What is the best smartphone Xiaomi in 2026: expert rating of TOP-5 models

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2026 has become more difficult than ever: the brand offers more than 20 current models, from the budget Redmi to the premium Xiaomi 14 Ultra. But which one is really the best? The answer depends on your priorities: someone needs a top camera for shooting in 4K, someone – multi-day autonomy, and someone – a powerful processor for mobile games at maximum settings.

In this guide, we analyzed all the current Xiaomi models (released after September 2023), compared them on 10 key parameters – from screen to software support – and ranked the best smartphones today. We took into account not only technical specifications, but also real user experience, data from DxOMark, AnTuTu tests, as well as current prices in the Russian market (June 2026).

Spoiler: Xiaomi 14 Ultra overtook the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the quality of photos in the night mode, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ became the first budget-friendly with a 200-megapixel camera. But there are also unexpected discoveries — for example, why the POCO F6 Pro can be more profitable than the flagship for the same money.

The criteria for choosing the best smartphone Xiaomi in 2026

Before we get to the rankings, let’s figure out what to look for when buying. In 2026, even Xiaomi’s budget smartphones got features that were previously only available to flagships (for example, 120 Hz screens or 50W charging), but not all parameters are equally important.

Here are 5 key criteria we took into account when compiling the ranking:

• 📱 Processor and performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Dimensity 9200+ — Which chipset is better for gaming and multitasking? Compare benchmarks to real-world work.
• 📸 Camera: Not just megapixels, but optical stabilizers, sensor size (1/1.1" vs 1/1.56") Support for Dolby Vision when shooting videos.
• 🔋 Autonomy: Battery capacity (5000 mAh vs 4880 mAh) and charging speed (120W vs 90W wireless).
• 💰 Price/Quality: How justified is it to overpay for a flagship when Redmi offers 90% of its capabilities for half the price?
• 🛡️ Programming support: How many years will it take? MIUI Xiaomi has 14 to 4 years, Redmi Note 13 has only 2.

Pay special attention to the screen: in 2026, even mid-budget models received a new model. AMOLED-120Hz displays, but not all support HDR10+ Or Dolby Vision, for example, POCO X6 The Pro has a screen with a peak brightness of 1800 nits, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro has only 1,200 nits, which is critical when used in the sun.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to use a smartphone for longer than 2 years, avoid models with Snapdragon processors 6xx Helio Gxx – they become obsolete faster than flagship chipsets, and in a year may not pull new games.

TOP-5 best smartphones Xiaomi in 2026: the rating of experts

We selected 5 models that cover all price segments, from budget to premium. The rating is based on the analysis of technical characteristics, tests and user reviews. Prices are indicated as of June 2026 for the Russian market (average cost in official stores and at trusted retailers).

Now we will analyze each model in more detail so that you can choose the best option for your tasks.

1. Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the best flagship for photographers and perfectionists

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is not just a smartphone, but a full-fledged replacement for the SLR camera for most users, with the main advantage of a camera with a variable aperture (f/1.6 to f/4.0), which was previously only found in professional cameras, allowing you to control depth of field and light transmission manually, like on the DSLR.

That’s why this model came in first place:

• 📷 Leica camera with 4 lenses: Basic: 50 MP, sensor 1", optical stabilization Ultrasonic: 50 MP, 122° Telephoto field of view: 50 MP with 3.2x optical zoom Periscope: 50 MP with 5x zoom
• 🎮 Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (most powerful chipset on the market in 2026) + 16GB of RAM.
• 🖥️ Screen: 6.73" 2K AMOLED 120 Hz LTPO (Adaptive frequency up to 1 Hz to save charge).

According to the results of tests DxOMark (April 2026), Xiaomi 14 Ultra took the 1st place among all smartphones in photo and video quality, overtaking the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Especially impressive night shooting: thanks to the large sensor and algorithms Night Mode 2.0, photos are detailed even at 0.1 lux (complete darkness for the human eye).

⚠️ Warning: Unless you’re a photographer and need professional camera features, overpaying for 14 Ultra doesn’t make sense – Xiaomi 14 offers 90% of its features for 30,000 ₽ cheaper.

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If you buy Xiaomi 14 Ultra for video, turn on the camera settings Dolby Vision HDR mode – it automatically improves color reproduction and dynamic range when shooting in 4K.

2. Xiaomi 14 is the best flagship for most users

If the 14 Ultra is a smartphone for enthusiasts, the Xiaomi 14 is the perfect balance between price and capabilities. It is a compact flagship (weighting only 188 g at a thickness of 8.2 mm), which is not inferior in performance to top models, but costs 30% less.

Key advantages:

• 📏 Compact size: 6.36" screen (vs 6.73" for 14 Ultra), which is convenient for one hand.
• 🔥 Processor: Same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as in Ultra, but with slightly less cooling (but for everyday tasks, no difference).
• 📸 Camera: Basic module 50 MP (sensor) 1/1.31") with Leica optics – shooting almost equal to Ultra in daylight.
• 🔋 Battery: 4610 mAh (less than Ultra but lasts for a day with heavy use thanks to optimization) MIUI 15).

