Xiaomi Mi 5 (3GB/32GB) official in India: Price, Specs, Features

Xiaomi’s flagship, the Mi 5 is now official in India.

Announced at an event in the national capital of New Delhi, the Xiaomi Mi 5 costs 24,999 INR ($376) for the 3GB RAM/32GB ROM version.

The phone was launched a little over a month back in China (and showcased in Barcelona at the same time). The Mi 5 has been a long time coming, but at the 25k INR price point, we believe prospective buyers in India would be more than happy to shell out the asking price.

Gizchina News of the week

Join GizChina on Telegram

Mi 5’s screen is a 5.15-inch 1920 x 1080p display, while the insides of the phone contain the much talked about Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC. A 16 mega-pixel Sony IMX298 camera on the rear lets you take beautiful photos while a 4 mega-pixel front camera looks after your selfie requirements.

All of this is powered by a 3000mAh battery. You can read our review of the Xiaomi Mi 5 to know more about the device.

The Mi 5 will go on sale for the first time in India alongside the Redmi Note 3 on Mi.com on 6th of April at 11am (the Redmi Note 3 sale starts 2pm). Interested parties are required to register beforehand; registration has already begun.

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.

About the author
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

You can learn more about Yash, add him to your Google+ circles or follow him on Twitter to stay connected!

Manish
March 31, 2016
The base model being charged the price of the highest model and you believe that “believe prospective buyers in India would be more than happy to shell out the asking price.”
Wake up, Yash. I dont know how you feel like, but its like Xiaomi dumping their least selling product in China at bestselling prices in India.
Thank you, Gizchina, for both the information.
Millet Air Purifier (Mi-Fan)
March 31, 2016
The price is way to high in China the base variant (which is the indian variant) is selling for 1999RMB which is around 20K Rupees. With 25% price hike it will fail. Well done Mi India, the next fail after the glorious Redmi Note “Prime”……

Manish
March 31, 2016
The base model being charged the price of the highest model and you believe that “believe prospective buyers in India would be more than happy to shell out the asking price.”
Wake up, Yash. I dont know how you feel like, but its like Xiaomi dumping their least selling product in China at bestselling prices in India.
Thank you, Gizchina, for both the information.
Beloved Chairman Lei Jun
March 31, 2016
The price is way to high in China the base variant (which is the indian variant) is selling for 1999RMB which is around 20K Rupees. With 25% price hike it will fail. Well done Mi India, the next fail after the glorious Redmi Note “Prime”……

prabu
March 31, 2016
Well pricing is a suitable candidate for a prank
Karly Johnston
March 31, 2016
I thought Xiaomi direct sales mirror the Chinese price.
prabu
March 31, 2016
Well pricing is a suitable candidate for a prank
Karly Johnston
March 31, 2016
That is supposed to be the price for the 64GB version. Xiaomi got it right with the Note 3 Pro, they need to do it again to restore brand trust after the Mi4i disaster.

Karly Johnston
March 31, 2016
That is supposed to be the price for the 64GB version. Xiaomi got it right with the Note 3 Pro, they need to do it again to restore brand trust after the Mi4i disaster.

Angry Mobile Nerd
March 31, 2016
lol to everyone bitching about the price. If it’s so unfair you can a) go to China and buy one yourself or b) buy through a reseller and enjoy 18% import tax when it arrives. Don’t forget to let me know how much money you guys “saved” ok?
I think a can of Coke costs more in India than China too, those crooks! *rolls eyes*
- Guaire
  April 1, 2016
  Actually a can of Coke costs more in China.
  As far I can see nobody here claimed that they can import it cheaper via resellers.
  Your happiness with the higher price is quite understandable hence you don’t like Xiaomi’s lower prices at all.
  - Angry Mobile Nerd
    April 2, 2016
    The higher price most likely means the profit margins are very small and with the RMB as volatile as its been lately means they could lose money on each unit sold in INR in India so they have to add “padding” to the price to protect themselves from the forex market. From a business perspective it makes perfect sense. The price is still lower than what resellers are selling it for and if I’m not mistaken it will still be the cheapest 820 phone in India, too, so I actually think Xiaomi has found a good balance with protecting themselves while offering a fair price.
    - Guaire
      April 2, 2016
      Supposedly very thin profit margin, and volatile RMB didn’t cause 2499 yuan starting point for Mi5 in China. That kind of price would make it least popular Mi device ever except Note Pro.
      Unless INR devaluated within a short term I can’t see why they need a padding. If that happens, they can always rise the price.
      A quick look at Mi India Facebook page and MIUI India subforum Indians aren’t happy with the price and only getting base model. Hence India is a big country, first few flash sales might go well, but after that with that price demand will go down.
      Higher price more likely related lack of direct competitor in Indian market. Like you said Mi India page says repeatedly those same words: cheapest SD820 phone in India.
      - Angry Mobile Nerd
        April 2, 2016
        Likewise had Xiaomi introduced the base model Mi5 in China @ RMB 2399 which is approximately INR 24,999 then Indians would be cheering the 24,999 price. They’re only upset because it’s cheaper somewhere else. That somewhere else just happens to be country of manufacture origin and the company’s home (read: tax benefits). Frick, Xiaomi phones even cost more in Hong Kong which is a tax free haven.
        
