What processors Xiaomi uses in its smartphones: a full analysis of models (2018-2026)

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone often begins with the question: “What processor is in this model?” from the chipset depends not only on performance, but also support for 5G networks, energy efficiency, camera capabilities and even the timing of MIUI updates. In this article, we will analyze all the current processors that the company installs in its devices – from the budget Redmi to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

S 2018 Xiaomi uses chipsets from three main manufacturers: Qualcomm Snapdragon (line) 4xx, 6xx, 7xx, 8xx), MediaTek Dimensity/Helio (G, P, Dimensity series 700–9000) and own developments based on Surge (for example, Surge) S1 mi 5C). At the same time, the company’s strategy changed: if previously the flagships received exclusively Snapdragon 8xx, Today, in the top models you can find Dimensity. 9000+. The budget segment has almost completely moved to MediaTek Helio G and Dimensity. 700.

It’s important to understand that the processor determines not only speed, but also compatibility with future versions of Android. For example, Snapdragon 4xx chipsets often lose support after 2-3 years, while the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9200 receive updates longer. In this article, you will find tables matching models and chips, comparison of generations, and tips for choosing a smartphone for specific tasks – from games to photography.

1. Flagship processors in Xiaomi: Snapdragon 8 vs. Dimensity 9000

Xiaomi flagship smartphones traditionally equipped with the most powerful chipsets on the market. Until 2022, the company used only Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xx, but with the release of Xiaomi 12T Pro and Redmi K60 Ultra in the lineup appeared models on MediaTek Dimensity 9000+. This is due to the policy of diversification of suppliers and the desire to reduce dependence on one manufacturer.

Let’s compare the key characteristics of the top-end chipsets that Xiaomi uses in 2023-2026:

Note that despite paper power, real performance depends on MIUI optimization. For example, the Xiaomi 13T Pro on Dimensity 9200+ in AnTuTu tests often overtakes the Xiaomi 12 Pro on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 due to better cooling and firmware. However, in games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), the Adreno 730/740 still shows a more stable FPS.

⚠️ Note: If you choose a smartphone for gaming, pay attention not only to the processor, but also to the cooling system.+ Gen 1 and Dimensity 9200+ They are often equipped with vapor chambers, which is critical for long sessions.

2.Middle segment: Snapdragon 7xx vs. Dimensity 7000

Mid-range smartphones (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE) typically get Snapdragon 7xx or Dimensity 700-1200 chipsets. These processors offer a balance between performance, energy efficiency and price. The main difference from flagships is the lack of top Cortex-X3 cores and more modest graphics accelerators.

Let’s look at the most common chipsets in this segment:

• 🔹 Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is a mid-range flagship (2023) installed in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo and POCO F5. Exceeds Dimensity 1080 in single-threaded tasks, but loses in multithreading.
• 🔹 Dimensity 1080 is a popular chip in the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G Xiaomi 11T. Supports 200 MP cameras and 144 Hz displays.
• 🔹 Snapdragon 778G+ — improved 778G high-frequency GPU. Stands in POCO X4 Pro 5G Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G.
• 🔹 Dimensity 920 is a budget version of the Dimensity 1200, used in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (global).

The feature of this segment is the difference in network support. For example, the Snapdragon 778G does not support mmWave 5G, while the Dimensity 1080 can work with both standards (but this depends on the modification of the smartphone).

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If you need a smartphone to shoot 4K video, choose models on Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 or Dimensity 1080 – they support hardware encoding H.265 and 10-bit HDR.

3. Budget smartphones: Helio G vs. Snapdragon 4xx

In entry-level devices (Redmi 12C, POCO C55, Redmi A2) Xiaomi uses the most affordable chipsets: MediaTek Helio G (G35, G85, G99 series) and Qualcomm Snapdragon 4xx (480, 480+, 4 Gen 1). These processors are designed for basic tasks: social networks, instant messengers, simple games (Free Fire, Mobile Legends).

The main differences between budget chipsets:

The main problem with budget chipsets is the support life. For example, the Helio G85 (2020) no longer receives MIUI updates based on Android 13, and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (2022) will be limited to Android 14. If you want a long software backport, you should consider models on the Snapdragon 6xx or Dimensity 700.

