Which Xiaomi smartphone to choose in 2022: a detailed guide to models and characteristics

Choosing a smartphone in 2022 is not an easy task, especially if we are talking about the Xiaomi brand, which offers dozens of models in different price categories. The company continues to surprise with a combination of advanced technology and affordable prices, but how not to get lost in this variety? The flagship Mi 12 and Mi 12 Pro are competing for the title of the best Android smartphones, budget Redmi Note 11 and POCO M4 Pro promise maximum returns for minimal money, and the average Xiaomi 11T Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE Trying to find a balance between productivity and price.

In this guide, we will not just list the top models, but will help you determine priorities: what is more important - ultrafast charging, a professional camera, a gaming processor or long work without recharging? We analyzed real-world battery tests, processor benchmarks and user reviews for cameras to give honest recommendations, and we’ll also tell you which pitfalls to look for when buying Xiaomi in 2022 – from the features of the firmware. MIUI 13 to the nuances with a guarantee in Russia.

Top.-5 Xiaomi smartphones 2022 Year: A Brief Review of the Best

Let’s start with a concise rating that will help you navigate the range, we selected models that objectively lead in their price niches in terms of price / quality, taking into account current trends in 2022: support 5G, High-frequency screens and improved cameras.

• 🏆 Best flagship: Xiaomi 12 Pro – top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, camera with Sony sensor IMX707 screen 2K+ 120Hz – Perfect for photographers and gamers, but basks under load.
• 💰 Best Price/Quality Rate: Xiaomi 11T — AMOLED 120Hz, Snapdragon 888 and stereo speakers priced below 40,000 ₽. The downside is no wireless charging.
• 🎮 Best for games: POCO F4 GT — magnetic triggers, active cooling and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. 4700mAh battery with charging 120W 10+ play-hour.
• 📸 Best camera in the middle segment: Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE — 64 MP core module with Leica optics (in some regions) and stabilization. weighs only 158g!
• 💸 Best Budget: Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G — AMOLED 120Hz, Dimensity 920 and charging 120W $25,000 ₽. No competitors.

Please note: prices are indicated at the time of publication (2022 year) and may vary by region and currency exchange rates. 12 Pro stands on 20-30% In Russia, official deliveries stopped after the company left the market, but models are still available from partners and in gray imports.

Xiaomi 2022 flagships: should you overpay?

Xiaomi's flagship models 12 Xiaomi 12 Pro in 2022 The year has seen a lot of improvements, but the price has increased to 60 000–80 000 ₽. The main trump card is the Snapdragon processor 8 Gen 1, rife 20% It's more efficient than its predecessor, but it warms up more. 12 Pro with permission 3200×1440 frequency 120 Hz has become one of the best on the market, and the camera system in cooperation with Leica finally caught up with Samsung and Apple in the quality of photos.

But there are nuances:

• ⚡ Battery 12 Pro on 4600 mAch discharges for 6-7 hours of intensive use (against 8-9 watches S22 Ultra).
• 🔥 Overheating during games: the body temperature can reach 45°C, which causes trottling (a drop in productivity).
• 📦 There is no charger in the kit (you will have to buy separately for 2000-3000). ₽).

⚠️ Xiaomi 2022 flagships do not officially support encryption FBE (File-Based Encryption for some banking applications (e.g. Sberbank Online) Check compatibility with your applications before buying!

If you want maximum performance for gaming or video processing, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a great choice. 12X Snapdragon 870, which is cheaper by 25,000 ₽ And if the camera isn't a priority, pay attention to the fact that it's not a priority. POCO F4 GT — It will be cheaper, but will offer similar performance.

Mid-budget smartphones: the golden balance of price and opportunity

The middle segment is where Xiaomi has traditionally been strong. 2022 The year the leaders were Xiaomi 11T Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, offer 80-90% The flagships' capabilities at half the price, 11T screen AMOLED 120 Hz, which is not even in all top models of competitors, but 11 Lite 5G NE weight 158 d thickness 6.8 mm is one of the thinnest and lightest 5G-smartphone.

Key advantages of mid-budget Xiaomi models in 2022:

• 🔋 5000 mAh batteries with fast charging 67W–120W (Redmi Note 11 Pro+ full charge 15 minutes!).
• 📱 Screens. AMOLED with a frequency of 90-120 Hz, which previously were only flagships.
• 📡 Support 5G even models up to 30,000 ₽ (for example, POCO M4 Pro 5G).
• 🎵 Stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos (in Xiaomi) 11T The sound is not inferior to the iPhone 13).

But there are trade-offs, like Xiaomi 11 Lite. 5G NE There is no memory card slot, but Xiaomi 11T It's wireless-free, and many models in this segment are getting upgrades. MIUI less than flagships – instead of 3 years of support can be only 2 years.

Memory card slot (if needed)

Availability of NFC for contactless payments

Support for the right things 5G-ranges (in Russia important) n78 and n1)

Bluetooth version (for headphones better 5.2)+)

Guarantee service in your area-->

Xiaomi budget smartphones: what you can get for 15 000-25,000 ₽?

Budget segment in 2022 experienced a revolution: Redmi Note 11 and POCO M4 Pros offer something that only was available in the middle class 2 years ago. e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G $25,000 ₽ screened AMOLED 120 Hz, Dimensity 920 processor and charging 120W — This is faster than the iPhone 13 Pro (maximum). 27W)!

However, for a low price, you have to pay some restrictions:

• 📸 Cameras with a resolution of 108 MP (in Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) In practice, they lose even to mid-budget models due to a weak image processing processor.
• 🔄 Firmware MIUI Budget models are often “stripped” – there are no features, such as Always-on Display or advanced camera settings.
• 🛡️ The case is made of plastic (instead of glass or metal), which makes the smartphone less premium to the touch.

