Huawei vs Xiaomi: which smartphone is better to buy – a comparison of 2026

The choice between Huawei and Xiaomi smartphones in 2026 has become more difficult than ever, with both brands offering devices on every budget, from affordable models for 15,000 rubles to premium flagships with price tags under 100,000. But what criteria are really important? Should we overpay for the Huawei brand with its proprietary HarmonyOS ecosystem, or Xiaomi with an open Android and aggressive pricing policies be more profitable?

In this comparison, we will analyze the real differences between the two giants’ smartphones on 7 key parameters: performance, camera, software, autonomy, design, ecosystem and price/quality ratio. Without marketing slogans, only facts, tests and expert conclusions. If you are fluctuating between specific models (for example, Huawei P60 Pro vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Huawei Nova 12 vs Redmi Note 13 Pro+), here you will find a detailed comparison based on your tasks: games, photography, work or long autonomy.

1.Performance: Kirin vs Snapdragon chips

The main difference between Huawei and Xiaomi is the processors used. Since 2020, Huawei has been deprived of access to advanced Qualcomm chips and is forced to develop its own Kirin solutions (SMIC production, 7 nm) or purchase outdated Snapdragon (for example, Snapdragon 778G in Huawei Nova 11). Xiaomi is free to use current chips: from budget Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 to flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

In practice, this means:

• 🏆 Xiaomi wins in raw power: flagships on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (for example, Xiaomi 14 Pro) 30-40% more productive than the Huawei Mate 60 Pro with Kirin 9000S In the benchmarks AnTuTu and Geekbench.
• 🔋 Huawei is more energy efficient: Kirin chips are optimized for HarmonyOS, which gives you the power of the device. +10-15% autonomy for similar tasks.
• 🎮 For gamers, the choice is critical: Xiaomi Black Shark or POCO F6 Pro with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 will provide 90+ FPS Genshin Impact, while Huawei even has Kirin 9000S give out a maximum of 60 FPS.

But there's a nuance: Huawei is actively developing GPU Turbo, a software-level graphics acceleration technology. In some games (for example, Honor of Kings), the Mate 60 Pro shows FPS at the Xiaomi 13T Pro level, despite the less powerful chip. However, this only works with Chinese titles - global games like Call of Duty Mobile do not have such optimization.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use a smartphone for longer than 3 years, keep in mind that Kirin will not receive upgrades (for example, a transition to 5 nm). Xiaomi annually updates the line of chips, which guarantees support for new standards (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4).

2.Camera: Leica vs Light Fusion

Photography is a key argument in favor of Huawei, with Leica’s own XMAGE system starting in 2023, allowing the brand’s devices to lead the DXOMARK rankings, for example, Huawei P60 Pro (156 points) outperforming Xiaomi 13 Ultra (146 points) by:

• 📸 Optical stabilization with a 5-axis gyroscope (Xiaomi has a 3-axis one).
• 🌃 Night photography: algorithms XMAGE They are better at handling noise. ISO 12800+.
• 🔍 Zuma: P60 Pro offers 3.5× optical zoom versus 2.8× Xiaomi 14 Pro.

Xiaomi is not far behind in innovation, however. Light Fusion technology (debuted in Xiaomi 13 Ultra) combines data with the main and telephoto cameras to improve detail. In the Camera MW tests, Xiaomi 14 Ultra beat Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ in detail at medium distances (1-3 meters), and Xiaomi offers more flexible manual settings (for example, adjusting shutter speed to 30 seconds).

Conclusion: Huawei is better for professional photography (portraits, night scenes), for video and flexibility of settings, Xiaomi (<25 000 ₽) Redmi Note 13 Pro+ s 200-MP sensor bypasses Huawei Nova 12 Detailed, but loses in color reproduction.

3.Software: HarmonyOS vs MIUI

The differences are dramatic: Huawei has been using its own HarmonyOS OS (based on OpenHarmony) since 2021, and Xiaomi remains on Android with a MIUI shell.

HarmonyOS:

• ⚡ Speed: thanks to the micronuclear architecture, the system consumes 20% less RAM than MIUI.
• 🔄 Multitasking: Support for Windows apps (like on PC) – up to 4 active windows at a time.
• 🚫 Restrictions: No Google Mobile Services (GMS). You will have to use Huawei AppGallery or install GOOGL services manually (risk bans).

MIUI (Android):

• 🌍 Global compatibility: full support for Google Play, YouTube, Gmail, etc.
• 🔧 Customization: themes, widgets, gestures – flexibility at the level of Samsung One UI.
• 🗑️ Advertising and Blaatware: in Budget Models (Redmi, POCO) Pre-installed games and services that are difficult to remove.

Critical: If you want Google Pay, Netflix in HD, or enterprise applications (such as Microsoft Teams), Huawei without manual hacking (GSpace, LZPlay) will not work. On the other hand, HarmonyOS offers unique features like Super Device (automatic synchronization with Huawei laptops, printers, smartwatches).

💡

To reduce ads in MIUI, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the logo. The Additional Settings menu will open where you can turn off personalized ads.

Autonomy and charging: who lives longer?

