Why choosing between 64 and 128 GB is so important for Xiaomi
Choosing between 64GB and 128GB in Xiaomi smartphones is not just a price issue, but a strategic decision that will affect the comfort of the device for years to come. In 2026, as apps swell to giant sizes and photo and video quality rises with each new model, even the budget Redmi and flagship Xiaomi 14 face memory shortages.
On the one hand, 64 GB in 2026 is the new “32 GB” of 2018: the minimum acceptable volume that will suit only the most austere users. On the other hand, 128 GB is often offered for a very small surcharge (from 1,000 to 3,000 rubles depending on the model), but do you really need this “insurance”? In this article, we will analyze real use cases, test the speed of work on different memory volumes, compare prices for current Xiaomi models and give clear recommendations – without marketing tricks.
Real memory consumption in 2026: what is taking place in Xiaomi
To see if you’re 64GB, let’s take a look at where memory goes in a modern smartphone. Take the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro with a clean MIUI 14 (no accounts or apps):
- 📱 System and MIUI: 12-15 GB (including preinstalled apps that cannot be removed)
- 📷 Camera: one photo in RAW + JPEG weight 30–50 MB, video 4K@30fps — 400 MB/min
- 🎮 Games: Genshin Impact – 18 GB, Call of Duty Mobile – 6 GB, PUBG Mobile - 4GB
- 📲 Social networks: TikTok caches up to 2 GB, Instagram – 1-1.5 GB
- 🎵 Music and podcasts: 1 hour of music in a single day FLAC — 500MB, MP3 320 kbps - 150 MB
- 📄 Documents and files: PDF textbook – 50–200 MB, presentation – 20–100 MB
Now, if you're an active social media user, you shoot 4K videos, you play 2-3 games, and you store 500-1000 photos, 64 GB will last a maximum of 6-8 months, and the system will start to slow down already when you fill up by 80% (about 50 GB), but 128 GB give you a margin of 2-3 years even with intensive use.
Speed comparison: does memory capacity affect Xiaomi performance?
Few people know, but the amount of internal memory affects the speed of the smartphone – and here’s why:
- Memory type: In low-end Xiaomi (e.g. Redmi 12), 64 GB is often implemented on eMMC 5.1, and 128 GB is implemented on UFS 2.2. The difference in read/write speed is up to 3 times!
- Fragmentation: When 90% full, even UFS starts to slow down due to fragmented data.
- RAM: When space is scarce, the system uses part of the internal memory as swap (virtual RAM), which slows down.
| Xiaomi model | 64 GB (type of memory) | 128GB (type of memory) | Difference in speed (read/write) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 13 | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.2 | +180% / +200% |
| POCO X6 Pro | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.2 | +30% / +40% |
| Xiaomi 14 | UFS 3.1 | UFS 4.0 | +50% / +60% |
| Redmi A2 | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 | 0% (same) |
Bottom Line: If you take a smartphone for 2+ years, a 128GB UFS will not only give you more space, but also prolong the device’s youthfulness, except for the extra-budget models like the Redmi A-series, where the memory type is the same.
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In Xiaomi’s flagships (13/14 series), the difference between 64 and 128 GB is the difference between UFS 3.1 and UFS 4.0, which is critical for download speeds for games and apps.
Prices and economy: how much to overpay for 128 GB in 2026
Let’s see how profitable it is to take 128 GB in current Xiaomi models (prices according to Yandex Market and Wildberries as of May 2026):
- 📱 Redmi Note 13 Pro: 64GB – 24,990 ₽, 128GB - 26,990 ₽ (2,000 ₽ 8%)
- 📱 POCO X6 Pro: 64GB - 27,990 ₽, 128GB - 29,990 ₽ (2,000 ₽ 7%)
- 📱 Xiaomi 14: 128GB - 69,990 ₽, 256GB - 74,990 ₽ (Here 128 GB is the basic version)
- 📱 Redmi 12: 64GB - 12,990 ₽, 128GB - 14,490 ₽ (1,500 ₽ 12%)
As you can see, in most cases, the 128GB extra is 5 to 10 percent of the cost of a smartphone.
⚠️ Note: In some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) The 64GB version comes with 6GB of RAM, and 128GB comes with 8GB of RAM!
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Before buying, check the kit on Xiaomi’s official website – sometimes the price difference between 64 and 128 GB includes not only memory, but also an improved processor or camera.
Who exactly will be enough 64 GB (and who is absolutely not enough)
Let’s look at specific use cases where 64GB is enough – and where it’s going to be a nightmare.
☑️ You'll need 64GB if you want.
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You don't play heavy games (Only Among Us, Brawl Stars)
Store your photos in the cloud (Google Photos, MI Cloud)
You can shoot maximum video in Full HD (not 4K)
Remove games after passing
Do not download music/films on your phone
And now the anti-rating - to whom 64 GB categorically does not suit:
- 🎮 Gamers: Even 2-3 modern games will take 20-30 GB, plus cache and updates.
- 📸 Photographers: 1000 photos in RAW — That’s 15 to 20 GB, not counting video.
- 🎬 Video bloggers: 10 minutes 4K-video = 4-5 GB. With installation on the phone - more +20–30%.
- 🎵 Musicians: a collection of 100 albums in FLAC — That's 50-70 GB.
- 📚 Students/students: textbooks, presentations, recorded lectures – easy 10-15 GB.
What happens if your memory is 100% full?
Alternatives: How to save money when 64GB is low and 128GB is expensive
If your budget is limited but 64GB is clearly not enough, consider these proven ways:
- MicroSD Memory Card: ✅ Suitable for: photos, videos, music, documents. ❌ Not suitable for: applications (on Xiaomi with MIUI play-off SD). 💡 Tip: Take it. UHS-I U3 (For example, SanDisk Extreme for recording 4K-video.
Cloud storage
- Google Photos (15 GB free, lossless compression)
- MI Cloud (5GB free, integration with MIUI)
- Yandex Disk (10 GB free, convenient for documents).
- Memory Optimization: Settings → Storage → Cleanup → Deep Cleaning Removes Unneeded APKs, Cache and Duplications of Photos.