Choosing a new smartphone in 2021 has become a complex dilemma between Apple’s ecosystem and the aggressive innovation of Chinese brands. Users are often torn between wanting a status-added iPhone 13 and wanting to get the most performance for less from the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. This year, the technology race has reached its peak, offering the market devices that not only update previous models, but set new industry standards.
The main battle is not so much hardware as the philosophy of the gadget. The Cupertinos company is betting on optimization, long-term support and flawless service performance, while Xiaomi offers experiments with camera form factors, ultrafast charging and open system. Understanding these differences is critical before buying, as it determines your user experience for the next two to three years.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the key aspects that will help you determine which operating system and feature set is right for you. We will not just list the characteristics, but analyze the actual use of devices in 2021, taking into account current prices and the availability of accessories.
Performance and efficiency: A15 Bionic chips vs. Snapdragon 888
The heart of any modern smartphone is the processor, and in 2021, the battle of titans unfolded between the Apple A15 Bionic and Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. Apple engineers have traditionally gone by creating a chip with a huge supply of single-threaded power, making the iOS interface incredibly responsive. Even a year after its release, the iPhone 13 Pro demonstrates stability in heavy tasks without dropping frequencies as aggressively as its Android rivals.
On the other hand, Xiaomi flagships based on the Snapdragon 888 platform offer outstanding multithreading and customization capabilities. However, it is worth noting that this chipset is known for its heat generation. In long-load scenarios, for example, when rendering video or long game sessions, the Xiaomi body can heat up significantly more, causing the system to trott.
For the average user, the difference in synthetic tests may not be as noticeable as in real life. iOS better manages background processes, saving battery life, while Android allows background apps to run more freely, which sometimes leads to increased energy consumption.
⚠️ Note: When buying a Xiaomi based on the Snapdragon 888, be sure to pay attention to the quality of the cooling system of a particular model.
Technical details of chips
The choice between them depends on your priorities: if you want stability and predictability, Apple wins, but if you are an enthusiast who cares about overclocking and fine-tuning every system setting, Xiaomi will provide more tools.
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The Apple A15 Bionic is more efficient at single-threaded tasks and games, while the Snapdragon 888 wins in multitasking and system-level artificial intelligence.
Screens and Multimedia: The Battle for Visual Enjoyment
The display is a window into the digital world, and in 2021 both manufacturers offered great matrices.Apple introduced ProMotion technology into the iPhone 13 Pro lineup, providing an adaptive refresh rate of 10 to 120Hz. This means that the screen automatically adjusts to the content, saving energy when reading text and ensuring smoothness when scrolling through tape.
Xiaomi in its top models, such as Mi 11 and Mi 11 Pro, uses the AMOLED-Samsung panels with resolution WQHD+ The color reproduction on these screens often looks more saturated and “juicy” out of the box, which is popular with most users when watching videos and photos.
- 📱 Brightness: iPhone 13 Pro Max reaches peak brightness of 1,200 nits when viewed HDR, What makes him the king of the sun.
- 🎨 Xiaomi offers more flexible color profile settings on the menu, allowing you to choose between cold and warm shades.
- 🛡️ Protection: Both flagships use Ceramic Shield (Apple) or Gorilla Glass Victus (Xiaomi) glass, providing high strength.
The sound on the iPhone is traditionally considered the reference for smartphones due to the balance of low and high frequencies. Xiaomi has also significantly improved the acoustics, but the nature of the sound is still more “digital” and less voluminous compared to the competitor.
Cameras: Computational Photography vs. Hardware Power
The mobile photography industry has split into two camps in 2021, with Apple betting on computational photography and Cinematic mode. Apple’s photo-processing algorithms aiming for naturalness, preserving textures and dynamic range close to what the human eye sees.
Xiaomi, on the Mi 11 Ultra, went all-in with a huge 1/1.12-inch Samsung GN2 sensor, a physically larger array that allows you to capture more light without excessive noise cancellation, and Xiaomi offers a periscopic telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom that surpasses the capabilities of standard Apple phones of the period.
In video, the iPhone 13 Pro is unrivaled among Android smartphones. Stabilization, switching between lenses and microphones are implemented at the level of professional cameras. Xiaomi can shoot in 8K, but the practical benefit of this resolution in 2021 was questionable due to the huge weight of files and the lack of content.
| Characteristics | iPhone 13 Pro Max | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary sensor | 12 MP, f/1.5 | 50 MP, f/1.95 (1/1.12) | Xiaomi (size) |
| zoom | 3x optical | 5x periscope | Xiaomi |
| Video | 4K 60fps Dolby Vision | 8K 24fps / 4K 60fps | iPhone (stability) |
| Night mode. | No one. |
If you're a blogger or you make a lot of videos for social media, the iPhone is the leader, and if you're an amateur photographer who likes to experiment with zoom and macro, Xiaomi's camera will give you more creative freedom.
Operating systems: iOS 15 vs MIUI 12.5
Choosing between iOS and Android (in the MIUI shell) is a choice between a closed ecosystem and an open platform. iOS 15 offers optimization, where apps are not offloaded from memory for years and security updates come to everyone at the same time.
MIUI 12.5, built on Android 11/12, provides the freedom that Apple users can only dream of: You can change the themes, install apps from any source, use the file system as on a computer and customize control gestures.
But there is a downside to MIUI: the abundance of ads in system applications (which can be turned off, though) and periodic bugs in early firmware can be annoying, while Apple is guilty of overregulation of the file system and the lack of ability to install ringtones without dancing with diamonds.
⚠️ Note: When switching from iOS to iOS MIUI You will lose the ability to buy apps and games purchased from the App Store because accounts are not synced between Google Play and Apple stores.
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Use the “Move to iOS” app to set up initially, but remember that Wi-Fi passwords and some health settings are better ported manually or through Google’s cloud services.
Autonomy and charging speed
In 2021, Xiaomi set a new charging speed bar: the brand’s flagships support wired charging with 67 watts, and some versions up to 120 watts. This allows you to charge your phone from 0 to 100% in less than 30 minutes. Complete with Xiaomi, there is usually a powerful power supply, which saves you from additional costs.
Apple is conservative in this regard. iPhone 13 Pro Max supports charging power of about 20-25 watts, which allows you to fully charge the device in about 1.5 hours.
As for autonomy, optimizing iOS works wonders. iPhone 13 Pro Max has become one of the leaders in the time of operation on a single charge, easily surviving a day and a half of active use. Xiaomi, with large batteries (usually 5000 mAh), shows similar results, but due to the less efficient processor and background processes, Android discharges a little faster in standby mode.
☑️ Check before buying a power supply unit
If you’re critical to getting your phone refueled quickly during your morning shower and coffee, Xiaomi has no competition, and if you’re used to charging your phone overnight, speed is not critical.
Price, liquidity and final choice
The financial aspect is also important: when the iPhone was released in 2021, it was worth significantly more than Xiaomi. However, the liquidity of Apple products in the secondary market remains phenomenal. You can sell the iPhone 13 Pro in two years for 60-70% of its original value.
Xiaomi loses in value much faster. After two years of use, the flagship Xiaomi can cost less than 40% of the purchase price. On the other hand, the initial entry threshold for Xiaomi is lower, and the equipment is richer (case and charging in the box).
So what's better? If you value stability, long-term support, high-quality video and high residual cost, your iPhone is your choice. If you want to experiment with the camera, superfast charging, free file system, and you're willing to put up with a quick loss of value of the device, go to Xiaomi.