Which Xiaomi smartphone to choose in 2022: ranking of the best models by price and capabilities

Choosing a smartphone in 2022 is a challenge even for power users. Xiaomi continues to lead the way in the industry, offering devices for every wallet, from the ultra-budget Redmi to the premium Mi and Black Shark for gamers. But how not to get lost in this variety? Which model is the best solution for you — for games, photography, work or long-term autonomy?

In this guide, we’ve analyzed all the current Xiaomi 2022 lineups, taking into account not only the “naked” characteristics, but also the real user experience. You’ll learn which chipsets show the best performance in games, which cameras cope with night shooting, and which models should be avoided due to firmware problems. Particular attention was paid to the balance of price and opportunity – in 2022 Xiaomi released several devices that are objectively overvalued in the market.

I bet you didn't know that even the budget Redmi Note 11 could compete with the flagships of two years ago in terms of speed? Or that the Xiaomi 12 Pro has a hidden shooting mode for professional photographers, which is not written about in the official specs?

Xiaomi’s Key Trends in 2022: What to Look for Before Buying

2022 was a watershed for Xiaomi, with the company finally dividing the brands into three directions: premium Mi (now just Xiaomi), balanced POCO and budget Redmi.This made the choice easier but added to the confusion of names. For example, the POCO F4 GT is positioned as a gaming flagship, although it rivals the conventional Xiaomi 11T Pro in price.

Here's what's changed:

• 🔋 Fast charging has become standard even in the budget segment: 33W in the Redmi Note 11 Pro, 120W in Xiaomi 11T But the batteries did not become larger - the average volume remained at the level of 4500-50,000 mAh.
• 📸 Cameras with Leica: partnership with the legendary brand began with Xiaomi 12S Ultra, but the technology will gradually be transferred to more affordable models.
• 🎮 120Hz in all segments: even Redmi Note 11 Pro+ adaptive AMOLED-high-frequency screen.
• 🔒 MIUI 13 brought long-awaited improvements in optimization, but problems with advertising in budget models remained.

One of the most controversial issues is the abandonment of the charging units in the kit in most models (except Redmi). Xiaomifollowing Apple’s example, but the prices of smartphones have not decreased.

⚠️ Note: In 2022, Xiaomi actively inflated the prices of new models in the first months of sales. For example, Xiaomi 12 Pro at launch cost 20% more than six months.

TOP-3 Xiaomi's flagship 2022 When money is not the main thing

If the budget is not limited, it is worth looking at premium models. In 2022, Xiaomi released three true flagships, each of which deserves attention:

Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the absolute leader in cameras thanks to the Sony IMX989 sensor (1 inch!) and Leica optics. This is the first Xiaomi smartphone that can compete with the iPhone 13 Pro Max in photography.

• 📏 Dimensions: 9.1 mm thick and 225 g weight make it uncomfortable for one hand.
• 🔋 Autonomy: When used actively 2K-screen 5G 4860 mAh battery goes down in a day.
• 💰 Price: Overpayment for the Leica brand is ~20 000 ₽ compared to 12 Pro.

Black Shark 5 Pro is the best choice for gamers, not only the top-end chipset, but also physical triggers, liquid cooling and a 144Hz screen. However, in everyday use, it loses 12 Pros due to poor MIUI optimization for gaming devices.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi 2022 flagships have overheating issues due to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. 12S Ultra is partly solved by improved cooling, but in the 12 Pro and Black Shark 5 Pro, the chipset trolls after 20 minutes of games at maximum settings.

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If you want the best camera, go for the 12S Ultra. For games, Black Shark 5 Pro. For balance of features, 12 Pro, but only at a discount.

The best mid-segment smartphones (20 000 – 50 000) ₽)

The most competitive segment, where Xiaomi is traditionally strong, has several devices that are objectively better than the flagships of 2020-2021:

1. Xiaomi 11T Pro – “going classic” with Snapdragon 888, 120W charging and excellent 120-hertz AMOLED-In 2022, its price dropped to 45,000. ₽, Which makes it the best choice for price/performance ratio.
2. POCO F4 GT — It's the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, as the flagships, but with a plastic case and no wireless charging, but there are magnetic triggers for games and a price tag from 40,000. ₽.
3. Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is the thinnest and lightest (158g) smartphone with Snapdragon 778G. Perfect for those who appreciate compactness, but are not ready to sacrifice 5G.

The big secret of this segment is that many models are sold under different brands with minimal differences, POCO F4 GT redmi K50 Gaming is the same smartphone with different firmware. 11T Pro and Redmi. K40S The only difference is the design and price (the second is cheaper by 10 000). ₽!).

If you need a smartphone to shoot video, look at the Xiaomi 11T Pro — it supports 8K@30fps recording and has the best stabilization among mid-range devices. And for hamlets, 11 Lite 5G NE is better suited thanks to a front-facing camera with 20 MP AF.

Check the originality of the firmware via ##4636##| Make sure the battery is not bloated (in the settings in Battery Status)| Test all cameras for artifacts | Check 5G and NFC (often fail after repair)

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Budget smartphones Xiaomi 2022: what you can buy up to 20 000 ₽

Xiaomi is the undisputed leader in this segment, and the main rule is: don’t take models with Helio G88 or Snapdragon 480 chipsets – they are already outdated in 2022.

