Xiaomi or Huawei: Which smartphone is better to buy in 2026? honest comparison on 7 key parameters

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: the first brand offered cheap and powerful smartphones, and the second – premium devices with the best cameras. But in 2026, the line between them blurred: Xiaomi released flagships with cameras from Leica, and Huawei – budget models with Kirin processors, which are not inferior to Snapdragon in everyday tasks.

Today, both manufacturers compete in all price segments, from smartphones for 15,000. ₽ to flagships for 120,000 ₽. At the same time, each brand has unique shortcomings that are silent sellers: Huawei has problems with Google services, Xiaomi has unstable updates. MIUI. In this guide, we compare brands across 7 criteria so you can make informed choices without regrets.

Spoiler: If you want a smartphone with the best camera and you're willing to put up with the lack of Google Play, take the Huawei P60 Pro. If gaming performance and frequent updates are the priority, look at the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. And for the budget segment, it's more difficult - here the winner depends on your tasks.

1. Performance and "iron": who's faster in 2026?

In 2026, Xiaomi uses Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (8 Gen 3, 7+ Gen 3) and its own Surge chips (in models for China), and Huawei exclusively Kirin (9000S, 8000). On paper, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in Xiaomi 14 Pro beats the Kirin 9000S from Huawei Mate 60 Pro in benchmarks by 15-20%. But in real life, the difference is almost invisible - both chips cope with any task.

The main difference is manifested in long-term load:

• 🔥 Xiaomi with Snapdragon warms up stronger (up to 48)°C when playing Genshin Impact, but supports higher levels FPS.
• ❄️ Huawei and Kirin keep temperature at 42°C, but can "trog" (reduce performance) after 30-40 minutes of heavy use.
• 🔄 In the budget segment (Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ vs Huawei Nova 12 SE) Xiaomi has the advantage of its Snapdragon chips 7s Gen 2 is more energy efficient than Kirin 830.

Another nuance is RAM. Xiaomi actively uses RAM Expansion technology (virtual memory from internal storage), which allows you to “overclock” 8 GB to 12-16 GB. Huawei does not have such a function, but their devices are optimized better: even with 8 GB of RAM, the Mate 60 Pro keeps up to 20 applications in the background without rebooting.

2 Cameras: Myths and Reality about Photos on Xiaomi and Huawei

If you believe marketing, Huawei is the undisputed leader in camera technology, and the P60 Pro and Mate 60 Pro are better than most of the competitors because of:

• 📸 Optics Leica with variable aperture (up to) f/1.4–f/4.0) — This allows you to adapt to lighting without loss in detail.
• 🌃 Night mode that works even at 0.5 lux (for comparison: iPhone 15 Pro requires a minimum of 1 lux).
• 🎨 Color rendering – Huawei’s shots are closer to natural tones, while Xiaomi often overstates saturation.

Xiaomi is not far behind, however: the Xiaomi 14 Ultra uses a Leica Summilux lens with an aperture of f/1.6–f/4.0 and a Sony IMX989 (1 inch) sensor, which is not inferior in size to Huawei.

• 🔧 You can manually select the profiles of Leica Authentic (natural colors) or Leica Vibrant (juicy tones).
• 📊 There is. RAW-14-bit color support mode (Huawei only has 10-bit color support).
• 🎥 Video in the video 8K@24fps Dolby Vision-enabled (Huawei has the maximum) 4K@60fps).

⚠️ Note: If you shoot a lot of videos, Xiaomi 14 Ultra or 13T Huawei Mate 60 Pro will be better than Huawei Mate Pro due to support LOG-Profile and recording capabilities in Apple ProRes (after update) MIUI 15).

3.Software: MIUI vs EMUI (HarmonyOS)

Here the major differences between the brands begin: Xiaomi uses MIUI based on Android, and Huawei uses HarmonyOS (the proprietary OS that is compatible with Android applications), and let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each option:

MIUI (Xiaomi):

• ✅ Full support for Google Play and all services (Gmail, YouTube, Maps).
• ✅ Frequent updates (monthly security patches for flagships).
• ❌ Lots of advertising in system applications (you can turn off in settings).
• ❌ Unstable work on budget models (e.g. Redmi) 12C brake after a year of use).

HarmonyOS (Huawei):

• ✅ Smooth animation and optimization (even on weak chips).
• ✅ Unique chips: Super Device (synchronization with Huawei laptops / tablets), AI Subtitle (automatic subtitles for calls).
• ❌ No Google Play – you have to install apps through AppGallery or third-party sources (virus risk).
• ❌ Updates are released less often, and global versions sometimes receive them with a delay of 3-6 months.

