Why do you compare the budget iPhone and flagship Xiaomi?
Choice between iPhones SE (2022 and Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ or POCO F5) — The classic dilemma for buyers with a budget of 20,000-35,000 ₽. On the one hand, a compact iPhone with a processor from the iPhone 13 and support for updates until 2027. AMOLED-screens, fast charging and advanced cameras.
But here lies the catch: compare the iPhone SE Xiaomi's top-end hardware is incorrect, and it's different philosophies, and the iPhone offers maximum stability and long-term support with stripped-down hardware, and the Xiaomi offers modern technology at an affordable price, and in this article we'll look at what to choose in 2026 for different scenarios: From photography to gaming and long-term use.
Spoiler: if you need a smartphone for 3+ Years with guaranteed updates – get your iPhone SE. If the priority is screen, camera and fast charging here and now, look towards the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or POCO F6.
1. Productivity: A15 Bionic vs Snapdragon 7+/Dimensity 9000
On iPhone paper SE (2022) with a chip A15 Bionic (like the iPhone 13) should easily bypass most Xiaomi smartphones in the budget segment:
- 🔥 iPhone SE Wins in single-core tests (Geekbench 5: ~1700 points) and iOS optimization. Games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly on medium settings, but overheat after 20-30 minutes.
- ⚡ Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2) or POCO F5 (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2) lose in raw power, but due to better cooling and 120 Hz screen subjectively seem faster in everyday tasks.
- 🤖 Xiaomi flagships (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Dimensity 8200 is being bypassed SE multithreaded tests and support Ray Tracing in games – but cost 10-15 thousand. ₽ more.
Critical moment: iPhone SE It has only 4GB of RAM. When you use Safari actively with 10+ tabs and background applications (for example, Telegram) + YouTube + The cards start to reboot applications. Xiaomi even in budget models usually 8-12 GB of RAM with technology RAM Expansion (Virtual Memory).
💡
If you plan to play heavy games (such as Diablo Immortal or Honkai: Star Rail), take the game. POCO F5 LiquidCool 2.0 cooling system reduces temperature by 10-15°Compared to the iPhone SE.
| Model | Chipset | RAM/ROM | Geekbench 5 (Single-Core) | Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) | Overheating in games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE (2022) | A15 Bionic (4 nm) | 4/64–256 GB | 1720 | 4600 | Yes, up to 45.°S) |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | 8/12–256 GB | 1300 | 4100 | No, up to 38.°S) |
| POCO F5 | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | 8/12–256 GB | 1300 | 4200 | No, up to 37.°S) |
| Xiaomi 13T | Dimensity 8200 (4nm) | 8/12–256 GB | 1450 | 4800 | No, up to 40.°S) |
⚠️ Note: If you are using an iPhone SE with a cover, temperature when playing or shooting a video 4K can reach 47-50°C, which leads to trottling (automatic performance decline), Xiaomi solved this problem with graphite heat sinks.
2. Screen: 4.7" Retina vs 6.67" AMOLED 120 Hz
Here's the iPhone. SE It's flat-out losing. 750×1334 (326 ppi and technology IPS LCD It looks outdated even on the background of budget Xiaomi:
- 📱 iPhone SE: 4.7 inches, 60 Hz, no HDR, Brightness up to 625 nits. Colors are accurate (Delta E calibration) ~1.5), but the black is grey and the viewing angles are limited.
- 🌈 Redmi Note 12 Pro+: 6.67 inches, AMOLED, 120 Hz, HDR10+, It is brighter than 900 nits and supports Dolby Vision and 1920 Hz. PWM (less-flicker).
- 🎮 POCO F5: 6.67 inches, AMOLED, 120 Hz, adaptive refresh rate (1-120 Hz), DisplayMate A certificate+.
There's a huge difference between watching videos, social media and games, like YouTube's permission on Xiaomi. 1440p s HDR, on the iPhone SE — maximum 1080p without HDR. When reading text or working with documents, a small screen of an iPhone can cause discomfort.
How to turn 120Hz on Xiaomi?
The only plus of the screen SE — Xiaomi has overstated colors by default, but this is fixed in the settings (Settings) → Display. → Color mode → sRGB).
Camera: one lens vs 200 MP + OIS
Photos are the weak spot of the iPhone SE. His solitary cell. 12 MP (diaphragm) f/1.8) It will shoot well in daylight, but at dusk or at night it loses even to budget Xiaomi:
| Parameter | iPhone SE (2022) | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | POCO F5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main camera. | 12 MP, f/1.8, without OIS | 200 MP, f/1.65, OIS | 64 MP, f/1.79, OIS |
| light-shifter | Good (but noise in the dark) | Excellent (large sensor) 1/1.4") | Good (sensor) 1/1.7") |
| Night photography | Medium (noise, blurring) | Excellent (Xiaomi algorithms) | Good (with Night Mode 2.0) |
| Video | 4K@60fps, stabilisation | 4K@30fps, OIS | 4K@30fps, EIS |
| Frontal | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.4 | 16 MP, f/2.4 |
Examples:
- 🌅 Daytime snapshots: iPhone SE It gives more natural colors, but Xiaomi wins in detail (thanks to its high resolution).
- 🌃 Night shots: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with a 200 MP camera and OIS Makes a bright picture with minimal noise, while SE requires a perfect hand or tripod.
