Until a few years ago, Xiaomi smartphones were considered the benchmark of the price-quality ratio: powerful hardware for half the cost of flagships Samsung or Apple, regular updates and minimalist design. But today many users complain that the brand’s phones have become “raw”, are becoming more expensive for no apparent reason, and the software works worse. So what happened to Xiaomi and should you buy their smartphones in 2026?
In this article, we will analyze 7 key reasons for brand transformation – from changing the company’s strategy to technical problems with MIUI firmware. We will understand which models were most affected and which remained reliable.
Spoiler: It's not all bad. The brand still makes decent devices, but now you have to choose them carefully, and let's start with the obvious thing: price increases.
1.Prices have risen and 'chips' have remained the same
Back in 2019, the flagship Xiaomi Mi 9 with a Snapdragon 855 processor cost ~ 35,000 rubles. Today, Xiaomi 14 with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip will cost 80,000+ rubles - almost like the iPhone 15. At the same time, the key advantages of the brand (for example, ultrafast charging or AMOLED- screens) have long been competitors.
Why did this happen? Here are 3 main reasons:
- 📈 Inflation and sanctions: rising dollar, logistical problems, withdrawal of official suppliers of components from the Russian market.
- 🏭 Moving to the premium segment: Xiaomi wants to compete with Apple and Samsung, not just Realme or Poco.
- 🔋 Expensive hardware: modern processors (for example, Snapdragon 8)+ Gen 1 and cameras (together with Leica) are more expensive.
But it's not just the price issue, as users note that even budget models like the Redmi Note 12 have become less balanced, cutting RAM, putting a weak processor, and a cheap plastic case instead of glass.
2 MIUI has become a "advertising platform"
The MIUI shell was once famous for its smoothness and convenience. Today, its main feature is intrusive advertising and background processes that eat up battery power. According to DXOMARK tests, the autonomy of Xiaomi smartphones over the past 2 years has fallen by 15-20% due to software optimization.
Here’s what annoys users:
- 📢 Advertising in system applications: in Weather, Music, Themes and even in settings.
- 🔄 Auto-Updates without demand: MIUI downloads updates on its own over the mobile network, consuming traffic.
- 👻 Background activity: Applications (such as Mi Video or GetApps) run themselves and consume resources.
- 🔒 Restrictions for European firmware: Many features (e.g., themes or cloud storage) are disabled in EEA- version MIUI.
Is there a solution? Yes, but it requires manual adjustment.
☑️ How to reduce advertising and background activity in MIUI
By the way, in 2026, Xiaomi began testing HyperOS, a new shell based on Android. According to the brand, it should be lighter and faster. But so far this only works on flagships (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3).
What is HyperOS and is it better than MIUI?
3. Cameras: Marketing vs. Reality
Xiaomi is actively cooperating with Leica, promising “professional color reproduction” and “cinema effects.” But in fact, even the flagship cameras (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) lose the Google Pixel 8 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max in the processing of photos.
| Problem. | Example (model) | How it manifests itself |
|---|---|---|
| Reprocessing of HDR | Xiaomi 12S Ultra | The sky becomes unnaturally blue, shadows are blurred. |
| Weak night regimen | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Noises at ISO > 3200, blurred details |
| Autofocus "misses" | Poco F5 | Focusing on “Breathing” When Shooting 4K Video |
| Leica color profile | Xiaomi 13 Pro | Photos are dull without manual correction |
Solution? If the camera is critical to you, pay attention to:
- 📸 Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the best camera in the lineup (but expensive).
- 🤳 Poco F5 Pro is a balanced version with a good frontal.
- 🎥 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ — budget with a 200-MP sensor (but a weak processor).
⚠️ Warning: If you buy Xiaomi for a camera, be sure to test it in the store! take a video in 4K, take a low-light photo and check how autofocus works. Marketing promises often run counter to reality.
4. Battery: Fast charging vs. fast discharge
Xiaomi boasts a record charging speed (up to 210 watts in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo), but the caveat is that these batteries degrade faster. According to GSMArena tests, after a year of active use, the battery capacity in smartphones with ultrafast charging falls by 20-25% (versus 10-15% for competitors).
How do you extend the life of a battery?
💡
If your Xiaomi supports ultra-fast charging (100+W), use it only when you really need to (for example, before leaving your home). For everyday charging, limit power to 30–50W via adapter settings (if there is one).
Another problem is software optimization, where MIUI aggressively restricts application background activity, which is why:
- 📱 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) do not receive notifications.
- 🎵 Music services (Spotify, Yandex Music) are interrupted.
- 📍 Navigators (Google Maps) lose their signal.
Solution: manually add the desired applications to Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications and disable restrictions for them.
5. "Iron": overheating and trottling
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 and Dimensity 9000 processors are warming up, that’s a fact. But in Xiaomi smartphones, the problem is exacerbated by a weak cooling system. For example, the Xiaomi 12 Pro, when playing Genshin Impact for a long time, heats up to 50°C, and performance drops by 30% (trottling).
Compare it to the competition:
| Model | Max Temperature (30 min game) | FPS drawdown (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13 | 48°C | 22% |
| Realme GT 2 Pro | 45°C | 15% |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | 43°C | 10% |
What do I do?
- 🧊 Use cooling cases (e.g. from Black Shark).
- 🔧 Turn off CPU overclocking in Settings → Additional → Performance Mode.
- 🎮 For games, reduce the graphics to Medium and limit FPS to 60.
⚠️ Warning: If your Xiaomi overheats in normal tasks (like watching videos), it could be a thermal paste defect. In that case, contact the service center - self-repair will deprive you of warranty.
6. Updates: Promises vs. Reality
Xiaomi promises 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security for flagships.
- 🐢 Budget models (Redmi 10A, Poco M4 Pro) receive updates with a 3-6-month delay.
- 🚫 Some features (e.g., HyperOS) never port to older devices.
- 🔄 Updates often break stability: After updates, users complain of bugs with Bluetooth, GPS or auto-brightness.
How to check how many updates will your Xiaomi have?
- Go to MIUI Versions Tracker.
- Enter your phone model.
- Check the update schedule and support status.
If your smartphone is no longer supported, consider custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience). But remember: this requires unlocking the bootloader and may be unwarranted.
💡
Before installing custom firmware, be sure to back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup. Otherwise, you risk losing photos, contacts and messages.
7. Xiaomi Alternatives in 2026
If you’re disappointed in Xiaomi, here are 5 alternatives with similar specs but no typical brand issues:
| Brand/Model | Pluses | Cons | Price (from) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Realme GT 6 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, 100W charging, pure Android | Medium-sized cameras, no official sale in Russia | 45 000 ₽ |
| Poco F6 Pro | 120W charging, AMOLED 120Hz, good performance | The same MIUI with advertising, plastic case | 38 000 ₽ |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 | 4 years of updates, IP67 water protection, stable software | Exynos processor is weaker than Snapdragon, more expensive | 42 000 ₽ |
| Google Pixel 7a | Best Cameras in the Segment, Pure Android, 5 Years of Updates | Weak battery, no superfast charging | 40 000 ₽ |
| Nothing Phone (2) | Unique design, clean Android, good optimization | Average autonomy, high price | 60 000 ₽ |
If you want to stay in the Xiaomi ecosystem, pay attention to:
- 📱 Xiaomi 14 is the best flagship of the brand today.
- 💰 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is the optimal price-quality balance.
- 🔋 Poco X6 Pro is for gamers (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1).