What is wrong with Xiaomi Mi5S and Mi5S Plus or why you should buy Mi5. Xiaomi Mi5S Plus review: like a camera, only better Xiaomi mi5 plus w3bsit3-dns.com discussion

We continue our march on new products from Xiaomi. Last time we got acquainted with, which did not live up to my expectations a little, although on paper it looked like an interesting device. In a nutshell, let me remind you: there were many software flaws and frankly weak autonomy, which could only be corrected by dancing with a tambourine.

Recently, Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus fell into my hands - a phablet with two main cameras, introduced in September 2016. Naturally, I immediately became interested in whether the sores of Redmi Note 4 would appear in the flagship. Looking ahead a little, the situation on the Xiaomi front has improved significantly.

The text may contain and certainly contains grammatical, spelling, punctuation and other types of errors, including semantic ones. I do my best to ask readers to point out these errors and correct me through private messages.

Specifications

5.7" IPS display with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution

Body materials:

metal body with minimal plastic dividers

gold, silver, grey, rose gold

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 with 4 cores in two clusters: 2x Kryo (up to 2.35 GHz) + 2x Kryo (up to 2 GHz)

Adreno 530 (653 MHz)

Operating system:

MIUI8 on Android based 6

RAM:

4/6 GB (UFS 2.0)

User memory:

64/128 GB, without the possibility of installing a memory card

dual 13 MP (Sony IMX378 with phase detection autofocus, f / 2.0, 6 lenses, four-axis optical stabilization system, protective lens made of sapphire glass), front-camera 4 MP (f/2.0, 80° wide angle, smart image enhancement, mirror, face detection)

Network support:

GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100, FDD-LTE Band 1/3/5/7, TD-LTE Band 38/39/40/41, two nanoSIM slots , radio module one

Wireless technologies:

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS/GLONASS/BDS, A-GPS support

fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, hall sensor, gyroscope, digital compass, distance and light, infrared, barometer

Additionally:

3.5mm headset jack, fast charging(Quick Charge 3.0), indicator LED, USB 2.0 (Type-C)

Battery:

3800 mAh, non-removable

Contents of delivery:

power supply (5 V = 2.5 A / 9 V = 2 A / 12 V = 1.5 A), USB cable, paper clip to remove the tray, instructions, plastic slip case

154.6 x 77.7 x 7.95mm

Spoiler

For my taste, the cameras of the Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus turned out to be controversial. If we talk about the main one, it shoots very average, not even close to the current flagships from Huawei, Samsung or Apple. Rather, this is the level of Sony, which has been making excellent modules for a year in a row, but terrible software. The meaning of the second chamber is incomprehensible to a simple layman at all. Clicking black and white pictures on her is a controversial pleasure. How much it really affects the improvement of the final picture is also impossible to check, but I dare to assume that it is not much. For Xiaomi, it was rather important to keep up with the market and also release its own dual-camera device. And how to apply these modules is the tenth thing.

The front 4 megapixel camera has a viewing angle of 80° and a set of branded “enhancers” of the picture, which even make a princess out of a brutal man. The quality of the pictures personally suited me, approximately at the level of the iPhone 5C.

Hardware and software

Flagship smartphone - flagship chip. Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus received the latest quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 with Kryo cores. A pair operates at a frequency of up to 2.0 GHz, another pair stokers at 2.35 GHz in the most resource-intensive tasks. To my surprise, even in voracious games, the smartphone does not heat up. If we talk about the pure performance of the device, then it tears to shreds almost all competitors, with the exception of Samsung flagships, Apple and a couple of exotic gadgets (and Apple?). Particularly impressive is the performance per core in GeekBench test, here Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus is the absolute leader.

Volume random access memory in our model is 4 GB, and permanent - 64 GB without the possibility of expansion. For all household tasks, this is more than enough. Personally, I see no reason to pay extra for the 6/128 GB version. Unlike Redmi Note 4, which choked on two open applications and unloaded them from memory, the flagship calmly digests a dozen and allows you to switch between them without problems. And this is all, I remind you, with 4 GB of RAM.

Now a few words about the software part. Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus this moment compares favorably with Mi5s by the presence of the official Global-firmware, which can be installed on any smartphone with an unlocked bootloader. The latest version available at the time of writing was 8.0.1.0.

Important clarification: Some online stores buy Chinese versions of smartphones locally and manually install homemade Global-firmware with Russian language on them. To reflash to official Global you will need to download the appropriate software on the Xiaomi website and install it with standard tools through the “Update” utility.

The current MIUI8 global firmware is based on Android 6th revision and works surprisingly stable. For two weeks of testing, the smartphone only spontaneously rebooted once. No other “jambs” were noticed. Google services are supported and working properly.

autonomy

Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus received a 3800 mAh non-removable battery. This volume successfully correlates with the new processor and large diagonal display. The smartphone works from early morning until late at night with 4-5 hours of active screen.

Thanks to the support of Quick Charge 3.0 technology, the bundled adapter replenishes half the charge in about 50 minutes. Full charge take over two hours.

conclusions

In the best traditions of Xiaomi, the brand new flagship Mi 5S Plus turned out to be a real “candy” on paper and promo photos. In practice, the device has a number of small, and not very, shortcomings. The smartphone does not feel the best, ideal and uncompromising, as flagship devices should be.

The fate of this model on the market remains a mystery. It will not be easy to convince a simple user to spend more than $400 on a device from Xiaomi, and enthusiasts would rather prefer to add some money and take the “flagship killer” - whose fate in the short term is less vague.

If we talk about Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus, then it already competes within the line with Mi Note 2, and there is also a frameless Mi MIX, which will fall in price over time. Given the pace at which the manufacturer is churning out new items, the release of some Mi 6 can be expected in the first half of 2017. Perhaps it is better to wait for the heir, what do you think about this?

What we liked:

nice appearance and convenient location of control elements;

fast fingerprint scanner

the camera can shoot RAW and performs well during daylight hours;

the fastest processor on the market at the moment;

no heating under load;

implementation of multitasking work;

availability of official Global-firmware;

MIUI8 shell capabilities, no critical bugs.

What did not like:

sharp edges on the case slightly cut the hand or face during a conversation;

there is a black outline around the display;

the second camera does not provide the same opportunities as the solutions of competitors;

the device does not feel like a full-fledged flagship.

Where could I buy?

Thanks to the Gearbest online store for the smartphone provided for review. At the time of writing, Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus is available in Gray, Gold, Rose Gold and Silver colors. The 64 GB version starts at , while the 6/128 GB version starts at .

Thanks for attention!

Xiaomi has been preparing an update for the successful flagship Mi4 for a long 18 months. Rumor has it that the main reason was problems with overheating in Snapdragon chipset 810. In order not to take risks and avoid the appearance of a stain on the reputation of the flagship family, a separate Mi Note series was even released (by the way, the fears were justified, and many Mi Note Pro owners experienced problems with overheating). And after such a long pause, the Chinese manufacturer immediately issues three flagships, two of which we saw yesterday - Mi5S and Mi5S Plus (Mi5 was at the beginning of the year). Logically, Mi5S was supposed to be the development of the Mi5 concept, and Mi5S Plus - Mi Note Pro. Both models were credited with a curved display, pressure recognition technology a la 3D Touch, and even 8 GB of RAM along with 256 GB. internal storage. However, Xiaomi turned out to be a far from unambiguous product. Let's figure out what's wrong with Xiaomi Mi5S and Mi5S Plus.

Design

Perhaps the most subjective category. Of course, even in this form, Mi5S and Mi5S Plus will find their fans. But in general, the appearance of smartphones is very controversial. Everyone expected Xiaomi to develop the Mi5 design in glass (ceramics!) And metal, but instead they got an all-metal Mi5S case, reminiscent of either the iPhone 6, or the brainchild of Vivo, or a thermos ( HTC One M8 was the trailblazer). As for the Mi5S Plus, it evokes more associations with the budget Redmi Note line than the flagship Mi series. Not least because of the fingerprint scanner on the back, which we will talk about separately.

