Let's take a look back at an innovative phablet from 2016, the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus (codename `natrium`). This device was a true powerhouse, featuring a large 5.7-inch display, the flagship Snapdragon 821 processor, and one of Xiaomi's first-ever dual-camera systems. In places like Nigeria, it was a genuine "boss phone"—a rare and powerful device for tech enthusiasts who wanted the best performance and the latest camera technology.
The official software journey for the Mi 5s Plus ended with a major split: the Chinese version received a final, polished update to MIUI 11, while the Global version was left behind on the older MIUI 10. For the dedicated owners still cherishing this classic in 2025, this guide provides the key to unlocking its best software. By installing the community-made Xiaomi.eu ROM, you can give your global Mi 5s Plus the modern MIUI 11 update it was always meant to have.
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi 5s Plus
For a classic flagship, flashing is about optimization and getting the best possible software experience.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: natrium)
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the official firmware for emergencies, and the recommended Xiaomi.eu ROM for a major upgrade.
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Upgrading to MIUI 11 via Xiaomi.eu ROM (Recommended)
This is the best way to get a modern, stable, and feature-rich experience on your global Mi 5s Plus.
➡ Your Mi 5s Plus will now boot into the modern MIUI 11 interface, an update it never received officially in global markets.
Method 2: Flashing Official Stock ROM (For Unbricking/Restoring)
Use this method to restore a bricked device or return to the final official software for your region.
➡ This will restore your phone to its original factory state (MIUI 10 for Global users).
FAQs
Q1: Why was the Mi 5s Plus a 'boss phone' in Nigeria?
In 2016, it was a beast. It had a huge screen for movies and browsing, it was one of the fastest phones you could get with the Snapdragon 821, and the new dual camera was a major feature to show off. For the tech lovers who imported it, it was a phone that proved you had flagship power without paying the huge Samsung price tag.
Q2: Can I get newer Android versions on the Mi 5s Plus?
Not officially. However, the `natrium` has a very strong custom ROM community. You can find many unofficial builds of Android 10, 11, and even 12 on forums like XDA-Developers. This is the best way to keep the device secure and running modern apps.
Q3: Is the dual camera still good?
By 2025 standards, it is a vintage camera. However, its color + monochrome sensor setup was innovative. Flashing the final MIUI 11 firmware (via Xiaomi.eu) gives you the best and most optimized official software from Xiaomi to process images from that unique hardware.
Q4: Is it really worth upgrading from MIUI 10 to MIUI 11?
Yes. MIUI 11 was a huge visual and functional update over MIUI 10. It introduced a much cleaner, more modern design, a system-wide dark mode, new dynamic sounds and animations, and many other quality-of-life improvements. It makes the phone feel years younger.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
The official software journey for the Mi 5s Plus ended with a major split: the Chinese version received a final, polished update to MIUI 11, while the Global version was left behind on the older MIUI 10. For the dedicated owners still cherishing this classic in 2025, this guide provides the key to unlocking its best software. By installing the community-made Xiaomi.eu ROM, you can give your global Mi 5s Plus the modern MIUI 11 update it was always meant to have.
- ✔ The definitive guide to upgrading your Global Mi 5s Plus to the superior MIUI 11
- ✔ Download links for the final official firmware to unbrick and restore your device
- ✔ Working TWRP custom recovery links and all essential tools
- ✔ Device-specific troubleshooting for its pioneering dual-camera system
- ✔ A gateway to the custom ROM scene for even newer versions of Android
Why You Might Need to Flash Your Mi 5s Plus
For a classic flagship, flashing is about optimization and getting the best possible software experience.
- Upgrade Your Global Device to MIUI 11 → This is the #1 reason to flash. The update brings a completely refreshed user interface, a system-wide dark mode, and numerous optimizations that were never officially released for the global model.
- Optimize the Dual-Camera System → The final MIUI 11 build contains the most updated and polished camera algorithms from Xiaomi for this early dual-camera setup, potentially improving image quality.
- Unleash the Snapdragon 821 → A clean flash of a more modern MIUI ensures the powerful flagship hardware runs at its absolute peak, free from years of software clutter.
- Unbrick a Bricked or Bootlooping Device → The essential recovery guide for restoring a phone that is stuck on the Mi logo or fails to boot.
- Prepare for Modern Custom ROMs → Flashing the latest stock firmware is the perfect stable starting point before installing newer, unofficial versions of Android from the developer community.
Quick Device Overview (Codename: natrium)
- Model: Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
- Release Year: 2016
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
- Display: 5.7” FHD IPS LCD
- Key Feature: Early dual-camera system (color + monochrome), large-screen flagship
- OS at Launch: MIUI 8 on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Final Official OS: MIUI 10 (Global) / MIUI 11 (China) on Android 8.0 Oreo
- Codename: natrium
SOFTWARE NOTICE: The Global Mi 5s Plus never officially received the MIUI 11 update. The only way to get this final, more modern version of MIUI is to install the community-made Xiaomi.eu ROM, which is based on the final China build. Due to its age, the stock software is not secure for online use.
