What Xiaomi Redmi to buy in 2021: ranking of the best models by price and characteristics

Choosing a smartphone in 2021 is not an easy task, especially when it comes to the Xiaomi Redmi line. The brand offers dozens of models with different chipsets, cameras and design, and prices vary from 10 to 40 thousand rubles. But how not to make a mistake and not overpay for unnecessary functions? We analyzed all the current Redmi released in 2020-2021, and selected the 7 best options for different budgets and tasks – from budget “calls” to flagship killers.

In this guide, you will find not only dry specs, but also real use cases, pitfalls of each model and tips on how to save without losing quality. AMOLED-Is it cheaper than many of the competitors' mid-range smartphones with a screen and a 108MP camera? 9T With a 6,000mAh battery, will it last 2 times longer than the iPhone 12 when you watch video.

If you’re already on a budget, use our comparison table below to help you navigate the key parameters quickly, and don’t forget to take a survey at the end of the section: your experience will help other readers!

1.What budget is considered optimal for Redmi in 2021?

In 2021, the Xiaomi Redmi line covers all price niches - from 8 000 to 35 000 rubles. But there are golden rules that will help you not to overpay:

• 💰 Up to 12,000. ₽ — Budget models for calls, instant messengers and simple games (Redmi) 9A, Redmi 9C). Here you can expect miracles from the camera or performance is not worth it, but for elderly relatives or a second phone - ideal.
• 📱 12 000–20 000 ₽ — Best price/quality ratio. In this niche, Redmi Note 10 redmi 9T offer 4/64 GB of memory, good screens and batteries on 5000–6000 Mach is suitable for games on medium settings and shooting photos during the day.
• 🎮 20 000–28 000 ₽ — top-end Redmi AMOLED, 90/120 Hz and cameras on 48–108 MP (Note) 10 Pro, K40). Here you can already talk about the semi-flagship level: these smartphones pull Genshin Impact at high settings and shoot video in the video. 4K.
• 💎 From 28,000. ₽ — Redmi K40 Pro and similar models with Snapdragon 870, which are not inferior to the flagships of Samsung or OnePlus, but are 30-40% cheaper.

Critical moment: in 2021, Xiaomi began to actively inflate the prices of new models (for example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro in Russia sold more expensive than in Europe). ₽!

⚠️ If you want a smartphone exclusively for gaming, look for models with Snapdragon chipsets. 732G (Note 10 Pro or Snapdragon 860/870 (K40). Mediatek Helio G85/G95 (redmi 9T/Note 9T) weakly 20–30% In the case of Call of Duty Mobile.

2. TOP-3 budget Redmi up to 15 000 ₽: what to buy 2021?

Budget smartphones Xiaomi in the 2021 And in the year, it's not a soapbox with a plastic case and a weak iron. 10 000 ₽ We can find a model with 4/64 GB memory, 5000 The main thing is to know what to close your eyes on.

What to choose?

• 📞 If you need the cheapest phone for calls and social networks, take Redmi. 9A, But immediately buy a memory card for 64-128 GB (built-in will not be enough even for 10 applications).
• 💳 If contactless payments are important (NFC) — only Redmi 9C. It's rare for public sector workers!
• 🎥 For viewing videos and rare photos, Redmi 9S is optimal FHD+ But don't expect him to take a good picture in the dark.

⚠️ Attention! In the budget Redmi 2021, there is a frequent problem with the autobrightness of the screen - it works incorrectly on the weak hardware. → Display. → Autobrightness).

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Before buying a budget Redmi, check if the model supports the model. LTE It's in the ranges of your operator. 9A It does not work with the 800 MHz Band 20, which uses Tele2 in some regions.

3.The best middle-class Redmis (15000-25,000) ₽): Comparison of Note 10 and 9T

The mid-budget segment is the middle ground, where Xiaomi offers the most returns for money.

• 🔋 5000–6,000 mAh batteries with fast charging support for 18–33W;
• 📸 48-64 MP cameras with night mode;
• 🎮 Snapdragon chipsets 6xx/7xx, who will draw modern games;
• 🖥️ Screens. FHD+ 90 Hz frequency (in top models).

The leaders in this niche in 2021 were Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi 9T. We'll take them down in detail.

Redmi Note 10 Pro: the flagship killer for 25 000 ₽

This model became a real hit of 2021 thanks to:

• 📱 AMOLED-120Hz screen and support HDR10 (rareness);
• 📷 The main camera at 108 MP (although the real resolution when shooting is 12-27 MP due to binning pixels);
• ⚡ Snapdragon chipset 732G, It is 30% more powerful than Helio. G95 redmi 9T;
• 🔋 Battery at 5020 mAh with 33W Charging (charged up to 100% in 1 hour).

Pitfalls:

• ❌ No support. 5G (In 2021, this is not critical, but in 2-3 years it may become a problem);
• ❌ A plastic case that gets scratched and stained;
• ❌ MIUI 12 with a bunch of ads (you have to manually turn off).

Redmi 9T: Best battery for your money

If you need a smartphone that will last 2-3 days without recharging, Redmi 9T — Your choice, his key pieces:

• 🔋 6000 mAh battery is the most capacious in the line of Redmi 2021;
• 📷 Four cameras: 48 MP (main) + 8 MP (width) + 2 MP (macro) + 2 MP (depth);
• 🎮 Snapdragon 662 chipset is weaker than Note 10 Pro, but enough for the PUBG Mobile on Medium Settings;
• 📡 Support NFC and IR-port (you can control the equipment as a remote control).

