What inexpensive smartphone Xiaomi to buy in 2026: an honest rating of up to 20 000 ₽

Choosing a budget smartphone from Xiaomi in 2026 has become more difficult than ever: the brand produces dozens of models per year, and the prices for some series have exceeded reasonable limits. AMOLED-screen, 5G And it's a camera that's not ashamed to post it on social media, and the key is not to run into outdated chipsets or gray shipments from AliExpress.

In this guide, we analyzed 12 models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO up to 20,000 ₽, They have rejected the obvious outsiders and left only those who have passed the test:

• 🔋 Real autonomy (at least 8 hours of screen with mixed load)
• 📸 Quality of the main camera in low light conditions
• 🎮 Game performance (at least Genshin Impact on mid-range settings)
• 🛡️ Official guarantee in Russia (without problems with service centers)

Spoiler: the leader was Redmi Note 13 5G, But there are cheaper alternatives with unique chips, and we're also going to uncover three dirty tricks that salespeople use to impose overpayments on top-of-the-line public sector employees.

Choice Criteria: What to Look at First

Xiaomi's budget smartphones are often downgraded or outdated chips under the guise of "new products."

⚠️ Note: If the specifications indicate a Helio processor G85 Or Snapdragon 662, which is 2020, as a 2026 model, and chips like this won't pull up with modern games, and they'll slow down in a year.

Top.-5 test-point:

1. Processor: Minimum acceptable is Snapdragon 680 or Dimensity 6080, optimal is Snapdragon 695 or Dimensity 700.
2. Screen: AMOLED 90 Hz or IPS 120Hz. 60Hz in 2026 – an overpayment for outdated technologies.
3. Battery: From 5000 mAh with fast charging support 33W+. Less – only if the weight of the phone is critical.
4. Camera: The main module is at least 50 MP with optics f/1.8 Or better. 8 MP and 13 MPs give 'soapy' quality.
5. RAM/ROM: 6/128 GB - minimum for comfort. 4 GB RAM is enough only for calls and social networks.

And yes, don't believe the "New 2026" label on the box. For example, the Redmi 12 is sold as a "fresh" model, although it was released in mid-2023 and is already morally outdated. Always check the date of the announcement on the official Mi.com website.

Top.-5 Xiaomi’s inexpensive smartphones in the 2026 year

We selected models that are really worth their money, not just cheap. All prices are relevant for the Russian market (official dealers, Wildberry, Svyaznoy) for May 2026.

At first glance, the difference between the models is small, but the devil is in the details, POCO X6 Redmi Note 13 5G have the same screen, but the first 2 times faster charging (67W against 33W), The second one has the best main camera (108 MP vs 64 MP.

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If you need a smartphone for games, take it. POCO X6 or POCO M6 For photos and autonomy - Redmi Note 13 5G.

Best budget player for games: POCO X6 vs POCO M6 Pro

Both models are positioned as “game”, but the approach to implementation is different. POCO X6 Snapdragon-equipped 7s Gen 2 is a modified version of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 with improved energy efficiency, and in benchmarks it beats competitors by 20-25%, but in real games the difference is less than that.

Tests in games (setting “Balanced”):

• 🎮 Genshin Impact: 45–50 FPS on POCO X6 vs 38–42 FPS on POCO M6 Pro
• 🎮 Call of Duty: Mobile: 90 FPS (max.) on both, but M6 Pro warms the body more
• 🎮 Honor of Kings: 120 FPS stable POCO X6

The main minus POCO M6 Pro is a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor that is technically weaker than the previous model. X6, But it has one plus: Wi-Fi 6 support. If you want to have a stable connection in online gaming, that can be a crucial factor.

⚠️ Attention: B POCO X6 There is no memory card slot, but POCO M6 Pro is there. If you want expandable storage, the choice is obvious.

