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Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Great Design. Amazing Specs. INSANE Price

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Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Great Design. Amazing Specs. INSANE Price

Cutting-edge Android for less than £300? You’d better believe it — Xiaomi is BACK with the Xiaomi Mi5

Xiaomi has always been successful at combining cutting-edge mobile tech with eye-catching design and unique software, but it’s the company’s ability to sell its products at such astonishingly low prices which has garnered it the most attention from western buyers.

While rivals such as Samsung, LG, Apple and Sony are happy to ask for £500 or more for their flagship devices, Xiaomi’s products usually retail for less than half that amount, yet they boast almost identical specs and features. The Xiaomi Mi5 is no exception, and is – in terms of pure hardware – the most impressive phone the firm has ever produced.

The catch is that the Mi5 isn’t intended for release outside of its native China, and getting one in the UK requires a bit of additional cost and effort. Is it worth it? Read on to find out.

Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Design & Display

2014’s Xiaomi Mi4 was criticised for its similarity to Apple’s iPhone 5 and while Xiaomi is still content to borrow some design ideas from other firms, the Mi5 does at least stand out largely on its own merit. The phone is a combination of metal and Gorilla Glass 4; the back panel is made of the latter, with gorgeous rounded edges that make it easier to grip. The brushed metal chassis adds a touch of premium class, while the front of the phone is striking for its almost bezel-less 5.15-inch, 1080p display.

Below the screen there’s a button which also acts as a fingerprint scanner for security. Either side of this you’ll find capacitive Android commands for “recent apps” and “back” (the functions of these can be edited if you so wish) while the physical power button and volume controls are located on the right-hand side of the device. On the bottom there’s a USB Type-C connection, and on the top there’s a 3.5mm headphone socket and IR blaster.

Despite the quality materials used in its construction the Mi5 feels surprisingly lightweight; it’s only 129 grams, and perhaps lacks a little heft for a device with a metal frame. This aside, the Mi5 serves as yet another example of how far Chinese phone makers have come over the past few years. This is a handset which effortlessly matches the work of Samsung and Apple when it comes to aesthetic quality and construction.

The 1080p IPS panel might not have the pixel depth of the quad-HD screens seen on the Galaxy S7 or LG G5, but it’s impossible to make out individual pixels and in terms of colour, brightness and contrast, it’s a superior offering to the one seen on LG’s phone – in terms of impact it’s a close match for the S7’s Super AMOLED panel. Offering a 1080p resolution doesn’t seem to have any drawbacks as far as I can see; all those extra pixels simply put more load on the processor for no real gain.

Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Hardware Specifications

The Mi5 may retail for less than £300 but that doesn’t mean that Xiaomi has cut back on components. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 820 – Qualcomm’s latest mobile chipset – and is backed up by 3GB of RAM in the basic model (4GB is included in the more expensive version, which also bumps up the internal storage and increases the clock speed of the CPU).

Because the 820 is having to power a 1080p screen and not a more pixel-rich panel, there’s a definite feeling of increased pace when compared to the S7 and G5, both of which pack Snapdragon 820 chips. Switching between applications is a breeze, while intense 3D games run smoothly and without any niggles.

The aforementioned fingerprint scanner is one of the best we’ve used in terms of accuracy and speed, and acts as a capacitive “home” button, allowing you to drop back to the main home screen without having to actually press it down. The fingerprint setup process is straightforward enough and the only niggle I had was the thinness of the sensor itself – a few times the phone failed to register my print and required a second touch. However, it’s just as precise and swift as anything Apple, Samsung or LG have come up with.

Xiaomi has traditionally ignored NFC tech in the past, claiming that few people actually make use of it. That may have been true back in 2014 when the Mi4 was released, but the uptake of contactless payments on mobile has resulted in a surge of interest in this feature, and as a result Xiaomi has wisely decided to include NFC in its latest flagship. That means you can make use of contactless payments when Google decides to launch Android Pay in the UK, at least.

While the Mi5 supports 4G, in the UK it’s a rather hit-and-miss affair. Networks like 3 have support for 4G on Xiaomi’s phone, but O2 and Giffgaff don’t. If you’re on those networks then you’ll be limited to 3G speeds. This might not be a permanent problem and in the future we may see a “global” ROM which opens up support for more 4G bands, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re looking to import the device right now.

Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Software & User Experience

While manufacturers like Samsung and LG are scaling back their custom user interfaces to offer a more “stock” experience on their handsets, Xiaomi is a lot more aggressive when it comes to customisation. Its MIUI software is almost entirely different from Android, removing the app drawer and presenting a series of customisations which are intended to add value and distinguish the device from its rivals.