The main drawback is the lack of periscopic zoom (maximum 2x optical zoom), but for most users this is not critical. Xiaomi 14 supports 8K@24fps video and has stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos.

According to the results of tests AnTuTu (May 2026), Xiaomi 14 scored 2,100,000+ points, which is 15% more than the iPhone 15 (but is inferior to 14 Ultra by 5% due to cooling restrictions).

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Xiaomi 14 is the best choice for those who want flagship features in a compact body without overpaying for “unnecessary” chips like a variable aperture or 5x zoom.

3. POCO F6 Pro – the best gaming smartphone for the price

If you need a smartphone for gaming (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, Honkai: Star Rail) but you are not willing to pay $90,000+ ₽ flagship, POCO F6 Pro is the perfect one. This is the rebranded Redmi. K70, which is more expensive in China, but sold under the brand name in Russia POCO better-priced.

What makes it the best for gamers:

• 🎮 Snapdragon 8 processor+ Gen 1: Yes, it’s not the newest chipset (released in 2022), but it’s still one of the most powerful and optimized for gaming. 3DMark Wild Life is gaining 14,000+ Score scores (vs 16,000 for Snapdragon 8 Gen 3).

The main disadvantage is the camera. The 50MP core module (sensor 1/1.56) is inferior to the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, but for games it is not critical. But there are physical triggers (L1/R1 buttons on the ends) that can be adjusted for games.

⚠️ Attention: B POCO F6 Pro by default installed firmware with advertising in MIUI. To turn it off, go to Settings. → Memory. → Clean and deactivate the "Recommendations" option".

4. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G – the best budget with a top camera

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — It's a revolution in the budget smartphone segment. 200-megapixel camera with optical zoom 2x sensory 1/1.4" (bigger than the iPhone 13 Pro!!! and the price remained at the same level. 35 000 ₽.

Why it’s the best budget smartphone of 2026

• 📸 Camera: Basic module: 200 MP (mode) 16-into-1 for better detail) Ultrasonic: 8 MPP, 120° Macro: 2 MM (not the most useful, but there are some)
• 🔋 Battery: 5,000 mAh + 120W Charging (full charge in 21 minutes).
• 🖥️ Screen: 6.67" AMOLED with 120 Hz and peak brightness of 1800 nits.
• 🛡️ Protection: Standardized body IP68 (dust-and-water-protection).

In tests DxOMark (March 2026) Redmi Note 13 Pro+ scored 130 points per photo, which is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S22 (which cost 2 times more expensive at the release). The main drawback is the lack of an optical stabilizer in the main camera, which makes the video when moving it is slightly “shivering”.

It is also worth noting that this is the first smartphone in the segment up to 40 000. ₽ It's Dolby Vision-enabled for video, even an iPhone. SE 2022 Cannot Shoot in Dolby Vision.

Enable 200 MP in the camera settings |

Use Pro mode to manually set up ISO and shutter speed |

Activate Night Mode in Low Light |

Turn it off. HDR When shooting moving objects (to avoid artifacts)-->

5. Redmi 13C — Best smartphone up to 15,000 ₽

If your budget is limited to $15,000 ₽, But you don't want to buy outdated models, Redmi. 13C — The only sensible choice in 2026 is the most balanced budgetary with modern design, acceptable performance and record autonomy.

What does he do?

• 🔋 5000 mAh battery: With moderate use (social networks, calls, YouTube) lasts for 3 days. 18W — Not the fastest, but it's normal for this segment.
• 🖥️ 6.74" 90Hz screen: Yeah, that's not AMOLED, IPS, but with adaptive refresh rate (saving charge).
• 📸 50 MP camera: For its price shooting is not bad, but at night it is better to use Night mode.
• 🛡️ Protection IP53: It protects against dust and splashes (but not from immersion in water!).

The downside is the Helio G85 processor, which is already obsolete, and it's going to be able to handle PUBG Mobile on a medium setting, but it's not going to be powerful enough for modern games like Genshin Impact, but it's ideal for social media, calling and watching Redmi 13C videos.

The Redmi 13C is the first smartphone in its price range to support Wi-Fi 5 (up to 867 Mbps), which is 30% faster than competitors with Wi-Fi 4.

Comparison of the best smartphones Xiaomi 2026: what to choose?

To make it easier to choose, we've compiled a benchmark table for key parameters, and you can see the values in bold that indicate the best score in the category.

If you want maximum performance, take the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or POCO F6 Pro. For photography, the best choice is Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (if the budget is limited). Those looking for a compact flagship, Xiaomi 14 will suit, and for savings – Redmi 13C.

Frequent questions about Xiaomi smartphones in 2026