Xiaomi Redmi 5 Review: A Worthy Mid-range Smartphone
Although Xiaomi is a well-established smartphone brand in countries like China, India, and some Western nations, the company remains relatively unknown to many smartphone users across the African continent. However, I’ve noticed recent efforts by Xiaomi to expand its reach into Africa, making its products available in select countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, and Malawi through third-party dealers. Unfortunately, only mid-range and older Mi devices are currently available through these channels. Thankfully, (link unavailable) has provided us with a unit of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 for review, giving us a chance to explore its features and capabilities.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Smartphone Specifications and Features
- – Operating System: MIUI v9 based on Android 7.0 (Nougat)
– SIM Type: Dual Nano-SIMs
– Network Type: GSM/CDMA/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/FDD-LTE/TDD-LTE
– Screen Size: 5.7-inch HD+ IPS display with 720 x 1440 pixels resolution (280 PPI)
– Processor Type: 1.8 GHz Snapdragon 450 Octa-core Cortex-A53 64-bit CPU
– Storage: 16 GB + 2GB RAM/32 GB + 3GB RAM
– External Storage: Dedicated microSD slot, with support up to 128 GB
– Camera: 12-Megapixel rear camera with single LED Flash and 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash
– Fingerprint scanner: Back-placed
– Battery: 3300mAh Non-removable Battery
– Price: Starting at $127
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Major Set Backs
- Although Xiaomi is a well-established smartphone brand in countries like China, India, and some Western nations, the company remains relatively unknown to many smartphone users across the African continent. However, I’ve noticed recent efforts by Xiaomi to expand its reach into Africa, making its products available in select countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, and Malawi through third-party dealers. Unfortunately, only mid-range and older Mi devices are currently available through these channels.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Quick Unboxing
“The Xiaomi Redmi 5 arrived in a slim and compact red and white box. Upon opening it, I expected to see the smartphone immediately, but instead, I was greeted by a sleek white package containing a TPU silicon case. After removing the case, I finally saw the Golden-colored Xiaomi Redmi 5 smartphone with a white front panel, which added a touch of elegance to its overall design.
- Inside the box, I found a collection of essentials, including a Micro USB cord, a 5V-2A wall charger, the aforementioned TPU silicon case, and the star of the show – the Xiaomi Redmi 5 smartphone itself.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Review: Design and Built Quality
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 boasts a sleek metal unibody design and a modern 18:9 display aspect ratio. The 5.7-inch IPS screen features a 1440 x 720 HD+ resolution, similar to the Tecno Camon CM and Infinix Hot S3. The front-facing camera setup includes a 5-megapixel lens, soft flash, speaker grill, and ambient sensor, all neatly arranged above the display. The right side houses the power button and volume rocker, while the top edge features a 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster, and noise-cancelling secondary microphone. The left side has a hybrid SIM tray, and the bottom edge features a dual speaker setup (with one speaker and the primary mic) and a USB 2.0 port.
The rear of the device features a protruding 13-megapixel main camera, accompanied by a single LED flash and a fingerprint sensor situated below it. The back is minimalistic, with only the MI logo and some network certifications present. Due to its 5.7-inch display, the device is indeed taller than previous Redmi series, but for those upgrading from a 5.5-inch display like the Redmi Note series, the Redmi 5’s slim design will be noticeable. The smartphone boasts comfortable ergonomics, thanks to its 2.5D curved edges on both the front and back. However, I’m not a fan of protruding rear cameras, which the Xiaomi Redmi 5 unfortunately has. Fortunately, the included TPU silicon case from Gearbest helps alleviate this issue.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Review: Hardware
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 features a vibrant 5.7-inch HD+ display with an IPS LCD panel, boasting a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels and a crisp 282 pixels per inch. Notably, Xiaomi has opted to protect the entire front panel with Corning Gorilla Glass, providing robust scratch resistance for the screen. The phone’s bezels are remarkably slim on all four sides, resulting in an impressive 76% screen-to-body ratio, making for an immersive viewing experience.
When it comes to display quality, the 18:9 aspect ratio is currently the gold standard in the mobile industry, and the Xiaomi Redmi 5 lives up to this expectation. The phone’s display produces vibrant and well-saturated colors that remain visible even in bright sunlight. While the display is certainly impressive, I noticed that the Ulefone Mix 2’s display slightly outperforms it, producing even richer and more vivid colors. However, this is a minor quibble, and the Xiaomi Redmi 5’s display is still excellent and unlikely to leave users disappointed.