⚠️ Attention: Budget smartphones on the Helio G often have a problem with twitching the interface when the storage is full, due to a weak memory controller, the solution is to keep at least 10-15% of the free space on the drive.

4 Gaming smartphones: Black Shark and POCO with cooling

Xiaomi’s Black Shark line of gaming smartphones and some POCO/Redmi K models are equipped with top-end processors with improved cooling, with the priority being a stable FPS in gaming and low throttling.

• 🎮 Black Shark 6 Pro — Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with liquid cooling and physical triggers.
• 🎮 POCO F5 Pro — Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with steam chamber and 120 watt charging.
• 🎮 Redmi K60 Pro - Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with graphite heat-dissipating film.
• 🎮 Black Shark 5 RS — Snapdragon 888+ (outdated, but with excellent optimization for gaming).

The feature of gaming smartphones is overclocking the processor. For example, Black Shark uses Ludicrous Mode, which increases the clock speed. CPU/GPU on 10–15%. But it reduces battery life:

Black Shark 6 Pro (Ludicrous Mode):


CPU: up to 3.2 GHz (vs 3.0 GHz in standard mode)




GPU: +20% performance (Adreno 730)




- Energy consumption: +40%

If you are choosing a smartphone for gaming, pay attention to the type of cooling:

Is there a vapor chamber or heat tube?

Does the processor support variable refresh rate (VRR) technology?

Is there a “Game Turbo” mode in the firmware or similar?

How many slots under SIM + MicroSD (Games take up a lot of space)-->

5. Processors in tablets and smart watches Xiaomi

In addition to smartphones, Xiaomi also launches tablets (Pad 6, Pad 5) and smartwatches (Watch 2 Pro, Watch S3), which also use specialized chipsets, and, unlike phones, prioritize energy efficiency and optimization for specific tasks.

Let’s take a look at the main processors:

• 📱 Snapdragon 870 – stands in Xiaomi Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro. Modified version of Snapdragon 865+ high-frequency CPU (up to 3.2 GHz).
• 📱 Snapdragon 860 – used in Xiaomi Pad 5. analog 870, but with a reduced frequency GPU.
• ⌚ Snapdragon Wear 4100+ — Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro chip supports Wear OS It has a coprocessor to save power.
• ⌚ Huami Apollo 4 is a proprietary development for the Mi Watch and Amazfit. Low power consumption but poor performance.

Xiaomi uses mobile versions of desktop chips in tablets, for example, the Pad 6 on the Snapdragon 870 is comparable in performance to smartphones in 2021 (Xiaomi 11T Pro), but thanks to a larger body and battery, it shows better autonomy.

⚠️ Attention: Snapdragon tablets 8xx They often suffer from trottling when they are under prolonged load (e.g. video rendering) and the solution is to use active cooling (external cooler).

6. How to find out the processor in your Xiaomi smartphone

If you’re not sure what chipset is in your device, there are a few ways to check it out:

1. Through settings: Go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specification. The Processor section will list the name of the chipset (e.g. MediaTek Helio G96).
2. Install CPU-Z or AIDA64 from Google Play. In the "SoC" or "CPU" section, you will find detailed information about the processor, including process technology and architecture.
3. By smartphone model: Enter the name of your model (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G) on the GSMArena website - the chipset will be specified in the specifications.

If your smartphone doesn’t detect the processor (e.g., shows “Unknown”), it could mean:

For owners of Xiaomi with a blocked bootloader (bootloader), checking through Fastboot looks like this:

fastboot getvar all


(Look for the line with "hardware" or "chipname")

7 Which processor to choose for the tasks

The choice of chipset depends on what you buy a smartphone for, and below are recommendations by category:

If you need a maximum update period, choose smartphones on Snapdragon 8xx For example, Xiaomi 14 on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is guaranteed to receive Android 17 (by Xiaomi policy - 4 years of updates). G85 They often stay on Android 11-12 without further updates.

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For games and heavy tasks, priority is Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or later. Dimensity 9000+ is better suited for photography because of better image processing at the ISP (Image Signal Processor) level.

FAQ: Frequent questions about processors in Xiaomi