        Guaire
        April 2, 2016
        Where was that tax cost at both Mi3 and Mi4’s releases in India?
        Hong Kong example kinda proves that that isn’t related taxes.
        
        Angry Mobile Nerd
        April 2, 2016
        The profit margins were probably a lot higher which allowed them to sell at the same prices as China regardless of fluctuations in forex or taxes. When profit margins are high it allows companies to balance pricing across a region (or even the world) it’s when profit margins are low you get to down to the nitty gritty individual pricing per country (like OnePlus has done).
        But there are definitely taxes, that’s one thing that’s certain in life!
        Guaire
        April 2, 2016
        High profit margin smartphone brands doesn’t bother to balance its prices. I know that from direct experience of their practices in my country.
        Consumers pay the extra taxes. When the money loses its value, again consumers pay the cost.
        Tax heaven Hong Kong example discredited tax argument anyway. Sale taxes are lower in India than China too.
        Fluctations in forex also have to affect prices in China too, hence most of its components at least costly ones has been imported.

Nolan
March 31, 2016
Note to Indians: This has a remarkably poor AnTuTu score, which could likely be due to that obnoxious, unoptimized, resource-hogging, overly fanci-fied, Chinese bloatware loaded MIUI Rom – arguably the poorest performing Rom of them all, except perhaps Elephone and Doogee’s Roms (lol).
Hopefully there will be better community roms released as time passes, but I’m doubtful how much of a performance improvement that would result in. Save your money and wait for better SD820 phones to be released, there are at least two more worthy candidates to look forward to.

Angry Mobile Nerd
April 1, 2016
lol to everyone bitching about the price. If it’s so unfair you can a) go to China and buy one yourself or b) buy through a reseller and enjoy 18% import tax when it arrives. Don’t forget to let me know how much money you guys “saved” ok?
I think a can of Coke costs more in India than China too, those crooks! *rolls eyes*
- Guaire
  April 1, 2016
  Actually a can of Coke costs more in China.
  As far I can see nobody here claimed that they can import it cheaper via resellers.
  Your happiness with the higher price is quite understandable hence you don’t like Xiaomi’s lower prices at all.
- Angry Mobile Nerd
  April 2, 2016
  The higher price most likely means the profit margins are very small and with the RMB as volatile as its been lately means they could lose money on each unit sold in INR in India so they have to add “padding” to the price to protect themselves from the forex market. From a business perspective it makes perfect sense. The price is still lower than what resellers are selling it for and if I’m not mistaken it will still be the cheapest 820 phone in India, too, so I actually think Xiaomi has found a good balance with protecting themselves while offering a fair price.
- Guaire
  April 2, 2016
  Supposedly very thin profit margin, and volatile RMB didn’t cause 2499 yuan starting point for Mi5 in China. That kind of price would make it least popular Mi device ever except Note Pro.
  Unless INR devaluated within a short term I can’t see why they need a padding. If that happens, they can always rise the price.
  A quick look at Mi India Facebook page and MIUI India subforum Indians aren’t happy with the price and only getting base model. Hence India is a big country, first few flash sales might go well, but after that with that price demand will go down.
  Higher price more likely related lack of direct competitor in Indian market. Like you said Mi India page says repeatedly those same words: cheapest SD820 phone in India.
- Angry Mobile Nerd
  April 2, 2016
  Likewise had Xiaomi introduced the base model Mi5 in China @ RMB 2399 which is approximately INR 24,999 then Indians would be cheering the 24,999 price. They’re only upset because it’s cheaper somewhere else. That somewhere else just happens to be country of manufacture origin and the company’s home (read: tax benefits). Frick, Xiaomi phones even cost more in Hong Kong which is a tax free haven.
- Guaire
  April 2, 2016
  Where was that tax cost at both Mi3 and Mi4’s releases in India?
  Hong Kong example kinda proves that that isn’t related taxes.
- Angry Mobile Nerd
  April 2, 2016
  The profit margins were probably a lot higher which allowed them to sell at the same prices as China regardless of fluctuations in forex or taxes. When profit margins are high it allows companies to balance pricing across a region (or even the world) it’s when profit margins are low you get to down to the nitty gritty individual pricing per country (like OnePlus has done).
  But there are definitely taxes, that’s one thing that’s certain in life!
- Guaire
  April 2, 2016
  High profit margin smartphone brands doesn’t bother to balance its prices. I know that from direct experience of their practices in my country.
  Consumers pay the extra taxes. When the money loses its value, again consumers pay the cost.
  Tax heaven Hong Kong example discredited tax argument anyway. Sale taxes are lower in India than China too.
  Fluctations in forex also have to affect prices in China too, hence most of its components at least costly ones has been imported.

