Xiaomi or Huawei: Which brand to choose in 2026? full comparison on 7 key criteria

Choosing between Xiaomi and Huawei is not just a matter of preference, but a strategic decision that will define your digital experience for years to come: Both brands offer top-end smartphones with cutting-edge technology, but they are suitable for different categories of users. Xiaomi has won the market with aggressive pricing and innovation in the segment of budget flagships, while Huawei, despite the sanctions, continues to surprise with revolutionary cameras and premium design.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 key aspects that will help you make your choices, from processor performance to the accessories ecosystem. You’ll learn why the Huawei P60 Pro beats the Xiaomi 13 Ultra in video shooting but loses in charging speed, and why it might be easier for Apple device owners to switch to Xiaomi than Huawei.

1. Performance and "iron": Kirin vs Snapdragon

The heart of any smartphone is its processor, where Huawei has historically relied on its own Kirin chips and Xiaomi has relied on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon (less commonly MediaTek Dimensity) solutions. After the 2019 sanctions, things changed: Huawei lost access to TSMC’s advanced process technology, and its latest flagships (Mate 60 Pro, P60 Pro) run on the Kirin 9000s, a modified version of the old Kirin 9000 with improved energy efficiency.

In the AnTuTu and Geekbench tests, modern Xiaomi on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro) outperforms Huawei by 15-20% in gaming performance and multitasking. However, Huawei compensates for this with optimization of EMUI (Android shell), which better allocates resources for everyday tasks. For example, the Huawei P60 Pro keeps background applications in memory longer than the Xiaomi 13, despite less “paper” power.

• 🔥 Xiaomi: Best choice for gamers and benchmark lovers. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Xiaomi 13 Ultra shows record 1,300,000+ points in AnTuTu.
• 📱 Huawei: Optimizing for real-world tasks. - Kirin 9000s Loses in synthetic tests, but ensures smooth operation of the interface.
• ⚡ Critical point: Huawei does not support 5G New models due to sanctions (except the Mate 60 with Chinese firmware).

2 Cameras: Huawei's revolution vs. Xiaomi's innovation

If photography is your priority, Huawei remains the undisputed leader, even after Leica (partnership ended in 2023) left Huawei’s cameras. P60 The Pro and Mate 50 Pro are outperforming competitors in detail, color reproduction and night photography. XD Fusion Pro that handles the RAW-neural network-level data, for example, in tests. DXOMARK Huawei P60 Pro scored 156 points against 141 Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

Xiaomi is not lagging behind in innovation: the Xiaomi 13 Ultra uses a Leica Summicron lens with a variable aperture (from f/1.9 to f/4.0), which allows you to flexibly adjust depth of field. However, in real conditions, Huawei is better at portrait mode and zoom (up to 200× in the P60 Pro vs. 120× in Xiaomi).

⚠️ WARNING: If you’re shooting videos for YouTube or TikTok, Xiaomi 13 Ultra is preferred - it supports 8K@24fps Dolby Vision and HDR, while Huawei P60 Pro is limited 4K@60fps codecless.

3.Software: MIUI vs EMUI (HarmonyOS)

MIUI shells (from Xiaomi) and EMUI/HarmonyOS (from Huawei) are fundamentally different in philosophy. MIUI is deep customization Android: there is a dark theme, built-in ad blocker and even a mode for older people. However, users often complain of intrusive advertising in system applications (in Chinese firmware) and slowing down after a year of use.

HarmonyOS (in Huawei’s new models) is an attempt to create an alternative to Android, which is faster thanks to its micro-core architecture, but has critical flaws:

• 🚫 No Google Play Services (you will need to use AppGallery or install it) APK manually).
• 🔄 Difficulties with data synchronization (e.g. Google Drive is not working).
• 🎮 Limited support for games (many titles from Google Play won't run).

If you want Google services (Gmail, Maps, YouTube), Xiaomi is the only option, and Huawei is only for those who are willing to tolerate restrictions or use the phone exclusively in China.

