Why the Choice Between Xiaomi and Huawei Has Become More Difficult
5 years ago, the answer to the question “Which is better – Xiaomi or Huawei?” was obvious: Chinese giants occupied different niches: Huawei was positioned as a premium brand with revolutionary cameras and its own Kirin chips, and Xiaomi – as a manufacturer of affordable “killer flagships” with an aggressive price-performance ratio. But after the US sanctions of 2019, the ban on Google Mobile Services (GMS) for Huawei and Xiaomi’s entry into the premium market with the 13 Ultra and MIX Fold series, the boundaries blurred.
Today, both brands offer smartphones in all price segments - from the budget Redmi Note 13 and Huawei Nova 12 SE to flagships for 150+ thousand rubles. At the same time, each manufacturer has unique technological "chips" that can be decisive when choosing: Huawei has optical stabilization Leica and HarmonyOS harmonious software, Xiaomi has 210W hypercharging and the smart home ecosystem. In this comparison, we will analyze 7 key aspects that will help determine the choice.
1.Performance: Kirin vs Snapdragon vs Dimensity
Until 2020, Huawei led in hardware thanks to its own Kirin 9000 chips, which bypassed the Snapdragon 865 in multitasking and energy efficiency. However, sanctions forced the company to switch to spare options: now Huawei flagships (for example, the Mate 60 Pro) run on the Kirin 9000S – a modified version with reduced support for 5G. In benchmarks, it loses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (which stands in Xiaomi 14 Ultra) by 15-20%, but in real tasks the difference is almost invisible.
Comparison of processors in 2026:
- 🔥 Xiaomi: Using Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in Xiaomi 14) and Dimensity 9200+ (redmi K70 Pro. The advantage is full support 5G Best optimization for games (for example, in Genshin Impact on maximum settings).
- 🛡️ Huawei: Kirin 9000S (In the Mate 60 Pro, it is weaker in synthetic tests, but it is better optimized for HarmonyOS. 5G in some regions.
- ⚡ Here Xiaomi wins unequivocally - Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Dimensity 7200 Ultra bypasses Huawei Nova 12i Snapdragon 680 performance in 1.8 times.
It is important to consider that Huawei is actively developing its own ecosystem of chips, and by 2026 may regain leadership.
⚠️ Note: If you plan to use your smartphone abroad, check for support 5G Some models of Huawei, for example, P60 Pros may not work with local operators due to restrictions on Kirin.
2.Cameras: Leica vs Xiaomi Imaging Brain
Huawei has traditionally been seen as the king of mobile photography thanks to its collaboration with Leica. Even in 2026, the Mate 60 Pro and P60 Art remain the benchmark for portrait photography and color reproduction. However, Xiaomi is actively catching up: the Xiaomi 14 Ultra uses a 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor (like the Sony Xperia 1 V), which is superior in resolution to Huawei.
Comparison of the cameras of the flagships of 2026:
| Parameter | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Huawei Mate 60 Pro | Huawei P60 Art |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main camera. | 50 MP, 1” (IMX989), f/1.6-f/4.0 | 50 MP, 1/1.18", f/1.4-f/4.0 | 48 MP, 1/1.4", f/1.4-f/4.0 |
| Ultrashire | 50 MP, 122° | 12 MP, 13° (macro) | 13 MP, 120° |
| zoom | 50 MP periscope (5x optical) | 48 MP periscope (3.5x optical) | 64 MP periscope (3.5x optical) |
| Video | 8K@24fps, Dolby Vision | 4K@60fps, HDR10+ | 4K@60fps, Log profile |
| Features | Laser autofocus, Leica profiles (license) | Aperture variable, XMAGE | 10-step variable aperture |
According to the results of the DXOMARK tests (2026):
- Huawei Mate 60 Pro – 152 points (best zoom and portraits)
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 149 points (best dynamic range).
- Huawei P60 Art – 147 points (best color reproduction).
Key differences:
- 📸 Huawei will be better at portraits and night photography thanks to algorithms XMAGE.
- 🎥 For videographers: Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers 8K Dolby Vision, which is important for professional installation.
- 💰 Budget pick: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 200MP camera bypasses Huawei Nova 12i Detailed, but loses in processing.
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If you are interested in shooting videos, pay attention to the Xiaomi 13T Pro – it supports recording in Apple ProRes (through third-party applications), which is rare for Android smartphones.
3.Software: MIUI vs HarmonyOS
The difference is fundamental: Xiaomi uses MIUI based on Android, and Huawei has moved to its own OS, HarmonyOS (from 2021), and let’s look at the pros and cons of each approach.
MIUI (Xiaomi):
- ✅ Full support for Google Mobile Services (GMS) — All applications in the Play Market are open without restrictions.
