Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2022 is not an easy task. The brand has released more than 20 models, from budget Redmi to premium Mi and Black Shark for gamers. Each line is focused on different needs: someone cares about a camera at the level of flagships, someone is looking for maximum autonomy, and still others want a balanced device for reasonable money. In this guide, we will analyze the current models of 2022 release (rather than the remains of warehouses of 2021) and help determine which Xiaomi is right for you.
It's important to understand that even within the same price segment, devices can be radically different. For example, Xiaomi 12 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G cost about the same, but the first is the flagship with the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and the second is an improved "laptop" with a focus on display and battery. We will analyze the key selection criteria, compare models by characteristics and give recommendations for different use cases.
Spoiler: If you want the best Xiaomi of 2022 without compromise, it will be the Xiaomi 12S Ultra with a Leica camera and a ceramic body. But for 90% of users, it is redundant - and we'll tell you what alternatives are worth considering.
Criteria for choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2022
Before you go to specific models, decide what is most important to you. Here are the key parameters to look at:
- 📱 Processor and performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (flagships), Dimensity 9000 (alternative), Snapdragon 778G (middle class, Helio G96 (For games and heavy tasks, only use top-end chips.
- 📸 Camera: Megapixel count is not important. Optical stabilization, sensor size is important (1/1.28" bal 12S Ultra vs 1/2" Support for corporate algorithms (for example, Leica Authentic Look).
- 🔋 Battery and charging: In 2022, even budget models get support 33W fast charging, and flagships — 120W (But remember, the more powerful the charge, the faster the battery degrades.
- 🖥️ Screen: AMOLED 120Hz has become the standard for models from 30,000 ₽. There are still budget segments. IPS-90Hz matrix.
- 📶 Connection: All 2022 models support 5G, But in budget lines (Redmi 10) ranges can be cut. N78 (Russian Standard).
Note the software support: Xiaomi promises 3 years of updates for flagships and 2 years for budget models.This means that the Redmi Note 11 will no longer receive security updates as early as 2026, while the Xiaomi 12 will be relevant until 2026.
⚠️ Note: In 2022, Xiaomi began actively blocking the bootloader on new models, which means that unlocking custom firmware (such as LineageOS) has become more difficult and requires official permission through the Mi Unlock Tool. If you are interested in customization, check this point before buying.
TOP-3 flagship Xiaomi 2022: comparison of characteristics
Xiaomi flagship models in 2022 are represented by the Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 12S lines. The latter came out in the second half of the year and received improved cameras, processors and cooling system.
| Model | Processor | Screen. | Main camera. | Battery/charge | Price (at the end of 2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 12S Ultra | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | 6.73" AMOLED, 120 Hz, 2K | 50 MP (1) + 48 MP (5x zoom) + 48 MP (ultrashirk), Leica | 4860 mAh / 67W (wireless), 50W (wireless) | ~90 000 ₽ |
| Xiaomi 12 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 6.73" AMOLED, 120 Hz, 2K | 50 MP + 50 MP (2x zoom) + 50 MP (ultrashire) | 4600 mAh / 120W (wired), 50W (wireless) | ~70 000 ₽ |
| Xiaomi 12 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 6.28" AMOLED, 120 Hz, FHD+ | 50 MP + 13 MP (ultrashir) + 5 MP (telephoto) | 4500 mAh / 67W (wireless), 50W (wireless) | ~55 000 ₽ |
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the best smartphone of 2022 not only among the brand’s devices, but also in the market as a whole. Its camera with a 1-inch sensor (like professional soapboxes) and Leica optics beats even the iPhone 13 Pro Max in most tests. However, the model has two significant disadvantages: huge dimensions (225 g of weight) and a price comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is a more balanced option. It lost in the camera (no Leica brand optimization), but won in charging speed (120W vs 67W at Ultra), which is suitable for those who want flagship specs, but are not willing to overpay for the “ultra” version.
