Xiaomi Mi 5S Review: High Chinese Technology
Time after time, the Chinese giant Xiaomi surprises with its manufacturability of its flagships. This time, the updated "five" - Xiaomi Mi 5S - flaunts a smart camera, USB Type-C connector, an updated SoC and a new ultrasound fingerprint scanner that can detect fingerprints of even wet or dirty fingers. Only one letter is added to the title - and there are really a lot of changes. What came out of the new flagship Xiaomi - we tell in a detailed review.
Continuity in the design of the new flagship a bit: Xiaomi Mi 5S is not at all like the previous Mi5.
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The novelty was enclosed in a metal housing with plastic strips for antennas, while the "five" was made of glass. From the previous generation Mi 5S got the curved shape of the back panel and the camera in its upper left corner.
The “Home” button on the Mi 5S is no longer a mechanical one, but a touch one. It looks like a small oval socket, recessed under the glass, and no longer obloblade progress. To trigger it, you just need to touch it. The button includes a Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint scanner. Next to the "Home" button are the touch buttons "Back" and "Menu" - they are equipped with LEDs that light up when the gadget is unlocked.
The front camera and speaker are above the screen.
On the right side there are buttons to turn on and change the volume, and on the left - a slot for a memory card. It can install two cards of the nano-SIM format. Support for microSD in this model is not provided, the user can only choose between the version of 64 and 128 GB.
Small dimensions - 5.15 "- allow you to use the device with one hand. The only drawback is the sharp edges: despite the rounded back cover, Mi 5S is not very convenient to hold in your hand. In addition, the case slides, so we recommend to purchase a case that will protect the device from falling, and by increasing the thickness will improve the grip.
Fingerprint scanner is located on the most convenient place - under the screen. It works in most cases clearly and quickly, without requiring pressing, only a light touch. As stated, the sensor perfectly recognizes wet fingers.
The Xiaomi Mi 5S package includes only the most necessary: ​​the device itself, a USB Type-C cable for charging and synchronizing with a PC, and a 2A power adapter.
Xiaomi Mi 5S received a high-quality IPS-display with excellent clarity - with a diagonal of 5.15 inches, its resolution is 1080x1920 pixels. In the locked state, the screen appears frameless, when removing the lock, small black frames become noticeable (they are narrower than Mi 5’s).
The model received the recognition function of the degree of pressing 3D Touch Display, but it is equipped with only the version of 128 GB. Our test smartphone has a memory capacity of 64 GB, so we could not test the new function.
The display quality is amazing: as we have said, it has excellent clarity, as well as excellent viewing angles and brightness sufficient for working in the sun. From the program point of view, the Mi 5S is also doing well: the firmware allows you to adjust the color temperature of the display, activate the double tap on the screen and turn on the so-called reading mode, in which the display becomes yellow and does not tire the eyes. In the settings, you can select applications that, when launched, will activate this mode automatically.
Traditionally, the flagship Xiaomi over the sixth Android received the latest generation of branded firmware MIUI.
In addition to the nice appearance, the interface expands the functionality of the OS - for example, in MIUI there is a curious Dual Apps feature that “splits” the application, if necessary, to use it from two different accounts. This is useful for clients of social networks and instant messengers, in which, as a rule, you can log in with only one account. It looks like this: in the settings you need to mark the necessary application, and then a duplicate icon will appear on the desktop.
There are advanced privacy settings that allow you to block any installed application using a graphical password, which the system will require every time you start it.
The curious feature of “Second Space” creates on the smartphone something like a second account, like on a PC, which can be password protected. When activated, a lilac “Switch” icon will appear on the desktop. Accounts are autonomous: each of them has its own applications, themes, photos, and so on.
The Xiaomi Mi 5S serves as a filling for the new Snapdragon 821 processor. The developers artificially lowered its frequency to 2.15 GHz, but probably due to this, the smartphone boasts excellent autonomy - one full charge of the battery (3200 mAh) ensures nine hours of playback video or seven and a half hours of continuous active work (Internet, photo editing, typing, and so on).
In the benchmarks, Xiaomi Mi 5S shows excellent results: in AnTuTu, it scores more than 133,000 points. This is not a record result for this test, but Mi 5S is not sold at the flagship price either.
The smartphone is equipped with a very fast memory - downloading and installing applications takes a matter of seconds. There are two versions of the device: one 3 GB of RAM and a 64 GB drive (she visited us on the test), and the other 4 and 128 GB, as well as support for 3D Touch Display technology. The 32 GB version is not provided, which is correct, given the lack of support for memory cards.
