Redmi and POCO: What’s the difference between Xiaomi sub-brands and which smartphone to choose?

If you're faced with a choice between Xiaomi Redmi and POCO, but don't understand how they are fundamentally different, this article is for you. Both brands belong to the Xiaomi ecosystem, but are positioned differently: Redmi is traditionally associated with affordable devices for everyday tasks, and POCO is associated with powerful gadgets for gamers and enthusiasts. However, the line between them blurs every year: in the line of Redmi appear flagship chips, and POCO releases budget models.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 7 key differences between Redmi and POCO, from hardware to software, pricing and audience. You’ll learn why the POCO F6 Pro is technically closer to Xiaomi’s flagships than the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, both in the same price range, and which brand is better suited for gaming, video shooting and long-term use.

1.The Origins of Brands: Why POCO Separated from Redmi

Initially. POCO was a sub-brand of Xiaomi launched in 2018 as an experimental line of smartphones with flagship specs at an average price. POCO F1 (known as Pocophone F1) It made a splash thanks to the Snapdragon 845 processor and the price is lower $400 was an unprecedented combination, but within a year. POCO, It is still in the Xiaomi ecosystem.

Redmi, in turn, was originally positioned as a budget direction for Xiaomi, but over time expanded the lineup to premium models (for example, the Redmi K60 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1).

• 📅 2013: Xiaomi launches Redmi as a budget lineup (the first model is Redmi 1).
• 🚀 2018: Appears POCO F1 — The first "flagship-killer" with a top-end chip at a low price.
• 🔄 2020: POCO Becoming a standalone brand, but continues to use the Xiaomi platform.
• 💥 2023–2026: Redmi and POCO The same processors are available (e.g., the Dimensity 7200 Ultra in Redmi). K70E and POCO F6).

⚠️ Note: Despite the separation of brands, POCO Xiaomi is still dependent on the company for production, logistics and software, which means that the updates are not available. MIUI for POCO It may be released later than Redmi due to additional testing phases.

2.Price policy: who is cheaper and why

Traditionally, Redmi was considered a more budget-friendly brand, but today the price difference between Redmi and POCO is often reduced to 10-15% in favor of the former.

• 💰 Redmi offers more models in the segment up to 15 000 ₽ (Like Redmi. 13C or Redmi Note 12).
• 🎮 POCO Focuses on the mid- and premium segments (from 20,000) ₽), But with the best hardware for the same money.
• 📉 During the sales period POCO It is often cheaper than Redmi because of less demand.

As you can see from the table, for similar money, POCO offers more performance chips (e.g., the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 vs. Dimensity 7200 Ultra), but Redmi can win on cameras or design. It is important to consider that price tags vary greatly depending on the region - in Europe and India, POCO is often cheaper than in Russia.

3.Performance: Who is faster in games and everyday tasks

If you choose a smartphone for gaming, video editing, or multitasking, POCO will almost always be preferred.

• 🎮 Flagship-level chips: POCO The F-series often receives processors from the Snapdragon 8 line (e.g. 8).+ Gen 1 inches POCO F5 Pro, while Redmi is limited to Dimensity or Snapdragon 7.
• 🔥 Cooling system: Y POCO liquid cooling and graphite gaskets are more common (for example, in POCO F6 Pro - 5-layer system).
• 🖥️ High frequency displays: POCO It offers 120 Hz and 144 Hz even in the mid-range segment, while Redmi 90 Hz offers the standard for public sector employees.

There are exceptions, however: for example, the Redmi K70 Pro with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 outperforms any POCO in performance, but also costs more.

⚠️ Attention: Productivity POCO In games, it can be limited to overheating - despite improved cooling, long sessions in Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile lead to trottling. In the Redmi K-series, this problem is solved better due to a more massive case.

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Before buying, check if the model supports Game Turbo in settings. POCO often turns it off by default, but activating it through Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo can increase FPS by 10-15%.

4.Cameras: who is better at taking photos and videos

If you're interested in shooting, Redmi is almost always the best choice, because POCO focuses on performance, and the cameras are often borrowed from cheaper Redmi or Xiaomi models.

• 📸 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ It has a 200-MP main sensor (Samsung) ISOCELL HP3), then POCO F6 Pro costs 50MP (Sony) IMX890).
• 🎥 Video: Redmi is more likely to support 4K@60fps and HDR10+, then POCO limited 4K@30fps codecless.
• 🌃 Night Mode Algorithms in Redmi are better developed thanks to optimization for the camera MIUI.

The exception is POCO flagship models like the POCO F5 Pro, which receive cameras from the Xiaomi 13 (like the Sony IMX866).

5.Software: MIUI vs POCO Launcher

Both brands operate on the basis of MIUI, but with different shells and settings:

• 📱 Redmi uses the standard MIUI With minimal changes, there are more built-in Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Home, Mi Video).
• 🎛️ POCO offer POCO Launcher - a lightweight version MIUI without unnecessary applications, but with the ability to fine-tune (for example, changing icons, gestures).
• 🔄 Updates: Redmi gets updates MIUI faster, whereas POCO Sometimes they wait for additional tests.

The main difference is the number of bloatware (pre-installed applications), POCO has a much smaller number of them, but also functionality: for example, there is no Second Space (second working environment) or Quick Ball (floating quick access panel).

Open Settings → Applications → Application Management

Select an unnecessary app (such as Mi Music or Mi Browser)

Press Remove or Disable (if deletion is blocked)

Use ADB for deep cleaning (power users only)

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6. Design and Assembly: Plastic vs Glass, Weight and Ergonomics

Redmi and POCO are often similar, but there are key differences:

• 🏗️ Materials: POCO More often uses plastic back panel (even in models over 30 000). ₽), Redmi offers glass (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ Corning Gorilla Glass Victus).
• ⚖️ Weight: POCO It is usually lighter by 10-20 g due to plastic, but this affects the tactile sensations - the device seems "cheap".
• 🎨 Colors: POCO experiment with bright colors (for example, POCO F6 In "Ice Blue", while Redmi sticks to the classics (black, white, blue).

If you are interested in premium, pay attention to the Redmi K-series – it often copies the design of Xiaomi flagships (for example, the Redmi K70 Pro looks similar to the Xiaomi 14). POCO, on the contrary, relies on a gaming style with RGB-lit (as in the POCO F5) or aggressive lines of the body.

7. Battery and charging: who lives longer and charges faster

In terms of battery capacity and charging speed, Redmi and POCO are often identical, but there are nuances:

• 🔋 Capacity: Both brands offer batteries for 5000-5500 mAh, but in the POCO Double batteries are more common (for example, in the POCO F6 Pro: Two cells of 2,500 mAh. This improves heat transfer, but makes it harder to replace.
• ⚡ Fast charging: Redmi leads in power - Redmi Note 13 Pro+ supportive 120W, then POCO F6 Pro is limited 67W.
• 🔌 Wireless charging: Only found in top-end Redmis (e.g. Redmi) K70 Pro 30W), then POCO It ignores this function even in flagships.

In practice, the difference in autonomy is minimal – both brands provide 1.5-2 days of operation with moderate use. However, POCO can lose out due to more voracious processors (for example, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 warms up more than the Dimensity 7200 Ultra, which increases battery consumption).

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If you want maximum autonomy, choose models with Dimensity processors (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) – they are more energy efficient than Snapdragon in everyday tasks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi and POCO