For example, you can record phone calls using MIUI and Xiaomi places a strong emphasis on user customisation, allowing you to download hundreds of skins which change the way the menus look. You can also activate the “wallpaper carousel” option which randomly alters your lock screen wallpaper every 15 minutes, seamlessly downloading new wallpapers from Xiaomi’s servers to ensure variety. There’s granular control over app permissions and notifications, something which Android 6.0 introduced but Xiaomi has been dabbling in for a while, and MIUI’s one-handed mode will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used the feature on iOS.

The modifications made to Android 6.0 may not be a hit with all users, but MIUI definitely feels like a smoother and arguably more user-friendly experience overall. The colourful design and attractive menus might be a little too close to Apple’s iOS for comfort, but everything is slick and appealing, and this makes MIUI one of the most interesting Android skins on the market.

Because it’s primarily intended for the Chinese market, the Mi5 is very much geared up to use Xiaomi’s own services. While most re-sellers will install Google apps on the phone, you may need to tinker with the device for a while before everything is up and running as expected. It’s not the end of the world but it’s certainly not as smooth as process as configuring an Android device intended for sale in the UK.

At the moment, the latest “stable” ROM is Chinese, but comes with an English language option. It also has loads of Chinese applications pre-installed, the majority of which can thankfully be removed. However, because MIUI is built around Xiaomi’s own services rather than Google’s, you’ll find that you’re constantly pushed into the Mi Store for downloads and updates.

“Development” builds of MIUI are also available, and these are pushed out to phones on a weekly basis. Switching to a dev build is only recommended if you consider yourself to be a seasoned power user of Xiaomi’s software, as it often brings unwanted changes and has been known to wipe data – an Mi4 I had a while back did this on multiple occasions.

Even if you decide to stick with the stable build, you’re not guaranteed an entirely smooth ride. For example, at the time of writing MIUI seems to prevent the Twitter app from sharing data to other applications; the only choice available is Google Drive. This bug is merely one of many which are constantly being highlighted on MIUI’s official forums, and while these tend to get fixed quite quickly – perhaps quicker than Google responds to Android problems, in fact – it doesn’t hurt to be aware that while Xiaomi is committed to improving Android, such tinkering can have unwanted consequences as well.

Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Camera

The Mi5 is rocking Sony’s new 16 megapixel IMX298 imaging sensor, which boasts phase detection autofocus, 4-axis optical image stabilisation (a first in the smartphone sector) and is accompanied by a dual-LED flash.

Image quality is generally excellent, perhaps not in the same league as the mighty Galaxy S7, but still very good for a phone that costs less than £300. Low-light shooting is surprisingly good, with shots exhibiting the minimum of graininess, while images captured in strong light showcase vivid colours and excellent contrast – even more so if you choose to keep the High Dynamic Range option switched on.

The Mi5 has a manual mode for those who like to have as much control as possible over their photography, but there are a raft of other options if you’re just keen to take the shot. Panoramic images are possible, and you can even add a fish-eye effect to the image. Filters are also included, and can be applied by swiping to the right before taking a snap.

The Mi5’s front-facing camera has a resolution of 4 megapixels but takes surprisingly decent images, so selfie-lovers will also be pleased.

Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Memory and Battery Life

The basic model of the Mi5 has 32GB of storage, but more expensive versions offer 64 and 128GB. There’s no MicroSD card slot so you can’t add to that total. If you’re keen on having as much space as possible, you might want to cough up a little more cash. Even if you do, you’re still getting a handset which is cheaper than the competition.

With a 3000 mAh battery the Mi5 is more than up to the task of making it through an entire day, and with quick charging included, it doesn’t take long to top up the juice. If you want to make that power last as long as possible then you can use MIUI’s built-in battery profiles, some of which allow you to throttle performance and limit background activity to extend stamina.

Xiaomi Mi5 Review: Conclusion

Xiaomi is one of those firms which consistently manages to surprise us with its products. The Mi4 was a gorgeous powerhouse that left the Nexus 5 in its wake, while the Redmi Note 2 offered a phablet experience at a bargain basement cost. The more recent Mi4C delivered the same kind of performance as the Nexus 5X at a much lower price, but the Mi5 is perhaps the most striking handset the “Apple of the East” has ever created; it looks amazing, has cutting-edge tech inside and is capable of snapping amazing photos – and all for around half the cost of its big-name Android rivals.

