Huawei vs Xiaomi: Which Smartphone Is Best to Choose in 2026?

Why is the choice between Huawei and Xiaomi so difficult?

Chinese brands Huawei and Xiaomi have been sharing the lead in the global smartphone market for many years, offering devices with excellent value for money. But if Xiaomi was previously positioned as a budget player, and Huawei as a premium player, today the boundaries are blurred: both companies produce flagships for 100+ thousand rubles and affordable models up to 20 thousand.

In 2026, the situation is complicated by sanctions restrictions against Huawei, which deprived the company of access to Google services and the latest chips from Qualcomm. On the other hand, Xiaomi is actively increasing exclusive chips - from ultra-fast charging to proprietary firmware HyperOS, which replaced MIUI. Which brand offers the best solutions for photography, games or long-term autonomy?

This article will help you make your choice, even if you:

• 📱 Looking for a smartphone to shoot videos in 4K
• 🎮 Need a powerful chipset for mobile games
• 🔋 You want maximum autonomy at the lowest price.
• 💼 Choose a business with a reliable ecosystem

1. Performance: chipsets and benchmark tests

Until 2020, Huawei used its own Kirin processors (developed by HiSilicon subsidiary), which were on par with Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon. However, U.S. sanctions have made the release of the new Kirin 9000s chips (which run the Huawei Mate 60 Pro) possible only in limited batches, leading to two problems:

• 🔄 Power chip shortage: most Huawei models from 2023-2026 (e.g. Huawei) P60 Nova 12 is equipped with an outdated Kirin 820 or Snapdragon 778G (2021, which affects performance in games.
• 📉 Absence 5G: new Kirin chips 9000s support 5G, They are only available in the top models (price from 90,000). ₽). Huawei’s budget and mid-budget devices remain on the market 4G.

At the same time, Xiaomi is actively using current chipsets:

• 🏆 Flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi) K70 Pro) — Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (2026).
• 💰 Mid-segment (Poco) F6, Redmi Note 13 Pro+) — Dimensity 9000+ or Snapdragon 7.+ Gen 3.
• 📱 Budget (Redmi) 13C) — Helio G85 (enough for social networks and YouTube).

⚠️ Warning: If you need a smartphone for mobile games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile), avoid Huawei models on Kirin chips 820 or older - they warm up and brake at high settings.Optimum pick: Xiaomi with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 or Dimensity 9200+.

2.Cameras: Who is better at shooting - Huawei or Xiaomi?

Huawei has traditionally been seen as a leader in mobile photography thanks to its collaboration with Leica (until 2022) and unique processing algorithms, but in 2026 Xiaomi significantly reduced the lead by releasing the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with Leica Summilux lenses and Sony IMX989 sensor (1 inch!).

• 📸 Huawei P60 Pro / Mate 60 Pro: 🔍 Diaphragm variable (f/1.4–f/4.0) depth-of-field. 🌃 Night mode with AI that really saves in the dark (better than Xiaomi). 🚫 No support. 8K-video (maximum) 4K@60fps).
• 📸 Xiaomi 14 Ultra / 13T Pro: 🎥 Videotaping in the video 8K@24fps and 4K@120fps. 🔎 Telephoto with 3.2x and 5x Optical zoom (Huawei only has one). 3.5x). 📉 Worse processing HDR Automatically (often overlighting the sky).

For professional photography (with manual settings), the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is better suited due to its greater sensor and firmware flexibility. For everyday photos (portrets, landscapes, macro) – Huawei P60 Pro with its natural color reproduction.

⚠️ Note: If you are making a lot of videos TikTok/YouTube, Pay attention to Xiaomi 13T Pro or Redmi K70 — They support DOL-HDR (Extended dynamic range) and Log profile for post-processing, which is not found in any Huawei model 2026 year-end.

3. Software: EMUI vs HyperOS

One of the key factors is firmware, and brands have very different approaches.

