Compare modern Xiaomi smartphones with iPhone 5s The 2013 release is like putting a bike and a motorcycle next to you, but this query still applies to three categories of users: collectors of retro equipment, those who are looking for the most budget device for "calling" and iPhone owners. 5s, In this article, we will discuss 7 key criteria that will help determine the choice, taking into account the realities of 2026.
Let’s warn you right away: if you expect to see a comparison of flagships here, you will be disappointed. 5s It was long since discontinued, and its iron was obsolete in 2018, but it has unique advantages that make it interesting today. On the other hand, even the budget Xiaomi for 5-10 thousand rubles outperforms the “five” in all respects, except one (spoiler: this is design). Let's get into the details.
In the article you will find:
- 🔥 Performance Tests: Like an iPhone 5s copes with modern applications (spoiler: bad)
- 📸 Camera comparison: 8 MP vs 48+ CP: Is there a difference in practice?
- 🔋 Autonomy: Why the iPhone battery 5s In 2026, it's a lottery.
- 💰 Price policy: where it is more profitable to buy and how much overpay for the “Apple” brand
1. Performance: 2013 64-bit CPU vs. modern chips
The iPhone's top trump card 5s In 2013, Apple's processor A7 It was a breakthrough back then, but even the budget Xiaomis today are equipped with 6-nanometer chips with 8 cores:
| Parameter | iPhone 5s (2013) | Xiaomi Redmi A2 (2023, ~7 thousand rubles.) | Xiaomi Poco X5 (2023, ~15,000 rubles.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A7 (28 nm, 2 cores) | MediaTek Helio G36 (12 nm, 8 cores) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (6 nm, 8 cores) |
| RAM | 1GB | 2-3 GB | 6-8 GB |
| Warehouse | 16–64 GB (without card slot) | 32–128 GB (+microSD) | 128-256 GB (+microSD) |
| Support to LOs | iOS 12.5.7 (last updated) | Android 13 (Go Edition) | Android 13 (MIUI 14) |
In practice, this means:
- ⏳ iPhone 5s WhatsApp and Telegram launches with a delay of 2-3 seconds, and Xiaomi – instantly.
- 🎮 Modern games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact is impossible to play on the "five" - they are either not installed, or work on the minimum settings with lags.
- 📱 Even simple tasks like watching YouTube in resolution 1080p or working with Google Maps causes overheating of the iPhone 5s.
⚠️ Note: If you are planning to use an iPhone 5s As the main smartphone in 2026, be prepared for the fact that banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) and instant messengers will gradually abandon support for iOS 12.
2.Display: Retina vs. AMOLED — what's more comfortable for the eyes?
iPhone screen 5s — it 4-inch IPS-resolution-screen 1136×640 (326 For ppi. 2013 It was the top of the year, but today it seems archaic. A2 offer:
- 📏 6.52-inch-screen 1600×720 (269 ppi – less pixels per inch, but more physical space.
- 🌈 Technology IPS LCD (in budgetary models) or AMOLED (in models from 15 thousand rubles, which gives a more juicy color and a deep black.
- 🔄 Update frequency 60-90 Hz (iPhone) 5s — fixed 60 Hz).
In practice:
- 👁️ For reading text and surfing on the Internet, the iPhone screen 5s More comfortable – high pixel density makes fonts clear, and a small size allows you to control the smartphone with one hand.
- 🎬 For video and gaming, Xiaomi wins with a bigger screen and Full support HD (on models from 12 thousand rubles.).
- ☀️ The sun on the iPhone 5s It loses, its brightness (~500 nits) is inferior even to budget Xiaomi (~600-800 nits).
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If you need a compact smartphone, look for the Xiaomi 13 mini (5.58 inches) or Poco. F5 (6.67 inches with narrow frames. They combine a small size with modern iron.
3.Camera: 8 MP vs 48+ CP: Is there a difference in practice?
iPhone camera 5s At one time, it was considered one of the best: 8-megapixel sensor f/2.2 double LED-But today even Xiaomi is behind 8 Thousands of rubles are offered 50-Megapixel modules with night mode and AI-Let's compare it with the examples:
| Parameter | iPhone 5s | Xiaomi Redmi 12C (~10 thousand rubles.) |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera. | 8 MPP, f/2.2, video-free | 50 MPP, f/1.8, phase-focus |
| Front camera. | 1.2 MPP, f/2.4 | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | Full HD 30 fps (no stabilization) | Full HD 60 fps (electronic stabilization) |
| Night mode. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. AI-improvement) |
Real examples:
- 🌅 Daytime snapshots: iPhone 5s It gives natural colors, but it loses in detail. Xiaomi with 50 MP allows you to crop photos without loss of quality.
- 🌃 Night shooting: on iPhone 5s Photos are dark and noisy, while even budget Xiaomi use multi-exposure processing for bright frames.
