Fresh Xiaomi Mi 5 leak shows a glossy rear

Xiaomi seem to have gone all-metal in late 2015 and early 2016 with the Redmi Note 3 and the Redmi 3 phones respectively. However, pure metal isn’t premium enough, apparently.

That’s a school of thought emerging right now because of what’s seen on the latest Xiaomi Mi 5 leak.

The phone’s rear panel has been glimpsed this time, and it looks like it’ll be made (partly) out of glossy glass/onyx.

Take a look at the leaked images here:

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We’ve heard rumours of Xiaomi prepping a couple different models of the Mi 5 (‘Youth’ and ‘Advanced’?), with the higher-end one being made fully out of metal. If the claim has any truth to it, we might be looking at the lower-end variant of the Mi 5 here, with its Redmi 3-style textured rear covered in gloss.

Previously known information about this Xiaomi flagship includes: its processor (Snapdragon 820), display resolution (1920 x 1080p), screen size (lesser than 5.5 inches; 5.2 inches being a prime suspect), and more.

How’s the Mi 5 shaping up for you so far? Are you impressed? Regardless of that, stay tuned to GizChina, since a lot more leaks and news around the Mi 5 are expected before the February 24th launch.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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Yash Garg
Yash is a blogger by profession, builder of things by passion and foodie by birth. You'll usually find him talking about technology, music, travel and the game of cricket on the streets of Pune when not busy writing or speeding his way through the country! Read more on retro handheld gaming on RETRO91

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- XdaDev X
  February 4, 2016
  - balcobomber25
    February 4, 2016
    - XdaDev X
      March 2, 2016
      only in usa.. what bout EU ? and rest of world .. seems to g-play not doing much .. wallet been here so long .. nothing happened till now !
      samsung pay is better doing its own..
      - balcobomber25
        March 2, 2016
        They are adding Australia this year. They are expected to expand rapidly throughout Europe and Asia in the next 2 years.
- Xali
  February 4, 2016
  - balcobomber25
    February 4, 2016
- Dante
  February 4, 2016
  this is a plastic/glass backplate , My old xperia z1 had nfc and the m7 anf m8 Have it too even if its made fully out of metal
  - E8hffff
    February 4, 2016
    Usually LCD’s and the battery have foil. The screen for reflection and the battery for protection. If so then the front may also be blocked from induction fields.
    - Dante
      February 5, 2016
Kennedy
February 4, 2016
- Dante
  February 4, 2016
  ulephone employee? yea im really paranoid with all the Ulefone emps raping the comment section ‘specially taking in consideration your engrish
  - balcobomber25
    February 4, 2016
    - King
      February 4, 2016
      - balcobomber25
        February 4, 2016
  - Kennedy
    February 15, 2016
    Engrish.Haha！Il tuo inglese è molto buono, questa è la tua vanteria giusto? Ho valutato il prodotto è buono, io sono il marchio dipendente esso? Non posso dire, che i suoi concorrenti fanno? Le tue unità logiche ridicolo.
    - Dante
      February 16, 2016
Guaire
February 4, 2016
- E8hffff
  February 4, 2016
  Someone’s got access to a CNC router.
- balcobomber25
  February 4, 2016
  Depends on the glass they use. The Gionee Elife S5.5 which was made of GG3 (and metal) was built like a tank and it looked incredible.
  Also agree it is fake.
  - King
    February 4, 2016
    - balcobomber25
      February 4, 2016
      I have a love/hate relationship with Gionee. I love the hardware and the design but Amigo is the biggest POS Ui. If they could figure out the software side they would be my favorite.

realjjj
February 4, 2016
The Mi5 just showed up in GFXBench with1080p (this app has problems with screen sizes so don’t assume it’s 5.7 inch), 3GB RAM. The score is rather soft but they might sort that out by launch, ofc could just be the MIUI, wouldn’t be the first time https://gfxbench.com/device.jsp?benchmark=gfxgen&os=Android&api=gl&D=Xiaomi+MI+5&testgroup=info
vs the LeTv Max Pro https://gfxbench.com/compare.jsp?benchmark=gfxgen&did1=29391975&os1=Android&api1=gl&hwtype1=GPU&hwname1=Qualcomm+Adreno+%28TM%29+530&D2=LeTV+LeMaxPro+%28X910%29
- - realjjj
    February 4, 2016
    That doesn’t mean that’s the min available and no amount makes up for the lack of microSD. Besides ,64GB of vanilla eMMC is bellow 20$.
    Now , if they use something like Hynix’s UFS2.0 that would be cool.
    - balcobomber25
      February 4, 2016
      64 GB is more than enough for me, no micro SD needed. 32 is enough for me.
      - realjjj
        February 4, 2016
        Then why are you so happy about 64GB? You’ve been manipulated into that kind of thinking when there is no reason at all to have storage limitations. You practically lie to yourself. You convinced yourself that it’s ok and then struggle with cloud storage from 10 diff sources. Don’t let them brain wash you, don’t accept to be forced into something that makes your life more difficult when you just don’t have to.
        Internal storage is by no means enough for many of the people saying it is, they just got used to manage with little, just like getting used to missing a limb.
        But that’s ok, in a couple of years we’ll have 1TB microSDs at 100$ and all these nasty bastards that torture their customers and cripple their own products for a few extra $ will have a hard time keeping this scam going.
        Not to mention that they make the experience and battery life worse by forcing cloud storage on their customers.
        The Apple press somehow convinced a lot of people that this kind of behavior is somehow acceptable but it’s not, it’s extortion plain and simple.
        
