Xiaomi Mi 5X Review

Overview

Xiaomi Mi 5X is Mi A1's classic Xiaomi variant. The devices are design and hardware twins, it is the software that's different. Mi 5X is the first Xiaomi smartphone that arrives with the new MIUI 9.0 based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat, while Xiaomi Mi A1 is an Android One smartphone with stock Android N on board. We have a Mi 5X sample in our hands and it will go through our usual routine of tests and measurements. On paper, the model has a lot of merits - two rear cameras, affordable price, and a good screen. We will check up all those along with every other small detail available and see whether it lives up to its reputation of being one of the cheapest smartphones in the upper mid-range level. Of course, if there are any differences with the Mi A1 they'll be reported.

Specifications

Xiaomi Mi 5X is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display from Ilitek (ili7807). The screen has an LTPS panel with an FHD resolution (1080 x 1920 pixels) and a 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The peak brightness measures 450 cd/m² and the static contrast ratio is 1000:1. Performance-wise, the model relies on a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 chipset. Built after the 14nm process, it features eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at up to 2GHz and an Adreno 506 GPU. The RAM measures 4GB. It is single-channel, LPDDR3 clocked at 933 MHz. There are 64GB of built-in memory on board, which can be expanded with up to 128GB. The device offers LTE Cat. 6 speeds and supports VoLTE along with the following network bands: 2G GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 2.5G CDMA (800, 1900 MHz), 3G TD-SCDMA (1880-1920, 2010-2025 MHz), 3G W-CDMA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), 4G FDD-LTE (850, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz), 4G TDD-LTE (1900, 2100, 2300, 2600 MHz). The wireless connectivity options of Mi 5X include dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Bluetooth 4.2. The smartphone has a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG support, a 3.5 mm jack and an IR blaster. It works with It works with GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou. The model boasts two rear cameras. The first has a 12MP OV12A10 wide shooter with an f/2.2 aperture and a 13MP OV13880 telephoto camera and an f/2.6 aperture. Each has a 5-element lens and both are aided by a dual-tone LED flash and phase detection AF. The front-facing camera is equipped with a 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 sensor and an f/2.0 lens. A 3080 mAh battery keeps the lights on coupled with a 5V/2A fast charger. Mi 5X runs on MIUI 9.0 based on Android 7.1.2 Nougat.

Full Xiaomi Mi 5X specifications.

What's in the box

Xiaomi Mi 5X arrives in a simple white rectangular box. It has the MI logo on the lid with the RAM/storage version in the top right corner and the model name on the two vertical sides. Some basic features and certifications are listed on the back of the box. Inside, the smartphone is placed in the top level compartment and below it, you will find:

• 5V/2A charger (US plug)
• USB Type-C cable
• SIM tray pin
• Screen protector with a cloth
• Quick start guide