Modest progress

Xiaomi for some reason decided to get involved in an adventure called "two flagships a year", in which few people are the winner. Xiaomi Mi5 was introduced at the end of February and it must be said that little has changed since then. In Mi5S, the company replaced the chipset with a newer one, but lowered the frequency to Snapdragon 820 to emphasize the “advanced” status of the Mi5S Plus model. Xiaomi loudly announced an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner under glass, although in reality this design is not much different from a touch button (it has not yet been possible to completely hide under the front panel). But the pressing force recognition technology was completely left behind the scenes - its implementation is only in the top version with 4/128 GB system memory remains a mystery. Judging by the fact that she was not even given a separate slide, Xiaomi has nothing to brag about. Otherwise, this is still the same Mi5, that is, the owners of this device can sleep peacefully for another six months.

Plus is not so "plus"

Xiaomi demonstrates a colossal imbalance in the Mi5S lineup. Despite the fact that the model with the Plus prefix should be more advanced than the standard version. But in our case, this is not entirely true. The Mi5S Plus doesn't get a newfangled fingerprint scanner or the nameless pressure recognition technology, and for some reason the dual 13MP camera doesn't support 1080p@120fps video recording. If we talk about continuity with Mi Note Pro, then here I would like to see a QHD display and high-quality audio stuffing, maybe even a back made of noble wood, but none of this is, but dual camera And large display far from everyone will become an argument for choosing this particular model, as well as 6 GB of RAM in the “expensive” version for 2599 yuan (25 thousand rubles).

Mi Note with bamboo lid

black frame

Many words are not needed here - the annoying black frame-rim has remained in its place, which definitely cannot please. Xiaomi did not listen to the demands to correct this design miscalculation, which is especially evident in the white version of the gadget, and will definitely listen to a whole portion of criticism. It can be assumed that black variants, where this shame is not so noticeable, will again be in great short supply.

Camera

In Mi5S, the main 16-megapixel camera has been replaced with a newer 12-megapixel Sony IMX378 module (which, by the way, should receive Google Pixel and Pixel XL), but without optical image stabilization (it is not mentioned anywhere). Mi5S Plus received a dual 13-megapixel module a la Huawei P9 / P9 Plus - monochrome and color sensors. Optical stabilization is also absent here. We doubt that the advantages of the updated photo solutions will be able to compensate for the lack of a stabilizer. The implementation of the dual module may also turn out to be completely different from what is expected (pictures of the Redmi Pro dual camera were received rather coolly). More sensible is the development of the existing 16-megapixel module, which had much to develop (this applies to both photos and videos).

Oddly enough, the announcement of the Mi5S series increases the attractiveness of the Mi5 itself, the price of which for the basic version has dropped to 1599 yuan (15.3 thousand rubles). Perhaps, overpaying for the Mi5S, which is priced at 1999 yuan (or 19.2 thousand rubles) in the “base”, does not make much sense. Moreover, the top version with support for trendy screen interaction technologies is only 200 yuan cheaper than the ceramic Mi5 (2299 versus 2499 yuan), and not everyone will prefer 3D Touch. Xiaomi played with the number of models. Perhaps the fault is "dry" 18 months without flagships. In any case, I do not want the "two flagships per year" policy to be taken as a basis next year. It still works with cheap Redmis, but hardly with expensive ones.

top version with 4 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM and a ceramic back for 2499 yuan

Surely every person interested in the mobile sphere has heard about the company's achievements in one way or another. And almost all the interesting novelties of the Chinese giant end up on the pages of our laboratory.

It is impossible not to mention that Xiaomi is engaged not only in the production of smartphones. Of the latest and most versatile devices, we managed to test the branded Notebook Air 12.5 laptop, the Ninebot Mini hoverboard and even the YunBike C1 bike.

But the bulk of the range is still made up of budget mobile solutions, and the fiercest competition is observed there. However, the company also has a model of the highest segment at an attractive price. In addition, by the end of the year, she revised the approach to the name of new devices due to confusion arising from the production a large number device variations.

Thanks to our partner, the Xiaomi Store, we will be reviewing one of the latest flagship solutions in the form of an enlarged Mi5s with a Plus prefix.

The potential heir to Xiaomi Mi5 was introduced quite recently and literally just started to appear on store shelves. It features new appearance, software improvements, and some hardware features that we'll explore in the next section.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi5S Plus

Model	Xiaomi Mi5S Plus	Xiaomi Mi5
Housing materials	Metal + glass + plastic	Metal + glass + plastic
Screen	5.7", IPS, Full HD	5.15", IPS, Full HD
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, 2 x 2.35 GHz + 2 x 2.2 GHz Kryo	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 2 x 1.8 GHz + 2 x 1.36 GHz, Kryo
video processor	Adreno 530	Adreno 530
Operating system	Android 6.0 + MIUI 8	Android 6.0 + MIUI 7
RAM, GB	4/6	3
Built-in storage, GB	64/128	32/64
Memory card slot	Not	Not
Cameras, Mpix	13.0 x 2 + 4.0	16.0 + 4.0
Battery, mAh	3 800	3 000
Dimensions, mm	77.7 x 154.7 x 8.0	69.0 x 145.0 x 7.0
Weight, g	168	129
price, rub.	~25 000 / ~30 000	~18 000 / ~20 000

The characteristics of the new smartphone correspond to the decisions of a higher price segment. As usual, Xiaomi, like a number of other large Chinese companies, is distinguished by its approach to pricing and hardware preparation of devices.

Of the interesting features, in addition to the new case design, we note the processor, the amount of memory on board the device and capacious battery. Otherwise, with the exception of the diagonal, everything is like the younger brother Xiaomi Mi5S. The use of two cameras is of interest, although Xiaomi's first device with this feature was the mid-budget Redmi Pro. The fingerprint scanner is also in place, but for some reason it moved to the back panel.

Xiaomi Mi5S Plus can be called the first representative of the line with this name. We will study it with special care and try not to miss the features of the novelty during the article, and also share our personal impressions. Let's start, as usual, with the packaging.

Packaging and packaging Xiaomi Mi5S Plus

Xiaomi Mi5S Plus is offered to customers in a classic compact branded white cardboard box. The packaging is protected by a transparent film. There are no bright elements, the manufacturer even refused to apply the image of a smartphone on the front side - there is only an embossed MI logo.

The appearance of the box can be called strict. On the reverse side there is only a classic sticker with legal information and a brief summary of the available technical characteristics of the smartphone.

When you open the lid, you can immediately see the smartphone inside, initially it must be protected by shipping films on both sides.

Let's take a look at the package? To do this, remove the cardboard backing under the smartphone.

As we can see, the user receives the following accessories bundled with the smartphone:

Charger 1.5 A;
Cable USB Type-C;
Plastic transparent case;
Documentation and a paper clip to remove the SIM tray.

The case cannot be called ideal, but it's nice that the manufacturer immediately took care of protecting the device during operation. Many people now neglect it.

The charger is compact, vertical type with a Chinese plug. However, buying a compact adapter is not at all a problem now, and sellers in Russia usually immediately complete their smartphones with them. The charger is convenient to use. USB cable Type-C complies with quality standards.

The charger supports fast charging. Otherwise, there are no complaints about the packaging and delivery set, it copes well with the assigned functionality.

At the end of September, Xiaomi decided to roll out two smartphones to the market instead of one: and Mi5S Plus. If everything is more or less clear with the first one - it's just an update of the spring flagship, then what the version with the Plus prefix is is not completely clear. And why does the device need two cameras? We'll talk about all this and more in Xiaomi Mi5S Plus review.

A bit about positioning

Xiaomi clearly understands what the Mi5S Plus model is. This is a smartphone with top specifications, a 5.7-inch display and at a fairly reasonable price. Something intermediate between and Mi Note 2.

In the photo Xiaomi Redmi Pro

Only in our case, wide plastic inserts of antennas were located above and below to match the main color.

You can feel the metal back only due to its coldness. So, it is very similar to glossy plastic. I was careful with the device, so for three weeks there were no traces of operation left. However, according to the reviews of other users, it only scratches the flight. Be careful.

The fingerprint scanner is recessed into the case. We'll talk more about it a little later.

Eye of two rear cameras is flush with the rear surface. What kind of glass is this or a sapphire coating can be used is not known for certain. Therefore, we conclude that the sapphire was not lying around here and there, because the manufacturer will never miss the opportunity to announce one or another of his buns.

There is a double flash nearby and ... that's it. Boring, unremarkable appearance, familiar to us from previously presented devices. I hope that from this point of view, Mi Note 2 will please more.

Mi5S Plus is sold in four colors:

Please note that only the pink body is devoid of perpendicular stripes on back cover.

The fingerprint scanner

Since it is located in a fairly convenient place and there are no engineering frills, as in Mi5S, the scanner works perfectly. 10 out of 10 unlock attempts are successful.

In addition, the response speed is beyond praise. Very close to the reference in OnePlus 3, that is, the smartphone is unlocked very quickly.

The sensor can block not only the device itself, but also individual applications. We turn on the corresponding item in the scanner menu, and the section itself appears already in the root directory of parameters. A little illogical, not scary.

On the scanner hung the ability to take pictures. Open the camera, touch the sensor and the photo is ready. Everything works quickly and without errors.

Scrolling through photos in the Gallery, switching tracks - all this is alien to our scanner. Xiaomi is high time to peep these chips from Huawei.

Display

I have already talked about the good ratio of dimensions and 5.7-inch screen. I will only add that there are also thin side frames, so the feelings of those who suffer are in no way offended. You can even buy, just imagine, the white version!

diagonal 5.7 inches
resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels
dot density 386 ppi
contrast ratio 1300:1
brightness 550 nits (Mi5S 600 nits, RN4 450)
94% NTSC color match

Screen covers safety glass 2.5D. Gorilla Glass or not - I can't say. There is no information on this. But there is a high-quality oleophobic coating. You won't hold back here.

Frankly, I expected our hero to be equipped with an AMOLED matrix, as in, but here we have the most ordinary IPS panel. However, this does not mean that everything is bad. On the contrary, the screen shows itself quite well. Below are examples of photos in which our hero is on the bottom or on the right, and LeEco Le 3 is located on top or on the left.

A slight lilac fog appears only at extreme viewing angles. The rest of the display is good.

At the end of the corner test I put next to . Please note that his matrix behaves a little better at such a large viewing angle. There is no such pronounced inversion fog.

And one more photo. For a mental disorder, so to speak. Below you can clearly see how the Mi5S Plus IPS matrix floats and how well the Redmi Pro AMOLED panel is doing.

Of course, there is auto brightness control, which works out its bread by 100%. Don't forget about the special night mode, when the blue glow is removed, the screen begins to actively turn yellow, and our eyes become grateful for such a careful attitude towards them.

There are no special color settings here. Only standard, contrast or automatic profile. I chose the latter because it completely suits me.

As in any modern and self-respecting smartphone, there is an awakening of the screen on double tap. The chip is very convenient and it is a must to take it into service.