⚠️ Attention: All flagships Xiaomi 2022 warm under load due to the processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. 12S Ultra partially solved this problem due to improved cooling, but in Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro trottling (reset frequencies) is noticeable after 15-20 minutes of games. 💡If you need a flagship for gaming, consider Black Shark 5 Pro - it's built on the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 but has physical triggers and active cooling.The best mid-range smartphones (20,000-40,000) ₽) The mid-segment is the middle ground, where price-performance ratios often prove to be better than flagships.In 2022, Xiaomi updated its Redmi lineups. K50 and POCO F4, which offer top-end performance for half the cost of flagships. 🏆 Redmi K50 Pro: Dimensity 9000 (similar to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1), 120W charging, 108 MP main camera. the best choice for gamers in this segment. 📸 Xiaomi 11T Pro: Snapdragon 888 (Flagship 2021), 120W Charging, 108 MP camera with Zeiss optics. K50 Pro at a lower price. 🔋 POCO F4 GT: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Magnetic Triggers for Games, 120W Essentially a re-embodyed Black Shark without a logo. 💰 Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G: Dimensity 920, 120Hz AMOLED, 108 MP camera, best laptop in 2022 for price/quality ratio, if you want the best balanced smartphone for 30,000-35,000 ₽, Take Redmi. K50 Pro. He's bypassing Xiaomi. 11T Pro in performance and supports more modern communication standards (5G SA). If the camera is more important than games, pay attention to Xiaomi. 11T Pro – Optimize with Zeiss to give more natural colors than Redmi. POCO F4 GT — It's a niche device for gamers. Its pros: physical trigger buttons (like Black Shark), powerful cooling and a top-end CPU.Cons: weak front camera (20 MP without autofocus) and mediocre display (no support) HDR10+). Refining the processor version (e.g. Dimensity) 9000 vs Dimensity 8100) Check support 5G-The range of your area (especially your area) N78 For example, pay attention to the type of screen (AMOLED preferably IPS) Find out about global firmware availability (China models may not have Google Services) --> Budget smartphones Xiaomi 2022: What to pay attention to the Budget Segment (<15 000 ₽) into 2022 The year is mainly represented by Redmi lines. 10 and POCO M4. Here you can no longer expect record performance or supercameras, but for this money you can get a smartphone with a high-performance camera. 90 Hz screen, 5000 A battery and a good main camera. The main compromises of budget Xiaomi: 🔄 Processors: Helio G88, Helio G96 Snapdragon 680 – enough for social networks and easy games, but not for Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile at high settings. 📷 Cameras: The main module is usually 50 MP or 48 MP, but without optical stabilization. 🔋 Charging: Maximum 33W (Redmi Note 11, but more often 18W. Full charge takes 1.5-2 hours. 🖥️ Screens: IPS 90 Hz (in) POCO M4 Pro) or 60 Hz (in base Redmi 10). AMOLED Best budget models of 2022: Redmi Note 11 - price-performance balance: Snapdragon 680, 90 Hz AMOLED, 5,000 mAh. POCO M4 Pro 5G — the only public sector 5G Dimensity 810 for ~15 000 ₽. Redmi 10 2022 is the cheapest version with Helio G88 And it's a 5,000mAh battery (but a 60Hz screen). LTE-range. Like Redmi. 10 The global market does not work with B20 (800 MHz, which uses the body2 Check compatibility with your carrier on FrequencyCheck before buying. What are the differences between the Chinese and global versions? Global versions (with the Global mark) have Google Services preinstalled and support for all LTE/5G-Chinese versions of the ranges (CN) It doesn’t work without Google Play, but it’s often cheaper. 10–15%. They can be reflashed on global firmware, but this voids the warranty and requires unlocking the bootloader. Xiaomi for photos: which model to choose in the 2022 If the camera is your top priority, then 2022 Xiaomi has three good options: Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the absolute leader with a sensor 1" (like Sony RX100 VII), Leica optics and support 8K Perfect for a professional shoot. Xiaomi 12 Pro – a more compact alternative with a good main camera (50 MPP, 1/1.28"), But without Leica's branded optimization. 11T Pro – budget flagship with a camera Zeiss (108 This is for those who are not willing to pay for it. 12S Ultra, but wants high-quality photos. For comparison, we'll give you examples of images in different conditions: Daylight model (details) New shooting (noise)/ISO) Portrait (Blurring background) 12S Ultra ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (classmate) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Minimum noise thanks to a large sensor) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Accurate segmentation thanks to Leica) 12 Pro ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ (It is worse than Ultra, but better than its competitors) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 11T Pro ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ (loudspeak ISO > 3200) ⭐⭐⭐ (If you are interested in video shooting, pay attention to Xiaomi 12S Ultra - he supports 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps with stabilization. 