⚠️ Note: If you are actively using Google services (like Google Drive for work or Google Pay for payment), buying Huawei can create problems. Alternatives like Petal Search work crookedly - check before buying!

Ecosystem and compatibility with other devices

If you already have a brand, your smartphone choice may be predetermined. Huawei offers one of the most advanced ecosystems:

• 🖥️ Huawei Share: instant file transfer between smartphone, laptop (MateBook) and tablet (MatePad) at speeds up to 1 GB / s.
• 🎧 FreeBuds: Headphones automatically switch between devices (for example, from smartphone to PC).
• 📺 Cast+: Live streaming screens to Huawei Vision TVs without delay (unlike Miracast on Xiaomi).

Xiaomi is also developing an ecosystem, but it is less mature.

• 🔄 Mi Share is slower (max. 50 MB/s) and often “loses” devices.
• 📱 HyperOS (new firmware for flagships) promises to improve compatibility, but so far supports only a limited list of devices.
• ⚡ The only plus is a wide range of smart homes (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners, cameras), which is cheaper than Huawei analogues.

⚠️ Warning: If you have a MacBook or iPad, neither Huawei nor Xiaomi offer perfect synchronization.For the Apple ecosystem, it's better to consider the iPhone - despite the high price, it will save you nerves.

5. Price and price-quality ratio: where is the best?

In 2026, Xiaomi remains the leader in terms of price and performance, especially in the budget and mid-range segments.

• 💰 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (200 Hz, 200 MP camera, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 stands ~30 000 ₽, The Huawei Nova 12 will cost 38,000. ₽.
• 📉 Xiaomi flagships are cheaper faster: after 6 months, Xiaomi 14 can be bought at 20-25% cheaper than the starting price, and Huawei P60 Pro - only 10-15%.

Huawei is winning in the premium segment:

• 💎 Mate 60 Pro with Kirin 9000S and the sapphire glass is ~110 000 ₽ — cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max with comparable characteristics.
• 🛡️ Huawei warranty often includes free screen replacement when cracked (Xiaomi only has paid repairs).

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If you take a smartphone on credit, pay attention to the shares from Sberbank and Tinkoff: often Xiaomi give 0% for 12 months, and Huawei – only a 10% discount when paying with a card.

6. Battery and charging: who lives longer?

Huawei has traditionally outperformed its competitors in terms of autonomy, thanks to the optimization of HarmonyOS and energy-efficient Kirin processors.

• 🔋 Huawei P60 Pro holds a charge 15-20% longer than Xiaomi 14 Pro with the same use case (social networks, instant messengers, 2-3 hours of video per day).
• ⚡ Xiaomi offers faster charging, however: 120W Redmi Note 13 Pro+ against 66W Huawei Nova 12.

Important nuances:

• 🔌 Huawei often uses wireless charging (up to) 50W Mate 60 Pro, while Xiaomi only has it in flagships (30W 14 Ultra).
• 📉 Batteries in Xiaomi lose capacity faster: after 2 years, the Redmi Note 12 Pro holds a charge 15-20% worse than the new, and the Huawei Nova 11 – only 8-12%.

⚠️ Note: If you travel frequently, consider that Huawei is fast charging 88W+ It may not charge from some powerbank (requires support for the Huawei SuperCharge protocol). Xiaomi does not have such problems - their smartphones work with any kind of system. USB-C charge.

7.Service and warranty: where is easier to fix?

Here Xiaomi definitely wins:

• 🛠️ Service centers are 3-4 times more (in Moscow – 12 official vs. 3 for Huawei).
• ⏱️ The average repair time is 3-5 days (Huawei has 7-14 days because parts are imported from China).
• 💸 The cost of replacing the screen on Xiaomi 13T — ~12 000 ₽, Huawei P60 — ~18 000 ₽.

Huawei has one advantage: a battery warranty (if capacity falls below 80% in 2 years, it will be replaced for free).

⚠️ Note: Check if there is an official service center in your city before buying, for example, in regions (for example, Krasnoyarsk or Rostov-on-Don), Huawei repairs can take up to 3 weeks due to logistics.

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If you drop your smartphone a lot, take Xiaomi — it's cheaper and faster to repair them. If you care about the technology and appreciate the long battery life, Huawei can be more profitable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Xiaomi and Huawei