Xiaomi Mi 5 on the way, might actually make it to Europe
Top-spec handset confirmed for China and India, but "new markets" will follow
Day three at Mobile World Congress and the new smartphones just keep coming. The latest company to pull back the curtain is Xiaomi, revealing the Mi 5 flagship earlier this morning.
Xiaomi is no stranger to making great phones at cheap prices, and the Mi 5 looks to be more of the same. The more exciting news is that, unlike previous phones, you might actually be able to buy this one.
This is the first time Xiaomi has held a press conference in Europe, and although China and India are the only two confirmed countries so far, global VP Hugo Barra hinted that other countries would be able to get hold of one soon as well.
If the price stays the same around the world, that could make the Mi 5 a bit of a bargain; it starts at 1999 RMB, so based on current exchange rates it could end up costing US$262/€238/£192.
On to the phone itself though.
It’s got the specs you’d expect from a flagship phone, including a super-quick Snapdragon 820 CPU and 3GB of RAM, 5.15in 1080p display, and either 32 or 64GB of storage. There’s even a top-end model, the Mi 5 Pro, which has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Camera credentials look excellent, with a 16MP rear sensor that has 4-axis image stabilisation for perfectly crisp photos. The iPhone 6s only has 3-axis OIS.
It’s only 7mm thick and weighs 129g, but finds room inside for a 3000mAh battery. Android Marshmallow is on board, as is Xiaomi’s custom MIUI, which is sure to divide opinions here in the west.
The curved edges, glass back and metal frame look more than a little like a certain Apple handset, but in case you didn’t think Xiaomi could make the Mi 5 look any more like the iPhone, don’t worry; they’ve managed it.
Admittedly the oblong shape looks more like the Galaxy S7 an the iPhone’s circular TouchID button, but Xiaomi has made sure to add a fingerprint sensor underneath the screen. It’s actually the first time a Xiaomi handset has had a physical button on the front, but it completes the iPhone-ripoff look.
At least the Mi Pro swaps the glass on the back for tough ceramic to stand out a little.
The more exclusive Mi 5 Pro will command a higher price than the vanilla phone, but with 2699 RMB equating to US$354/€321/£250, it could still be a bargain if it actually makes its way to other countries.
If it does, we’ll be sure to bring you a full review.
MWC 2016 › All the news from Mobile World Congress
Tom Morgan-Freelander
Deputy Editor 
