Xiaomi Mi5 specs at par with Galaxy S7 and LG G5, but has a much lower price tag

While the Mobile World Congress 2016 may have been overwhelmed with the launch of Samsung Galaxy S7 and the LG G5, Chinese smartphone-maker Xiaomi unveiled its flagship Mi5 at Barcelona for the first time outside its traditional market – China.

The Mi5 was launched in three variants, the Mi 5 (32 and 64 GB) and the Mi5 Pro. The Mi5 Pro comes with a 3D ceramic cover and 128GB storage along with 4GB RAM, the Mi5 comes with a 3D glass cover and 3GB RAM in both the 32 and 64GB storage variants.

All the three devices are powered by a Snapdragon 820 chip set, which is what most flagships including the Galaxy S7 and the LG G5 have used this year. They also support 4G+ or LTE along with VoLTE. As opposed to many flagships, the Mi5 is a dual-sim that incorporates a nano chip slot, a feature kept in mind for customers in China and India – both of which have high mobile density.

The Chinese smartphone-maker has provided a home button on its devices, which works as a finger print scanner as well. The camera for the Mi5 has garnered rave reviews as Xiaomi has employed the 16MP Sony IMX298 sensor, which will be seen for the first time in a smartphone. The front snapper is 4MP, a little lower than Galaxy S7.

Even as it is unclear whether or not the device will be officially available in the UK, the company has hinted that it would explore markets outside of China and India. Xiaomi devices are sold via third party websites in Europe and US, but not officially.

Moreover, Xiaomi has revealed prices of all the handsets for China. The 32GB smartphone has been priced at $306 (£202), while 64GB device will be available for $352. The 128GB, ceramic back Mi5 Pro has been priced at $413. Prices of the device may not increase significantly if they are launched in the US or Europe.

Compare this to the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S7 – which has been tentatively priced at $669 – the South Korean firm's device is $250 higher than Mi5's high end model. From the specs the Mi5 looks to position itself as a flagship, as they match that of the Galaxy S7 and LG G5.

The biggest disappointment in the Xiaomi devices is the screen resolution, as Samsung and LG outdo Xiaomi. Benchmark tests have also given China-made devices a lower rating.

Tech Specs

Display: 5.15-inch FHD display,IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen
Resolution: 1080 x 1920 pixels (428 pixel density)
Processor: Snapdragon 820, GPU Adreno 530
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with MIUI 7
Storage: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
RAM: 4GB
Camera: 16MP rear with with Sony IMX298 sensor, 4MP front
Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0
Dimensions: 69.2 x 144.55 x 5.12 mm
Weight: 129g (with 3D glass back)
Connectivity: USB-C, NFC, Bluetooth
Colors: Black, white, gold
Price: $306 (32GB), $352 (64GB), $460 (128GB- Pro)