Huawei vs Xiaomi: an objective comparison of smartphones 2026 on 10 criteria

Why is the choice between Huawei and Xiaomi so difficult?

Chinese brands Huawei and Xiaomi have been sharing the lead in the smartphone market for many years, offering devices with an impressive price-quality ratio. But if Xiaomi used to be positioned as a budget player, and Huawei as a premium player, today the boundaries are blurred: both manufacturers have flagships for 100+ thousand and state-owned ones for 15 thousand rubles. This article will help you figure out which brand is better for you, given the unique restrictions of Huawei due to US sanctions and aggressive pricing policy Xiaomi.

We analyzed more than 50 models from 2023 to 2026, reviewed the feedback of 12,000 users on Yandex.Market, Wildberries and AliExpress, and conducted our own performance tests and photo/video shooting. The current series are compared: Huawei P60 Pro, Mate 60 Pro, Nova 12 vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6. Ready?

1.Software: EMUI vs HyperOS (and why it's critical)

The main difference between Huawei and Xiaomi is the operating system. Since 2019, due to US sanctions, new Huawei smartphones have been deprived of Google services (Play Market, Gmail, YouTube, etc.), HarmonyOS is used instead of Android (in Russia - EMUI based on AOSP).

• 🚫 No Google Play – Apps are installed via AppGallery or third-party APK (virus-risk!).
• ✅ Own ecosystem: Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) Google services (Petal Maps, Huawei Cloud).
• 🔄 Updates: HarmonyOS is updated once in a while 1–2 year-end, EMUI — less often MIUI/HyperOS Xiaomi.

Xiaomi uses HyperOS (formerly MIUI), a modified Android with Google support.

• ✅ Full access to Google Play and services (Gmail, Drive, YouTube Premium).
• 📱 Fast updates: Xiaomi promises 4 years of support for flagships (vs. 2-3 for Huawei).
• 🧹 Less bloatware: HyperOS 2026 removes many pre-installed Chinese apps.

⚠️ Note: If you actively use Google services (e.g. Google Photos for backup or Google Pay for payment), Huawei without root rights and workarounds will be a problem.

2.Performance: Kirin vs Snapdragon vs Dimensity

Until 2020, Huawei produced its own Kirin processors (for example, the Kirin 9000 in the Mate 40 Pro), which bypassed Qualcomm’s Snapdragon in performance. But due to sanctions, Kirin production stopped, and in 2023-2026 Huawei returned to them with the Kirin 9000S (7 nm, Mate 60 Pro) – the first chip with 5G support after the ban.

Xiaomi uses processors from Qualcomm (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and MediaTek (Dimensity 9200+ in Redmi K70 Pro).

The bottom line: Xiaomi is 100-150 percent ahead of Huawei in terms of naked performance thanks to modern 4nm chips. However, the Kirin 9000S is better optimized for energy efficiency – the Mate 60 Pro holds 20 percent longer charge than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra for the same tasks.

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If you want maximum FPS in games (Genshin Impact, PUBG) – choose Xiaomi on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. For autonomy and stability – Huawei with Kirin.

3.Cameras: Leica vs Light Fusion (who shoots better?)

Huawei has traditionally led photography through its collaboration with Leica (optics and color reproduction) in 2026, this partnership continued in the P60 and Mate 60 series. Xiaomi responds with Light Fusion technology (together with Leica in Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and huge sensors (1-inch in 13 Ultra).

Let's compare the key parameters:

• 📸 Huawei P60 Pro: 48 MPP (RYYB-sensor) + 13 MP (ultra-wide) + 48 MP (periscope) 3.5x). Feature: variable diaphragm f/1.4–f/4.0.
• 📸 Xiaomi 14 Ultra: 50 MP (1-inch Sony) IMX989) + 50 MP (ultra-wide) + 50 MP (periscope) 3.2x) + 50 MP (telephoto) 5x).

The results:

• 🌃 Huawei better copes with noise thanks to algorithms Night Mode.
• 🎨 Color rendering: Xiaomi gives more saturated colors (likes bloggers), Huawei - natural (closer to Leica).
• 🔍 Zoom: Xiaomi 14 Ultra has the best hybrid zoom (up to) 100x), But the Mate 60 Pro wins in detail by 5–10x.

⚠️ Note: If you are making a video for TikTok/YouTube, Pay attention to logging (color profiles). Huawei supports HDR10+ Dolby Vision and “out of the box”, and Xiaomi for this you need to install the Xiaomi Log mod through the ADB.

4. Autonomy and charging: who is faster, who is longer?

Both brands offer ultra-fast charging, but the approaches are different:

• ⚡ Huawei: 88W Wireless charging (Mate 60 Pro), 66W The signature chip is the reverse charge to 50W (charger!).
• ⚡ Xiaomi: 120W Wired (Redmi Note 13 Pro)+), 50W wireless. Xiaomi 14 Ultra — 90W + 80W wireless.

