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Xiaomi Mi 5 Review

Name: Xiaomi Mi 5 Review
Item: Xiaomi Mi 5
Rating: 7
Author: Luis D.

posted by Luis D. / May 05, 2016, 4:58 AM

Introduction

Xiaomi is a leading smartphone maker from China whose reputation for powerful, stylish and aggressively-priced gadgets stretches well beyond the Republic's borders. With its latest flagship smartphone, the Mi 5, the brand wants to offer almost everything that $700 handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S7 or iPhone 6s do, at a considerably lower price. It's an ambitious undertaking that could spark anyone's interest. Let's see if the hype is worth it – or not!

In the box:

Xiaomi Mi 5
USB Type-C Cable
USB Charger
Warranty and instructions
SIM tray ejector

Design

Nice looks and great ergonomics with just a few rough spots.

Xiaomi's flagship has a graceful, understated appearance. It's got clean lines, slim bezels, a metal frame, and a glass-covered back (unless you get the Ceramic Exclusive variant). Unaware of the Mi 5's affordable pricing, some could actually mistake it for an expensive smartphone, but its good looks are deceptive. The metal frame lightly prickles the palm at some spots, the glass back doesn't feel as nice as those of more expensive handsets, and the power and volume keys are slightly wobbly.

Still, these are minor flaws that don't offend, but merely make the Xiaomi Mi 5's price tag seem realistic, rather than too good to be true. We're fond of this sleek and elegant handset that's comfortable to hold and easily lends itself to one-handed operation. The Home button is a bit narrow for our tastes and its tactile feedback isn't very good, but the fingerprint scanner in it is top-notch – fast, accurate, and reliable. On the other hand, those capacitive navigation keys might appear dated in 2016, but they do what they are supposed to.

View more + 18 images

Front view
Side view

To see the phones in real size or compare them with other models, visit our Visual Phone Size Comparison page

Display

A high-quality screen with great brightness and contrast properties.

The Mi 5 has a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with 1080p resolution that comes off as high-quality, both in our measurements and in real-life use. The brightness levels are superb and cater to comfortable usage across all lighting conditions, while the color balance is close to ideal. This is a balanced, well-calibrated screen whose quality could stand up to that of more expensive offerings, if it weren't for the average viewing angles.

Display measurements and quality

	Maximum brightness Higher is better	Minimum brightness (nits) Lower is better	Contrast Higher is better	Color temperature (Kelvins)	Gamma	Delta E rgbcmy Lower is better	Delta E grayscale Lower is better
Xiaomi Mi 5	638 (Excellent)	1 (Excellent)	1:1400 (Excellent)	6334 (Excellent)	2.09	2.69 (Good)	3.23 (Good)
Samsung Galaxy S7	484 (Good)	2 (Excellent)	unmeasurable (Excellent)	6852 (Excellent)	2.07	1.26 (Excellent)	2.09 (Good)
HTC 10	432 (Good)	7 (Good)	1:1594 (Excellent)	7442 (Good)	2.13	2.62 (Good)	5.11 (Average)
Apple iPhone 6s	554 (Excellent)	6 (Good)	1:1593 (Excellent)	7056 (Good)	2.21	1.47 (Excellent)	3.23 (Good)

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The numbers below represent the amount of deviation in the respective property, observed when a display is viewed from a 45-degree angle as opposed to direct viewing.

	Maximum brightness Lower is better	Minimum brightness Lower is better	Contrast Lower is better	Color temperature Lower is better	Gamma Lower is better	Delta E rgbcmy Lower is better	Delta E grayscale Lower is better
Samsung Galaxy S7	55.2%	50%	unmeasurable	5.2%	0%	254%	109.1%
Xiaomi Mi 5	78.5%	0%	83.8%	11%	13.9%	19.3%	71.5%
Apple iPhone 6s	82.9%	83.3%	79.8%	5.1%	10.9%	56.5%	53.9%
HTC 10	84.5%	85.7%	71.4%	7.4%	6.1%	2.3%	27.8%

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The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set (area) of colors that a display can reproduce, with the sRGB colorspace (the highlighted triangle) serving as reference. The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x: CIE31' and 'y: CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.

These measurements are made using Portrait Displays' CalMAN calibration software.

View all

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87 Comments

1. Achillias

Posts: 52; Member since: Sep 24, 2015

Typical IPhonearena review. How is this smartphone even a 7 with the money value rating being so high, lol.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:08 AM 32

5. Kumar123 unregistered

IMO, This phone deserve at least 9. Only real con is it's hard to get.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:19 AM 17

44. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

even the verge give it 8.1/10 lol and various great score from other reviewer around the globehttp://www.notebookcheck.net/Xiaomi-Mi-5.162401.0.html

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:35 AM 1

82. f35hunter

Posts: 241; Member since: Dec 12, 2013

Yeah!! I don't see anything that make this phone to get 7.0 only!!! at least it deserves 8.2 or higher!

posted on May 06, 2016, 7:21 AM 1

6. NonFanBoy

Posts: 180; Member since: May 28, 2015

PA's review system is a joke, so don't give it much thought. I had opened the review just to check what reasons they would come up with to give it such a low rating. But because they couldnt find any major flaws, they have just out done themselves by blatantly giving it a 7 without specifying any reason whatsoever. They just can't take in the fact that it provides a smartphone experience as good as their beloved iPhone at less than half the cost. I am sure it would have scored more had they priced their device higher like Huawei do.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:22 AM 16

8. robocopvn

Posts: 504; Member since: Mar 10, 2010

you can easily take the "fruit" logo and put in the back of this phone. Iphonearena will certainly rank it 9.5