According to the results of tests GSMArena (2026), Huawei smartphones on average work 12-15% longer than Xiaomi counterparts under mixed load.

• 🔋 Software optimization: HarmonyOS more aggressively restricts background processes.
• ⚡ Energy-efficient screens: Mate 60 Pro uses the LTPO OLED dynamically 1–120 Hz (at Xiaomi) 14 Pro - fixed 60/120 Hz).
• 🔌 Fast charging: Huawei lags behind at 88W (Mate 60 Pro) maximum, while Xiaomi 14 Pro supports 120W.

Important for travelers: Huawei is better suited for travel thanks to the Ultra Battery Saving feature, which keeps calls and SMS active at 5% charge for 12 hours. Xiaomi in this mode shuts down after 3-4 hours.

⚠️ Attention: Fast charging >100W reduces battery life by 15-20% in 2 years. If you plan to use a smartphone for a long time, it is better to choose models with a charge of 66-80W (for example, Huawei). P60 Xiaomi 13).

5. Design and Ergonomics: Metal vs Plastic

Huawei has traditionally relied on premium materials: aluminum frames, tempered glass Kunlun Glass (10 times stronger than Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic rear panels. Xiaomi in flagships uses similar solutions, but in budget lines (Redmi, POCO) often save on plastic.

Comparison of key aspects:

• 📏 Huawei offers a more symmetrical camera layout (like the “double ring” in the Mate 60 Pro), while Xiaomi is experimenting with huge islands (like the 13 Ultra camera).
• 👆 Ergonomics: Huawei Nova 12 (175 g) lighter than Xiaomi 14 (188 g) with similar dimensions.
• 🌈 Colors: Xiaomi offers brighter shades (for example, 14 Pro in Titan Silver), while Huawei is betting on classics (black, white, gold).

For whom is it more important:

• 💼 Business users will be suitable for the restrained design of Huawei P60.
• 🎨 Creative personalities - bright Xiaomi 14 or POCO F6.
• 🏋️ Sports – lightweight Huawei Nova 12 or Redmi Note 13 (173 g).

Ecosystem and compatibility

Here, Huawei is taking off with Huawei Super Device, a technology that combines a smartphone with laptops (MateBook), tablets (MatePad), smartwatches (Watch Ultimate), and even printers.

• 🖥️ Multi-Screen Collaboration: You can run mobile apps on the screen of a Huawei laptop without mirroring.
• 📱 Phone Clone: Transferring data from Android/iOS Huawei for 5 minutes (including passwords and settings).
• 🎧 Audio Sharing: Connect two pairs of FreeBuds to one smartphone for joint listening.

Xiaomi is also developing an ecosystem (Xiaomi HyperOS), but it is less mature.

• 🔄 Mi Share (AirDrop analogue) works only between Xiaomi devices.
• 🖱️ Mi PC Suite is inferior to Huawei Share in synchronization stability.
• 🏠 Smart home: Xiaomi leads in the number of compatible gadgets (more than 400 devices vs. 200 Huawei).

Who has to choose:

• 👨💻 For office: Huawei (integration with laptops and printers).
• 🏠 For a smart home: Xiaomi (more sensors, lamps, robot vacuum cleaners).
• 🎮 For gamers: ecosystem isn't critical - look at iron.

💡

If you already have gadgets of the same brand (for example, a laptop Huawei or a robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi), choosing a smartphone of the same brand will give the maximum benefits from the ecosystem.

7. Price/Quality Rate: Who is the Best?

In 2026, Xiaomi remains the leader in terms of affordability, but Huawei offers unique chips that justify overpayment.

Flagships (60 000–100,000) ₽):

• 📱 Huawei Mate 60 Pro (85 000 ₽) vs Xiaomi 14 Pro (90 000 ₽): Huawei wins on camera and autonomy, Xiaomi wins on performance and screen (2K 120 Hz vs. 1.5K 120 Hz).
• 💰 Conclusion: If you want a camera, Huawei. If you want games and media, Xiaomi.

Middle segment (30 000-50,000) ₽):

• 📱 Huawei Nova 12 (40 000 ₽) vs Xiaomi 13T (45 000 ₽): Xiaomi offers Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 vs. Kirin 830 for Huawei – performance difference of up to 2×.
• 💰 Xiaomi is objectively more profitable, if not fundamentally ecosystem HarmonyOS.

Budget (15,000–25,000) ₽):

• 📱 Huawei Nova Y72 (18 000 ₽) vs Redmi Note 13 Pro (22 000 ₽): Xiaomi gives a 200-MP camera, 120-Hz screen and Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 – with a minimum price difference.
• 💰 Conclusion: Huawei loses in budget in all respects, except autonomy.

Check 5G support in your area (Huawei may have restrictions)

Compare prices in official stores and on marketplaces (up to 10% difference)

Estimate the cost of accessories (cases, charging – Xiaomi they are cheaper)

Make sure you have service centers in your city (this is critical for Huawei)-->

Official stores (huawei.ru, mi.com) give a guarantee of 2 years, but on marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon) is often cheaper by 5-15%.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions