Xiaomi and iPhone 7 in 2026: Which smartphone is better for price, camera and performance?

Is it important to compare Xiaomi and iPhone 7 today?

Choosing between a modern Xiaomi smartphone (whether it’s a Redmi Note 13, POCO X6 or Xiaomi’s flagship 14) and an iPhone 7 launched in 2016 may seem odd, but this query remains relevant for three categories of users:

1) State employees looking for maximum returns for minimal money – iPhone 7 is still sold on the secondary market at a price of 5-10 thousand rubles, comparable to the new Redmi A2 or used POCO M4 Pro. 2 Apple fans who want to try the ecosystem without serious investments. 3 Conservatives, who are important to simplicity, reliability and long support for updates (iPhone 7 last update came in 2023!).

But is it worth buying an 8-year-old iPhone, if for the same money you can take a new Xiaomi with the help of the new iPhone? AMOLED-screen, 5G And we're going to go through 10 key criteria, from performance to maintainability.

📊 Which smartphone are you considering to buy?
The New Xiaomi (Redmi/POCO)
iPhone 7 (b/y)
Another iPhone (b/y)
A different brand.

1. Performance: A10 Fusion vs Snapdragon 4/6/7/8 Gen

The Apple A10 Fusion chip in the iPhone 7 was revolutionary in 2016: 4 cores (2 high-performance + 2 energy efficient), frequency up to 2.34 GHz, PowerVR Series7XT graphics accelerator. Even today it copes with basic tasks - WhatsApp, YouTube, Google Maps - without slowing down.

  • 🎮 Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile will only run on the minimum settings, and Honor of Kings can lag.
  • 📸 Camera: Photo/video processing in Lightroom or CapCut takes 3-5 times longer than on modern Xiaomi.
  • 🔄 Multitasking: When switching between 5+ Apps start hanging - iOS kills background processes due to only 2 GB of RAM.

For comparison, even the budget Redmi Note 12 is equipped with Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (4 nm process vs 16 nm in the A10), which surpasses the iPhone 7 in Geekbench 5 tests by 40-60%. And the flagship Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5 with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 overtake it 10+ times!

⚠️ Warning: If you want to keep Telegram, Tinkoff Bank and Yandex Maps running smoothly, the iPhone 7 can still work. AI-Apps (e.g. Lensa) take Xiaomi with a chip no lower than the Snapdragon 680.

2. Screen: 4.7" IPS vs 6.5" AMOLED with 90/120 Hz

The iPhone 7 display is a 4.7-inch IPS with a resolution of 1334×750 (326 ppi), no HDR support, and a maximum brightness of 625 nits. By modern standards, this is:

  • 📱 Small size: Inconvenient to watch videos or games (especially if you are used to 6.5 shoulder blades"+).
  • 🌈 Color rendering: IPS yield AMOLED in contrast (black color is not deep, but gray).
  • 🔄 Update frequency: Standard 60 Hz vs. 90/120 Hz for most Xiaomi (the difference is noticeable when scrolling).

For comparison, even the Redmi Note 12 offers 6.67" AMOLED with a resolution of 2400×1080 (395 ppi), support for HDR10+ and brightness up to 1200 nits. And the flagship Xiaomi 13 comes with LTPO AMOLED (adaptive frequency 1-120 Hz) and Dolby Vision certification.

ParameteriPhone 7Redmi Note 12POCO F5
Screen typeIPS LCDAMOLEDAMOLED, 120Hz
Size4.7"6.67"6.67"
Permission1334×7502400×10802400×1080
Brightness (max)625 nits1,200 nits1,000 nits
HDR❌ No.✅ HDR10+✅ Dolby Vision

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If you want to watch videos, games or work with graphics – even budget Xiaomi with a high-end video. AMOLED-screen will be many times more convenient than the iPhone 7.

3. Camera: 12 MP vs. 48/64/108 MPP

The iPhone 7 was once considered one of the best cameras in the world: 12 MP, f/1.8 aperture, optical stabilization, 4K video, but today it's a modest camera.

  • 📷 Photo by day: good detail, but the dynamic range is inferior to modern Xiaomi HDR+).
  • 🌙 The snooping: even when it’s loud ISO 800, no night mode (Night Mode only appeared on iPhone 11).
  • 🎥 Video: 4K@30fps stabilised 4K (Only Full. HD).

For comparison, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ offers:

  • 🔍 Main camera: 200 MP (Samsung) HPX) pixelated 12.5 MP and diaphragm f/1.69.
  • 🌃 Night mode: multi-frame addition with exposure up to 6 seconds.
  • 🎞️ Video: 4K@30fps hybridized.

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If the camera is critical for you, pay attention to the POCO X5 Pro with Sony IMX766 (50 MP, OIS) sensor - it bypasses the iPhone 7 in all respects, including video.

4. Battery and autonomy: 1960 mAh vs 5000 mAh

The battery of the iPhone 7 is 1960 mAh, which over 8 years of operation has degraded to 60-70% of its original capacity.

  • 🔋 Screen time: 3-4 hours with active use (social networks, instant messengers).
  • ⚡ Charging: 5W (2 hourly 100%) vs 33W/67W Xiaomi (30–45 minute).
  • 🔌 Wireless charging: No (only available in iPhone 8).

Modern Xiaomi offers 5,000-5500mAh batteries with fast charging support (for example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ charges 100% in 19 minutes thanks to 120W). Even a budget POCO M5 with 5000mAh will last 2-3 times longer than the iPhone 7.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use the iPhone 7 as the main smartphone, be prepared to carry a power bank or charge it 2-3 times a day. Alternative is to replace the battery (cost 2-3 thousand rubles), but even a new one will last no more than 1-2 years.

5. Software support: iOS 15 vs MIUI 14/HyperOS

The iPhone 7 received its latest update, iOS 15.8.1, in June 2023.

  • 🔒 Security: No patches for new vulnerabilities (virus risk when jailbreaking).
  • 📱 Applications: Many programs (e.g. TikTok, 1C:Enterprise) require iOS 16+.
  • 🎮 Newer games (such as Diablo Immortal) don’t support older versions of iOS.

Xiaomi, in turn, guarantees 2-3 years of MIUI/HyperOS updates even for budget models. For example, the Redmi Note 11 (2022) still receives security patches. In addition, Xiaomi can install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), which extends the life of the device for years.

How to check for update support for a specific Xiaomi model?
Go to MIUI Download, select your model, and see the date of the last update. If the update was less than a year ago, support is active.

Price and cost of ownership

The price of the iPhone 7 on the secondary market in 2026:

  • 💰 B/u in good condition: 8-12 thousand rubles (with a replaced battery).
  • 🔧 Repair: screen replacement – 5-7 thousand rubles, batteries – 2-3 thousand rubles.
  • 📦 Accessories: Original Lightning cables and charging are more expensive than USB-C Xiaomi.

New Xiaomi in the same price range:

  • 📱 Redmi A2+: 7–9 thousand rubles (new, 2/64 GB, Helio. G36).
  • 📱 POCO M6 Pro: 12–14 thousand rubles (new, 6/128 GB, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2).
  • 🔧 Repair: screen replacement on Redmi - 3-5 thousand rubles, batteries - 1-1.5 thousand rubles.

Replacement of the battery on the iPhone 7 (2-3 thousand rubles.) | Replacement of the battery on Xiaomi (1-1.5 thousand rubles.) |

Repair of the screen of the iPhone 7 (5-7 thousand rubles) | Repair of the screen Xiaomi (3-5 thousand rubles)|

Software Updates (not iPhone 7)| Software Updates (available from Xiaomi)|

Accessory support (Lightning is more expensive)|Accessories support (USB-C cheaper)-->

Ecosystem and compatibility

iPhone 7 is integrated into the Apple ecosystem, which gives the advantages:

  • 🍎 AirDrop: Fast file transfer between Apple devices.
  • 🎧 AirPods: Instant connection and switching between devices.
  • ⌚ Apple Watch: Full compatibility (on Xiaomi only basic features).

But Xiaomi has its own chips too:

  • 🔗 Mi Share: AirDrop analogue for transferring files between Xiaomi devices.
  • 📺 Mi Home: Smart home management (light bulbs, robot vacuum cleaners).
  • 🎮 Gaming accessories: support for gamepads Xiaomi Game Controller.

💡

If you already have other Apple devices (MacBook, iPad, AirPods), then the iPhone 7 will be the logical choice. APK-file).

Repairability and spare parts

iPhone 7 is more difficult to repair and expensive:

  • 🔧 Screen: glued to the body, replacement requires special equipment.
  • 🔋 Battery: soldered to board, risk of damage when replaced.
  • 💰 Original parts are more expensive than Xiaomi.

Xiaomi, especially the Redmi and POCO series, are designed with light repairs in mind:

  • 🛠️ Modular design: screen and battery are replaced without soldering.
  • 🔍 Availability of spare parts: displays and batteries are 1.5-2 times cheaper.
  • 📚 Documentation: diagrams and repair instructions are easy to find in the public domain.

Where to buy spare parts for Xiaomi cheaper?
We recommend checked stores: - Xiaomi-Shop (official parts) - AliExpress (cheap analogues, but check reviews) - Local service centers (often sell used parts with a guarantee)

FAQ: Frequent questions

📱 Can I put Android on the iPhone 7?
Technically possible through Project Sandcastle, but it's an experimental firmware with a lot of bugs. It's not for everyday use. You'd better buy Xiaomi if you want Android.
🔋 How long will the iPhone 7 with a new battery?
If you use it carefully and replace it every 1.5 to 2 years, another 2-3 years, but keep in mind that without security updates, the risk of viruses and app incompatibility will increase.
📸 Which camera is better: iPhone 7 or Redmi Note 12?
Redmi Note 12 wins in all respects: more megapixels (48 MP vs 12 MP), better night shooting, support for HDR. Only color processing iPhone 7 subjectively can enjoy more (more natural tones).
💰 Should I Buy an iPhone 7 in 2026?
Only if: You want the cheapest possible entry into the Apple ecosystem, you don't play games or use resource-intensive apps, you're willing to put up with a small screen and a weak autonomy, and otherwise you'd better take the new Xiaomi for the same money.
🔧 What Xiaomi to choose instead of iPhone 7?
Depending on the budget: Up to 10 thousand rubles: Redmi A2+ or POCO C55 (basic functionality). 10-15 thousand rubles: Redmi Note 12 (AMOLED, 120 Hz, 48 MP camera). 15-20 thousand rubles: POCO X5 Pro (108 MP camera, Snapdragon 778G).