How to Choose a Xiaomi Smartphone in 2023: A Complete Guide from Experts

Choosing a smartphone in 2023 is not an easy task, especially when it comes to the Xiaomi brand, which offers dozens of models in different price categories, on the one hand, it gives freedom of choice, on the other hand, the risk of getting confused in the characteristics, series (Redmi, POCO, Xiaomi is numerical and marketing slogans: This year, the company has been betting on innovative processors, ultra-fast charging and cameras with professional algorithms, but not all innovations are equally useful for different users.

We analyzed the current model range, tests of independent laboratories and feedback from owners to compile a checklist of criteria that are really important in 2023. There's no universal "take a flagship" advice, but instead, you'll learn how to match your needs (games, photography, long-distance) with the technical capabilities of the devices, and the pitfalls that salespeople don't talk about: From artificial performance limitations to update issues MIUI budget-series.

Spoiler: If you’re looking for a smartphone “just for calls and social networks”, in 2023 even Xiaomi’s budget models offer features that 5 years ago were only available to flagships. POCO They are warmer than their counterparts from Realme or Samsung. Next - specific recommendations with analysis on the shelves.

Xiaomi series in 2023: what is different and who is suitable

In 2023, Xiaomi launched smartphones in three major lines, each focused on a different market segment, and understanding them is the first step to making the right choice.

Xiaomi series (numbers: 13, 13 Pro, 13 Ultra, etc.) are flagships with top-end processors (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), premium materials (ceramics, titanium frames) and cameras developed in conjunction with Leica. They are suitable for those who are willing to pay for maximum performance, unique optics with variable aperture (in Xiaomi 13 Ultra) and exclusive features like wireless charging for 50 watts. ₽) and large dimensions – the flagships of 2023 became heavier than their predecessors.

Redmi series (Note 12, 12 Pro)+, 12S And so on. -- the gold standard for price/quality. Here you'll find smartphones from 15,000 to 35,000. ₽ s AMOLED-With 120Hz screens, fast charging (up to 210 watts in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo) and good cameras, the main drawback is mid-range processors (Snapdragon 695, Dimensity 1080), which will not pull modern games at maximum settings. But the autonomy of the Redmi is often better than the flagships – thanks to optimization MIUI and capacious batteries (5000-5500 mAh).

Series POCO (F5, X5, M5s) — "game" sub-brand with a focus on performance. 2023 POCO F5 Getting Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is a chip that is similar in power to the flagship, but costs less. Here you will find a high refresh rate (up to 144 Hz), active cooling and aggressive design. Cons: cameras are weaker than the Redmi of the same price, and firmware MIUI often contains advertising (in budget models).

2.CPU: Which chip to choose in 2023

In 2023, Xiaomi will use processors from Qualcomm (Snapdragon) and MediaTek (Dimensity), which determines not only the speed of work, but also the support. 5G, Video quality, heating and even update time MIUI. Let's figure out what to pay attention to.

Flagship chips (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Dimensity 9000)+) — They guarantee maximum performance in games and multitasking, but they warm up strongly during long loads. Xiaomi 13 Ultra solved this problem with liquid cooling, and in the case of a high-quality smartphone. POCO F5 — If you want a smartphone for Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile at maximum settings, choose only these chips.

Mid-segment (Snapdragon 7)+ Gen 2, Dimensity 1080 is the optimal balance for most people.+ Gen 2 inches POCO F5 It's 20 percent more powerful than its predecessor and supports hardware-accelerated AI for cameras. A Dimensity 1080 in the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ It provides a stable 120. FPS into PUBG Mobile with moderate heating. The main plus is that they hold a charge longer compared to flagships.

Budget chips (Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Helio) G88) — It's only for basic tasks. In 2023, even Redmi will be available. 12C helio G85 It can handle WhatsApp and YouTube, but it slows down. 3D-Note: Some Xiaomi budget models artificially limit performance through the use of a mobile phone. MIUI, extending the battery life.

⚠️ Note: In 2023, Xiaomi began installing Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processors in mid-range smartphones (for example, Redmi Note 12). 4G). This chip is weaker than the Snapdragon 695, but cheaper. Check the processor model in specs before buying - sometimes the difference in the model name is only one letter!