- 🎥 Video: There's no stabilization on the top five, so hand-held photography gives you a shaking image.
⚠️ Note: If you are buying an iPhone 5s Hands on, check the camera for "spots on the matrix" -- a common problem with older models. Take a picture of a white piece of paper in good light: dark dots or stains indicate sensor damage.
4. Battery: Why the iPhone 5s In 2026, it's a lottery.
Original iPhone battery 5s It had a capacity of 1,560 mAh. Today, after 10.+ In the years to come, even if the battery is replaced, its real capacity rarely exceeds 80% of its nominal value. For comparison, budget Xiaomi is equipped with batteries for 5000-6000 mAh, which is 3-4 times more.
Practical implications:
- ⚡ iPhone 5s In active use (messaging, calls, music) discharges in 3-4 hours. Even after the battery replacement, the autonomy rarely exceeds 6-8 hours.
- 🔌 Xiaomi with a battery of 5000 mAh with moderate use keep the charge for 1.5-2 days.
- 🔥 Old iPhone batteries 5s They're prone to bloating, which can damage the screen!
How to check the status of the battery on the iPhone 5s?
The charging speed is also different:
- 🐢 iPhone 5s Charging from the original adapter (5W) 3-4 hours.
- ⚡ Xiaomi supports fast charging (18–33W), This reduces the time to full charge to 1-1.5 hours.
5. Software: iOS 12 vs Android 13
iPhone 5s I stopped at iOS 12.5.7, the latest version that supports 32-bit processors:
- 🚫 No access to new features like Concentration Mode, Widgets on the lock screen or App Clips.
- 🛡️ Security vulnerabilities: Apple no longer releases patches to address critical vulnerabilities (e.g. Pegasus or Zero-Click).
- 📱 Limited App Choice: Many games and social media platforms (like TikTok) require iOS 13+.
Xiaomi even in the budget segment work on Android 13 with a shell MIUI 14, which gives:
- 🔄 Regular security updates (every 1-2 months).
- 🎨 Flexible interface setting (dark theme, gestures, icon changes).
- 🤖 Support for all modern applications, including banking services and public services.
⚠️ Attention: On iPhone 5s You can’t install WhatsApp or Facebook through the App Store, these apps require iOS 13+. You will have to download outdated versions through third-party sources (for example, AltStore), which is not safe.
Verification IMEI Original: Apple.com)
Battery condition (capacity < 80% is poor)
All buttons (Home, Volume, Power)
No "spots" on the camera
Support for two SIM-cards if necessary)-->
6. Design and Ergonomics: Why iPhone 5s I still like a lot of people.
Here's the iPhone. 5s It's a win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win:
- 🏆 Aluminum case (unlike plastic Redmi) – pleasant to the touch and resistant to scratches.
- 👌 Compactness: 123.8 × 58.6 × 7.6 mm 168 × 76 × 8.9 mm Xiaomi Redmi 12C.
- 🔘 Physical Home Button with Touch ID — More reliable than face unlock on budget Xiaomi.
But there are downsides:
- ❄️ Fragile screen: iPhone glass 5s cracks even when falling from a small height (replacement costs 3-5 thousand rubles.).
- 🔌 Obsolete Lightning connector – cables are harder to find than USB-C Xiaomi.
- 📶 Lack of memory card slot (unlike most Xiaomi).
Critical Fact: iPhone 5s does not support modern mobile communication standards (e.g., VoLTE or 5G). This means that in some regions of Russia (for example, in the Moscow region) it may not catch the network of operators "Beeline" or "Tele2" in the standard. 4G — only 3G or 2G.
7.Price and feasibility of purchase in 2026
Cost of devices on the secondary market (data for May 2026):
| Model | Status. | Price, rub. | Where to buy more profitable |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 5s | B/oh, good. | 3 000 – 5 000 | Avito, Yula (check in) IMEI!) |
| iPhone 5s | B/u, perfect (collective) | 7 000 – 12 000 | eBay, Specialized VC Groups |
| Xiaomi Redmi A2 | New | 6 000 – 8 000 | Official Stores, Wildberries |
| Xiaomi Poco C55 | New | 9 000 – 11 000 | AliExpress (with guarantee) |
Who Should Buy an iPhone? 5s 2026:
- 🕰️ Retro equipment collectors (especially in original packaging).
- 📱 For those who need a second phone, only for calls and SMS (But consider the network problems!).
- 🎨 Designers or artists who need a compact smartphone to take notes.
Who definitely should not buy an iPhone? 5s:
- 📸 Those who actively use social networks, instant messengers or banking applications.
- 🎮 Gamers (even Among Us lays down).
- 🔋 Those who value long work without recharging.
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If your budget is up to 10 thousand rubles, it is better to consider the new Xiaomi Redmi. A2 POCO C55. They will give modern hardware, updated OS and a 1-year warranty. 5s 2026 is nostalgia, not a rational choice.