Updated on 02-17-2016 by Julian Chokkattu: Added full specs of the Mi5 leaked from two different sources.

Hardware and design rumors

Snapdragon 820 and USB Type C

The full specs of the upcoming Xiaomi Mi5 have been leaked in two separate ways — and each of the leaks offers slightly different information alluding to two variants of the device, according to GizChina. Keep in mind that these are still leaks, so we can’t verify the information, and please take everything with a grain of salt. Besides, with Mobile World Congress being less than a week away, it won’t be long until we get the full details on the Mi5.

The first leak comes in the form of a packaging label for the Mi5, which tells us the device will have a Snapdragon 820 processor 2.15GHz, an oddly-sized 5.15-inch display, a USB Type C port, and a 3,000mAh battery. The biggest difference between this information and the second leak is in the camera specs, with this variant having a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a front-facing 4-megapixel (ultrapixel) camera. Images of the metal chassis of the phone were leaked as well.

The second leak is of images — not of the smartphone, but of Xiaomi’s presentation file for the Mi5. This leak says the device will have a Micro SD card, dual-SIM support, and NFC — a feature Xiaomi removed after the Mi3. This presentation also says the display will be 5.2-inches, with a 1,920 x 1080p resolution.

It is possible that the differences in screen size allude to the possible curved model of the device, which we’ve heard rumors of before.

There will indeed be two offerings at the least, one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, and one with 4GB of RAM as well as 64GB of storage. The presentation also mentions a 26-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.6 aperture, which means perhaps the 4GB RAM version will have a better camera than the 3GB RAM variant, which may be stuck with a 16-megapixel rear camera. The device is also purported to have Qualcomm 3.0 fast charging.

If the presentation leak is correct, you’ll be able to purchase the device on February 26, after Mobile World Congress.

To build up hype for the Mi5, Hugo Barra, vice president of International at Xiaomi, posted a video to Facebook teasing the device’s speed.

If these specs align with what we saw in mid-November, the Mi5 will be a powerhouse. A benchmark test for a device codename Gemini appeared on Geekbench’s site. While these can easily be faked, it does show the Gemini running an MSM8996 Qualcomm chip — better known to use as the Snapdragon 820 — with 3GB of RAM, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow installed. The Gemini’s appearance coincided with talk of a December announcement.

In late September, @leaksfly on the social network Weibo published another set of specs, and because they differ once more than those we’ve seen before, it suggests Xiaomi has been gradually tweaking the phone while it waits for the right moment to launch it.

The @leaksfly data said the phone will feature a 5.2-inch screen with a 1080p resolution, smaller and lower resolution than previous rumors — including those from previous @leaksfly leaks. The Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM are still likely, according to the source, along with a 16-megapixel camera on the rear, and an 8-megapixel from cam. This information matches the latest leak, except for the 8-megapixel front-facing camera. @leaksfly said the device will run on Android 5.1.1, which will inevitably be covered in the MIUI skin, plus a choice of a 16GB or 32GB model.

Before this, according to a leak in early July, the specs were yet again thought to be different. For example, the display was said to be 5.3-inches — slightly larger than the Mi 4 — and with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. The rear camera was listed as having 16 megapixels, while the front facing camera may come in at 6 megapixels. The rumor mentioned a Micro SD slot for expanded storage, a micro SIM slot, a 3030mAh battery, and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. It looks as though the Micro SD card rumor may be right.

Talk of the Snapdragon 820 started back in May, after a @leaksfly rumor said Xiaomi will pair the processor with 4GB of RAM, and offer both a 16GB and a 64GB model. At that time, the screen was expected to measure 5.5-inches and have a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution, making it slightly smaller in size than the 5.7-inch Mi Note Pro. The new leaks suggest there will be two Mi 5 models, a standard model with 4GB of RAM, and a second phone with 3GB of RAM.

Other features listed back then included a cameras with optical image stabilization — plus a USB Type-C charging port. Xiaomi may use aluminum for the phone’s body, and it may measure just 5.1mm thick. Finally, as part of the Snapdragon 820, the phone may use Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint authentication system. The fingerprint sensor was also part of the July rumor report from Mobipicker.

Android and Windows 10 Mobile versions

Although the Mi 5 is expected to launch with Xiaomi’s MIUI on top of Android, a new rumor hints that the Chinese company may offer a Windows 10 Mobile variant of the Mi 5, too. Windows Mobile Power User picked up the news from a few Chinese sources, including GizmoChina. The site claims that the Windows version will sport all the same specs as the Android model and arrive at the same time during Mobile World Congress on February 24.