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Before buying, check the support 5G Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) 4G) It is sold in two versions: with 4G and 5G chips, but they are not different.

3: AMOLED vs IPS, Update frequency and why it matters

In 2023, even budget smartphones Xiaomi will receive AMOLED-screens are technology that, 3 years ago, was the domain of flagships. AMOLED We will see what to look at when choosing.

Type of matrix:

• 📱 AMOLED — Deep black, high contrast, support HDR10+. Cons: can burn out with static elements (such as navigation bars) in 2023 Xiaomi uses AMOLED from Samsung (in flagships) and BOE (The latter are cheaper but less bright in the sun.

Update frequency: Standard for 2023 is 120 Hz, but there are nuances:

• 🔄 60 Hz – only in budget models (Redmi) 12C). It is suitable for calls and social networks, but the scrolling will "twitch".
• ⚡ 90-120 Hz – optimal for most (Redmi Note 12 Pro, POCO X5). The difference between 90 and 120 Hz is only noticeable in games.
• 🎮 144 Hz – only in game models (POCO F5). Plus: smooth animation in Fortnite and Apex Legends Mobile. minus: faster battery goes down.

Brightness and protection: In 2023, Xiaomi improved screen protection - even the Redmi Note 12 got Gorilla Glass 5.

• ☀️ 1000+ Flagships (Xiaomi 13) are clearly visible in the sun.
• 🌤️ 700-900 nits – mid-segment (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+), streetable.
• 🌑 400-500 nit - budget (POCO M5s), day-dream.

⚠️ Attention: In 2023, Xiaomi started saving on light sensors in budget models, which makes automatic brightness control worse — the screen may be too dim or bright. Check this in the store!

4 Cameras: megapixels vs real quality

In 2023, Xiaomi continues the race of megapixels: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ It got a 200MP sensor, and the Xiaomi 13 Ultra got four cameras with variable aperture, but in practice, the number of megapixels doesn't equal the quality of the photo:

Main camera:

• 📸 50 MP (1/1.56") — The best sensor size for most people (Redmi Note) 12 Pro, POCO X5 Pro. He does well with daytime pictures and portraits.
• 🌃 200 MP (1/1.4") — The marketing ploy. 12 Pro+ Real photo resolution by default — 12.5 MP (pixels combine to be more permeable) and at night, they get better shots than competitors.
• 🎥 1-inch sensor — only in Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Gives professional quality, but the phone costs like the iPhone 14 Pro.

Ultrashirik and zoom:

• 🔍 8 MP (ultra-shield) is the standard for the mid-segment. POCO F5 angle 120°, But there's a distortion around the edges.
• 🔎 2–5x Optical zoom – only in flagships (Xiaomi 13 Pro has a new version) 3.2x In budget models, zoom digital — quality drops sharply.

Front camera: In 2023, even cheap Xiaomi got 16-32MP selfie cameras, but the real quality depends on processing algorithms.+ artificially smooths the skin, and POCO F5 leaves more detail.

Video: Flagships only (Xiaomi) 13) shoot 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps In the middle segment (Redmi Note) 12 Pro) maximum — 4K@30fps, without stabilization when walking.

5. Battery and Charging: How Much You Really Need

In 2023, Xiaomi set a new record, the 210-watt charger in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo, which charges the phone in 10 minutes. But do you need that speed? Let's see what battery settings are really important.

Battery capacity:

• 🔋 5000-5500 mAh – standard for most models (Redmi Note 12 Pro, POCO X5 Pro) Enough for 1.5-2 days with moderate use.
• 🔋 4500-4,800 mAh in compact flagships (Xiaomi 13) and are kept for no more than a day due to the powerful processor.
• 🔋 3000-4000 mAh – only in ultra-budget models (Redmi) A2). We'll have to charge every night.

Fast charging:

• ⚡ 200-210 watts — Redmi Note 12 Turbo charges in 10 minutes, but requires a branded charger (included.
• ⚡ 67-120 W - the best option (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, POCO F5). Charging in 20-30 minutes without critical heating.
• ⚡ 18–33 W in budget models (Redmi) 12C). Slowly but reliably for the battery.

Wireless charging: Flagship only (Xiaomi 13 supports 50W wireless charging) Mid-segment (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) It is not, it is the lot of Samsung and Apple.