Angry Mobile Nerd
April 1, 2016
lol to everyone bitching about the price. If it’s so unfair you can a) go to China and buy one yourself or b) buy through a reseller and enjoy 18% import tax when it arrives. Don’t forget to let me know how much money you guys “saved” ok?
I think a can of Coke costs more in India than China too, those crooks! *rolls eyes*
- Guaire
  April 1, 2016
  Actually a can of Coke costs more in China.
  As far I can see nobody here claimed that they can import it cheaper via resellers.
  Your happiness with the higher price is quite understandable hence you don’t like Xiaomi’s lower prices at all.
- Angry Mobile Nerd
  April 2, 2016
  The higher price most likely means the profit margins are very small and with the RMB as volatile as its been lately means they could lose money on each unit sold in INR in India so they have to add “padding” to the price to protect themselves from the forex market. From a business perspective it makes perfect sense. The price is still lower than what resellers are selling it for and if I’m not mistaken it will still be the cheapest 820 phone in India, too, so I actually think Xiaomi has found a good balance with protecting themselves while offering a fair price.
- Guaire
  April 2, 2016
  Supposedly very thin profit margin, and volatile RMB didn’t cause 2499 yuan starting point for Mi5 in China. That kind of price would make it least popular Mi device ever except Note Pro.
  Unless INR devaluated within a short term I can’t see why they need a padding. If that happens, they can always rise the price.
  A quick look at Mi India Facebook page and MIUI India subforum Indians aren’t happy with the price and only getting base model. Hence India is a big country, first few flash sales might go well, but after that with that price demand will go down.
  Higher price more likely related lack of direct competitor in Indian market. Like you said Mi India page says repeatedly those same words: cheapest SD820 phone in India.
- Angry Mobile Nerd
  April 2, 2016
  Likewise had Xiaomi introduced the base model Mi5 in China @ RMB 2399 which is approximately INR 24,999 then Indians would be cheering the 24,999 price. They’re only upset because it’s cheaper somewhere else. That somewhere else just happens to be country of manufacture origin and the company’s home (read: tax benefits). Frick, Xiaomi phones even cost more in Hong Kong which is a tax free haven.
- Guaire
  April 2, 2016
  Where was that tax cost at both Mi3 and Mi4’s releases in India?
  Hong Kong example kinda proves that that isn’t related taxes.
- Angry Mobile Nerd
  April 2, 2016
  The profit margins were probably a lot higher which allowed them to sell at the same prices as China regardless of fluctuations in forex or taxes. When profit margins are high it allows companies to balance pricing across a region (or even the world) it’s when profit margins are low you get to down to the nitty gritty individual pricing per country (like OnePlus has done).
  But there are definitely taxes, that’s one thing that’s certain in life!
- Guaire
  April 2, 2016
  High profit margin smartphone brands doesn’t bother to balance its prices. I know that from direct experience of their practices in my country.
  Consumers pay the extra taxes. When the money loses its value, again consumers pay the cost.
  Tax heaven Hong Kong example discredited tax argument anyway. Sale taxes are lower in India than China too.
  Fluctations in forex also have to affect prices in China too, hence most of its components at least costly ones has been imported.
Guest
April 1, 2016
Note to Indians: This has a remarkably poor AnTuTu score, which could likely be due to that obnoxious, unoptimized, resource-hogging, overly fanci-fied, Chinese bloatware loaded MIUI Rom – arguably the poorest performing Rom of them all, except perhaps Elephone and Doogee’s Roms (lol).
Hopefully there will be better community roms released as time passes, but I’m doubtful how much of a performance improvement that would result in. Save your money and wait for better SD820 phones to be released, there are at least two more worthy candidates to look forward to.

Xiaomi Mi 5 (3GB/32GB) launched in India for 24,999 INR

Gizchina News of the week

Yash Garg

Today in Home