Xiaomi Redmi 5chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

A fast, good-value budget phone that impresses out of the box. Owners consistently describe the Redmi 5 as smooth and fast compared to previous devices, with an incredibly quick fingerprint scanner and stable MIUI 9.5 software. One user upgrading from an ASUS phone said data and Wi-Fi worked flawlessly and battery lasted a full day using about 30 percent charge. Reviewers call it good-looking with best-in-class value for money, and the Global variant comes with Google Play preinstalled, making setup painless for everyday use straight out of the box.

Camera and display specs feel behind the times. Multiple commenters note the camera hasn't meaningfully improved over older Redmi models, with one pointing out Xiaomi seemed to reuse the same Snapdragon 625 chipset without upgrading the sensor. Photos are also described as less wide than a rival ASUS phone. Another user, otherwise happy, singled out the 720 pixel resolution as disappointing given the phone's larger 18:9 screen, wishing for a sharper panel to match the size.

Missing NFC and long-term wear are real drawbacks. The absence of NFC for contactless payment is called a major turn-off by one reviewer, even though they rated everything else about the price-to-feature ratio as excellent. A three-year Redmi 5 Plus owner reported performance held steady but battery quality slipped over time. Another user experienced lag, internal rattling, and an unresponsive screen during gaming, while a separate commenter flagged GPS, Wi-Fi and charging problems specific to the Plus variant.