Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the new Xiaomi Mi 5 goes up against the new HTC 10. Here we have the battle of the metal and glass Mi 5 taking on the chiseled all metal body of the HTC 10 – both devices are beautiful in their own way, but premium looking in all ways. Which one of these new models can walk away as the winner of this comparison? We will first look at the similarities between these two devices and then look at each one in more depth.
The Xiaomi Mi 5 and the HTC 10 each sport almost identical sized displays (5.15-inches vs 5.2-inches), giving them a close physical size, although the HTC 10 weighs 32 grams heavier. Their displays use the same IPS LCD Technology, but different resolutions. The devices use the same Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor, and they both use the Adreno 530 GPU for graphics. The Mi 5 and HTC 10 both offer a 32GB model, with the Mi 5 offering a 64GB option and a 128GB in the Mi 5 Pro edition – none of the Mi 5 models offer external expansion. The HTC 10 offers memory expansion to 2TB via a microSD card. They both sport excellent cameras but go about it in a different way.
Each incorporates a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device as well as authorizing mobile payments. Android 6.0 Marshmallow is running on both devices, although the Mi 5 uses their MIUI 7 overlay and HTC uses their own Sense UI. Both have the usual suspects – WiFi, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, NFC, a Type-C reversible microUSB port and both have a 3000mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 3.0.
Please take a deliberate look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details. After that, we will look at each device in greater depth and point out some of its pros and cons. From all of this information, we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.
Specifications
Xiaomi Mi 5
The Chinese company, Xiaomi, offers a combination of high quality, solid build, and low pricing. It has helped them quickly become China’s largest smartphone manufacturer in 2015. The only thing holding them back is their hesitation to expand into the US and other countries, although there are hints that will be happening soon. Normally, Xiaomi brings a new model to market very quickly, but rather than use the Snapdragon 810, they made a wise decision and waited on releasing the Mi 5 until the new Snapdragon 820 was available. It is a beautifully designed smartphone with a metal frame and edges with Gorilla Glass on the front and the back, although the Mi 5 Pro uses a Ceramic backing. Just how does this Chinese device stand up to the likes of the new all-metal HTC 10?
Samsung, LG, and HTC have all switched to a Quad HD (QHD) display, but Xiaomi decided to stick with the Full HD (FHD) resolution, but on the 5.15-inch IPS LCD display, you still get a respectable 428 pixels-per-inch (PPI), and it will help save on battery life. The Mi 5 uses the latest flagship 64-bit processor from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 820 quad-core with dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and dual cores clocked at 2.15GHz. This matches up to the new Adreno 530 GPU chip for outstanding graphics. The Mi 5 packs 3GB of DDR4 RAM with options of 32GB and 64GB of non-expandable storage – the Mi 5 Pro offers up 4GB/128GB of storage.
Xiaomi has always strived to provide a good camera in their flagship phones and the MI 5 is no exception. The main camera sports a 16MP Sony sensor with an aperture of f/2.0, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), dual-tone LED flash and even uses a 4-axis OIS system to add further stability. The front-facing camera (FFC) is 4MP for selfies and video chatting. The Mi 5 uses a 3000mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 3.0 that can give you an 83-percent charge in only 30 minutes.
The Mi 5 has nothing that sets it apart from the HTC 10 other than the price. The Xiaomi Mi 5 ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow with their MIUI 7 on top of it. It measures in at 144.6 x 69.2 x 7.3 mm and weighs in at 129 grams. The model we are looking at is the base 3GB/32GB model, which is available for a discounted price of $388 – there is also a 3GB/64GB model for $488, and the Pro model with 4GB/128GB at $589 – quite a steep jump for extra memory.
HTC 10
HTC just may just convert some non-believers into trying a new HTC 10. It has everything you want in a new flagship smartphone – the body is made of beautifully carved aluminum, it has a QHD display, the best processor currently on the market, a powerful GPU to satisfy the most avid gamer, and 4GB of DDR4 memory. The HTC 10 finally has a great camera and a newly configured BoomSound Hi-Fi and Hi-Res Audio.
HTC continued to use an FHD display long after the other manufacturers were using a QHD, but all of that changes with the new HTC 10. The HTC 10 sports a 5.2-inch Super LCD5 QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 565 PPI. HTC went with the most advanced processor on the market – the Qualcomm 64-bit Snapdragon 820 quad-core with the dual cores clocked at 1.6 GHz and dual cores clocked at 2.15 GHz. It is teamed with an Adreno 530 GPU that will handle the most demanding graphics. The HTC 10 packs a full 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of internal memory that is expandable to 2TB via a microSD card.
The HTC 10 uses their best camera design – yes, it still uses UltraPixels, but instead of using only 4MP, this time around HTC is using a 12MP sensor for their primary camera to capture more light and image. They added laser autofocus, a dual-tone LED flash, a large aperture of f/1.8 and OIS. The HTC 10’s camera was able to tie the top rated DxOMark mobile score of 88. They added a 5MP FFC with an f/1.8 aperture, wide-angle lens, and even added screen flash and OIS to ensure great selfies and video chatting even in low-light. The HTC packs a 3000 mAh non-removable battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0.
HTC placed their fingerprint sensor down front where the second speaker resided, so they had to rearrange their infamous BoomSound into what they are calling BoomSound Hi-Fi. It features two separate speakers with the woofer placed on the bottom of the device, and the high-end sounds originating from the earpiece. The HTC 10 measures 145.9 x 71.9 x 9mm and weighs in at 161 grams. It comes in Carbon Grey, Topaz Gold, and Glacier Silver and it will cost you about $650 for 32GB of memory.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
This was really a tough decision – it was another case of similar spec’d devices with a big price difference. Both the Mi 5 and HTC 10 have many similar features, with the two major differences being in the display resolution and expandable memory that favors the HTC. The problem comes in the pricing with the Xiaomi Mi 5 coming in at $388 and the HTC 10 coming in around $650 – for that reason, I am picking the Mi 5 as the winner of this comparison.
There is about a $260 price difference and if you can accept the 1080p display and not being able to expand memory, then the Mi 5 is your clear choice. It is packing the same great Snapdragon 820 and Adreno 530 GPU with only 1GB less RAM and takes great pictures. The only other caveat is that you must use either AT&T or T-Mobile networks for LTE service.
The HTC 10 is a beautiful device with all the right parts and pieces and it will play nice with all major networks in the US – just at a higher price. If you have the money to spend, then go with the HTC 10 – one of the best cameras, QHD display, 1GB more RAM, expandable memory, BoomSound Hi-Fi and Hi-Res audio…and did I mention that gorgeous all-metal case.
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