Xiaomi smartphones

[bubulol]

Hello i am interested by buy those Xiaomi smartphones but i want to know if there is a easy way to put international language ROM, i have heard complicated steps to flash ROM, i am aware of rooting process and quite decent android knowledge
Also heard stock Xiaomi ROM doesnt have proper english translation, some apps does contain Chinese writting
Does anyone recommend to buy Xiaomi despite of lack of international ROM support?
Thanks

 

[amez]

I have redmi note 3 pro,international rom,worth every dollar invested

 

[spriter]

Hello i am interested by buy those Xiaomi smartphones but i want to know if there is a easy way to put international language ROM, i have heard complicated steps to flash ROM, i am aware of rooting process and quite decent android knowledge
Also heard stock Xiaomi ROM doesnt have proper english translation, some apps does contain Chinese writting
Does anyone recommend to buy Xiaomi despite of lack of international ROM support?
Thanks

The Chinese factory ROM (MIUI stable) has an English language option. However, it's obviously aimed at mainland users so there's plenty of bloat and no Google stuff. This can be installed fairly easily, though.

The EU ROMs can be flashed, as can other ROMs (CM13, Hydrogen OS, etc) via unlocking the bootloader first. To do this, you need to have a Xiaomi account and apply for an unlock code at Eu.xiaomi.com/unlock - all free and easy but can take up to 10 days.

Source: myself - in China, I got bored waiting for the Note 7 so have just bought 3 Xiaomi phones to play with:

1. Mi 5 Pro (SD820/4gb/128gb black ceramic for 2,499 CNY (375 USD).

2. Mi Max (SD652/4gb/128gb for 1,999 CNY).

3. Redmi Pro (Helio X25/3gb/64gb for 1,699 CNY).

Still playing with them but initially...

The Mi 5 is a truly stunning phone. Absolutely beautiful in ceramic. Dual SIM, mega battery (6 hrs SOT vs 3 on my S6). They just cut the price on all Mi 5 models so 1,799 CNY (275 USD) now buys you an entry Mi 5 with SD820/32gb/3gb/great camera. That's insane.

The Mi Max is a monster. Metal build, rear FP, dual SIM or single +SD card. Excellent media device at 6.4 with a massive battery. Camera is average to good.

Redmi Pro is interesting. X25 is very, very capable and it lasts forever with a 4,050mAh battery in 5.5 inch device that's metal and not thick. Quick front FP scanner and Dual SIM or single + SD card. Dual rear cameras seem good with some nice bokeh tricks but need to test more.

Even at import prices, these are a superb option. The Chinese sure have it good here.

Some pics:

All stickied up. With a Note 5 for size comparison:

Just stunning Ceramic Mi 5 - very clean. Pics do not do this justice:

And a cheap 150 CNY Mi band 2 for kicks:

 

[Savor]

I highly recommend Xiaomi phones. My Mi 3 from July 2014 still got updated going from MIUI 5 to 7, KitKat 4.4.2 to Marshmallow 6.0.1 after two full years. Feels like a new phone. That's longer support than Nexus devices which last 18 months. Although MIUI 7 doesn't make you feel it is Marshmallow at all. MIUI 7 have features well before Google releases it features to stock Android. Feels more like iOS and Android got married. Only thing I don't like is having to use the Xiaomi PC Suite similar to iTunes.

Been wanting that Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro for awhile. Might get it as a backup. Might sell a couple of my phones to get it. In China, it dropped below $400. The Redmi 3s Prime is another one I will consider. Snapdragon 430 is supposedly better than the Redmi 3's Snapdragon 616 with the better GPU (Adreno 505 over 405. I want the CPU to be clocked lower to make the phone more power efficient on a 4100 mAh battery as well as the 3s' fingerprint scanner on the back.

Mi 5 Pro is probably one of the Top 5 sexiest flagships of 2016. It looks sexier to to me than the OnePlus 3 and Axon 7. The Redmi 3s Prime cost only about $165+ and is a bargain compared to a Moto G4 and Honor 5X.

http://www.mi.com/en/store/
http://xiaomi-mi.us/

Top 4 Favs -
Nokia
Motorola
LG
Xiaomi

But the best smartphones of 2016 comes from Samsung.