- ✅ Xiaomi promises 4 years of major updates and 5 years of security for flagships.
- ❌ Lots of advertising in budget models (disabled in settings).
- ❌ Sometimes “raw” optimization – lags in animations on weak chips.
HarmonyOS (Huawei):
- ✅ Unique chips: for example, Super Device (seamless integration with Huawei laptops and tablets).
- ✅ Lack of advertising and “garbage” in the firmware.
- ❌ No Google Services – many apps (like Google Maps or GPay) don’t work out of the box".
- ❌ Fewer apps in AppGallery – you’ll have to install APK manually.
How to get around HarmonyOS restrictions?
For whom is better:
- 🌍 For business and travelers, Google Services is critical – choose Xiaomi.
- 🖥️ Owners of the Huawei ecosystem (laptops, watches, headphones) will suit HarmonyOS due to deep integration.
- 🛡️ UI connoisseurs may like HarmonyOS, but be prepared for the limitations.
⚠️ Warning: Starting with HarmonyOS 4.0 (2023), Huawei is blocking installation GMS If you want Google Play, buy Huawei smartphones until 2022 (for example, if you want to buy a Google Play, P50 Pro).
Autonomy and charging: who lives longer?
By battery life, the leadership is divided depending on the price segment:
- 🔋 Flagships: Huawei Mate 60 Pro (5000 mAh) held on 10-15% longer 14 Pro (4880 mAh thanks to energy efficient HarmonyOS.
- ⚡ The Redmi Note 13 Pro is a model+ (5,000 mAh + 120W Charging) bypasses Huawei Nova 12i (4,000 mAh + 40W) and the capacity and the speed of charging.
- 🔌 Wireless charging: Xiaomi offers 50W (Xiaomi 14, and Huawei only 20W (Mate 60 Pro).
Charging speed is one of the key advantages of Xiaomi:
- Xiaomi 14 Pro – 120W (full charge in 18 minutes)
- Redmi Note 13 Pro+ – 210W (record among the production smartphones!).
- Huawei Mate 60 Pro - 88W (66W in the P60 Pro).
Do not discharge below 20%|Avoid overheating (do not play on charging)|Turn off the always active display|Use the original chargers-->
If you want to maximize autonomy, choose the Huawei Mate or the P-series. If fast charging is the priority, then Xiaomi is out of the competition.
5. Displays: 2K vs LTPO vs subdisplay cameras
Both brands use AMOLED-supporter HDR10+, But implementation approaches are different:
- 📱 Xiaomi: Flagships (Xiaomi) 14 Ultra) — 2K-display (3200×1440) s LTPO 3.0 (1-120 Budget models (Redmi Note) 13 Pro) — Full HD+ (2400×1080) s 120 Unique feature: subdisplay front camera in Xiaomi MIX Fold 3.
- 🖥️ Huawei: Flagships (Mate) 60 Pro) — 1.5K (2616×1212) s LTPO And it's also supported by Kunlun Glass, which is a unique feature: a cascade screen in the sky. P60 Art (curved edges under the 88°). Cons: in budget models (Nova) 12 SE) still dating IPS-matrix.
For most users, the difference between 2K and 1.5K is not noticeable, but Xiaomi benefits in smooth scrolling thanks to the LTPO 3.0. Huawei offers more reliable screen protection.
6.Prices and Price/Quality ratio
Xiaomi is traditionally stronger here, especially in the budget and mid-range segments.
- Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (45 thousand rubles) vs Huawei Nova 12i (50 thousand rubles) – with similar characteristics Xiaomi offers the best camera and charging.
- Xiaomi 14 (80 thousand rubles) vs Huawei P60 (90 thousand rubles) – Xiaomi wins in performance and updates.
However, in the premium segment (Xiaomi 14 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 60 Pro) prices are comparable (150-180 thousand rubles), and the choice depends on priorities (camera from Huawei, charging and screen from Xiaomi).
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When budgets are tight, Xiaomi almost always offers the best price/quality ratio, but in the premium segment, Huawei can justify overpaying for unique chips (like the variable aperture in P60 Art).
7. Ecosystem and additional chips
Both brands are actively developing ecosystems, but approaches are different:
- 🏠 Xiaomi: Smart Home Leader – 4000 Compatible+ Mi Home Unified Control Center (which also works on iOS) minus: some devices are not officially supported in Russia.
- 💻 Huawei: Deep integration with laptops (MateBook) and tablets (MatePad) via Super Device. Huawei's own Mobile Cloud ecosystem (an alternative to Google Drive.
If you already have one of the brands’ gadgets, it makes sense to stay in the same ecosystem.For newcomers, Xiaomi offers more smart home options, and Huawei offers better synchronization between its devices.