Who's good for?

• 🚗 Travels a lot and can’t charge your phone often;
• 📸 Wants to shoot a video in 4K@30fps (note 10 Pro only Full Pro HD@60fps);
• 💼 Looking for a smartphone with maximum autonomy for minimal money (from 16,990) ₽).

4. Flagship Redmi 2021: is it worth overpaying for K40 and K40 Pro?

Redmi lineup K40 — This is Xiaomi’s answer to the flagships of Samsung Galaxy S21 And the OnePlus 9, but at a price of 30-50% lower. In 2021, three models were released:

1. Redmi K40 (Snapdragon 870, 120Hz AMOLED, 27,990 ₽);
2. Redmi K40 Pro (Snapdragon 888, 108 MP camera, from 34,990) ₽);
3. Redmi K40 Gaming (Mediatek Dimensity 1200, 67W charging, from 32,990 ₽).

What are they better than regular Redmis?

• 🚀 Performance: Snapdragon 870/888 overtakes Snapdragon 732G (note 10 Pro) in 2–3 times-in-time;
• 📷 Cameras: the main module at 48-108 MP with optics from Sony or Samsung;

But there are downsides:

⚠️ Attention, Redmi's flagship K40 In 2021, they did not have official support. 5G This means that even with the Snapdragon 888 (which supports the 5G) You will not be able to use the Megaphone network. 5G or MTS 5G Check the relevance of the information before buying!

Who needs it? K40?

• 🎮 Gamers: Snapdragon 870 and 120 Hz screen will provide smooth gameplay in Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile at maximum settings;
• 📸 Photographers: K40 Pro with 108-MP camera shoots no worse than the iPhone 11 in good lighting;

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If you don't need it. 5G And a super-powerful chipset, Redmi Note 10 Pro for 25 000 ₽ 90% of the opportunities K40 for 8,000 ₽ Flagship Redmis in 2021 are only justified for enthusiasts or those planning to use a smartphone 3+ year-end.

5.Redmi for games in 2021: which chipset to choose?

If gaming is your priority, the chipset is the key to choosing Redmi, and Xiaomi used the following processors in its smartphones in 2021:

• 🏆 Flagship level: Snapdragon 870/888 (K40 Pro – for maximum settings in any game; Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (K40 Gaming - slightly weaker SD 888, but with better cooling.
• 🥈 Middle class: Snapdragon 732G (Note 10 Pro – Optimal for the PUBG Mobile on high settings; Helio G95 (Redmi 10X) — Budget option for easy games.
• 🥉 Budget segment: Helio G80/G85 (Redmi 9/9T) — Clash Royale or Brawl Stars only; Snapdragon 662 (Redmi 9 Power is a little better, but still weak for modern games.

Performance test (FPS into PUBG Mobile):

Choice Tips for Gamers:

Play Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile? → Needed. SD 870/888 or Dimensity 1200

Long-term autonomy is important? → Take a model with a battery of 5000 mAh and fast charging 30W+

Play 4.+ day-day? → Pay attention to the cooling system (in the K40 Gaming has liquid cooling)

You want to save money? → Redmi Note 10 Pro with a SD 732G — Best Price/Performance Balance-->

6.Cameras in Redmi 2021: Myths and Reality

Xiaomi marketing likes to talk about "108-megapixel cameras" and "professional shooting," but in practice, it's not so rosy.

• 📊 Megapixels. ≠ Quality: Redmi Note 10 Pro has a 108 MP camera, but the real photo resolution is 12 MP (due to the combination of pixels).For comparison: iPhone 12 shoots at 12 MP, but due to better processing wins Xiaomi;
• 🌃 Night mode: Only K40 Pro and Note 10 Pros have normal night mode. in budget Redmi 9/9T shooting in the dark is "soap";
• 🎥 Video: Most of Redmi 2021 videotape 4K@30fps (except K40 Pro 8K@24fps). Stabilization works badly - for video blogging better sideways POCO X3 Pro;
• 🔍 Macro and the Wide Angle: In Cheap Models (Redmi) 9A) Additional cameras are "software" modules at 2 MP, which do not give real benefit.

Redmi 2021 Camera Rankings (from Best to Worst)

1. Redmi K40 Pro (108 MP), Samsung HM2, night-time, 8K video);
2. Redmi Note 10 Pro (108 MP, but weak photo processing)
3. Redmi K40 Gaming (64MP), Sony IMX686, stabilizing);
4. Redmi 9T (48 MP, acceptable by day, bad by night);
5. Redmi 9A/9C (13 MP, only for document scans).

Examples of photos (day/night):

7.Where to buy Redmi in 2021: Official Stores vs AliExpress

In 2021, Xiaomi customers had three main options where to buy a smartphone:

• 🏬 Official Mi Store Store: ✅ 12-24 month warranty; ✅ Russian firmware (MIUI Global); ✅ Exchange/refund within 14 days. ❌ Cons: prices are overpriced by 10-20% compared to AliExpress.
• 🌍 AliExpress (official sellers): ✅ Price down by 3,000-8,000 ₽; ✅ There are often promotions (such as 11.11 sales or Black Friday);