Emir BardakçıXiaomi is starting the year with a bang by announcing the expansion of their lineup of devices that focus on performance. The company has now officially teased the REDMI Turbo 5 Max, which promises to break the mold of what we know as flagship killers in the mid-range category. I have been following this news for quite a while now, and Xiaomi is certainly not holding back with the hardware.
Recently, Hu Xinxin, the Product Manager of the company, has revealed that the REDMI Turbo 5 series is in the final stages of preparation. However, this series of smartphones is expected not only to deliver great processing power. This series will additionally enjoy the benefits of a “national subsidy program,” which will make this one of the most aggressive offers of the year.
TL;DR
- Flagship Power: Features the new Dimensity 9500s chipset, rivaling the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
- Massive Endurance: Rumored to house the “largest battery in Xiaomi lineup,” potentially reaching 9,000mAh.
- Premium Build: Swaps plastic for a metal frame, glass back, and a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
- Aggressive Pricing: Targeting the 2,500 CNY (~$350 USD) range; launched in China only for now.
Is the REDMI Turbo 5 Max the Ultimate Flagship Killer?
According to Hu Xinxin, “The REDMI Turbo 5 series will also be eligible to receive national trade-in subsidies. This makes it even easier to enter into high-performance gaming. I think it is very interesting that they are positioning Turbo 5 Max to directly compete with more expensive Snapdragon-based competition.”
The device has been confirmed to come with the use of the Dimensity 9500s chip. The Dimensity 9500s has a full-fledged large cache as well as a high-scale GPU. The chip has been rumored to be able to easily compete with the previous model, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, as well as match the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Premium Features at Mid-Range Prices
Xiaomi is ditching the “plastic-laden” designs that it had in the past. The REDMI Turbo 5 Max comes with a metal body and glass back cover, giving it a much more high-end look and feel. It also boasts of having a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, something that costs $800+ flagships.
Although it is presently launched in China alone, history has shown us what’s in store next. Typically, these REDMI Turbo smartphones hit the international market with a new name, that being the POCO line, specifically the POCO F7 or POCO X8 models.
Battery Life that Defies Gravity
The feature that attracts everyone’s attention is undoubtedly the battery. Leaks have indicated that Xiaomi is testing this phone with its largest battery ever in this line of smartphones. With 100W fast charging and possibly 9,000mAh battery, REDMI Turbo 5 Max may very well be a three-day smartphone.
The President of Xiaomi Group, Lu Weibing, showed his strong confidence in this product. “The Turbo 5 Max is the best choice in the 2.5K price range (~$350 USD) in 2026.” We are looking forward to testing this product and seeing whether the dual camera and symmetrical speakers live up to their hyped performance.