Reverse charging: A useful feature if you often charge headphones or smartwatches. there is in Xiaomi 13, POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (5-10 wattage).

⚠️ Note: In 2023, Xiaomi began removing chargers from the kit even in the mid-range (Redmi Note 12 Pro is sold without charging). ~2 000 ₽).

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For maximum battery life, avoid constant fast charging at 100%, keep the charge in the range of 20-80% and use slow charging at night.

6.Memory and storage: how much you need in 2023

In 2023, Xiaomi will offer smartphones with 4-16 GB of RAM and 64-512 GB of permanent memory, but the real needs depend on your tasks. Here's how to pay for unnecessary gigabytes.

RAM (RAM):

• 🧠 4GB – minimum for basic tasks (Redmi) A2). With multitasking (10)+ applications) begins to "kill" background processes.
• 🧠 6-8 GB – optimal for most (Redmi Note 12 Pro, POCO X5). Enough for games and work with photos.
• 🧠 12-16 GB – only in flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) Needed for professional tasks (video editing, emulators).

Permanent memory (ROM):

• 💾 64GB - critically low in 2023.System MIUI borrower ~15GB and games like Genshin Impact are 10 more+ GB. There's room for the photo only.
• 💾 128GB is a reasonable minimum (Redmi Note 12 Pro) enough for 5-10 games and 10,000 photos.
• 💾 256-512 GB – only if you are shooting video 4K or store large files offline.

Memory Type: Xiaomi will use it in 2023 UFS 2.2 (budget), UFS 3.1 (mid-segment) and UFS 4.0 (flagships) Difference in read/write speed:

• 🚀 UFS 4.0 – in Xiaomi 13 and POCO F5 Pro. Reading speed. ~2000 MB/s (important for games and 8K-video).
• 🏎️ UFS 3.1 - in the Redmi Note 12 Pro+. Speed. ~1000 MB/s (enough for most).
• 🐢 UFS 2.2 - at Redmi 12C. Speed. ~500 MB/s (brakes down when recording) 4K-video).

Memory card slot: In 2023, Xiaomi almost abandoned microSD slots in the mid-range and flagship segment. If you need one (for example, for video shooting), look for Redmi Note 12 models (4G-version POCO M5s.

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Before buying, check if the Xiaomi model supports virtual memory (RAM Expansion: This feature allows the part of the permanent memory to be used as a RAM (e.g., as a RAM, +3GB to 8GB) Useful for multitasking, but not a substitute for real-world RAM.

7. MIUI Updates: What has changed in 2023

In 2023, Xiaomi released MIUI 14 is a new version of the shell based on Android 13. But not all models get updates equally fast, and some chips only work on flagships:

Versions MIUI Android:

• 🤖 MIUI 14 + Android 13 — is installed on all new models in 2023, the main innovations: remote advertising (even in budget phones), a new notification center and optimization for foldable smartphones.
• 🤖 MIUI 13 / Android 12 - stays in older models (Redmi Note 11.

Support Term: In 2023, Xiaomi officially announced 4 years of security updates for flagships (Xiaomi 13) and 3 years for the mid-segment (Redmi Note 12 Pro). A2) Updates are only received 2 years.

Advertising in MIUI: In 2023, Xiaomi reduced the amount of advertising in the firmware, but it remained in the market:

• 📱 Budgetary models (Redmi) A2, POCO C55) — banners.
• 📱 Applications (Mi Browser, Mi Video) - can be removed.

To disable the ad, go to Settings → Memory. → Settings → Disable recommendations.

Functions not available to everyone:

• 🔒 Privacy Dashboard – only on Android 13 (MIUI 14).
• 🎵 Dynamic change of screen frequency – only in flagships (Xiaomi 13).
• 📡 Double. 5G-SIMs – only in the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ flagship.

⚠️ Attention: B 2023 Xiaomi has started blocking bootloader unlock on some models sold in Russia, which means you won’t be able to install custom firmware (like LineageOS) or get root rights. en.miui.com/unlock.

8.Where and how to buy: official stores vs marketplaces

In 2023, you can buy a Xiaomi smartphone officially (in brand stores or from partners) or on marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon, AliExpress).