Specifications Xiaomi Mi5S Plus

Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor with four Kryo cores and a frequency of 2.35 GHz
Adreno 530 graphics up to 653 MHz
RAM 4 (2330 MB available after reboot) or 6 GB LPDDR4 up to 1866 MHz
built-in storage 64 (really free 55.38 GB) or 128 GB UFS 2.0
5.7-inch IPS display, 1920 x 1080 pixels (386 ppi), 1300:1 contrast ratio and 550 nits brightness
rear cameras 13 + 13 MP (PDAF autofocus, shooting in RAW, video recording 2160p)
4 MP front camera (f/2.0, single pixel size 2 μm, 80-degree lens)
battery 3 800 mAh (Quick Charge 3.0)
OS Android 6.0
MIUI 8.0.10.0 (current at the time of publication, stable firmware)
sensor: light and proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, digital compass, hall sensor, fingerprint scanner, infrared port
connectors: USB Type-C (OTG works), 3.5 mm audio port
dimensions: 154.6 x 77.7 x 7.95 mm
weight 168 grams

Wireless standards:

4G (LTE Cat. 12/13, Full Netcom 3.0, frequencies: 1, 3, 5, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41)
support for two Nano SIM cards
Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC
Navigation: GPS, Glonass, Beidou

At the moment, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset is a truly flagship processor. There is nothing better than him. There is, of course, the Apple A10 Fusion, but since it is installed exclusively on the iPhone, it makes no sense to compare both solutions head-on.

- this is an extremely productive smartphone, but this is achieved not only due to its “brains”, but also a fiercely optimized OS. This is also why the A10 Fusion is off the rails. And because QS821 can rightfully be considered the most-most processor today.

The maximum possible frequency of the "stone" is 2.4 GHz. In our case, this is 2.35 GHz, which means that we have one of the most powerful devices on the market.

For those who care about it and who don't want to overpay for flagship hardware, Mi5S Plus will be the best of existing solutions. No compromises.

Some more information about the processor. It is manufactured using a 14nm process. Together with Android 7.0 (I think there will be an update to the seven) and the Vulkan technology supported in it, the graphics in games should reach new level. Thus, the margin of safety of the smartphone is maximum and it will be at the peak of performance for at least another year.

In terms of specifications, there is only one caveat - there is no support for the FDD-LTE 20 band. Depending on the region, different domestic operators use it, so perhaps this will be a critical moment for someone. I had no problems with MTS in the Kaluga region. 4G worked to the fullest. 4G + did not light up even once, although this happened on other devices. Extra proof of the above.

Display	5.7 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 (386 ppi)
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core 64-bit, 2.35 GHz
video accelerator	Adreno 530
RAM	4 / 6 GB
Built-in memory	64 / 128 GB
Main camera	13 + 13 MP (phase detection autofocus, dual-color LED flash)
Front-camera	4 MP
Operating system	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with MIUI 8 interface
SIM	2 nanoSIMs
Connection	GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz; UMTS: 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2000 / 2100 MHz; LTE: 1, 3, 5, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41
Wireless interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, infrared port
Navigation	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Sensors	Light sensor, proximity, accelerometer, microgyroscope, compass, barometer, fingerprint scanner
Battery	3,800 mAh, non-removable, fast charging QC 3.0
Dimensions	154.6×77.7×7.95mm
Weight	168 g

Contents of delivery

Xiaomi Mi5S Plus package includes:

the smartphone itself;
branded Charger with QC 3.0 support;
plastic bumper;
USB → USB Type-C cable.

And earlier, at least a headset was put into the flagships. But compared to a regular kit, even a bumper and a high-quality charger (for an American plug) also look good.

Appearance and usability

Xiaomi's new product produces the same wow effect as. Slim, comfortable, big smartphone. But he is far from elegant. Neither tempered protective glass with 2.5D edges (a bad invention of marketers) nor beveled edges saves. Although both add convenience in use and provide a strong grip.

The metal polished surface of the heel immediately hints that a bumper is indispensable. Moreover, the gaps between the main plate and the signal-conducting inserts are not only noticeable - you can insert a sheet of paper. The 2.5D convex screen also indicates the need to purchase additional protection.

The fingerprint scanner is located on the back cover, just below the dual camera module. Of course, in the palm of your hand it is very convenient. But a smartphone lying on the table cannot be unlocked without additional movements.

Apparently, the company's engineers had to do this in order to ensure the most comfortable grip. The area under the screen is inaccessible to owners of a small palm. The rear location of the scanner provides full reach of all controls for both the right and left hand. Everything is in the usual places, including the sensor for controlling household appliances.