Xiaomi Mi 5S is very smart, and even complex games draw well. In the racing simulator Real Racing 3, very close to reality, not only in physics, but also in graphics, all the textures and highlights are in place, and the body doesn’t heat up during the game. A little lacking only the power of the speaker - after all, in realistic racing sound is very important.
In the World of Tanks Blitz favorite game, the gadget at maximum settings quietly keeps fps at a level of 50-60 with rare failures up to 20-30, which provides a smooth image and convenient gameplay.
The smartphone supports two SIM cards, both nano formats. The Internet works perfectly, despite the absence of Band 20. There is support for GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, as well as Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac interfaces, Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC.
The camera module Xiaomi Mi 5S will please fans of mobile photography: the flagship received a fresh 12 megapixel Sony IMX378 sensor with an f / 2.0 aperture with a 1.55 micron pixel size. The camera is equipped with four-lens optics and phase focus. There is no optical stabilization, only digital. The camera application has a manual shooting mode, an automatic horizon alignment mode and a Tilt-shift mode, blurring the edges of the frame to highlight the subject.
The front camera automatically determines the age and sex of the person in the frame and is equipped with a very soft and natural smoothing mode of the skin.
The quality of shooting is excellent: the camera does not distort colors and does not “make noise” in any conditions, the clarity is also on a level.
All photos are clickable:
Pros:
- Very clear screen
- Great camera
- Ultrasound fingerprint scanner
- High performance
Minuses:
- 3D Touch Display only in the older version
- Inconvenient hold
- Does not support memory cards
Xiaomi smartphones still demonstrate modern hardware at a price below market: Mi 5S with 64 GB of memory costs about $ 300, for the version of 128 GB you will have to pay $ 345. The novelty is very good at work: it does not slow down, it takes great photos and works for a long time. Compared with the previous generation, this is a completely new gadget, not an easy "restyling" - the filling, the camera, the charging connector and the fingerprint scanner have been updated. For such money, Xiaomi Mi 5S is definitely worth buying.
By the way, there are other 5S models for every taste and color.
Specifications Xiaomi Mi 5S (3/64 GB)
Screen: IPS 5.15 "1080x1920
Processor: eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2.15 GHz
Graphics accelerator: Adreno 530
Operating system: Android 6.0 + MIUI 8.0
RAM: 3 GB
Built-in memory: 64 GB
Memory card support: no
Connectivity: GSM / UMTS / LTE (3, 7)
SIM: nano-SIM + nano-SIM
Wireless interfaces: Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, NFC
Navigation: GPS, GLONASS
Cameras: main - 12 megapixel (flash, autofocus), frontal - 4 megapixel
Sensors: light, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass, fingerprint scanner
Battery: 3200 mAh
Dimensions: 70.3x145.6x8.25 mm
Weight: 145 grams
Design and ergonomics
Continuity in the design of the new flagship a bit: Xiaomi Mi 5S is not at all like the previous Mi5.
')
The novelty was enclosed in a metal housing with plastic strips for antennas, while the "five" was made of glass. From the previous generation Mi 5S got the curved shape of the back panel and the camera in its upper left corner.
The “Home” button on the Mi 5S is no longer a mechanical one, but a touch one. It looks like a small oval socket, recessed under the glass, and no longer obloblade progress. To trigger it, you just need to touch it. The button includes a Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint scanner. Next to the "Home" button are the touch buttons "Back" and "Menu" - they are equipped with LEDs that light up when the gadget is unlocked.
The front camera and speaker are above the screen.
On the right side there are buttons to turn on and change the volume, and on the left - a slot for a memory card. It can install two cards of the nano-SIM format. Support for microSD in this model is not provided, the user can only choose between the version of 64 and 128 GB.
Small dimensions - 5.15 "- allow you to use the device with one hand. The only drawback is the sharp edges: despite the rounded back cover, Mi 5S is not very convenient to hold in your hand. In addition, the case slides, so we recommend to purchase a case that will protect the device from falling, and by increasing the thickness will improve the grip.
Fingerprint scanner is located on the most convenient place - under the screen. It works in most cases clearly and quickly, without requiring pressing, only a light touch. As stated, the sensor perfectly recognizes wet fingers.
The Xiaomi Mi 5S package includes only the most necessary: ​​the device itself, a USB Type-C cable for charging and synchronizing with a PC, and a 2A power adapter.