12 Pro and 11T Pro maximum resolution video — 4K@30fps digitally stabilized. 💡For better results when shooting on Xiaomi, turn off the mode AI in camera settings - it often overstates saturation and spoils natural colors. - Xiaomi for games: Black Shark vs. POCO For gamers in 2022 Xiaomi offers three main options: 🎮 Black Shark 5 Pro is a specialized gaming smartphone with physical triggers, active cooling and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. 🕹️ POCO F4 GT — same Black Shark, but without a logo and with stripped down software (no gamer launcher). 📱 Redmi K50 Gaming is a simplified version with Dimensity 9000 and passive cooling. Compare them by key parameters for games: Model Processor Cooling Screen Triggers Black Shark 5 Pro Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Active (fan) 6.67" AMOLED, 144 Hz Physical (2)×) 4650 mAh, 120W POCO F4 GT Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Active (fan) 6.67" AMOLED, 120 Hz Magnetic (2)×) 4700 mAh, 120W Redmi K50 Gaming Dimensity 9000 Passive (graphite plates) 6.67" OLED, 120 Hz Virtual (on screen) 4700 mAh, 67W Key findings: For hardcore gamers, the Black Shark 5 Pro is definitely the best cooling and the real physical buttons. If you want a gaming smartphone but no game design, take it. POCO F4 GT — He's the same Black Shark, but in a regular enclosure. K50 Gaming is a compromise option for those who want a powerful processor, but are not ready to overpay for gamer "chips." Note: all Xiaomi gaming smartphones are warm under the load. Even Black Shark 5 Pro with Active Cooling Warms to 45-47°C after an hour of games. This is normal for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but may be uncomfortable with long sessions. Which Xiaomi to buy in 2022: scenario recommendations Let's sum up and give specific recommendations depending on your needs: 💎 Premium without compromise: Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the best camera, top screen, ceramic case. 🎯 Balanced flagship: Xiaomi 12 Pro – slightly inferior to Ultra, but cheaper and more compact. 🎮 For games: Black Shark 5 Pro (if you need a "game" design) or POCO F4 GT (if the usual appearance is important). 📸 For photo: Xiaomi 12S Ultra (pro) or Xiaomi 11T Pro (budgetary version). 🔋 Maximum autonomy: Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G — 5,000 mAh + 120W charging. 💰 Budget up to 15,000 ₽: POCO M4 Pro 5G (if necessary 5G) Redmi Note 11 (if important) AMOLED screen). 👨💼 To work: Xiaomi 12 is compact, with good screen and performance. If you choose between two models, pay attention to support for updates. For example, Xiaomi 12 will receive updates until 2026, and Redmi Note 11 will only receive updates until 2026. This can be critical if you plan to use your smartphone for longer than 2 years. 💡In 2022, Xiaomi began to actively use ceramic cases in flagships (12S That's a plus for premiums, but a minus for maintainability -- replacing the back costs 10 to 15 percent of the cost of a smartphone. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) 🔹 Which Xiaomi is best to buy in 2022 for gaming?For games in 2022, the best choice is Black Shark 5 Pro thanks to physical triggers, active cooling and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor — POCO F4 GT (The same "iron" set, but without game design). If your budget is tight, consider Redmi. K50 Gaming with Dimensity 9000. 🔹 Should I Buy Xiaomi? 12S Ultra in 2022? Yes, if you want the best camera on the market and you're willing to put up with a huge size (225g) and price tag. ~90 000 ₽. For most users, Xiaomi 12 Pro or even Xiaomi 11T Pros will be a more rational choice – they are cheaper and more compact with minimal losses in the quality of shooting. 🔹 Xiaomi with a good camera to buy up to 30,000 ₽? In this budget, the best option is Xiaomi. 11T Pro (if you find a share) or Redmi K50 Both models are equipped with 108 MP cameras, but the 11T Pro is an optimization from Zeiss, which gives you more natural colors. POCO F4 GT, But his camera is weaker. 🔹 What's different about Redmi, POCO These are Xiaomi sub-brands that target different audiences: Xiaomi are flagship and premium models (e.g., Xiaomi). 12S Ultra). Redmi is a mid-range and budget segment (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+). POCO is a smartphone for enthusiasts (high performance at a low price, for example, POCO F4 GT); Black Shark is a gamer device with active cooling and triggers. There is also Xiaomi Civi - a line for slim housings, focus on the front camera.