What Xiaomi smartphone to choose in 2022

The mobile market in 2022 offers consumers an incredible variety, and Xiaomi is one of the main trendsetters here. Deciding which Xiaomi to choose in 2022 becomes a challenge not because of the lack of options, but because of their abundance. The lineup of devices has grown to a giant scale, covering segments from budget “calls” to flagships competing with top models of Apple and Samsung.

This year, the vendor has finally sealed the brand separation, and now buyers need to navigate in three main directions: the classic Xiaomi (formerly Mi), the affordable Redmi and the performance-oriented POCO. Each of these brands has its own unique philosophy, target audience and, most importantly, software.

Our job is to sort out the technicalities, the actual prices and the real-world capabilities of the cameras so you can make a good choice, and we're not just going to list the specifications, but we're going to try to figure out which device will be the perfect companion for you in the current realities.

Brand Strategy: Redmi vs. POCO vs. Xiaomi

The first thing that users face is a confusion of names: Whereas before all devices came out under a single brand, now the ecosystem is clearly segmented. Xiaomi’s flagship lineup (digital series) gets the best cameras, premium body materials and the fastest charging, a choice for those who want the most technology here and now.

The Redmi brand (including the Note series and) has traditionally been a niche market, where price-performance balance is more important. In 2022, the Redmi Note 11 and 12 series became a real hit, offering a new market. AMOLED-But remember, the materials in the case are more plastic, and the processors are more medium-sized.

POCO is a story in its own right. The brand is focused on maximum performance for minimal money. Often in one POCO case you get the last year's flagship processor, but save on cameras and materials. It's ideal for gamers who care about FPS in games, not the quality of night shooting.

• 📱 Xiaomi – premium segment, the best cameras, glass and metal, high price.
• 💰 Redmi – People’s Choice, Balance of Features, Good Screens, Affordable Price.
• 🚀 POCO — focus on the processor and cooling, game orientation, compromises in the photo.

⚠️ Note: Don’t confuse global versions with Chinese (CN). In 2022, the difference in frequency support LTE (Band 20 is still critical for the CIS regions.

When you choose between these three whales, you're basically choosing priorities. If you care about status and the best photography, look at the brand, if you just want a good phone for every day, Redmi, and if you buy a phone primarily as a handheld console, you're going to go for POCO.

Flagship solutions: Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro series

Speaking of which Xiaomi to choose in 2022 for maximum quality, you can not bypass the Xiaomi 12 series. These are devices that set the tone for the entire Android market.

The Xiaomi 12 is a compact model that deserves special attention. In a world where phones are turned into shovels, this device offers a screen diagonal of 6.28 inches. This is a rare chance to get a flagship filling in a comfortable body that sits comfortably in one hand. The camera here also received a significant upgrade, especially in terms of video processing and night shooting.

Xiaomi 12 Pro is already focused on multimedia. It has a huge screen with a resolution of WQHD+ and refresh rate up to 120 Hz. The main camera received three modules of 50 MP, which allows you to take wide-angle pictures and portraits without loss of quality. However, it is worth considering that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor is prone to heating, so the heat sink in these models is implemented as aggressively as possible.

When you buy a flagship in 2022, you get more than just a phone, but access to the company’s most advanced technologies: 120W ultra-fast charging, which fills the battery in 18 minutes, and improved speakers, and water protection according to IP53 or IP68 depending on the region.

The Golden Mean: Redmi Note 11 and 12 Pro

For most users, the question of “what to choose” is decided in the middle class segment. The Redmi Note 11 series and the Note 12, released at the end of the year, became bestsellers for a reason: they offer functionality that was considered flagship a year ago, for quite adequate money.

The key feature of these models is the screens. AMOLED-matrixes with a frequency of 90 or 120 Hz have become the standard even for public sector employees; brightness, contrast and color saturation are no worse than those of expensive counterparts. In the model Redmi Note 11 Pro+ even came charging 120 watts, which is a unique offer in its price range.

