Abstract: Retrieval results of Micro Rain Radar (MRR) are affected by various factors. To evaluate the precipitation detection capability and application performance of MRR, we take rain gauge observations as the benchmark. Based on raindrop size distribution data and retrieved characteristic parameters measured by MRR and collocated DSG5 present weather sensor during rainfall events from March 2022 to May 2023 in Xiangyang area, the precipitation detection capability of MRR is assessed from the perspectives of different detection heights and rainfall types. Moreover, observations from a typical precipitation case on 4 May 2023 are selected to analyze the practical application effect of MRR. The results show that: (1) The hourly rainfall values detected by MRR at the height of 100 m agree best with those measured by the rain gauge. (2) MRR achieves optimal detection performance for stratiform precipitation compared with convective precipitation and light rain. (3) For convective precipitation, the contributions of medium and large raindrops to rain rate derived from MRR are smaller, while the number concentration of small raindrops and their contribution to rain rate are larger relative to DSG5. (4) MRR observations provide observational evidence for the undercount of small raindrops by DSG5. (5) In the typical precipitation case over Xiangyang, MRR can clearly capture the vertical structure of the melting-layer bright band. The height of the bright band remains stable at approximately 3.8 km for both stratiform precipitation and light rain. For stratiform precipitation, hydrometeors undergo complex phase transitions at the melting layer and finally melt into raindrops. During their fall to the surface, small raindrops mainly experience collision-coalescence and evaporation processes, and medium raindrops contribute the most to surface rain rate.