If your budget is strictly limited, the Redmi Note 11 (without the "Pro") is for $18,000. ₽ It's the best choice: Snapdragon 680, 90 Hz screen and 5,000 mAh battery for 2 days of operation. POCO M4 Pro 5G Dimensity 810 will cost $22,000 ₽ And pull most modern games on the medium settings.

Xiaomi gaming smartphones: POCO F4 GT alternatives

For gamers in 2022 Xiaomi released POCO F4 GT — Smartphone with magnetic triggers (like Asus) ROG Phone), active cooling and Snapdragon processor 8 Gen 1. Unique feature - physical buttons L1/R1, They're going to be able to pull out of the body and simulate a gamepad. PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile is a great advantage.

Characteristics POCO F4 GT, gamer-hard:

• 🎮 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with clock speeds up to 3.0 GHz and Adreno 730 graphics.
• 🔥 Cooling system with steam chamber and fan (rare for smartphones!).
• 🔋 4700mAh battery with charging 120W — full charge 17 minutes.
• 🖥️ Screen 6.67" AMOLED 120 Hz with support HDR10+ and tactile recoil 480 Hz.

The main competitor is Black Shark 5 Pro (also from Xiaomi, but under a different brand), which offers similar specs, but with better ergonomics for long gaming sessions. POCO F4 GT Wins at a price: 45,000 ₽ 60,000 ₽ Black Shark.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi gaming smartphones are often blocked in some banking applications (such as Tinkoff or VTB) due to root rights or uncertified firmware!

Xiaomi 2022 cameras: what has changed?

In 2022, Xiaomi finally stopped chasing megapixels and focused on image processing quality.The flagship Xiaomi 12 Pro got a camera developed in conjunction with Leica, which gave:

• 📷 More natural color reproduction (Xiaomi sinned excessive saturation earlier).
• 🌓 Improved low-light shooting thanks to Sony sensor IMX707 size 1/1.28".
• 🎥 Video in the video 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps supportive HDR10+.

However, even in 2022, Xiaomi cameras are losing the Google Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 in portrait processing and night photography. For example, in tests DxOMark Xiaomi 12 Pro scored 137 points against 144 iPhone 13 Pro Max.

• 🔍 Autofocus sometimes “misses” when shooting moving objects.
• 🌈 Artifacts at high dynamic range (for example, illuminated sky against dark objects).
• 📏 Ultra-wide module distorts the edges of the frame more than competitors.

If the camera is your priority but the budget is limited, consider Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. Despite a modest 64 MP, it shoots better than many flagships of 2020 thanks to software processing and optical stabilization. and for a selfie, Xiaomi Civi with a front camera 32 MP and autofocus is a rarity for smartphones.

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To improve the quality of photos on Xiaomi, turn off the mode "AI-It often overstates saturation and contrast, making the images look unnatural. Instead, use the Manual Mode with white balance and exposure settings.

Autonomy and charging: Which Xiaomi smartphones hold longer?

V 2022 Xiaomi has set a new standard for fast charging: Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G supportive 120W, This allows you to charge the battery on 100% post 15 For comparison, iPhone. 13 Pro Max with 27W charge 1.5 But the flip side is that these high currents reduce the battery life. 500 Charging cycles battery capacity falls on 20-25% (against 15-18% smartphone 30W).

Leaders in autonomy in the line of Xiaomi 2022:

Tips for extending the life of the battery:

1. Turn it off. 5G, If not, the module will be used for 15-20% more energy than 4G.
2. Use a dark theme and reduce the brightness of the screen to 60-70%. AMOLED-The dark screens save up to 30% charge.
3. Turn off background activity for applications in Battery settings → Optimization.
4. Avoid full discharge and charging before 100%. Optimal range — 20-80%.

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Smartphones with a 5000 mAh battery and a screen frequency of 90 Hz (for example, POCO M4 Pro 5G) The models will live longer than the 4500mAh and 120Hz models (Xiaomi 12 Pro), even with the same capacity.

MIUI 13 and firmware: what has changed in 2022?

In 2022, Xiaomi released MIUI 13, which brought welcome improvements:

• ⚡ Reduced RAM consumption by 15-20% (Now, the Redmi Note 11 s 4 GB RAM works smoother).
• 🔒 Improved privacy: Incognito mode for applications (hiding notifications and access to microphone/camera).
• 🎨 New widgets and animations, close to iOS 15.
• 🔋 Optimized battery consumption in the background (increase in autonomy up to 10%).

But there are old problems:

• 🗑️ Garbage apps: Even after resetting to factory settings, pre-installed services remain (e.g. Mi Browser or Mi Video).
• 📱 No updates: budget models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Only receive 1 major update MIUI.
• 🔓 Vulnerabilities: in 2022, in MIUI 3 critical vulnerabilities were found that allow remote code execution.

If you are buying Xiaomi in 2022, consider:

⚠️ Note: After the withdrawal of Xiaomi from the Russian market official updates MIUI Check for global firmware (Global) ROM) For your model, it is supported longer than regional versions (Russia) ROM china ROM).

For advanced users, there is an alternative, custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, which is devoid of advertising and junk apps, but requires unlocking the bootloader, which cancels the warranty.

1 Unlock bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Xiaomi account).


2.Install TWRP Recovery: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img




3.Sweeten custom firmware through ADB: adb sideload rom.zip

FAQ: Frequent questions when choosing a Xiaomi smartphone 2022 year