The only sticking points with the Mi5 are its limited support of 4G networks in the UK and the MIUI software it ships with. While the UI is mostly excellent and has a lot of cool ideas I’d like to see incorporated into other phones, it takes a lot of work to get running properly and Xiaomi’s changes often produce unexpected problems. The company has confirmed that a global ROM will be arriving for the phone in the near future however, and this could take the sting out of importing one of these devices from the Far East.

Taking the cost of the handset into account, it’s easy to live with a few teething troubles, however. For £275 you’re getting a Snapdragon 820-powered behemoth with a crisp screen, super-fast fingerprint scanner, superb 16 megapixel camera, fast charging capability and NFC – in fact, the spec list wouldn’t seem out of place on the latest effort from Samsung, Sony or LG. For the time being Xiaomi seems content to sell its devices in China and India, but the fact that it chose to unveil the Mi5 at Mobile World Congress in Spain speaks volumes – the Chinese are coming, and every other Android handset maker should take note.

Thanks to eGlobal Central for supplying the Xiaomi Mi5 used in this review.

Typical Price: 
£270.00


Reviews

Pros: 
Gorgeous design, Fast fingerprint scanner, Powerful CPU, Excellent specs for the price
Cons: 
MIUI takes some getting used to, Limited 4G support in the UK


08:31, 11 May 2016

Verdict: 
Xiaomi’s best handset yet should worry the established names in the Android sector – it offers the same performance for half the price. A remarkable mobile in almost every regard.

State of the art Android for not up to £300? You'd higher consider it -- Xiaomi is BACK with the Xiaomi Mi5

Xiaomi has all the time been a success at combining state of the art cellular tech with crowd pleasing design and distinctive tool, however it is the corporate's skill to promote its merchandise at such astonishingly low costs which has garnered it probably the most consideration from western consumers.

Whilst competitors similar to Samsung, LG, Apple and Sony are satisfied to invite for £500 or extra for his or her flagship units, Xiaomi's merchandise in most cases retail for not up to part that quantity, but they boast virtually equivalent specifications and lines. The Xiaomi Mi5 isn't any exception, and is – relating to natural hardware – probably the most spectacular telephone the company has ever produced.

The catch is that the Mi5 is not meant for unlock out of doors of its local China, and getting one in the United Kingdom calls for just a little of extra value and energy. Is it value it? Learn on to determine.

Xiaomi Mi5 Evaluate: Design & Show

2014's Xiaomi Mi4 used to be criticised for its similarity to Apple's iPhone 5 and whilst Xiaomi continues to be content material to borrow some design concepts from different companies, the Mi5 does no less than stand out in large part by itself benefit. The telephone is a mixture of steel and Gorilla Glass 4; the again panel is product of the latter, with stunning rounded edges that allow you to grip. The brushed steel chassis provides a marginally of top class elegance, whilst the entrance of the telephone is putting for its virtually bezel-less 5.15-inch, 1080p show.

Beneath the display there is a button which additionally acts as a fingerprint scanner for safety. Each side of this you'll be able to in finding capacitive Android instructions for "fresh apps" and "again" (the purposes of those can also be edited should you so want) whilst the bodily energy button and quantity controls are situated at the right-hand aspect of the tool. At the backside there is a USB Sort-C connection, and at the most sensible there is a 3.5mm headphone socket and IR blaster.

In spite of the standard fabrics utilized in its development the Mi5 feels strangely light-weight; it is only 129 grams, and in all probability lacks somewhat heft for a tool with a steel body. This apart, the Mi5 serves as but some other instance of ways some distance Chinese language telephone makers have come over the last few years. This can be a handset which easily fits the paintings of Samsung and Apple with regards to aesthetic high quality and development.

The 1080p IPS panel would possibly now not have the pixel intensity of the quad-HD monitors noticed at the Galaxy S7 or LG G5, however it is unattainable to make out person pixels and in relation to color, brightness and distinction, it is a awesome providing to the only noticed on LG's telephone – in relation to have an effect on it is a shut fit for the S7's Tremendous AMOLED panel. Providing a 1080p solution does not appear to have any drawbacks so far as I will be able to see; all the ones additional pixels merely put extra load at the processor for no actual achieve.