Based on the test results:

POCO X6 — if you want maximum FPS cold-hull|

POCO M6 Pro – if Wi-Fi 6 and microSD slot are more important|

Both models – if you play casual games (zombie shooters, strategies)-->

Best choice for photos: Redmi Note 13 5G

If the camera is your priority, then the Redmi Note 13 is your first choice. 5G — The only budget in the lineup with a 108-megapixel sensor Samsung HM6. On paper, it sounds impressive, but in reality there are nuances:

The camera's pros:

• 📸 Excellent detail in good lighting (you can sprinkle photos without loss of quality)
• 🌃 Night mode works better than competitors (but inferior to flagships)
• 🎥 Video 4K@30fps electronically stabilized

Cons:

• 🚫 No optical stabilization - hand tremors are noticeable in the video
• 🔍 Ultrashirik at 8 MP and macromodule at 2 MP are practically useless
• 🤖 Processing algorithms sometimes “overcook” colors (skin looks plastic)

For comparison, POCO X6 It has a 64MP camera with OmniVision optics, which in some scenes (like shooting against the sun) gives more natural colors.

Examples of photos (clickable):

If the photo is critical for you, but the budget is limited, consider buying a used Xiaomi 12 Lite (with Snapdragon). 778G and optical stabilization - it is often sold for the same 18-20 thousand rubles.

How not to overpay: 3 tricks of sellers

The budget smartphone market is teeming with fraudulent schemes, and the most common ones are:

1. «Discount on outdated models, for example, Redmi Note 11 can sell for 14,990 ₽ under the guise of a “share”, although its real value is 9,000 ₽. Always check the release date of the model.
2. Imposing an “extended warranty”: Salons often offer to pay 2,000 to 3,000 extras. ₽ 3-year warranty, although you are legally entitled to free repairs for 2 years.
3. The box may not have charging (even if the site says otherwise), always check with the seller: "What exactly is included?"

The dirtiest trick is selling the "global" versions under the guise of Russian ones, like the Redmi Note 13 Pro.+ 5G India does not support ranges 5G Russian operators (n78, n3), But the vendors don't say anything about it.

⚠️ Note: If the specifications indicate “Support” 5G», but no specific ranges are specified (n1/n3/n5/n7/n28/n78), — You're looking at a trick. 5G It only works in test areas, but range support is important for the future.

So as not to run into a trap:

Convert. IMEI on the box and on the phone (*#06#)|

Check the support 5G-ranges|

Check if there is a charger in the kit (often it is "forgetted" to put it in)|

Buy in the official store (Xiaomi Store, Messenger, MTS)-->

Redmi 13C 5G: cheap, but not bad

If the budget is tightly capped at $15,000 ₽, redmi 13C 5G — It's one of the few options that I'm not ashamed to recommend:

• 🖥️ Screen. IPS permittingly HD+ (720p) — pixels visible to the naked eye
• 🔋 Charging on 18W — full charge is 2.5 hours
• 📷 The 50 MP camera only works in good lighting.

But for that money, you get:

• ✅ 5G Support for Russian bands (unlike many competitors)
• ✅ MicroSD slot (up to 1 TB) + headphone jack 3.5 mm
• ✅ MIUI 14 powered by Android 13 (update to Android 14 promised)
• ✅ Protected hull IP53 (dust-spray)

This is the perfect phone for:

• 👵 Elderly relatives (simple interface, loud speaker)
• 🎒 Students/Students (Not a pity to lose or break)
• 🏠 Standby apparatus (in case of failure of the main apparatus)

If you plan to actively use your phone (games, social networks, photos), it is better to save another 3-4 thousand and take it. POCO M6 Pro.

Which is better: a new budget or a used flagship?

The Eternal Question: Buying a New Redmi Note 13 5G 20,000 ₽ or Xiaomi 12T The answer depends on your tasks:

When to take a used flagship:

• 🎮 You are playing heavy games (Genshin Impact, PUBG ultra-tuning)
• 📸 You need optical stabilization for video
• 🔋 You are ready to replace the battery (cost) ~2 500 ₽)

When is the best new budgetary:

• 🛡️ You need an official guarantee.
• 🔋 You don’t want to change your battery.
• 📱 You need a phone for every day without claims to top-end performance

If you decide to use the used, you must:

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Before buying a used phone, check battery wear through the AccuBattery app and run a screen test for broken pixels (for example, in the Screen Test app).

FAQ: Frequent questions when choosing