Mi 5 will launch on February 24

The Xiaomi Mi 5 has been rumored for months, and will finally launch in February 24. The news comes directly from Xiaomi’s global product director Hugo Barra, who posted a teaser image for a press event on his Facebook page. Additionally, he wrote, “Mi 5 is almost here! It’s Xiaomi’s first product launch in 2016, happening on February 24.”

The date also happens to be right in the middle of Mobile World Congress, where Samsung, LG, and HTC are all likely to reveal major 2016 smartphone releases. It’s not clear is Xiaomi will also be at the show — it has never done so before — but what is obvious is that it wants to capture plenty of the limelight.

This comes after a wealth of leaks and rumors, many of the most recent pointing to a February announcement. In a Weibo post, Xiaomi co-founder and senior vice president Liwan Jiang said the company was accelerating production of the Mi 5 , ready to stock shelves soon after the Spring Festival, the holiday period around Chinese New Year. It goes on until mid-February. This lines up with new information saying that the device will be available for purchase on February 26, 2 days after the announcement.

This also fits in with an earlier Weibo leak (credit to My Drivers), where a banner inside an unnamed Foxconn facility was pictured saying the Mi 5 is now in mass production.

We’ve been tracking Mi 5 launch rumors for a while. In 2015, the last we heard was the phone would be shown off on December 3, but it never materialized. Going back further, there were lots of rumors of a November launch date, but analyst Pan Jiutang stated Xiaomi would hold off the Mi 5 launch until the Snapdragon 820 became available for mass production. Before the November leaks, we heard about an October 19 event, which turned out to be the launch of the Segway-type scooter. Specification leaks go back even further.

A standard and an Edge-style Mi 5?

Two new images of what’s supposed to be the Xiaomi Mi 5 leaked in late January, showing a standard Mi 5 and a second, curved model, that may be something like Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge. Originating on the Weibo social network, the standard flat model differs from previously leaked images by having the proximity sensor above the speaker, rather than alongside. The chassis looks to be made from metal, and the glass may have a 2.5D curve. The Mi logo sits in the top left corner.

The second image shows a phone with what’s referred to as an Edge-style curve down both sides of the chassis. The picture is certainly of a different phone — the front cam and proximity sensor match previous leaks here — and there’s definitely the hint of a curved edge. However, it’s not as pronounced as Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge, and may not have the same functionality. There’s also a chance the curve is an optical illusion, or worse, a clever fake. The chassis doesn’t have the same antenna breaks as seen in the other image, and may have an IR sensor on the opposite side to the headphone jack.

If Xiaomi is going to announce two versions of the Mi 5, the rumor says the standard looking phone may have 4GB of RAM, while the Edge model may have 3GB. We’ve seen leaked renders of a phone that may be the Mi 5, complete with a physical home button, and 2.5D glass before, but that doesn’t make these new leaks anymore genuine, and may still be prototypes.

Recently leaked images by a user on Weibo show off what looks to be the Xiaomi Mi 5 in four colors: black, gold, white, and pink. The notable difference in this image compared to that of previously leaked renders is the home button, which is not as round and resembles the button on Samsung Galaxy devices. The image does seem to confirm the rumored 2.5D glass front panel, assuming it’s the real deal.

A video was also leaked of the Mi 5 sitting on a wooden dock, but it doesn’t look completely similar to the leaked images. It’s a little more rectangular and not as rounded as the images purport the device to be. Of course, it could be an earlier prototype.



In early December, two leaks gave us a look at potential Xiaomi Mi 5 designs. The first came from GizmoChina and a Weibo source, and showed the front of the phone with a black border. The Mi logo and a home button — that’s expected to house a fingerprint sensor — were the only other points of interest.

A few days later, another image was published on the Weibo social network, this time in the shape of a full render. It shows a curved 2.5D glass front panel, and a similar home button design to the first leaked image, plus there is the hint of a USB Type-C charger mounted underneath. The Mi logo is missing from its usual home in the top left of the body.

None of the images are official, and should be considered speculative until the phone is finally made official.

