Xiaomi 2023: which smartphone to choose – flagship, average or budget?

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2023 has become more difficult than ever: the company has released more than 20 models, from ultra-budget Redmi to premium Xiaomi 13 Ultra. At the same time, the difference in price between devices of the same line can reach 50,000 rubles, and the functionality is radically different. How not to overpay for unnecessary chips and not lose with performance? This article will help you understand.

We have analyzed all current models of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, The two were launched in 2022-2023 and divided them into 5 categories for their intended purpose, from gaming smartphones to photography devices, with a focus on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Dimensity 9200 chips, which became the standard for flagships in 2023, as well as new camera sensors with support for Leica. If you need specific recommendations, use the comparison table at the end of the article or FAQ-block.

1. Xiaomi 2023 flagships: what to overpay for?

The flagship models Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra and Mix Fold 3 are not just top specs, but also unique chips that are not in the middle segment. For example, the 1-inch sensor Sony IMX989 in Xiaomi 13 Ultra provides photo quality comparable to mirrorless, and the foldable Mix Fold 3 received a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

But do the average user need these innovations? Here are the key differences between the 2023 flagships and the models of the past:

• 📸 Cameras with Leica optics: profile shooting modes (for example, Leica Authentic Look and Vibrant), manual aperture adjustment and shutter speeds directly in the standard application.
• 🔋 Fast charging. 120W+: Full charge in 18-25 minutes (Xiaomi 13 Pro — 120W, 13 Ultra — 90W, wirelessly 50W).
• 🎮 Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is 35% more powerful than its predecessor, and the cooling system with a steam camera prevents trottling in games.
• 🖥️ Screens. 2K+: AMOLED Dolby Vision supported, up to 1900 nits brightness and adaptive frequency of 1-120 Hz.

But there are pitfalls, too: Xiaomi 13 Ultra weighs 227 grams, which is heavier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max (240 grams without a case), and a foldable Mix Fold 3 costs from 120,000 rubles, which is comparable to the price of a laptop.

⚠️ Xiaomi 2023 flagships are not officially supported 5G-network in Russia due to restrictions on Qualcomm chips. 5G, Consider models on Dimensity (e.g. Redmi) K60 Pro).

2. Mid-segment: Best Price/Quality Balance

If you are looking for a smartphone with a good camera, performance for games and a price of up to 40 000 rubles, look for Xiaomi 12T Pro, Redmi K60 and POCO F5 Pro.

• 📱 Screens. AMOLED 120 Hz (in) POCO F5 Pro - even with support HDR10+).
• 🔥 Snapdragon 8 chips+ Gen 1 or Dimensity 8200 – this is enough for Genshin Impact at maximum settings.
• 📷 Main camera 108-200 MP (in Xiaomi) 12T Pro – Samsung sensor ISOCELL HM6, as in the flagships of 2022).

The main advantage of the mid-segment is long-term support for updates. For example, Xiaomi 12T Pro will receive 3 major Android updates and 4 years of security, while budget Redmis are usually limited to 2 years.

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If you want maximum autonomy, choose the Redmi K60 – it has a battery of 5500 mAh against 5000 mAh competitors.

3 Budget smartphones: what you can buy up to 20,000 ₽

In 2023, even for 15 000-20 000 rubles, you can buy a smartphone with a smartphone AMOLED-screen, 5G The main players in this segment are the Redmi Note 12 Pro.+, POCO X5 Pro and Redmi 12.

The key compromises of budget models:

• ⚡ Chipsets: Snapdragon 695 or Dimensity 1080 – this is enough for social networks and easy games, but not for Call of Duty Mobile at the maximum.
• 📸 Cameras: high resolution (108 MT) does not guarantee quality - sensors are small (1/1.67"), A software processing often overdoses.
• 🔋 Charging: 67W Redmi Note 12 Pro+ vs 33W into POCO X5 Pro – the difference in charging speed is almost 2 times.

If you want the cheapest smartphone with AMOLED, Take the Redmi Note 12 Pro (price from 18,000) ₽). If autonomy is the priority, then POCO M5s with a battery of 5000 mAh and Helio G99.

⚠️ Note: In budget Xiaomi often save on the NFS-chip UFS 2.2 instead UFS This means that applications will load 20-30% longer and cache will be cleaned more often.

4.Gaming smartphones: POCO vs Black Shark

For gamers in 2023, two lines are relevant: POCO F5/F5 Pro and Black Shark 5/5 Pro. The first are universal devices with an emphasis on performance, the second are specialized gaming devices with physical triggers and active cooling.

Comparison of key models:

The big question is, do you need physical buttons? If you do, you can have Black Shark. If you don't, the POCO F5 Pro is winning in performance and screen.

5.Smartphones for photography: Leica vs Samsung

In 2023, Xiaomi bet on collaborating with Leica, and now even mid-budget models (like the Xiaomi 13 Lite) get branded color profiles.

Compare the cameras in the top models:

• 📷 Xiaomi 13 Ultra: 1-inch sensor (like Sony) RX100 VII), Leica optics, 6x periscope.
• 📷 Xiaomi 13 Pro: 50 MP (Sony) IMX707) variable-diaphragm f/1.9–f/4.0.
• 📷 Redmi Note 12 Pro+: 200 MP (Samsung) ISOCELL HPX), but without optical stabilization.

For professional shooting definitely worth taking Xiaomi 13 Ultra - its cameras are not inferior to the iPhone 14 Pro in the daytime and superior in night scenes thanks to a large sensor. ~30 000 ₽).

View examples of photos on DxOMark or GSMArena|

Check for optical stabilization (OIS) |

Make sure there is a manual mode (RAW, shutter speed, ISO)|

Pay attention to the front camera (important for a selfie)-->

6.Foldable smartphones: Mix Fold 3 vs competitors

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is the first foldable smartphone of the company, which can be recommended for purchase without reservations. Unlike the Mix Fold 2, the new model received:

• 📱 External screen 6.56" (Fold 2 did not have it).
• 🔋 Battery 4800 mAh with charging 67W (4500mAh vs. Fold 2).
• 🎮 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset: Fold 2 had Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1).

The main disadvantage is the price: from 120 000 rubles. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is worth ~150 000 ₽, But it has better software optimization for multitasking.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi foldable smartphones are not officially sold in Russia.When buying through dealers, you lose your warranty and risk getting a device with Chinese firmware.

7. Which Xiaomi to choose in 2023: the final recommendation

Here is a short guide to choosing:

• 💰 Budget up to 20,000 ₽: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (best camera) or POCO X5 Pro (best screen).
• 💵 20 000–40 000 ₽: Xiaomi 12T Pro (flagship 2022 at the price of the average) or Redmi K60 (maximum autonomy).
• 💎 40 000–70 000 ₽: Xiaomi 13 (compact flagship) or Xiaomi 13 Pro (best camera with Leica).
• 🎮 gaming smartphone: POCO F5 Pro (Universal) or Black Shark 5 Pro (with physical triggers).
• 📸 Photo: Xiaomi 13 Ultra (no compromise) or Xiaomi 13 Lite (budget version with Leica).

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If you need a smartphone for 3-4 years, take a model with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or later. Snapdragon 7xx and Dimensity 9xx chipsets become obsolete faster.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing Xiaomi in 2023