Xiaomi Mi 5 Review: The 2016 Value Flagship

Xiaomi Mi 5 (2016 Flagship)

Definition: The Xiaomi Mi 5 (model: 2015121) is Xiaomi’s 5th-generation flagship smartphone, unveiled on February 24, 2016, and released on April 5, 2016. It was China’s first mass-produced device with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip, marking Xiaomi’s shift to premium design with 3D glass/ceramic bodies, a front-mounted fingerprint scanner, and 4-axis OIS camera. Positioned as a value flagship ($260–$355 at launch), it competed with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Apple iPhone 6s while undercutting their prices, cementing Xiaomi’s reputation for high specs at accessible costs.

Variants & Core Specifications

Variant	Model Code	CPU Clock	RAM/Storage	Body Material	Weight	Launch Price (CNY)
Standard	2015121	2×1.8 GHz + 2×1.36 GHz Kryo	3 GB LPDDR4; 32 GB UFS 2.0	3D Glass	129 g	1999
Prime	2015122	2×2.15 GHz + 2×1.6 GHz Kryo	3 GB LPDDR4; 64 GB UFS 2.0	3D Glass	129 g	2299
Exclusive	2015123	2×2.15 GHz + 2×1.6 GHz Kryo	4 GB LPDDR4; 128 GB UFS 2.0	3D Ceramic	139 g	2699

Full Tech Specs

Component	Details
Display	5.15-inch IPS LCD, 1080×1920 (FHD, ~428 ppi), 95% NTSC, 16-LED backlight (30% brighter), 1000:1 contrast, Gorilla Glass 4
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996, 14 nm); Adreno 530 GPU; X12 LTE modem (Cat. 12/13, 600 Mbps down)
Camera System	– Rear: 16 MP Sony IMX298, f/2.0, 6P lens, 4-axis OIS, PDAF, DTI tech, sapphire cover glass- Front: 4 MP OmniVision OV4688, f/2.0- Video: 4K@30 fps, 1080p@30/60 fps, 720p@120 fps
Battery & Charging	3000 mAh Li-Po (non-removable); Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (max 18 W); USB-C 1.0 port
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat. 12, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, IR blaster, GPS/GLONASS/BDS
Security & Biometrics	Front-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner (home button), face unlock (basic)
Design	Closed: 144.55×69.2×7.25 mm; 3D glass/ceramic back, tapered edges; colors: Black, White, Gold (glass); Black (ceramic)
Software	Android 6.0 Marshmallow + MIUI 7; upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo + MIUI 10
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, ambient light, barometer, compass

Key Innovations & Selling Points

Snapdragon 820 & UFS 2.0The first Snapdragon 820 flagship in China delivered a 100% CPU and 87% storage speed boost over the Mi 4, with UFS 2.0 flash ensuring faster app launches and file transfers.
3D Glass/Ceramic BuildA premium departure from plastic predecessors: 3D glass variants offered a sleek grip, while the Exclusive edition’s 3D ceramic back (75% costlier than glass) added scratch resistance and a premium feel.
4-Axis OIS CameraThe 16 MP Sony IMX298 sensor with 4-axis OIS (corrects pitch, yaw, roll, and tilt) outperformed 2-axis OIS in low light, supported by DTI tech for reduced crosstalk and sharper shots.
Front-Fingerprint ScannerXiaomi’s first phone with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the home button, offering fast (<0.3 s) unlocks and improved usability over rear-mounted sensors.
Value PropositionFlagship specs at half the price of the iPhone 6s/S7: 4 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, and ceramic build for ~$355, making premium tech accessible.

Limitations

Battery Life: 3000 mAh battery struggled with heavy use despite Quick Charge 3.0.
Display: IPS LCD lacked the vibrancy of AMOLED panels in competitors.
Camera Performance: Good stills but lagged in dynamic range and video stabilization vs. Galaxy S7.
Ceramic Supply: Exclusive edition faced production constraints due to complex 3D ceramic manufacturing.

Legacy & Market Impact

The Mi 5 solidified Xiaomi’s status as a value-flagship leader, proving that premium design and top-tier chips could coexist with affordable pricing. It popularized 3D glass/ceramic builds and 4-axis OIS in mid-range flagships, influencing subsequent Xiaomi flagships (Mi 6, Mi 8) and competitors. Its Snapdragon 820 launch also helped Qualcomm gain traction in China’s high-end market, while its software support (2 OS upgrades) set a baseline for future Xiaomi devices.