Launch date rumors

Previous rumors we heard before the Mi Note launch date

Going back to before the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro were revealed, rumors regarding the specification also suggested the display will measure 5.5-inches, and have a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. However, the processor driving the device was tipped as a Snapdragon 805, or a Snapdragon 810, with 3GB of RAM. The Economic Daily News’ source also mentioned a 20.7-megapixel camera, and a fingerprint sensor being fitted.

Questions were raised over the possible price. The Economic Daily News says Xiaomi wants to continue selling hardware at competitive prices, but another local report, quoting an analyst, says the Mi 5 may cost more than previous models. It also speculates Xiaomi could release two flagship phones to compensate for the change. It could now be assumed this was related to the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro.What will the Mi 5 look like?

Xiaomi launched the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro on January 15

Xiaomi held a launch event on January 15 in Beijing, where it revealed the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro. Previously, Xiaomi’s co-founder and president Bin Lin said in a statement the company would unveil its next flagship device in January 2015, although it was never certain the phone would be the Mi 5.

Whether the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro, which do match up to some of the early leaked Mi 5 specs, will replace the Mi 5 in Xiaomi’s 2015 line-up remains to be seen. The phones are powerful, attractive, and worthy of “flagship” status. However, the Mi 4 is still quite new, leaving Xiaomi plenty of time to update the phone later on.

CES launch never came

According to a report published by the Economic Daily News in China, Xiaomi was rumored to launch the Mi 5 smartphone at the CES 2015. However, this didn’t happen, and has crushed any hopes for a subsequent U.S. launch.

Although it was a tantalizing prospect, the CES launch and U.S. release of the Xiaomi Mi 5 always looked unlikely. Xiaomi has had a small presence at previous CES shows, with its phones being displayed by partners such as Qualcomm.

It launched the Mi 4 smartphone at a high-profile event in Beijing – China is its largest market, after all – last July. Finally, while Xiaomi intends to become a global brand in the future, CEO Lei Jun has recently said any wide international launch won’t be possible until the it’s the world’s number one smartphone manufacturer.

The authenticity of these images and specs is also unconfirmed, and may turn out to be nothing more than speculation. In light of the Mi Note’s launch, the Mi 5’s future uncertain, but we’ll continue gathering any news on the phone’s existence here.

Previous updates:

Updated on 02-01-2016 by Malarie Gokey: Added in a rumor that Xiaomi might introduce a Windows 10 Mobile version of the Mi 5, too.

Updated on 01-26-16 by Andy Boxall: Added in news Xiaomi will hold an event on February 24, where it will launch the Mi 5.

Updated on 01-20-16 by Andy Boxall: Added in leaked pictures of what could be two different models of the Mi 5, one with a curved Edge-style display.

Updated on 01-18-16 by David Curry: Added in news of possible launch date after Chinese New Year.

Updated on 01-13-16 by David Curry: Added in new rumors of a February launch date for the Xiaomi Mi 5.

Updated on 12-28-2015 by Julian Chokkattu: Added in leaked video and images of the Xiaomi Mi 5.

Updated on 12-11-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in a new leaked two new renders that may be of the Xiaomi Mi 5, plus yet another launch date rumor.

Updated on 11-12-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in yet another rumor on the possible Mi 5 launch, plus a spec leak under the codename Gemini.

Updated on 11-09-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in teaser from Xiaomi that hints at a November 11 launch for the Mi 5.

Updated on 10-12-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added in teaser from Xiaomi that hints at an October 19 launch date for the Mi 5.

Updated on 09-28-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in new spec rumors, and talk of a pre-2016 launch.

Updated on 07-17-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in rumors of an August launch.

Updated on 07-01-2015 by Robert Nazarian: Added in full leaked specifications and further evidence of a November 2015 release

Updated on 05-27-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in a new rumor stating the Mi 5 may arrive later in 2015 with an impressive spec.

Updated on 01-15-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in details of the Mi Note and Mi Note Pro launch, which leaves the Mi 5’s future in doubt.

Updated on 01-12-2015 by Andy Boxall: Added in confirmation of a Xiaomi launch event on January 15.

Updated on 12-30-2014 by Andy Boxall: Xiaomi says next flagship device will be revealed in January.

Updated on 12-23-2014 by Andy Boxall: Added in another leaked image, showing a large phone with thin screen bezels.

Updated on 12-05-2014 by Andy Boxall: Added in rumors of a CES 2015 launch, plus more rumors about the phone’s spec.

Article originally published on 11-14-2014

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