weight.
Xiaomi Mi5 display
The Xiaomi Mi 5 has a 5.15-inch screen with Full HD resolution. These numbers offer more than enough pixels per inch, with no blemishes to be seen anywhere on the display. The colors of the MIUI 7 interface take on an impressive brilliance.
Although I only had the opportunity to test the phone under indoor lighting, it appears that the screen's brightness will be sufficient for most lighting conditions.
The device has a healthy 600 nits of brightness (for comparison, the newly announced LG G5 has 900) and Xiaomi’ssunlit display feature optimizes the display in bright outdoor conditions. We will have to put the effectiveness of this to the test in our upcoming full Xiaomi Mi 5 review.
Overall, the viewing experience on the Mi 5 adds up to more than the sum of its technical specifications, and an excellent body-to-screen ratio makes viewing pictures and other multimedia a very pleasing experience.
Xiaomi Mi5 special features
The fingerprint scanner on the Xiaomi Mi 5 is installed in the home button, rather than on the back, as was the case on the Redmi Note. The initial setup takes just over five seconds, and unlocking the device seemed smooth and fast when I tested it.
Xiaomi Mi5 software
The Mi 5 comes with Xiaomi’s MIUI 7 interface. What differentiates this from other interfaces is, like on many other Chinese brands, the absence of the app drawer. Any apps you download will appear on the home screen, where they can be grouped into folders, similar to how iOS functions.
The Mi 5 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, as expected, so functions such as Doze mode and granular app permissions are present.
Xiaomi claims to focus heavily on its own software, seeing it as a defining feature ( "Mi", in the device’s name, comes from "Mobile Internet") and MIUI has matured a lot in recent years. The Mi 5 has five different default themes and the ability to customize the capacitive buttons.
Swiping to the end of any menu causes an effect that sees menu items stretching, similar to that seen on the latest LG models. I personally find this somewhat unappealing.
Xiaomi Mi5 performance
Under its shell, the Xiaomi Mi 5 houses a Snapdragon 820 processor running at 2.1 GHz. This is supported by 3 GB of RAM in the 32 and 64 GB models, and 4 GB of RAM in the Pro model, which packs 128 GB of internal storage.
The new Qualcomm processor should ensure faster performance than the 810 and, above all, should put to rest, once and for all, the overheating problems that have plagued the 810 on various devices over the course of 2015.
During our brief hands-on, the Mi 5 was able to cycle through apps without any problems, didn’t show any lag when launching the camera, and there was no overheating or sudden crashes. Everything ran smoothly, although a more thorough performance test, at a later date, will confirm just how smooth the experience is.
One thing is certain: the device is fast. The new Snapdragon 820 promises a 200 percent leap in performance and 50 percent lower energy consumption. Alongside this new generation of processor, there is the Adreno 530 GPU, which guarantees high quality graphics performance that gamers will surely appreciate.
The Mi 5 also supports 4G+ connectivity, with a maximum download speed of 600 Mbps, as well as dual-SIM and VoLTE technology, which guarantees better voice call audio quality.
As soon as the device makes its way into our offices, we will put it through several benchmarks to get a more accurate picture of its performance in comparison with competing flagships.
Xiaomi Mi5 camera
The Mi 5 houses a 16 MP IMX298 main camera of Sony design. The rear camera integrates Xiaomi’s 4-axis optical image stabilization technology, which should ensure sharper images when taking moving pictures.
On the front, we find a 4 MP camera with f / 2.0 aperture lens, capable of 80-degree (wide-angle) selfies. The camera app has an intuitive interface. It was easy to use even in the very short time I had with the device, and it responded quickly to my taps and presses. To assess the quality of images fully, we’ll wait until the device arrives in the newsroom.
Xiaomi Mi5 battery
The Mi 5 comes carrying a 3,000 mAh battery, which should be more than enough to keep the device going for a good length of time, especially when combined with Marshmallow’s Doze feature and the more ergonomic Snapdragon 820.
The Mi 5 also supports Quick Charge 3.0, which boasts 20 percent faster charging speeds than 2.0, promising an 80-90 percent battery charge in an hour.
As soon as we test the device more thoroughly, we will provide further details on the device’s battery performance.
Xiaomi Mi5 technical specifications
Early Verdict
Xiaomi has made us wait an awfully long time for a successor to the Mi 4, and, thankfully, we have not been let down. The Mi 5 offers an elegant and ergonomic unibody design and promises high performance, thanks to its Snapdragon 820 processor and Adreno GPU.
Marshmallow, along with Xiaomi’s MIUI interface, ensures a high degree of customization options. The fingerprint scanner and NFC are also both valuable additions, enhancing user experience.
The device’s processor, battery and camera, on paper, are promising, and a thorough test in the near future will confirm the extent of the Mi 5’s abilities.
Xiaomi has presented us with an excellent flagship, capable of comfortably competing with those seen from Samsung, LG and Apple.
Personally, I was expecting a little something extra from the device, like with the OnePlus 2, given the long wait and the plethora of rumors that fueled my expectations.
It does remain haunted by one big problem: the lack of an official release in Europe and the US makes it difficult to get hold of. However, the Mi 5 is undoubtedly an excellent device.
What are your thoughts on the Xiaomi Mi 5? Let us know in the comments.
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