Required Tools & Downloads
Download the official firmware for emergencies, and the recommended Xiaomi.eu ROM for a major upgrade.
| Tool / File | Purpose / OS Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Flash Tool | For flashing official Fastboot ROMs. | Download Latest Version |
| Xiaomi USB Drivers | Ensures your PC can communicate with your phone. | Driver Pack |
| Mi Unlock Tool | Required to unlock the bootloader. | Official Unlock Page |
| Custom Recovery (TWRP) | Required to flash the Xiaomi.eu ROM. | Official TWRP for Natrium |
| Fastboot ROM (China) | Official MIUI 11 (Android 8.0) | V11.0.2.0.OBGCNXM |
| Fastboot ROM (Global) | Official MIUI 10.2 (Android 8.0) | V10.2.4.0.OBGMIXM |
| Xiaomi.eu ROM (Custom) | The Essential MIUI 11 Upgrade | V11.0.2.0.OBGCNXM |
Flashing Methods
Method 1: Upgrading to MIUI 11 via Xiaomi.eu ROM (Recommended)
This is the best way to get a modern, stable, and feature-rich experience on your global Mi 5s Plus.
- Unlock Bootloader: Ensure your bootloader is unlocked using the official Mi Unlock Tool.
- Flash TWRP: Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (Power + Volume Down). Flash the official TWRP image file for `natrium` with the command:
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-natrium.img - Boot into TWRP: Hold Power + Volume Up from a powered-off state to boot into the newly installed TWRP recovery.
- Wipe Data: This step is mandatory. In TWRP, go to Wipe → Format Data and type "yes" to confirm.
- Transfer ROM File: Connect your phone to your PC and copy the downloaded Xiaomi.eu `.zip` file to its internal storage.
- Install the ROM: In the TWRP main menu, tap Install, select the ROM `.zip` file, and swipe the slider to begin flashing.
- Reboot: Once finished, tap "Reboot System."
➡ Your Mi 5s Plus will now boot into the modern MIUI 11 interface, an update it never received officially in global markets.
Method 2: Flashing Official Stock ROM (For Unbricking/Restoring)
Use this method to restore a bricked device or return to the final official software for your region.
- Boot into Fastboot Mode: Power off your phone. Press and hold Power + Volume Down until the Fastboot logo appears.
- Extract Firmware: On your PC, extract the downloaded `.tgz` Fastboot ROM for your region twice until you have a folder with an `images` directory.
- Launch Mi Flash Tool: Open the tool as an administrator. Click "select" and choose the extracted firmware folder.
- Connect Device & Flash: Connect your phone, click "refresh", ensure "clean all" is selected, and click "flash".
➡ This will restore your phone to its original factory state (MIUI 10 for Global users).
FAQs
Q1: Why was the Mi 5s Plus a 'boss phone' in Nigeria?
In 2016, it was a beast. It had a huge screen for movies and browsing, it was one of the fastest phones you could get with the Snapdragon 821, and the new dual camera was a major feature to show off. For the tech lovers who imported it, it was a phone that proved you had flagship power without paying the huge Samsung price tag.
Q2: Can I get newer Android versions on the Mi 5s Plus?
Not officially. However, the `natrium` has a very strong custom ROM community. You can find many unofficial builds of Android 10, 11, and even 12 on forums like XDA-Developers. This is the best way to keep the device secure and running modern apps.
Q3: Is the dual camera still good?
By 2025 standards, it is a vintage camera. However, its color + monochrome sensor setup was innovative. Flashing the final MIUI 11 firmware (via Xiaomi.eu) gives you the best and most optimized official software from Xiaomi to process images from that unique hardware.
Q4: Is it really worth upgrading from MIUI 10 to MIUI 11?
Yes. MIUI 11 was a huge visual and functional update over MIUI 10. It introduced a much cleaner, more modern design, a system-wide dark mode, new dynamic sounds and animations, and many other quality-of-life improvements. It makes the phone feel years younger.
Troubleshooting & Common Errors
- Dual Cameras not working in a custom ROM: This is a common issue for early dual-camera phones like the `natrium`. Some AOSP-based custom ROMs may struggle to properly use the secondary monochrome sensor. The best way to ensure full camera functionality is to use a MIUI-based ROM (like the official one or Xiaomi.eu) or find a Google Camera (GCam) port specifically built for this device.
- Dead Hard Brick (EDL Mode): If your phone is completely dead and only shows up as "Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008", it is in EDL mode. Recovery is possible but advanced, often requiring a "deep flash cable" or shorting "test points" on the motherboard to force the connection for Mi Flash Tool.
- "Can't read from port" error in Mi Flash Tool: A classic error for older Xiaomi flagships. It's almost always a driver issue on modern PCs. Reinstall drivers, restart your PC, use a USB 2.0 port, and run Mi Flash Tool as an administrator.
- Bootloop after flashing Xiaomi.eu: You must use the "Format Data" option in TWRP before flashing. This is required to remove the stock MIUI encryption and is the #1 fix for bootloops.