We‘ve got our hands on Xiaomi’s newest flagship, the Mi 5. Does this sleek, sexy contender win hearts and minds as the Mi 4 did before it?
Xiaomi released its new flagship, the Mi 5, onto the international stage earlier this year and now the Chinese firm’s flagship phone is now within our grasp. With the Mi 5, the stakes are higher than ever. Can Xiaomi simultaneously make an impression in the South African market, carve out a profit, and, above all else, make a great phone?
The answer is a complicated one. The Mi 5 arrives on our shores in the wake of the Mi 4; a device which, while being two years old, only arrived in South Africa last year.
Read: Xiaomi Mi 4 Review: Striding with giants
In many ways, the Mi 4 seemed like a blessing. It was the perfect mix of sugar and spice for a market that was begging for a flagship device that didn’t have to carry the weight of a premium price point. While Xiaomi still have yet to entrench themselves into the South African market financially through MIA, the Mi 4 was a great first step into a larger world.
The Mi 4 might have been an elegant weapon for a more civilized age, but times have changed. Flagship prices have dropped, and more than ever manufacturers are now honing their mid-range devices into lethal weapons; the iPhone SE, Samsung Galaxy A range and Sony’s M4 Aqua go a long way to proving that. Where the Mi 4 was a king amongst princes, the Mi 5 finds itself in hotter water as both the class structure above and below its space in the market is in open revolt against the crown.
Specifications
The standard version of the Mi 5 includes 3GB of RAM and 32GBs of internal storage, accompanied by a 5.15“³ full HD display with a pixel density of 428ppi, a Snapdragon 820 processor, an Adreno 530 GPU, and a 16 and 4-megapixel camera split, each with an aperture of f/2.0. The Mi 5 further supports a 3,000mAh battery as well as USB Type C, NFC, and fingerprint recognition.
Design
To dispense with the pleasantries, where does the Mi 5 sit? This is a device that feels incredibly reminiscent of the Galaxy Note 5 in a smaller frame. Upon unboxing the device with Bandwidth Blog’s Editor at large Theunis van Rensburg, we quickly compared likened the device to his aforementioned daily driver.
I actually believe the Mi 5’s Galaxy Note 5-aping frame is a positive reference. This is an approach which combines the style and physical stamina of Samsung’s best effort with the relative size of the iPhone 6s. In the hand, a curved rear back ensures a comfortable fit and Xiaomi has learnt the lesson of Samsung’s volume rocker and power button setup well.
On the front, things are somewhat more reminiscent of Xiaomi’s previous efforts save for a very Samsung-style fingerprint sensor on the bottom chin. A Mi logo, speaker, and front-facing camera disrupt an otherwise serene front panel.
User experience
As one might expect with a Xiaomi device, MiUI is back. Engineered for Chinese audiences at first, this is one of the most distinctive Android skins that one can find. Distinct MiUI updates keep Xiaomi’s devices abreast of new developments, and the lack of an app drawer (a new trend amongst rival manufacturers, such as LG) make this an iteration of Android that skews very far from the norm.
The Mi 5 does, however, have a frustrating consequence. Text is pin sharp on its display, which is ironically troubling when one considers that Chinese-made handsets often adjust the width and depth of menus for the kerning required to fit Mandarin. This results in tiny, thin type in English which those with troubled eyesight might require a great deal of help to read.
Display and camera
To digress, the Mi 5’s display is gorgeous. Colours pop, and detail is immensely crisp. This is greatly complemented by the device’s camera, which, while not offering the best exposure or tone I’ve yet encountered, highlights some of the most incredible detail I’ve seen out of a smartphone snapper.
Design
Consequences? Trade-offs? I’ve noticed a few. Standby time seems to be horrendous; after leaving the Mi 5 with a battery sitting at 50% at 10PM, I’ve awakened to find it utterly depleted at 7AM the next day. Using the camera further causes the device to overheat, a fault I found on the Mi 4.
Overall
Overall, the Mi 5 is an interesting update and a fascinating contender in the South African market. Not only does this device need to outmanoeuvre its rivals, it needs to compete on price point alone. Will it succeed? We’ll find out soon; I’m looking forward to putting Xiaomi’s newest contender through its paces in the week to come. Be sure to stay tuned for the full review!
Read: The Xiaomi’s new flagship is headed to South Africa
Have your say!
What are your thoughts on Xiaomi’s new South African challenger? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