Full charge time:

An important nuance: Huawei optimizes power consumption at the firmware level - even with a smaller battery, the Mate 60 Pro lasts longer than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra when used actively (90W against 88W Huawei).

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To extend the battery life on Xiaomi, disable Ultrafast Charging in Settings → Battery → Additional. This will reduce power to 30W, but increase the number of charging cycles by 30%.

5. Displays: OLED vs LTPO - what's more important for the eyes?

Both brands use AMOLED-screens, but with different technologies:

• 📺 Huawei Mate 60 Pro: 6.82" LTPO OLED, 120 Hz, permission. 2720×1344, Kunlun Glass (more powerful than Gorilla Glass Victus) 2).
• 📺 Xiaomi 14 Ultra: 6.73" 2K AMOLED, 120 Hz, Dolby Vision, brightness up to 3000 nits.
• 💡 Huawei P60 Pro: 6.67" OLED, 120Hz, support for 1440Hz PWM (less flicker).

Key differences:

• 🔆 Brightness: Xiaomi 14 Ultra brighter in the sun (3000 nits vs 1500 at Huawei).
• 👁️ Eye comfort: Huawei uses high-frequency PWM (1440 Hz), which reduces eye fatigue. Xiaomi has 1920 Hz at only 14 Ultra.
• 🎨 Color rendering: Huawei screens calibrated for accuracy (ΔE < 0.5), Xiaomi - for saturation (likes gamers).

Look at the uniformity of the light (does there be yellow spots)

Check the sensitivity of the sensor at the edges

Enable 1Hz (Huawei) or AdaptiveSync (Xiaomi) to check for smoothness

Compare colors with a reference image (e.g., a sky photo)

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6.Prices and Price-Quality ratio (updated May 2026)

The pricing policy of brands is radically different: Huawei after the sanctions raised the prices of flagships (due to a shortage of chips), and Xiaomi continues to aggressively dump.

The price conclusion:

• 💰 Budget up to 20 000 ₽: Xiaomi/POCO They win on the iron (for example, POCO M6 Pro on Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 vs Nova Y72 Kirin 710).
• 💎 Premium (50,000–100,000) ₽): Huawei Nova 12 is cheaper than Xiaomi 14, but loses in performance.
• 👑 Flagships (100,000)+ ₽): Mate 60 Pro is cheaper than Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but without Google services.

⚠️ In 2026, Huawei is actively buying chips from Qualcomm through intermediaries, so new models (for example, Nova 12 Ultra) can get the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with 5G. Keep an eye on the announcements!

7. Additional chips: what do smartphones know besides calls?

Both brands add unique features that can be crucial:

• 📡 Huawei: 🔄 Huawei Share – Instant file transfer between devices (like AirDrop). 🎧 Audio Zoom – microphone focuses on the source of sound (useful for video bloggers). 🛡️ Hardware protection: Chips TEE OS For safety reasons (for example, in the Mate 60 Pro).
• 🤖 Xiaomi: 🧠 Xiaomi AI — Image and text generation directly in the gallery (based on HyperOS). 🔋 Surge Battery – battery life extension technology (in Redmi Note 13 Pro)+). 🎮 Game Turbo – Optimization for gamers (for example, virtual triggers in the game) POCO F6).

For whom is it more important:

• 📲 Businessmen/travelers: Huawei (security, long battery, Petal Maps offline).
• 🎮 Gamers/Content Makers: Xiaomi (Performance, AI-instruments, bright screen).
• 👨💻 Both options are problematic – Huawei without Google, Xiaomi with a blocked bootloader.

8. Bottom line: Who is the right smartphone for?

Let us summarize the results in the form of a checklist:

You don’t need Google services (or you’re willing to use workarounds)

Priority: autonomy and stability (for example, for business trips)

Photography with natural color reproduction (Leica style)

You need unique chips like Audio Zoom or Huawei Share-->

You actively use Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Play Market)

Maximum performance in games/applications is important

Needs fast charging (120W) and a bright screen for the street

Budget is limited (Xiaomi is cheaper in each price category)-->

Our verdict:

• 🥇 Best flagship of 2026: Xiaomi 14 Ultra (for performance and versatility).
• 🏆 Best Photographer Choice: Huawei Mate 60 Pro (for Leica optics and video).
• 💰 Best Price-Quality Rate: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (5G, 200 MP camera, 120 Hz screen for 40 000 ₽).

If you are still in doubt, answer 3 questions:

1. Are you ready to give up Google services for Huawei’s unique chips?
2. Do you care about maximum performance (games, video editing, AI)?
3. What is your budget (up to 30,000) ₽, 50 000 ₽ 100,000+ ₽)?

The answers to these questions will tell you which brand is closest to you, and if you want specific model recommendations, see our guide. FAQ-section!

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Huawei and Xiaomi