Xiaomi Mi5 Evaluation: Hardware Specs

The Mi5 would possibly retail for not up to £300 however that does not imply that Xiaomi has scale back on parts. The telephone is powered via the Snapdragon 820 – Qualcomm's newest cellular chipset – and is subsidized up through 3GB of RAM within the fundamental type (4GB is incorporated within the costlier model, which additionally bumps up the interior garage and will increase the clock velocity of the CPU).

Since the 820 is having to energy a 1080p display and now not a extra pixel-rich panel, there is a particular feeling of higher tempo when in comparison to the S7 and G5, either one of which pack Snapdragon 820 chips. Switching between programs is a breeze, whilst intense three-D video games run easily and with none niggles.

The aforementioned fingerprint scanner is among the absolute best we have now used when it comes to accuracy and velocity, and acts as a capacitive "house" button, permitting you to drop again to the primary house display with no need to if truth be told press it down. The fingerprint setup procedure is simple sufficient and the one niggle I had used to be the thinness of the sensor itself – a couple of occasions the telephone did not sign in my print and required a 2d contact. On the other hand, it is simply as exact and swift as anything else Apple, Samsung or LG have get a hold of.

Xiaomi has historically disregarded NFC tech up to now, claiming that few other folks in fact employ it. That can were true again in 2014 when the Mi4 used to be launched, however the uptake of contactless bills on cellular has ended in a surge of hobby on this function, and consequently Xiaomi has correctly made up our minds to incorporate NFC in its newest flagship. That suggests you'll be able to employ contactless bills when Google makes a decision to release Android Pay in the United Kingdom, no less than.

Whilst the Mi5 helps 4G, in the United Kingdom it is a moderately hit-and-miss affair. Networks like 3 have enhance for 4G on Xiaomi's telephone, however O2 and Giffgaff do not. If you are on the ones networks then you'll be able to be restricted to 3G speeds. This is probably not an enduring drawback and someday we would possibly see a "international" ROM which opens up strengthen for extra 4G bands, however it is one thing to concentrate on if you are taking a look to import the tool at this time.

Xiaomi Mi5 Evaluation: Device & Consumer Revel in

Whilst producers like Samsung and LG are scaling again their customized consumer interfaces to provide a extra "inventory" revel in on their handsets, Xiaomi is much more competitive relating to customisation. Its MIUI tool is nearly totally other from Android, eliminating the app drawer and presenting a chain of customisations that are meant so as to add worth and distinguish the tool from its competitors.

As an example, you'll be able to report telephone calls the use of MIUI and Xiaomi puts a robust emphasis on consumer customisation, permitting you to obtain loads of skins which trade the best way the menus glance. You'll be able to additionally turn on the "wallpaper carousel" choice which randomly alters your lock display wallpaper each and every 15 mins, seamlessly downloading new wallpapers from Xiaomi's servers to make sure selection. There is granular regulate over app permissions and notifications, one thing which Android 6.0 presented however Xiaomi has been dabbling in for some time, and MIUI's one-handed mode might be right away acquainted to somebody who has used the function on iOS.

The changes made to Android 6.0 is probably not a success with all customers, however MIUI without a doubt looks like a smoother and arguably extra user-friendly revel in general. The vibrant design and tasty menus may well be just a little too just about Apple's iOS for convenience, however the whole thing is slick and interesting, and this makes MIUI one of the fascinating Android skins available on the market.

As a result of it is essentially meant for the Chinese language marketplace, the Mi5 could be very a lot equipped to make use of Xiaomi's personal products and services. Whilst maximum re-sellers will set up Google apps at the telephone, you could want to tinker with the software for some time at the start is up and operating as anticipated. It is not the top of the arena however it is not at all as clean as procedure as configuring an Android tool meant on the market in the United Kingdom.

These days, the most recent "solid" ROM is Chinese language, however comes with an English language choice. It additionally has lots of Chinese language programs pre-installed, nearly all of which will fortunately be got rid of. On the other hand, as a result of MIUI is constructed round Xiaomi's personal products and services slightly than Google's, you'll be able to in finding that you are continuously driven into the Mi Retailer for downloads and updates.

"Construction" builds of MIUI also are to be had, and those are driven out to telephones on a weekly foundation. Switching to a dev construct is handiest advisable when you believe your self to be a seasoned energy consumer of Xiaomi's device, because it frequently brings undesirable adjustments and has been recognized to wipe knowledge – an Mi4 I had some time again did this on more than one events.