In 2022, this niche also saw the introduction of the Optical Stabilization Camera (OIS) in the Redmi Note 12 Pro. This is a huge step forward, as previously OIS was the preserve of only the top segment. Stabilization allows for clear pictures while driving and significantly improves video quality.

But there are trade-offs: Plastic bezels and back covers (even with imitation of leather or glass) give out budget devices. Cameras, despite marketing 108 MP, are often inferior in detail to flagships due to less quality optics and processing algorithms.

Budget King: Redmi line 11, 12 and POCO M

If you have a budget but you want the Xiaomi ecosystem, the baselines come to the rescue. In 2022, Redmi 11 and Redmi 12 (in some regions of the C-series) offered a surprisingly decent experience, and you won’t find performance records here, but the basic tasks are easy to solve.

The big deal is autonomy. Often paired with a less powerful processor, there's a 5,000mAh battery. Combined with an optimized MIUI shell, these phones can easily live 2 days without recharging, and are a great choice for the elderly, children or as a second working phone.

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When buying a budget Xiaomi, be sure to check the Bluetooth version. The cheapest models may lack support for aptX, which is critical for quality wireless headphones.

The POCO M series (such as the M4 and M5) are often based on the same platforms as Redmi, but with a different design and sometimes a little faster charging.

It's important to understand the limitations: this segment often uses eMMC memory instead of fast UFS, which affects the speed of opening applications. The screens can be IPS rather than AMOLED, which gives a less deep black color. But for its price, it's often the best offer on the market.

⚠️ Attention: Budget 2022 models often feature ads in system applications.Be prepared to spend 15 minutes after purchase to disable personalized recommendations in settings MIUI.

Game monsters: POCO F and X series

For those who are wondering which Xiaomi to choose in 2022 for games, the answer is unequivocal – the POCO F series. The F4 and F4 GT models (as well as the X4/X5 Pro) were created with one goal – to give maximum FPS in PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact.

The POCO F4, for example, is powered by a Snapdragon 870 processor, a legendary chip that is widely regarded as one of the most stable and cold flagships of recent years. It doesn't warm as much as the new 8s and provides a stable picture for hours.

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The POCO F-series is always the best choice for CPU power/price ratio, and if you don't care about the camera, you should use it.

GT (Gaming Technology) models go even further, with physical side-facing triggers like gamepad buttons and improved cooling with copper plates, and the design of these phones is often aggressive, with RGB-backlit logos.

But when you buy a gaming phone, you have to put up with weight, because of the massive cooling system and the large battery, these machines often weigh more than 200 grams and are about 9 mm thick. Cameras here are usually mediocre, trimmed to a minimum for the sake of economy.

Program Part: MIUI and Updates

When choosing a smartphone, you can’t ignore the software. In 2022, the company was actively implementing MIUI 13 and preparing the ground for MIUI 14. The shell became lighter, new widgets and improved data protection appeared, but optimization issues still pop up.

Xiaomi’s update policy in 2022 has become more generous: flagships receive 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches. The mid-range (Redmi Note) is also often awarded 2 major updates. This is an important factor affecting the liquidity of the phone when resold.

However, the shell has a high degree of customization: many settings, themes, fonts and animations make the phone unique, but for iOS newcomers, the system can seem overloaded. Second space allows you to separate your work and personal profiles, which is extremely convenient.

There are also ads, which are smaller in global firmware, but there are, and fortunately, in 2022, it became easier to turn off through a single switch in your account settings or by turning off Internet access for the system app msa.

Summary table and selection recommendations

So to sum up, you can systematize your choices. The market in 2022 is clearly divided, and there's a perfect candidate for each type of user, so you don't have to overpay for features you won't use, or skimp on critical parameters.

If you're choosing a phone for a child or an elderly parent, pay attention to the simplicity of the interface and the volume of the speaker. Business users will be more concerned with speed and NFC. Gamers should look exclusively at the processor and type of memory.

In 2022, Xiaomi proved that it could make devices for everyone, from “flagship killers” to ultra-budgetary, and the key is to be clear about what you want from a gadget, and not be led by marketing ploys like “108 MP” in cheap models where the physics of optics does not allow you to unleash this potential.