The sensors are moved up as high as possible to avoid accidental triggering during operation.

Display and picture quality

New Xiaomi has a 5.7-inch display with IPS-matrix. Black borders are minimal. But, unlike many competitors, the screen resolution is only 1,920 × 1,080 pixels (386 ppi).

And to hell with him, with permission! Xiaomi Mi5S Plus has almost the best screen in your class. Color reproduction, clarity, contrast - everything suggests that the screen is AMOLED. However, it is a very good IPS, more durable than an OLED panel.

The screen has a standard touchscreen for 10 touches. This margin provides excellent sensitivity and high response speed.

Hardware platform and performance

Xiaomi Mi5S Plus is equipped with the most modern Snapdragon processor 821 with frequencies increased to 2.35 GHz. For the end user, this is the only difference from the 820, since the video core has remained unchanged.

The smartphone has received several modifications. Basic version Mi5S Plus has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. The following options received 6 GB of RAM and 64 or 128 GB of internal memory. It is worth recalling that the used permanent memory complies with the UFS 2.0 specification.

The gadget is equipped with a double slot for SIM cards. Flash cards are not supported. But, as practice shows, most users have more than enough built-in 64 GB. Besides inner memory more reliable than flash drives.

Such solutions allowed us to achieve excellent results in synthetic tests. Xiaomi Mi5S Plus currently ranks fifth in the AnTuTu ranking.

How does synthetics affect the user? In the most direct way. Seriously something to load the device will not work. So far, there are no standalone applications with this kind of resource usage.

Some gaming tests show the presence of free RAM. And this also applies to younger versions of smartphones. No lags, no slowdowns, even the thoughtfulness of the device under load is practically absent.

Another plus of Xiaomi Mi5S Plus is a full-fledged USB Type-C connector using a USB 3.0 controller. Here and video output to HDMI, and audio, and increased speeds data transmission. There is even pass-through charging.

Operating system

I have never understood those who want to update as soon as possible. Output new version systems are not a reason to upgrade. Let them test it, then you can use it.

Probably Xiaomi engineers are of the same opinion: stability operating system more important than new unrolled features. Therefore, the flagship works under Android control 6 Marshmallow with a proprietary MIUI 8 add-on, familiar to our readers from reviews,.

The system is concise, thoughtful and convenient. There are settings for everything the most finicky user might need.

Unlike the younger Xiaomi Mi5S with a 5.2-inch screen, Plus version has an official global firmware. And it also has the usual Google services, and correct Russian translation. And most importantly: on click home buttons starts voice search Google, not MIUI!

For beginners, there is a simplified smartphone control mode. It turns off all unnecessary functions and only the basic icons of the increased size remain. The logic of work becomes similar to the control of a conventional push-button telephone or washing machine. So, if not for the cost, the device could be recommended as a gift to relatives of the older generation.

Multimedia features

Camera

Apparently, Xiaomi Mi5S Plus was a direct response to the appearance of the iPhone 7 Plus. And just like in Apple line, the older model is equipped with a dual main camera. Each of its sensors has a resolution of 13 megapixels.

The camera uses 13-megapixel Sony IXM258 Exmor RS sensors with a size of ⅓ inch and a pixel of 1.12 microns. The lens aperture is f/2.0. Also, the camera is equipped with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and dual LED flash. There is no stabilization, although it is present in the regular Mi5S.

If you look for competitors among smartphones with other diagonals, Xiaomi Mi5S Plus still holds up with dignity. Both are more expensive, but offer comparable functionality.

Compared to OnePlus and Huawei Xiaomi company offers a more deployed infrastructure, adequate support, constant system updates.

For which of the devices to vote with the ruble is a private matter for each buyer. Do you want a life hack? Wait for Xiaomi Mi6 and get Mi5S Plus. Good new flagship not far off anymore. And other companies still will not be able to offer a worthwhile alternative.