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:28 AM 12

10. Kumar123 unregistered

Such a bulls**t. The only reason they are giving this a low score is because they fear it will hamper their beloved samsung galaxy S7 sells. Looks, display, battery life, interface are better than S7. Camera is only marginally worse than S7. Yet such a low score. Typical Samsung lover arena.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:36 AM 5

13. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

A) Looks are subjective B) You're high if you think this has a better display C) Lolnope, the S7 has way better battery life D) Interface is subjective You're as bad as PhoneArena. There's a happy medium, no need for extremes in either direction.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:45 AM 4

17. Kumar123 unregistered

LOL, nope mi5 has better battery life. You are high if you think crap pentile display is better than RGB display.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:57 AM 3

22. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

Haha really, the Pentile argument? That's been invalid since like 2014. It's impossible to tell at such a high resolution, what a stupid thing to even say. The S7 display is way better, because OLED displays are just way better than LCD, no way of arguing that.

posted on May 05, 2016, 6:16 AM 2

25. Kumar123 unregistered

Samsung head of display and TV disagrees with you. He argues LCD ( in the form of QD LCD) is better than OLED display.

posted on May 05, 2016, 6:30 AM 3

28. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

It has no benefits, so how is that true?

posted on May 05, 2016, 6:33 AM 2

29. Kumar123 unregistered

Say that to top executive of Samsung display and TV. If you still argue that. I'll provide the link where he argues that LCD is still superior to OLED. He even says that he is not sure if OLED is the future. LOL. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160504000629

posted on May 05, 2016, 6:42 AM 3

32. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

Nice job avoiding the question. I didn't ask for a link, I asked you why you think OLED isn't superior (which it is). So what, because one Samsung employee says LCD is better that makes the rest of Samsung's (who CLEARLY think OLED is the future and way better than LCD) opinion invalid?

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:00 AM 2

40. Kumar123 unregistered

I didn't avoid the question. LOL. The link i provide also says why LCD is better than OLED. That One Samsung employee happens to be the chief of Samsung electronics. He get to decide which direction the whole company in this case Samsung electronics and TV will go. LOL. If he didn't see the potential in LCD and if he thought LCD is inferior then he wouldn't comment like this.

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:12 AM 3

71. Amir1 unregistered

You are clueless, samsung since their s6 and note 5 surpass any ips display with their mature amoled tech. Be it color temp, viewing angles, black levels, and even brightness which is the best among flags. Don't comment for the sake of commenting. Fact is: amoled>ips. Your words are funny at best. Panel manufacturers would DIE to be in samsung position in maturity of oled tech development. Samsung deserve all the credit and hard work. They earned it. Kudos for samsung.

posted on May 05, 2016, 10:39 AM 0

73. Kumar123 unregistered

The link I provide back up my arguments. If the chief of Samsung Electronics claims that LCD is better than OLED than I say I'm right and you are the real clueless fanboy here. Fact: 1)You are a blind Samsung fanboy. 2) Samsung Chief of Electronics and TV said LCD is better than OLED 3) He also said OLED maybe not the future display tech but QD LCD is, considering the progress QD LCD are making. 4) You comment is a joke and a fine display of disgusting fanboyism.

posted on May 05, 2016, 12:53 PM 3

21. chenski

Posts: 783; Member since: Mar 22, 2015

7 is still low, so its not a good score

posted on May 05, 2016, 6:09 AM 1

43. luis.d

Posts: 354; Member since: Dec 04, 2013

No, it's not low. According to our system, it's well above average!

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:30 AM 0

38. SYSTEM_LORD

Posts: 1168; Member since: Oct 05, 2015

False on the third one. Even gsmarena says Xiaomi has better battery life. Samsung isn't the best at everything, dude

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:09 AM 1

41. deanylev

Posts: 234; Member since: Mar 11, 2014

I saw that afterwards.

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:14 AM 0

51. AndreaWijayanti

Posts: 69; Member since: Mar 03, 2015

He is a stupid Samsung hater. Mi5 in real life looks cheesy just like every chinese phones.

posted on May 05, 2016, 8:07 AM 3

16. sarcastic_nerd unregistered

I want some of what you're smoking.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:50 AM 3

90. dazed1

Posts: 808; Member since: Jul 28, 2015

Interface better then S7? and display? LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

posted on May 12, 2016, 9:31 AM 0

59. zeeBomb

Posts: 2318; Member since: Aug 14, 2014

No way in JOHN V's NAME that this phone is a 7. But obviously as a member here for quite some time, i know reviewers are biased on Chinese phones but give north American OEMS especially Samsung and Apple a high plausible score. TLDR: This is easily a 8.5, typical PA review, move on.

posted on May 05, 2016, 8:47 AM 0

2. BobLawblaw unregistered

I just had a hazelnut chocolate bar. Twas beautiful.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:08 AM 0

42. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

and now, grab popcorn

posted on May 05, 2016, 7:17 AM 0

4. sumpil

Posts: 91; Member since: Feb 02, 2016

Not only China and India. South Africa is also receiving the phone.

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:13 AM 1

7. NonFanBoy

Posts: 180; Member since: May 28, 2015

iPhone SE 16GB costs 400$ (Rs 39k here in India) PA's rating : 8.8 Mi 5 32 GB costs ~ 300$(Rs 25k in India) PA's rating : 7.0 ROFL...

posted on May 05, 2016, 5:26 AM 12

9. luis.d

Posts: 354; Member since: Dec 04, 2013

PhoneArena is a US-centric website. The Mi 5's pricing is much different for Western customers, and if you had actually read the review and our rating procedure before commenting, you would have understood the score.