Xiaomi mi 5

Spending the better part of my two-week vacation testing a phone seems like a terrible idea, but like my colleague Jessica Dolcourt, who took the Samsung Galaxy S7 for a spin in London and Berlin, I took the Xiaomi Mi 5 with me into the frigid, beautiful north -- first to Iceland, then to London, where I also got a chance to compare it directly to the Galaxy S7.

The result? The Mi 5 is terrific, especially when you consider that Xiaomi's new flagship phone costs significantly less than the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5, without compromising on its most important features. It's fast and has a good camera. And thanks to its two SIM card slots, I was able to roam on data with a local carrier, while still being able to use my phone number from back home in Singapore.
When I pulled out the pretty, lightweight Mi 5 in public, curious strangers who had never seen a Xiaomi phone before asked what it was -- many mistook it for aSamsung Galaxy.

The Mi 5 does lack unique extras such as the Galaxy S7's waterproofing and the LGG5's modular capabilities, but then it is half the price. It's just a shame that Xiaomi will only sell it to people in China and India. Other regions could use a handset like this.
THE ARE ACTUALLY 3 MODELS  Mi 5:
Xiaomi's Mi 5 doesn't just come in one flavor -- while all three do look alike, the difference lies mainly in the hardware specs. The most powerful version, dubbed the Mi 5 Pro, has the highest-end parts and a ceramic rear instead of contoured glass. Check out the table below for the key differences.

Xiaomi Mi 5 (32GB)Xiaomi Mi 5 (64GB)Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro (128GB)Processor1.85GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor2.15GHz + 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor2.15GHz + 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processorStorage32GB64GB128GBRear material3D Glass3D GlassCeramicPrice1,999 yuan ($305, £220 or AU$425)2,299 yuan (355, £245 or AU$470)2,699 yuan ($415, £295 or AU$575)

Great camera and zippy processor

Photos are never more important than when you're capturing memories of the trip of a lifetime. The Mi 5's 16-megapixel camera didn't let me down. I was impressed with the phone's lowlight performance, though it's not as good as the SamsungGalaxy S7 (I tested both myself in London and Barcelona). The rear camera takes beautifully bright pictures in good lighting, though colors can be a tad too saturated at times.

While the Galaxy S7 camera edges the Mi 5's, this camera can hold its own -- you won't be disappointed. Check out the gallery below for an in-depth look at the camera features and test shots.

The Mi 5 runs smooth as silk. Need to take a picture? Tap on the icon and boom, it's ready to take a shot. Switching between apps had nary a pause -- the phone has 3GB of RAM, enough to keep apps in memory without having to reload. If you're gamer with a penchant for great graphics, you're in good hands with the Mi 5. In short, this is a flagship phone with flagship performance.

Performance benchmarks

The Mi 5's performance was on par with the Galaxy S7, which you would expect given they have the same processor.

Should I get one?
If you happen to be living in a place where the Mi 5 is sold -- China or India -- you should buy it, especially if all you want is a fast, no-frills phone with a great camera. If you're in the UK or Australia and don't mind taking a punt on a third-party reseller, you can find the 32GB model for around £340 or AU$800. It's harder to find in the US, but should be around $300.

I enjoyed the time I've spent with the Mi 5: It's a great all-rounder that bears comparison with its much costlier competition. It marks Xiaomi as a real challenger to Apple, Samsung and LG.