        balcobomber25
        February 4, 2016
        I’m happy because 64 is plenty of room for me…..
        
        realjjj
        February 4, 2016
        Cloud is slower than microSD, wastes power , is not always available and if over LTE is very costly.
        For certain things there is the upside of being able to share with others and that also brings a privacy risk.
        Given the vast needs for storage in mobile, from apps and games, to 4k video, slo-mo and pictures shot with the phone, to local media only liteweight users wouldn’t be better off with more storage.
        When you have all the options available to you, you can chose to utilize each in any way you desire.
        And yes you have been brain washed, you’ve been forced into a certain behavior and now you are convinced that it fits you best. The fact that you don’t realize it is the biggest problem. Humans do tend to be like that. In fact animals in general, they just take it and keep going but humans should be wiser than that and … just say hell no!
        
        balcobomber25
        February 4, 2016
        I love how you always try to argue my opinions as if there is now way in the world I could possibly think that because you don’t agree
        1. It’s a lot faster for me to switch a folder in the cloud then swap out multiple SD cards (like I used to have before) and risk losing one. No thanks.
        2. I have never not been able to reach the cloud, I have however lost or had SD cards that failed.
        3. I have unlimited data and have yet to find a city I travel too that doesn’t have sort of free wifi available.
        4. I don’t play games, or use many apps. I have never touched slow mo videos and don’t have any plans in the future to ever use it. Anything I need to share 64 GB is more than enough.
        Once again, just because YOU personally need SD cards, doesn;t mean everyone does. For me they are more of a hassle.
        
        realjjj
        February 5, 2016
        You argue against a feature that offers more convenience and that is irrational. The only rational explanation is that you are either a liteweight user or you have a bit of a Stockholm syndrome. There are minimal chances that you are a liteweight user so only the other option remains.
        I never claimed that everybody does,need a microSD slot , just that most would be better off with one.
        Using more than 1 SD card and losing some is not mandatory, just like not using cloud is not mandatory if you has a SD slot.
        You argue against more convenience, more flexibility, more safety and privacy, better experience in smartphone usage and better battery life. You really don’t see how that makes no sense?
        
        balcobomber25
        February 5, 2016
        You are so in love with SD cards that is the only thing that makes sense to you. And there is nothing wrong with that we both have differing uses. For you an SD card is more convenient for me it is more of a hassle. Here are your arguments with my rebuttals:
        1. more flexibility – Not even close to true. Your SD card is limited for use with devices that have an SD card slot. I can use my cloud service on any device that has an internet connection (and several devices I can even use it offline).
        2. More safety/privacy – This depends on the user. For you it is safer because your SD card never leaves your device. For me I would need 2-3 different cards, meaning there is a risk of losing one.
        3. Better experience – I have had SD card’s fail before, the cloud has never failed me. It is always there when I need it and I don’t have to fumble around looking for SD cards to swap out.
        4. Better battery life – this one would vary between users and what they actually do.
        For me the perfect blend is at least 32GB of internal space and using the cloud for my photos and music/videos. You really don’t see how that makes sense for me?
        
        realjjj
        February 6, 2016
        lol
        – more flexibility means that having a microSD slot offers the user more flexibility.the user has more options for storage not that microSD is more flexible.
        – local storage is safer than cloud and more reliable in general. additionally a decent microSD is water proof, shock proof and more. so even if you kill your handset, chances are the microSD survives.
        – better experience vs cloud because it is faster. It also offloads from the internal storage, the internal slows down by a lot when free space is little. Better experience because cloud is less reliable and connectivity is not always available on this planet- even if that’s not a problem for you.
        – better battery vs cloud doesn’t depend on usage scenario. wifi or LTE will simply lead to higher battery usage for cloud.
        Ultimately you have shown joy at 64GB, you swing between 64GB and 32GB as being “enough” )since when enough is ideal? ) and you do have a min required that is much higher than most devices offer. Plus you pay a premium for that internal storage and it’s not worth doing so unless you need the extra speed the internal storage offers for apps.
        As for many microSDs, the need to use more than one is less and less likely. In 2017 chances are we’ll have mainstream 1.5TB microSDs and in 2018 2TB.
        
        balcobomber25
        February 6, 2016
        – Do you have actual studies to back up your reliability claims or is this just your opinion? Based on personal usage I find the opposite to be true. I have had issues with local storage becoming corrupted and have lost files. I have never lost a single file on the cloud.
        – Ultimately you have shown an inability to realize that not everyone shares the same views or has the same usage as you. Your brain can’t seem to comprehend that your usage and views doesn’t relate to everyone.
        – Size of an SD card means very little to me, I have to use multiple for what I specifically do at work and my personal time. There is no getting around that. I would constantly have to switch out 2-3 of them. For ME the Cloud works better. I never said it was ideal for everyone, but for ME it is.
        
