Xiaomi Mi5 gets a price cut, and a new set of rivals
With the latest price cut, Xiaomi is trying to get more users to go for their flagship Mi5 smartphone. But it comes up against equally capable devices
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has reduced the price of its flagship Mi5 smartphone in India. Available on Flipkart.com and via Xiaomi’s official website Mi.com, the Mi5 will now sell at ₹ 22,999. The smartphone was launched in India in March at ₹ 24,999, and was the company's first smartphone priced upwards of ₹ 20,000 in India. This recent price cut is an attempt to make the phone more appealing to buyers.
The Mi5 is one of the three sub- ₹ 30,000 smartphones running on some version of Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor. Paired with 3GB RAM, the phone stays cool with games and heavy multi-tasking. The Mi5 is not just about raw power but also has the classy looks to go with it.
The glass back, curved edges, metallic frame and the oval shaped home button/fingerprint sensor looks very similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S7. It weighs just 129g which makes it one of the lightest 5.1-inch screen smartphones we have come across recently. The device also supports Qualcomm’s latest quick charging 3.0 technology and uses USB Type-C connector to charge the phone faster. It runs Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with a heavily customized MIUI 7.5 interface.
Here are some of the closest rivals of the Mi5 selling at the same or lower price point.
Asus ZenFone 3
Price: Rs21,999 (32GB)
Asus has replaced the curved back design seen in ZenFone 2 smartphones with a flat glass based back in the ZenFone 3 range of smartphones. The new phone’s classy looks and light form (144g) compliments the powerful innards. It runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor paired with 3GB RAM.
The internal storage stands at 32GB but you can expand it to another 128GB using a microSD card. This phone runs Android 6.0 with Asus’s Zen UI 3.0 over it. It is a very customisable UI with lots of features and apps. The 5.2-inch display has a resolution of 1,920x1,080p with a layer of Gorilla Glass 4 to protect it against scratches. There is a USB Type-C connector for faster data and power transfer.
Nextbit Robin
Price: Rs19,999
Developed by US-based start-up Nextbit, Robin is a uniquely designed smartphone available in cool colour options—midnight grey, red and mint. What is unique about the Robin is the integration with free cloud storage and the phone automatically moves files of app and games which have not been used for a while and stores them on cloud, freeing up space on the phone.
Your photos from the gallery can also be backed up online. Despite its unusual slab-like appearance, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to use and weighs 150g. The 5.2-inch display has a resolution of 1,920x1,020p and a layer of Gorilla Glass 4 on top. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor with 3GB RAM.
LeEco Le Max2
Rs22,999 (32GB)
For a newcomer, Chinese phonemaker LeEco has impressed with its limited portfolio. Its new smartphone Le Max2 has all the elements of a flagship killer. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor which is paired with 4GB RAM, the phone delivers a slick performance throughout. The phone’s big attraction is the USB Type-C based CDLA audio technology which prevents audio lost during transmission to deliver lossless and superior audio quality on headphones.
The metallic exterior lends it solidity and good looks. It weighs 185g but given the big screen its understandable. The 5.7-inch display offers a resolution of 2,560x1,440p, which is unheard of at this price point. It runs Android 6.0, bundles free subscription-based Live TV and movies from Yupp TV and Eros Now.
Lenovo Vibe X3
Price: Rs19,999
Lenovo’s Vibe X3 is one of the few smartphones which ticks every box that matters. Though it weighs 175g, it doesn’t feel hefty and snuggles comfortably in the palm due to its curved back design. The phone’s big highlights are the 21-megapixel camera which can deliver great shots in daytime and the Dolby Atmos technology, which offers high-quality audio on a smartphone. It runs on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor which drives the Nextbit Robin.
Paired with 3GB RAM, the processor can handle most games and tasks like a breeze. It offers 32GB of storage and can take in microSD cards of up to 128GB. It runs Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with two separate user interfaces—the funky looking Vibe UI and the near-plain Android UI with an app drawer. The 5.5-inch display has a resolution of 1,920x1,080p.
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