Even though you make a decision to stay with the solid construct, you are now not assured a completely clean journey. As an example, on the time of writing MIUI turns out to stop the Twitter app from sharing knowledge to different programs; the one selection to be had is Google Pressure. This computer virus is simply one of the which might be continuously being highlighted on MIUI's reputable boards, and whilst those have a tendency to get fastened fairly temporarily – in all probability faster than Google responds to Android issues, actually – it does not harm to remember that whilst Xiaomi is dedicated to making improvements to Android, such tinkering will have undesirable penalties as smartly.

Xiaomi Mi5 Evaluate: Digital camera

The Mi5 is rocking Sony's new 16 megapixel IMX298 imaging sensor, which boasts segment detection autofocus, 4-axis optical symbol stabilisation (a primary within the smartphone sector) and is accompanied by way of a dual-LED flash.

Symbol high quality is in most cases very good, in all probability now not in the similar league because the mighty Galaxy S7, however nonetheless excellent for a telephone that prices not up to £300. Low-light capturing is strangely just right, with photographs showing the minimal of graininess, whilst photographs captured in robust mild show off shiny colors and very good distinction – much more so if you select to stay the Top Dynamic Vary choice switched on.

The Mi5 has a guide mode for many who love to have as a lot regulate as imaginable over their images, however there are a raft of alternative choices if you are simply willing to take the shot. Panoramic photographs are imaginable, and you'll be able to even upload a fish-eye impact to the picture. Filters also are incorporated, and can also be implemented via swiping to the suitable ahead of taking a snap.

The Mi5's front-facing digital camera has a solution of 4 megapixels however takes strangely respectable photographs, so selfie-lovers may also be happy.

Xiaomi Mi5 Assessment: Reminiscence and Battery Lifestyles

The fundamental style of the Mi5 has 32GB of garage, however costlier variations be offering 64 and 128GB. There is not any MicroSD card slot so you'll be able to't upload to that overall. If you are concerned about having as a lot area as imaginable, you could need to cough up a bit more money. Even though you do, you are nonetheless getting a handset which is less expensive than the contest.

With a 3000 mAh battery the Mi5 is greater than as much as the duty of creating it thru a whole day, and with fast charging incorporated, it does not take lengthy to most sensible up the juice. If you wish to make that energy ultimate so long as imaginable then you'll be able to use MIUI's integrated battery profiles, a few of which let you throttle efficiency and restrict background task to increase stamina.

Xiaomi Mi5 Evaluate: Conclusion

Xiaomi is a type of companies which persistently manages to wonder us with its merchandise. The Mi4 used to be a wonderful powerhouse that left the Nexus 5 in its wake, whilst the Redmi Notice 2 presented a phablet revel in at a cut price basement value. The newer Mi4C delivered the similar more or less efficiency because the Nexus 5X at a miles lower cost, however the Mi5 is in all probability probably the most putting handset the "Apple of the East" has ever created; it seems superb, has state of the art tech inside of and is able to snapping superb pictures - and interested by round part the price of its big-name Android competitors.

The one sticking issues with the Mi5 are its restricted make stronger of 4G networks in the United Kingdom and the MIUI tool it ships with. Whilst the UI is most commonly very good and has a large number of cool concepts I would like to peer included into different telephones, it takes a large number of paintings to get operating correctly and Xiaomi's adjustments regularly produce sudden issues. The corporate has showed that a international ROM will probably be arriving for the telephone within the close to long run then again, and this is able to take the edge out of uploading this sort of units from the Some distance East.

Taking the price of the handset under consideration, it is simple to are living with a couple of teething troubles, on the other hand. For £275 you are getting a Snapdragon 820-powered behemoth with a crisp display, super-fast fingerprint scanner, very good 16 megapixel digital camera, speedy charging capacity and NFC - in reality, the spec listing would not appear misplaced on the most recent effort from Samsung, Sony or LG. In the meanwhile Xiaomi turns out content material to promote its units in China and India, however the truth that it selected to unveil the Mi5 at Cellular Global Congress in Spain speaks volumes – the Chinese language are coming, and each and every different Android handset maker will have to bear in mind.

Because of eGlobal Central for supplying the Xiaomi Mi5 used on this evaluation.

Conventional Price: 
£270.00
Reviews
Execs: 
Stunning design, Rapid fingerprint scanner, Tough CPU, Very good specifications for the fee
Cons: 
MIUI takes some being used to, Restricted 4G fortify in the United Kingdom
08:31, 11 Would possibly 2016
Verdict: 
Xiaomi's highest handset but will have to fear the established names within the Android sector - it gives the similar efficiency for part the cost. A exceptional cellular in virtually each and every regard.
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