        MaxPower
        February 4, 2016
        I understand your point but android is not apple.
        We have plenty of choices over battery, display, storage, performance, budget and so on.
        There’s no perfect phone out there, somehow there’s a missing feature for someone, but we are in a far better position than Apple users.
        While SD cards can be convenient (I would still backup important files or family pictures over the cloud because it’s more reliable than a SD card) they lack in most phones.
        People like balcobomber would prefer to deal with no SD card rather than (let’s say) a phone with SD card but with a buggy ROM.
        I deal without SD card, without LTE and still go Chinese, I wouldn’t spend $700-$900 for a Samsung, HTC,LG just for LTE or SD card.
        Reading your comments it’s easy to understand that you don’t want to deal with lack of SD card, you also want a performant A72 cored SoC with QHD and 4GB ram (at least) and all should be priced below 1999 CNY.
        Now, do we live in a different world?
        Because I haven’t seen anything like this in the market.
        
        realjjj
        February 4, 2016
        Even if person X or Y doesn’t need the slot, there is no downside to having one and offers more options for person X and everybody else. Phone makers don’t include a slot out of pure greed and it is both unethical and bad business. Adding a feature that is desirable for very little money is something very hard to find nowadays. Look at how phone makers are going with 2 back cams for very little gains at a very high cost. As a cloud services provider like Google or Xiaomi, you show very little faith and respect for your own cloud offerings , if you feel the need to force users into it.
        As for what i want in a phone,specs wise, that’s not really accurate and has nothing to do with this topic, the cost of a microSD slot is meaningless. When i comment about a device, it’s not about my preference, it’s about what the product should or could be given the price, the needs of the phone maker , what the average customer might want or w/e. My personal preference has no relevance.
        I have stated a couple of times around here that the Note 3 Pro is likely the best phone in the world right now. That doesn’t mean that i want it, it’s just an objective opinion.
        And, just because it has to be said, QHD and 4GB of RAM is not a big deal at all. There is a reason folks can use 1080p screens or (note that i said or not and) 3GB of RAM in 100$ phones. Screen prices, RAM and NAND prices have declined a hell of a lot in the last couple of years. Even better,prices will keep their healthy decline for at least the first half of the year since there is significant oversupply.
        
        MaxPower
        February 4, 2016
        Fair enough, but you still missed my point: I said that micro SD are convenient and they add a big plus to a phone.
        Although the phones coming with SD card slot are fewer and fewer every year and not all the companies have business into cloud.
        If today I want a phone with SD card I either have to pay “unethical” prices or deal with a phone that doesn’t satisfy the rest of my needs.
        Somebody says that it’s a technology that will disappear in a couple of years.
        If the Galaxy S7 will come out with no SD card then I’ll be confident to say that this technology is dead.
        
        realjjj
        February 5, 2016
        The only people arguing against are American so called journalists that are Apple users or the few people that got brained washed into it.
        The fact is that microSD slots are included in the vast majority of devices shipping and only a few high end devices from certain corporations with no decency or much common sense skip them. Even Microsoft knows better lol.
        According to IDC in 2015 some 1.43 billion smartphones were shipped. As per their official numbers Apple shipped 231.529 million iphones, that means excluding Apple the market was just under 1.2 billion units.
        Out of those, likely less than 15% didn’t had a microSD slot.
        If you factor in the fact that iphone shipments will be up to 25% lower this year, that the developed markets are saturated and growth comes from developing markets, you can easily see why the % of phones that do include microSDs will rise in 2016 and will keep rising going forward.
        Those people claiming that microSDs will go away are delusional and clueless. Many are also sellouts , they write what a corporation wants them to write for financial gains or for access.
        I’ve mentioned somewhere around here that 1TB microSDs will get to100$ in a couple of years. The fact that NAND is becoming more and more affordable , will have a relevant impact here. Storage won’t be a problem anymore, we’ll have a decent chunk of internal storage plus large and very large microSD slots. One can try to argue that internal can grow by a lot too but internal needs to be a lot fast and more reliable than expandable so the cost per GB will be a lot higher.
        Storage needs will increase too. Sure most will stream music and movies and that’s fine. Many will use cloud for pics and that’s their choice. But you still have lots of other things taking up storage. Games, 4k videos ( 360 videos maybe soon) and being able to add storage for cheap is very convenient.
        The smartphone will die well before microSD slots go away.
        Bailey
        February 4, 2016
        Actually for some it is enough have the 32gb mi4 and i have not filled it yet. I dont need to carry around 64gb of photos or every album that i have bought on my phone or a ton of movies yes some people are happy with it.
Twister12
February 4, 2016
I think for the majority the rear panel is not a big deal because they will buy a cover for it anyway. So for those budget conscious they would surely go for the cheaper version but for those who prefer the premium I hope they would not hide its beauty & elegance by hiding it with a back cover.

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