Display
Xiaomi Mi 5S received a high-quality IPS-display with excellent clarity - with a diagonal of 5.15 inches, its resolution is 1080x1920 pixels. In the locked state, the screen appears frameless, when removing the lock, small black frames become noticeable (they are narrower than Mi 5’s).
The model received the recognition function of the degree of pressing 3D Touch Display, but it is equipped with only the version of 128 GB. Our test smartphone has a memory capacity of 64 GB, so we could not test the new function.
The display quality is amazing: as we have said, it has excellent clarity, as well as excellent viewing angles and brightness sufficient for working in the sun. From the program point of view, the Mi 5S is also doing well: the firmware allows you to adjust the color temperature of the display, activate the double tap on the screen and turn on the so-called reading mode, in which the display becomes yellow and does not tire the eyes. In the settings, you can select applications that, when launched, will activate this mode automatically.
Firmware
Traditionally, the flagship Xiaomi over the sixth Android received the latest generation of branded firmware MIUI.
In addition to the nice appearance, the interface expands the functionality of the OS - for example, in MIUI there is a curious Dual Apps feature that “splits” the application, if necessary, to use it from two different accounts. This is useful for clients of social networks and instant messengers, in which, as a rule, you can log in with only one account. It looks like this: in the settings you need to mark the necessary application, and then a duplicate icon will appear on the desktop.
There are advanced privacy settings that allow you to block any installed application using a graphical password, which the system will require every time you start it.
The curious feature of “Second Space” creates on the smartphone something like a second account, like on a PC, which can be password protected. When activated, a lilac “Switch” icon will appear on the desktop. Accounts are autonomous: each of them has its own applications, themes, photos, and so on.
In work
The Xiaomi Mi 5S serves as a filling for the new Snapdragon 821 processor. The developers artificially lowered its frequency to 2.15 GHz, but probably due to this, the smartphone boasts excellent autonomy - one full charge of the battery (3200 mAh) ensures nine hours of playback video or seven and a half hours of continuous active work (Internet, photo editing, typing, and so on).
In the benchmarks, Xiaomi Mi 5S shows excellent results: in AnTuTu, it scores more than 133,000 points. This is not a record result for this test, but Mi 5S is not sold at the flagship price either.
The smartphone is equipped with a very fast memory - downloading and installing applications takes a matter of seconds. There are two versions of the device: one 3 GB of RAM and a 64 GB drive (she visited us on the test), and the other 4 and 128 GB, as well as support for 3D Touch Display technology. The 32 GB version is not provided, which is correct, given the lack of support for memory cards.
Xiaomi Mi 5S is very smart, and even complex games draw well. In the racing simulator Real Racing 3, very close to reality, not only in physics, but also in graphics, all the textures and highlights are in place, and the body doesn’t heat up during the game. A little lacking only the power of the speaker - after all, in realistic racing sound is very important.
In the World of Tanks Blitz favorite game, the gadget at maximum settings quietly keeps fps at a level of 50-60 with rare failures up to 20-30, which provides a smooth image and convenient gameplay.
The smartphone supports two SIM cards, both nano formats. The Internet works perfectly, despite the absence of Band 20. There is support for GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, as well as Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac interfaces, Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC.
Camera
The camera module Xiaomi Mi 5S will please fans of mobile photography: the flagship received a fresh 12 megapixel Sony IMX378 sensor with an f / 2.0 aperture with a 1.55 micron pixel size. The camera is equipped with four-lens optics and phase focus. There is no optical stabilization, only digital. The camera application has a manual shooting mode, an automatic horizon alignment mode and a Tilt-shift mode, blurring the edges of the frame to highlight the subject.
The front camera automatically determines the age and sex of the person in the frame and is equipped with a very soft and natural smoothing mode of the skin.
The quality of shooting is excellent: the camera does not distort colors and does not “make noise” in any conditions, the clarity is also on a level.
All photos are clickable:
Results
Pros:
- Very clear screen
- Great camera
- Ultrasound fingerprint scanner
- High performance
Minuses:
- 3D Touch Display only in the older version
- Inconvenient hold
- Does not support memory cards
Xiaomi smartphones still demonstrate modern hardware at a price below market: Mi 5S with 64 GB of memory costs about $ 300, for the version of 128 GB you will have to pay $ 345. The novelty is very good at work: it does not slow down, it takes great photos and works for a long time. Compared with the previous generation, this is a completely new gadget, not an easy "restyling" - the filling, the camera, the charging connector and the fingerprint scanner have been updated. For such money, Xiaomi Mi 5S is definitely worth buying.
By the way, there are other 5S models for every taste and color.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/399209/
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