- 🎥 Video: iPhone shoots smoother (thanks to Cinematic Mode), but Xiaomi offers more creative modes (like Magic Sky to replace the sky).
💡
If the camera is critical to you, iPhone SE For general use (day/night, video, portraits) choose Xiaomi with OIS and a sensor of 64 MP.
⚠️ Attention: iPhone SE There is no Portrait mode on the front camera. If you want a blurred selfie, you'll have to use third-party apps (like Focos).
4. Battery and charging: 2018 mAh vs 5000 mAh + 120 W.
Autonomy is another parameter where the iPhone is SE Its battery for 2018 mAh (like the iPhone 8 of 2017) provides:
- 🔋 4-5 hours of active screen (social networks, instant messengers, calls).
- 🎮 2-3 hours of games (with overheating and trottling).
- 📷 1.5-2 hours of video shooting 4K.
For comparison, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with a battery of 5000 mAh and 120 W charging:
- 🔋 7–9 hours of active screen.
- 🎮 5-6 hours of games without overheating.
- ⚡ Full charge in 19 minutes (vs. 1.5-2 hours for iPhone) SE).
Even with iOS optimization, the difference in autonomy is at least 2 times. If you are often on the road or forget to charge your phone at night, Xiaomi is the clear choice.
Use Low Consumption Mode (Settings) → Battery)
Disable Background App Update
Reduce the brightness of the screen to 70%
Close unused applications manually
Avoid playing games when charging.-->
5. Ecosystem and Updates: iOS vs MIUI
The main advantage of the iPhone SE — Long-term support: Apple guarantees updates until 2027 (5-6 years since release).For comparison, even flagship Xiaomi receives a maximum of 4 years of Android updates (and then not always).
What does that mean in practice?
- 🍎 iOS: Stable work, fast security updates, integration with Mac, iPad, Apple Watch. But a closed system limits customization (no widgets on the desktop, difficult to change the launcher).
- 🤖 MIUI: More freedom (theme design, widgets, third-party launchers), but there is advertising in system applications (disabled in settings) and sometimes “brake” due to background processes.
If you already have an Apple device (like a MacBook or AirPods), then you have an iPhone. SE It will be a logical addition to the ecosystem, and for Windows or Android users, switching to iOS can be uncomfortable (for example, difficulties with transferring files or synchronizing notes).
How to turn off advertising in MIUI?
⚠️ Attention: iPhone SE There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, whereas many Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 12) retain it.
6.Price and Affordability: Which is Better in 2026?
Cost is a key factor when choosing between iPhones SE And Xiaomi. As of June 2026, prices in Russia are like this:
| Model | Price (new), ₽ | Price (b/y), ₽ | Best offer. |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE (2022) 64 GB | 32 000–35 000 | 22 000–26 000 | SberMegaMarket (instalments) 0-0-24) |
| iPhone SE (2022) 128 GB | 37 000–40 000 | 27 000–30 000 | Yandex Market (cashback 5%) |
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 8/256GB | 28 000–32 000 | 18 000–22 000 | AliExpress (official store) |
| POCO F5 8/256 GB | 26 000–30 000 | 17 000–20 000 | Wildberries (delivery 1 day) |
| Xiaomi 13T 8/256 GB | 45 000–50 000 | 30 000–35 000 | M. Video (trade-in up to 10,000) ₽) |
The price conclusion:
- 💰 Budget up to 25,000 ₽: Take it. POCO F5 Or the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+ b/w - they offer 120 Hz, OIS and 5,000 mAh for less money.
- 💵 Budget 30,000-400,000 ₽: iPhone SE new or Xiaomi 13T The first is for long-term use, the second for power and camera.
- 🔄 Trade-in: In the Svyaznoy or M.Video, you can rent an old smartphone and get a discount of up to 10 000 ₽ iPhone SE.
Don’t forget the cost of ownership:
- iPhone SE Expensive repairs (screen replacement — ~15 000 ₽, battery — ~7 000 ₽).
- Xiaomi has cheaper repairs (screen — ~5 000 ₽, battery — ~2 500 ₽), Parts may not be available in service centers.
7. Which smartphone is for: the final verdict
We will make clear recommendations based on your priorities:
Choose an iPhone SE (2022, if:
✅ You need maximum stability and upgrades until 2027.
✅ You have other Apple devices (Mac, iPad, AirPods).
✅ You prefer a compact size (4.7 inches) and don't play heavy games.
✅ You need the best optimization for social networks (Instagram, TikTok) and instant messengers.
Choose Xiaomi (Redmi/POCO), if:
✅ You need a large screen with 120Hz and AMOLED.
✅ You often take pictures in different conditions (day/night, portraits).
✅ You need fast charging and autonomy for 1-2 days.
✅ You like to customize the interface (themes, widgets, launchers).
✅ Your budget is limited to 25,000-30,000. ₽.
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If you are still in doubt, answer the questions:
- Do you need long-term support (5)+ years)? → iPhone SE.
- The camera and screen are important here and now? → Xiaomi.
- Are you willing to put up with a small screen and a weak battery for iOS? → iPhone SE.
- Do you use games or resource-intensive applications? → Xiaomi.
And lastly, if you're taking a smartphone for 1-2 years, Xiaomi is better off. If you're planning to use 3 years.+ for years, only iPhones SE.