• 💎 Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G — Best Budget with Dimensity 920, 120-hertz AMOLED-screen and charging 120W. Price: ~19 000 ₽.
• 📱 POCO M4 Pro 5G — cheap (<15 000 ₽) smartphone 810 and 90-It's a hertz screen, it's good for basic tasks.
• 🔋 Redmi 10C — Autonomous record holder (5,000 mAh battery) + Snapdragon 680. Minus is a 60Hz screen.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G — It's a real find. It's bypassing many devices for 30 000 ₽ speed-charging (120Won't. 33The competition has watts and screen quality, but there's a catch: the budget version with the screen. 6/128 GB uses slow memory UFS 2.1, slowing down the loading of games.

For older relatives or a second phone is suitable Redmi 10A (price ~9 000 ₽). It has a huge battery (5,000 mAh), a simple interface and even a simple one. NFC. But don't expect much from him: Helio G25 It barely pulls modern applications.

⚠️ Attention: In budget Xiaomi 2022, there is often a problem with the "gray" firmware that sellers install. MIUI In the settings: if it ends on.CN or.IN, This may mean that the smartphone is brought unofficially and does not support Russian LTE-ranges.

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To remove ads in MIUI on budget Xiaomi, go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and turn off the “Recommendations” option.

Xiaomi for photographers: which models are better to shoot in 2022

If the camera is your priority, Xiaomi has a lot to offer in 2022.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the only smartphone in the lineup with an aperture of f/1.9–f/4.0 (variable aperture, like in DSLRs), which allows you to control depth of field manually, and there is a dual optical stabilizer and a Leica Authentic Look mode that simulates the color reproduction of film cameras.

For video, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is better suited thanks to support for Dolby Vision HDR and the best stabilization among all Xiaomi 2022. And if the budget is limited, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ will surprise the quality of photos during the day - its 108-megapixel camera uses a 3-in-1 pixel binning, which gives good detail.

Xiaomi for gamers: what to choose in 2022

For games in 2022, Xiaomi has three decent options:

1. Black Shark 5 Pro is the best chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1), 144 Hz screen and physical triggers. Minus: weak autonomy (4650 mAh).
2. POCO F4 GT — It's the same chipset, but with magnetic triggers and a bigger battery (4,700 mAh) and 10,000 cheaper. ₽.
3. Redmi K50 Gaming - rebranding POCO F4 GT for China. differs only in firmware (worse for Russia).

The key difference between the Black Shark and POCO is that the former has liquid cooling with a pump, which reduces trottling by 15-20%. However, in everyday use, the POCO F4 GT is more practical thanks to MIUI (Black Shark has its own shell with bugs).

For emulators (PS2, Nintendo Switch) better suited Black Shark 5 Pro because of the additional physical buttons. and for PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact enough and POCO F4 GT – the difference in FPS is minimal.

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To reduce the heat during games, turn off background processes through Settings → Special Features → Optimize Games and select Performance mode.

What Xiaomi should buy for elderly relatives in 2022

For older generations, three things are important: a simple interface, long-term autonomy and reliability, and in 2022, the best options from Xiaomi are:

• 📞 Redmi 10A — 5000mAh battery, 6.53 screen (eye-friendly), price ~9 000 ₽. The downside: weak Helio chipset G25.
• 🔋 Redmi 10C — Same battery, but with the Snapdragon 680 (30 percent faster). NFC card-pay.
• 📱 POCO M4 Pro – if you need a better camera (50 MP) and a 90 Hz screen for smoothness.

Be sure to set it up:

1. Enlarge the font in Settings → Screen → Text size.
2. Activate the “For the Elderly” mode in Settings → Special Opportunities → Simplified Mode.
3. Turn off ads in MIUI (see tip above).

⚠️ Note: Budget Xiaomi often lacks support for ranges LTE Band 20 (800 MHz), which is used by some Russian operators in rural areas. 4PDA.

Cases, glass and accessories: what to buy for the new Xiaomi in 2022

Even the most reliable smartphone needs protection, and in 2022, Xiaomi will be interested in:

• 🛡️ Cases: Spigen Tough Armor - for flagships (protection from falls from 2 m). Original Xiaomi Silicone Case - budget option (500-700) ₽).
• 🔄 Security Glasses: AmFilm Ultra Glass – for devices with 2K-screens (Xiaomi 12 Pro). Nillkin H+ Pro – for public sector (300-400) ₽).
• 🔋 Charging: For 120W models: Xiaomi HyperCharge 120W (original ~3 500 ₽). Universal: Baseus 65W GaN (suitable for all Xiaomi 2022).

For the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, be sure to buy a magnetic-mounted case - it is needed to work with wireless charging at full power (50W). And for the POCO F4 GT, a cooler for a smartphone (for example, Black Shark FunCooler Pro) will come in handy, since the chipset is very warm in games.

If you plan to shoot videos often, look for improvised stabilizers like the DJI OM 5, which is compatible with all Xiaomi 2022 and compensates for the tremors when shooting on the go.

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Don't skimp on charging for Xiaomi's 2022 flagships. Cheap cables can run short of 120W and burn. Better take the original kit or Baseus/Ugreen certified.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing Xiaomi in 2022