 

[bubulol]

Redmi 3 is truly a monster, what amazing battery life, it has
Oh my god, if my iPhone had an half of this, i would be so glad

 

[Ulenspiegel]

They are really superb. Some months ago I was considering buying one to use w/ Xiaomi band and scale.

 

[C DM]

And then there's this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/goodbye-xiaomi.1988514/unread

 

[spriter]

And then there's this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/goodbye-xiaomi.1988514/unread

Interesting take and there's some argument for the large drop off YOY. Whilst Xiaomi did skip the Mi 5 flagship last year (terrible SD810 and 808 chips) it wasn't the reason. I visit the mainland often, have done so for years, and have lived there as well. My eyes and ears tell me this:

1. Competition is stiff. Really intense now. The market is saturated. Whilst Xiaomi were one of the first, Huawei are now pushing but more so ZTE and Vivo/Oppo (BBK). They have good products, which also nod at Apple and Samsung, but way better distribution using their own retail stores that are everywhere. Which leads me to...

2. Xiaomi's odd approach to selling new and premium variant models. This is where they can make better margin. However, a visit to their website (their main outlet) shows a ton of flash sales lined up. AKA you can't buy what you want until 10am Tuesday once a week or fortnight. Even then you have to hope you get something in 8 seconds before they run out of stock. They seemingly can't manufacture and hold stock. Meanwhile ZTE, Vivo, Opportunity, LeEco are storing devices in stores and letting customers get hands-on.

3. Saturation and the economy - people are spending less freely and upgrading less frequently. A 1500-2500 CNY phone comes equipped with all that many people need for years. The incentive to not spend, and not so frequently, is real. Moving from a export based manufacturing economy to more services and internal consumption means a lot of job losses. Couple that with rising food prices and intensifying competition who distribute better and you're in for a tough time.

4. Then there are their own mid rangers. 899-1499 CNY gets you a seriously capable Redmi 3s, 3x, Pro, Mi Max, etc now that will more than suffice. They've cannibalised themselves somewhat by making cheaper models that are more readily available. Customers are then in the mindset of '1,299 is enough, I can have it tomorrow, so why spend double?'. And those that do want better specs have to wait weeks and hope or simply decide to walk 5 minutes to a Vivo store and buy that instead. Immediacy sells.

5. Their bloated product range. They make everything from phones to TVs, washing machines to bicycles. Diversifying and spreading risk for sure (and don't forget the India push). Losing focus? Maybe.

Many people I know here still have the same phone as they did 18 months ago or have gone to Huaeei/Vivo/Oppo. And there's a lot less Apple.

That said, I still love the Mi 5 in my hand. Sure it tips a hat to Apple (the front and the software) and Samsung (the rear and the ergonomics/materials), but it's a mighty fine all round flagship for 35% of a 6s or N7. Too bad it's so hard to buy... Even for locals.

 

[happycadaver]

I just bought a Xiaomi Redmi 3s International as a replacement for my last iPhone, the 6s. Oh boy, and i'm having a blast. Great display, lightning fast GUI and the battery lasts almost twice as long. And the device not only looks premium, it feels the same. And can back it up with performance.
The last Apple device is now my wife's iPad Air, after i already ditched my iMac (replaced by a gaming cube with a wall-mounted 4k 32" display) and the ATV (Chromecast) for good. No regrets. The IT nerd inside me is smiling.
Apple, it has been a fun ride for 6 years, but at the moment, you are doing almost everything wrong. Time to move on to a better tech world.

 

[AppleRobert]

Can one get these smartphones in the US and will you get LTE?

 

[happycadaver]

I don't know about US shipping, but i got the International Version with all LTE frequencies. For me in Germany LTE 20 was the important one.

http://www.honorbuy.com/929-redmi-3...ne-gray.html?source=webgains_de&siteid=144721