Xiaomi is currently ranked by IDC as the number 5 smartphone brand in the world, having shipped 21.2 million smartphones in Q2 2017. It is fact that Xiaomi makes solid devices with solid specifications at affordable prices. It is also a fact that Xiaomi devices can be simply described as great hardware with crappy software.
Xiaomi smartphones run a heavily customized version of Android dubbed MIUI. MIUI is great with features, the theme engine is exceptionally good with the option of changing how every aspect of the user interface looks like. However, this heavy customization comes at a price; one MIUI is overly aggressive with battery management and apps get frozen as soon as you leave them which in turn means you hardly get your notifications on time. Secondly, MIUI takes forever to update to the latest Android versions. It is just the other day that they started pushing Android Nougat to its devices, close to a year after it was released.
According to Krispitech, Xiaomi might be working with Google to produce an Android One device. Krispitech reports that Xiaomi will be making an Android One version of their mid-range Mi 5X smartphone. This is news we are inclined to believe, considering Google announced at I/0 2017 that they will be bringing the Android One platform to mid-range and flagship devices later on this year.
Read More: Android One is Not Dead and Could Soon Be Coming to Mid-range and Flagship Devices
The MIUI-clad Xiaomi Mi 5X has a 5.5-inch full HD display powered by a Snapdragon 625 platform, 32GB or 64GB storage options with 4GB RAM, Dual 12MP cameras with 2x optical zoom, coupled with a 5MP selfie shooter. The device has a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, USB Type-C and a 3080mAh battery all for around Ksh. 25,000.
If the claims are true, this will mean that Xiaomi will release a Mi 5X running stock Android – maybe the name will change. Considering the price is already pocket-friendly in its current state, a partnership with Google could see it lose a couple of thousands on its price tag and that, that I want!
