Which Xiaomi is better to buy in 2018: a choice for Russia

The smartphone market in 2018 was a turning point for Xiaomi, which finally became a global player, with Russian users gaining access to a wide range of devices, from budget hits to flagships, able to compete with industry leaders, and the choice of a suitable model at that time depended not only on budget, but also on technical requirements, such as support for Russian communication frequencies and the availability of an NFC module.

Many buyers are still looking for reliable devices of this model range, as they have proven to be durable and productive gadgets. It is important to understand that the Chinese versions of firmware often differed from the global lack of important services and LTE ranges for Russia. That is why the question of which device is better to buy, requires a detailed analysis of characteristics and regional features.

In this article, we will conduct an in-depth analysis of the most successful models released in 2018. We will look at processors, camera quality, autonomy and, critically for Russia, support for 4G networks. You will learn what compromises engineers made in different price segments and which model will be the best choice for your use case.

Flagship Power: Mi 8 and Mi Mix 2S

For those looking for maximum performance, 2018 brought two iconic devices based on the Snapdragon 845 processor. Xiaomi Mi 8 was a direct response to new design trends with “bangs” in the screen and the introduction of face unlock technologies similar to the iPhone X. This device offered a top camera with dual optical zoom and support for dual-band GPS, which was rare even among competitors.

In parallel, the Mi Mix 2S was released, which focused on fans of minimalism and large screens without cutouts. the bezel-less design provided incredible immersion in content, and the ceramic body gave the device premium weight and tactile pleasantness. Both smartphones supported fast charging Quick Charge 4+, allowing you to restore battery power in an hour and a half.

However, when buying these models for Russia in 2018, an important nuance arose with memory versions: Global versions often had 6 GB of RAM, while Chinese versions offered configurations up to 8 GB, but without full support for languages and frequencies.

• 🚀 Performance: Antoute over 250,000 points provided power reserve for several years ahead.
• 📸 DxOMark rated the Mi 8 photo modules very highly, especially in good lighting conditions.
• 📡 Communication: Support 4G Band 7 and Band 20 are critical for stable work in Moscow and Russian regions.

⚠️ Note: When buying Mi Mix 2S Make sure the specifications state Band 20 (800 MHz) support, which was not available in some early Chinese batches, causing signal loss in buildings and out of town.

The choice between the two giants has often been down to ergonomics preferences: the compact but wide Mi 8 vs. the tall and narrow Mi Mix 2S. Both phones have received updates to Android 10, confirming their long-standing support from the manufacturer.

People's Choice: Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro

In the mid-range, the Redmi Note 5 (known in China as the Note 5 Pro) has become the undisputed king, setting the bar for a metal body, a dual-phase camera and a Snapdragon 636 processor, a model that many users find to be the entry ticket to the brand’s ecosystem thanks to its perfect balance of price and quality.

A distinctive feature of the line was the increased battery capacity — 4000 It was a great record, and it held its charge for two days with a lot of moderate use. 1080×2160 side-relation 18:9 Provides comfortable video viewing and reading texts.

The cooling system, which effectively removed heat from the processor even in heavy games, deserves special attention. Unlike cheaper analogues, there was no critical trottling, which allowed to maintain stable FPS in PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9.

Importantly, the global version of the Redmi Note 5 for Russia often came with an NFC module that was missing from the Chinese version, making the purchase of the Global Version a must for those planning to pay for purchases with a phone.

Budget King: Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi 6 Pro

If the budget was limited, but wanted a modern design and a large screen, buyers looked towards the Redmi 5 Plus and its successor Redmi 6 Pro. These devices brought the 18:9 format to the available segment, saving the market from outdated proportions of 16:9. Diagonal 5.99 inch allowed you to comfortably work with content without overpaying for flagship features.

At the heart of the Redmi 5 Plus was the Snapdragon 625 chipset, which became famous for its phenomenal energy efficiency. It was practically non-heating and provided record battery life. Redmi 6 Pro received a more modern Helio P60 and “bang”, which made it visually similar to the iPhone X, but in a budget version.

The cameras in this segment were simple but functional. The 12MP core module took decent shots in daylight, even though nighttime shooting already produced a lot of digital noise.

• 💰 Price: Best Cost-to-Diagonal Screen Ratio on the 2018 Market.
• 🔋 Autonomy: 4000 mAh battery paired with an energy-efficient processor worked wonders.
• 🎨 Design: Metal case with antenna inserts looked more expensive than its price.

⚠️ Note: Redmi 6 Pro used a hybrid slot for the SIM-This means you can’t use two SIM cards and a microSD card at the same time, you have to choose between a second SIM and a memory extension.

Comparison of technical characteristics of 2018 models

To make a final decision, you need to compare key device settings in a single table, which will help you see the difference between flagships and mid-range devices, and understand what you are overpaying for.

Note the screen types: AMOLED vs. IPS. Only the flagship Mi 8 and Mi Mix 2S models received AMOLED arrays, which provided deep black and energy savings on dark interface themes. Budget and mid-range models were content with quality IPS panels.

As you can see from the table, even in the mid-range, Xiaomi offered larger battery capacity than the flagships, which was done for the sake of autonomy, as the powerful processors of the flagships consumed significantly more power.

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When buying a used smartphone in 2018, be sure to check the wear of the battery in the engineering menu or through the AccuBattery application - over the years of use, the capacity could fall by 20-30%.

The Importance of Global Version and Frequency of LTE

Buying Xiaomi’s smartphone in 2018 for use in Russia required special attention to marking the device version. The Chinese version (CN) and Global version (Global) could be radically different not only pre-installed software, but also hardware, in particular, it is about supporting radio modules required frequencies.

For comfortable operation in 4G/LTE networks in the Russian Federation, support for the Band 7 (2600 MHz) and Band 20 (800 MHz) bands is critical. While the first band provides high speed in cities, the second is responsible for the penetration of signals into buildings and coverage in the countryside.

Many Chinese versions of smartphones, even flagship ones, did not have Band 20 support, which led to the fact that indoors the phone could switch to 3G or E, which significantly reduced the quality of communication and Internet speed. Global versions designed for Europe and Russia, always equipped with a full set of necessary frequencies.

• 🌍 Firmware: Global ROM Google has built-in services and support for the Russian language out of the box».
• 📶 Global versions better support frequency aggregation to improve speed 4G.
• 🔌 Charging: Complete with the Global version always came the European standard fork.

⚠️ Note: Don’t confuse Global Version (full-fledged global version) with Global Version ROM (Chinese phone with cross-stitched global firmware. In the second case, you may lose the ability to bank applications due to unlocked bootloader.

You can check the supported frequencies on the website kimovil.com or in the specifications on the box, where the model code corresponding to the region of sale must be indicated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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When choosing a smartphone of 2018 release, the priority should be to check the status of the battery and the availability of all the necessary LTE frequencies for your operator.