Which Xiaomi is best to take in 2022: a complete guide to models

Choosing a new smartphone in the current environment is not just about buying a gadget, but finding the optimal balance between performance, cost and relevance of technology. The market is saturated with offers, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the dozens of modifications that have come out over the past 12 months, and it is the question of which Xiaomi should take in 2022 that worries most users planning an upgrade.

This year, the Chinese giant has been betting on separating the lines, offering solutions for everything from budget callers to powerful gaming stations, and we've analyzed the specs, the feedback from real owners and the test scores to help you decide.

Next you will find a detailed analysis of categories, technical nuances and hidden features of popular models that will help you make an informed decision.

Flagship Solutions: Power and Technology

If the budget is not enough, you should pay attention to devices with top-end processors. In 2022, the de facto standard for the premium segment became the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. These smartphones offer better performance, superior cameras and quality screens.

But remember that high performance is often accompanied by high power consumption, flags require careful attention to cooling and build quality, and not every expensive device will be ideal for your use cases.

When choosing a leader, it is important to consider not only hardware, but also optimizing the MIUI 13 shell (or newer), and the stability of the interface is often more important than a couple of extra thousand points in synthetic tests.

⚠️ Note: When buying flagship models, pay attention to the version of the processor. In some regions, modifications with a less efficient communication modem may be supplied.

Middle Class: The Middle Ages for Most

The most popular segment of the market is smartphones that cost a lot of money but don’t feel like plastic toys, where the Snapdragon 7 and Dimensity processors rule the ball, and it’s in this category that the most common dilemma is: which Xiaomi should you take to avoid overpaying?

Middle-class devices in 2022 got features that were previously the lot of the elite: AMOLED-120Hz screens, 67W fast charging, and even optical camera stabilization.

• 📱 Screen: Most models have Gorilla Glass Victus or similar protection.
• 🔋 Battery: Standard (capacity) has grown to 5000 mAh even in compact enclosures.
• 📸 Camera: Samsung sensors appeared GW1 64MP resolution and higher.

Buying a device in this category gives you 90% of the top for 60% of the price, and it's the most rational investment for the average user who doesn't do professional mobile photography or eSports.

Budget segment: Redmi and Poco

Redmi Note and Poco M/X have traditionally been the top sellers, offering incredible value in 2022, often answering the question of which phone to pick up or as a second device.

It's important to not chase the maximum number of megapixels in the camera. In public sector, the matrix is often weak, and 108 MP can shoot worse than 13 MP on a flagship.

Look for models with UFS 2.2 or higher memory, as this directly affects the speed of opening applications. eMMC cheap memory in 2022 is a guarantee of slow operation after six months of use.

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In the budget segment, the priority should be the clean performance of the processor, not the design of the back cover or the number of camera stubs.

Gaming smartphones: stable FPS and cooling

Not only is peak power critical for mobile gamers, but the ability of the processor to keep its frame rates high for long periods of time. The Poco brand (F and X series) in 2022 established itself as a “flagship killer” in gaming disciplines.

The cooling system is becoming a key factor here, and unlike conventional smartphones, gaming models often have an increased evaporation chamber area and special graphene pads, which avoids the screen brightness and processor frequency reset during a match.

And you also need to pay attention to the presence of an IR port and a quality vibrator, which creates immersion and makes the control more responsive, and the average user may not notice them, but the gamer will appreciate them.

⚠️ Warning: Gaming smartphones often have stripped down camera functionality.If you plan to shoot a lot, make sure the main module has optical stabilization.

Comparison of technical characteristics

To structure information and understand which Xiaomi is best for specific tasks in 2022, a summary table can be used to quickly map the key parameters of popular lines.

As you can see from the chart, the performance gap is significant, but it's justified by the price: for social networks and navigators, the first column is enough, whereas for graphics you need a third.

What to Consider When Choosing

Before you go to the store or place an order online, make a list of priorities. There is no universal advice on which model to choose, since each user has his or her own set of requirements.

Decide on the diagonal of the screen. Gigantomania is still trending in 2022, but there are also handy compact models, and if you use your phone with one hand often, large shovels can be uncomfortable.

Also critical is the availability of service centers in your city, because the brand is very popular, but parts for rare models can take a long time, and the popularity of the model is a guarantee of availability of repairs.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions