
I got the Xiaomi Mi5 on ebay ($299.99 = $430AUD). On first impression, it looks good. Google Play Store worked fine. The phone feels like a Samsung Galaxy S6, with some improvements, like USB-C.
Other than the phone being awesome and me getting 99% of my favorite miracles, here is what I've noticed:
SOFTWARE |
HARDWARE |
mood_bad
|
mood_bad
|
mood
|
mood
|
CONCLUSION ...
The Mi phone has numerous annoying quirks, as most brands do, but everything seems to work really well as a package. I appreciate the highly regarded reputation of Mi (via episodic anecdote run-ins including a talk by Clay Shirky where he indicates that what Mi is doing to Samsung is what Samsung did to iPhone). My overall experience is very positive -- the Mi5 is a flagship. On top of that, what you get for the price is a GREAT DEAL, and I love it! I would recommend Mi to any sensible person.
mi.com/en/mi5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaomi
23 May 2017
After too many frustrating attempts trying to get a newer version of MIUI, today met with success!
It is really quite simple when it works. I now believe that an earlier ROM was just not ready, but the current one works without fuss (miui_MI5Global_V8.2.2.0.NAAMIEB_b03a4b93ba_7.0.zip).
The outline on this page was what worked (Method 1: System Update), http://en.miui.com/a-232.html
The main benefits are: an upgrade from Android 6 to Android 7; and security updates.
BTW, Android Pay still does not work.
Before / After
Update:
It had only been 8 months since I got the Mi5, but it feels like the landscape had changed so much. Since switching away from a Google phone I've been missing out on Updates, Google Pay, Android Auto, and flagship VR.
Update:
25 Sep 2017
Updated miui from stable to dev version, hoping for frequent updates. Android Pay seems to work now. Android Auto seems to work now, with a better cable and a bit of fighting to get it to work.
Update:
23 Jan 2018
Water damage. The end.
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