4. Battery and charging: who is faster?

Xiaomi has traditionally led the way in fast charging technology. Xiaomi’s flagship 13T Pro supports 120W HyperCharge – full charging in 19 minutes. For comparison, the Huawei P60 Pro is limited to 88W (45 minutes to 100%). while Huawei benefits in autonomy: thanks to the optimization of HarmonyOS and a more capacious battery (5000 mAh vs. 4820 mAh in the Xiaomi 13 Pro), the P60 Pro lasts 10-15% longer in active use.

An important nuance: Xiaomi uses dual-cell batteries (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra) that degrade more slowly but are harder to repair. Huawei remains on classic lithium-polymer batteries, which are cheaper to replace.

💡

If you travel frequently, bring a portable 65W+ RAM. Xiaomi and Huawei charging are protocol incompatible: Huawei SuperCharge won't run at full capacity with Xiaomi units, and vice versa.

5. Ecosystem and accessories: who offers more?

Xiaomi has built one of the widest ecosystems of smart devices, from robot vacuum cleaners (Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum) to electric scooters (Mi Electric Scooter), all of which are controlled through the Mi Home app, which is integrated with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. For example, you can set a scenario: "When I leave home, Xiaomi Smart Lock locks up, and Mi Air Purifier goes into economy mode."

Huawei, in turn, is betting on Huawei Share, a wireless synchronization technology between devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop). For example, the Huawei MateBook can automatically pick up a file you downloaded on the P60 Pro without cloud services. However, Huawei’s accessory choices are more modest: there are no vacuum cleaners or smart lamps, and compatibility with third-party gadgets is limited.

• 🏠 Xiaomi: 200+ Devices in the ecosystem, support for Matter (smart home standard).
• 🔄 Huawei: Better integration between own devices (phone) + laptop + tablet).
• 💡 Critical moment: Huawei accessories (like FreeBuds) often only work with brand phones.

6.Price and availability: where is more profitable?

In terms of price/quality, Xiaomi has traditionally been the leader. 13T (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 stands ~50 000 ₽, While the similar “iron” Huawei Nova 11 Pro will cost in the ~65 000 ₽. The difference is even more noticeable in the segment of budget smartphones: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (25 000 ₽) against Huawei Nova Y71 (30 000 ₽) similarly.

Huawei is still holding the premium segment: P60 Pro and Mate 60 Pro are worth $100,000 ₽+, But they offer unique features like underwater photography (IP68 + Special camera mode) or satellite communication (in the Mate 60 Pro).

Compare prices in SberMegaMarket and Yandex Market|Check for discounts on trade-in (rent an old phone)|Study the offers in China (AliExpress, JD.com) - but consider the guarantee|Pay attention to the installment. 0-0-24 salon-->

⚠️ Note: When buying Huawei in Russia, check the regional firmware. Chinese versions (p) HMS instead GMS) may not support Russian language and local banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff).

7.Service and warranty: where is easier to fix?

Xiaomi is leading the way in terms of the number of service centers, with 300+ authorized workshops in Russia versus ~150 for Huawei; the average warranty repair time is 5-7 days for Xiaomi and 10-14 days for Huawei. An important nuance is that Huawei often refuses to repair devices with unofficial firmware (for example, if you installed Google Services manually).

The cost of spare parts is also different:

• 🔧 Xiaomi 13 screen: ~15 000 ₽.
• 🔧 Huawei screen P60 Pro: ~25 000 ₽ (Due to the complex design with quad-curve display).
• 🔋 Xiaomi battery: ~3 000 ₽.
• 🔋 Huawei battery: ~5 000 ₽ (Original batteries are sold only in service centers).

💡

If you drop your phone often, go with Xiaomi — repairs are cheaper and parts are easier to find. Huawei is critical to extend warranty (like Huawei Care+).

FAQ: Frequent questions