• 🤖 Huawei EMUI 14 (based on HarmonyOS): ✅ Smooth animation, minimal lags. ❌ No Google Services (no Play Market, YouTube, Gmail). ⚙️ Alternative – AppGallery and manual installation APK, But many applications (such as banking) may not work.
• 🤖 Xiaomi HyperOS (replaced by the company) MIUI 2026): ✅ Full support for Google Mobile Services (GMS). ✅ Optimized for gaming (Game Turbo mode). ❌ Lots of pre-installed software (advertising in system applications).

View the list of supported banking applications (Sber, Tinkoff, etc.)| Check compatibility with the right messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp)| Make sure there are alternatives to key services (for example, Petal Maps instead of Google Maps)| Prepare for manual installation of APK (ADB skills)

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If you depend on the Google ecosystem (like Google Drive, Google Photos, or enterprise services), the choice is obvious: Xiaomi. For users willing to put up with restrictions, Huawei offers more stable and faster firmware without ads.

Autonomy and charging: who lives longer?

In battery life, Huawei leads thanks to energy-efficient Kirin chips and EMUI optimization. For example, the Huawei Nova 12 with a 4500 mAh battery in tests lasts longer than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with 5000 mAh.

• ⚡ Fast charging: Xiaomi leads: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ charge in 19 minutes (120W), Xiaomi 14 in 23 minutes (90W). Huawei lags behind: even the flagship Mate 60 Pro supports only 66W (full charge in 40 minutes).
• 🔋 Wireless charging: Huawei Mate 60 Pro — 50W (Full charge in 50 minutes). Xiaomi 14 Ultra — 80W (full charge in 35 minutes).

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If you’re interested in autonomy, look for models with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 or Dimensity 7050 chips – they consume 15-20% less power than flagship processors, while providing sufficient performance for everyday tasks.

5. Design and Ergonomics: Which is more comfortable in the hand?

Huawei has traditionally been betting on premium design: gradient overflow glass rear panels, metal frames and minimal bezels around the screen. Flagships (Mate 60 Pro, P60 Art) look expensive but have drawbacks:

• 🏋️ Weight: Mate 60 Pro weighs 225g (vs 205g at Xiaomi 14).
• 🔧 There is no memory card slot (except for the Nova lineup).

Xiaomi is experimenting with materials ranging from vegan leather (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) to metallic luster polycarbonate (Redmi Note 13).

• 🎨 More color options (e.g. Xiaomi 14 available in 5 colors).
• 🔄 Removable back panel for some models (for example, Poco) F5).

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If you want to be tough, go for IP68 (water and dust protection) models, Huawei has all the flagships, Xiaomi has only the top-end series (Xiaomi 14, 13T Pro).

Price and price/quality ratio

V 2026 Xiaomi remains the leader in availability: even the flagship Xiaomi 14 It is cheaper than Huawei’s equivalent. 20–30%. However, in the budget segment (<20 000 ₽) Huawei has trump cards, for example, Huawei Nova Y71 s OLED-screen 5000 mh for 18 000 ₽, while Redmi 13C For the same amount of money, he offers only IPS Helio G85.

Compare the current models in different price categories:

⚠️ Attention: In Russia, Huawei prices are often inflated due to shortages and grey supplies. P60 Pro in official stores costs 80 000 ₽, On AliExpress, you can find it for 65,000. ₽ (Xiaomi has no such problems - the price is stable thanks to the official representative office.

Ecosystem and additional devices

If you plan to buy not only a smartphone, but also other gadgets (headphones, smart watches, laptops), it is worth assessing the ecosystem of the brand:

• 🌐 Huawei: ✅ HarmonyOS Unified Firmware for Smartphones, Tablets (MatePad) and Laptops (MateBook). ✅ Seamless synchronization with Huawei Watch GT and FreeBudds. ❌ Limited choice of smart home (no analogues Xiaomi Mi Home).
• 🌐 Xiaomi: ✅ More than 200 smart home devices (from light bulbs to robot vacuum cleaners). ✅ Compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa. ❌ Some gadgets (for example, Xiaomi Pad 6) are not officially sold in Russia.

If you want to sync between devices (like copying files between your phone and laptop), Huawei offers more mature solutions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Huawei and Xiaomi