Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2026 has been a real puzzle for even power users. The brand offers dozens of models, from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and figuring out which one really deserves the title of “most popular” is not so easy. The popularity of the model is determined not only by sales, but also by the ratio of price to characteristics, user reviews, and the relevance of MIUI firmware.
In this article, we will analyze data from Omdia, Counterpoint Research and 4PDA reviews to identify the leader in sales among Xiaomi smartphones in the Russian and global markets in 2026. You will learn which models are most often bought for games, photography, long autonomy - and why some flagships are inferior in popularity to more affordable devices.
1. Methodology: How we identified Xiaomi's most popular phone
To objectively assess the popularity, we took into account:
- 📊 Sales data (Omdia, Canalys, Xiaomi internal statistics for Q1 2026)
- 💬 User feedback (4PDA, Yandex.Market, Mi Community – more than 15 000 comments)
- 🔍 Update of the firmware (support for updates) MIUI 15 and Android 14)
- 💰 Price/characteristics ratio (analysis of offers on Wildberries, SberMegaMarket, AliExpress)
Importantly, we excluded from the rating models that are not officially supplied to Russia (for example, Xiaomi 14T), as well as devices older than 2022 – their popularity is often due to low prices in the secondary market, and did not take into account “niche” devices like Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 (foldable smartphones occupy less than 1% of the market).
2.Sales leader 2026: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G - why it overtook flagships
According to Counterpoint Research, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G became the best-selling smartphone Xiaomi in the world in the first half of 2026. In Russia, the model takes the 2nd place after POCO X6 Pro, but in global sales ahead of even the flagship Xiaomi 14.
- 📸 The camera at the flagship level 2022 year: main module 200 MP (Samsung) ISOCELL HP3) Optical stabilization and support 8K@30fps
- 🔋 Battery 5,000 mAh + 120W charging: full charge in 19 minutes (GSMArena tests)
- 🎮 MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra processor: 20% more efficient than Redmi Note 12 Pro+ In games (Genshin Impact at high settings – 55) FPS)
- 💎 Display. 1.5K AMOLED 120Hz and peak brightness of 1800 nits (better than the iPhone 14)
Price is the key factor in popularity. 13 Pro+ 5G (8/256 GB is worth it ~35 000 ₽, While similar in characteristics Samsung Galaxy A54 — from 45 000 ₽. At the same time, according to the tests of DxOMark, Xiaomi’s camera is ahead of its Korean competitor. 8 score.
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Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G — The only smartphone in the segment up to 40 000 ₽ supportive 8K-Video and 120-watt charging.
⚠️ In some regions of Russia sold version of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G It's a Dimensity 7050 instead of a 7200 Ultra, and you can tell by the label on the box: the model with the "Ultra" has an articulation. 2310DRK48C. The performance of games in this version is lower on ~15%.
3.Best flagship: Xiaomi 14 Ultra - who really needs it for
Xiaomi 14 Ultra is technically the brand's most advanced smartphone in 2026, but it's even outsold by the Redmi Note 13.Why? The main reason is price (from 120,000). ₽ in Russia) and niche audience.
| Characteristics | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4.3GHz) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4.0 GHz) | Apple A17 Pro (3.78 GHz) |
| Camera (principal module) | 50 MP (Sony IMX989, 1 inch) | 200 MP (ISOCELL HP2) | 48 MP (Sony IMX803) |
| zoom | 5× optical, 120× digital | 10× optical, 100× digital | 5× optical, 25× digital |
| Screen. | 6.73" AMOLED, 2K, 120 Hz | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED, 2K, 120 Hz | 6.7" Super Retina XDR, 2K, 120 Hz |
| Price in Russia (March 2026) | ~120 000 ₽ | ~135 000 ₽ | ~150 000 ₽ |
In DxOMark tests (March 2026), the Xiaomi 14 Ultra ranked 1st in photo and video quality among all smartphones, beating the iPhone 15 Pro Max by 3 points.
- 📷 Professional photographers will prefer mirrorless camera even with Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
- 🎮 Gamers will choose Black Shark 6 Pro with physical triggers.
- 💼 Business users often stop at iPhones because of ecosystem.
Why Xiaomi 14 Ultra is cheaper than iPhone 15 Pro Max
4.Best Budget Option: POCO X6 Pro 5G - Why It Overtook Redmi
In the segment up to 30,000 ₽ sales leader POCO X6 Pro 5G — The model, which formally belongs to the Xiaomi sub-brand, but is often sold under the same brand in official stores, according to Wildberries, in January-March 2026, it outperformed even the Redmi Note 12 in the number of orders.
The main advantages:
- 🚀 Dimensity processor 8300-Ultra: 30% more powerful than Redmi Note 13 Pro in benchmark tests (AnTuTu – 910 000 points).
- 🔋 Battery 5,000 mAh + 67W charging: full charge in 44 minutes (GSMArena tests).
- 🎯 120 Hz screen AMOLED with Dolby Vision support and HDR10+.
- 💰 Price: 27 000 ₽ version 8/256 GB (cheaper than Redmi Note) 13 Pro+ on 8 000 ₽ similarly).
⚠️ Note: Two versions are sold in Russia POCO X6 Pro 5G: Global (article) 23113RKC6C) supportive 5G and Indian (article) 23116PN5BI) — rangeless n78 and n79, This can make communication worse in some regions!
Check the IMEI at [mi.com/verify](https://mi.com/verify)
Make sure that the box has a proprietary cable with the POCO logo
Run the test ##4636## - model should show as "pipa"
Compare the serial number on the box and in settings (Settings → About the phone)
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5.Best for Games: Black Shark 6 Pro vs Redmi K70 Pro
If gaming performance is your priority, the choice narrows to two models: the Black Shark 6 Pro (the gaming flagship) and the Redmi K70 Pro (the universal top), which are the devices most often used for Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile and Honor of Kings, according to Steam Database.
| Parameter | Black Shark 6 Pro | Redmi K70 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4.3GHz) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4.3GHz) |
| Cooling | Liquid + fan | The evaporation chamber (Vapor Chamber) |
| Screen (frequency) | 6.67" AMOLED, 165 Hz | 6.67" AMOLED, 144 Hz |
| Triggers. | 2 physical + 2 sensory | 2 sensory (software) |
| Price (12/512 GB) | ~75 000 ₽ | ~65 000 ₽ |
Who has what to choose?
- 🎮 Esports games (PUBG, COD Mobile: Black Shark 6 Pro with physical triggers and 165Hz screen frequency.
- 📱 Universal use: Redmi K70 Pro – It’s thinner, lighter and has a better camera (50MP vs 13MP for Black Shark).
- 🔋 Long autonomy: Redmi K70 Pro (5000 mAh vs 4650 mAh).
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If you choose Black Shark 6 Pro for games, be sure to activate the "Shark Space" mode (Settings) → It turns off the background and increases the performance of the game. 15-20% limiting the frequency of screen updates to 120 Hz.
6.Best for a photo: Xiaomi 13T Pro - why it overtook the latest models
Despite Xiaomi 14 Ultra, many amateur photographers are choosing Xiaomi 13T Pro (2023) The reason is the optimal combination of price and quality, according to Yandex.Market, this model leads in the category of “smartphones for photography” in the price range of 50,000-70,000 ₽.
The advantages of Xiaomi 13T Pro:
- 📸 Main camera. 200 MP (Samsung) ISOCELL HP3) optically stabilized and aperture f/1.69.
- 🔍 Telephoto 2× Optical zoom (50 MP) – better than the iPhone 14 Pro (1.5)×).
- 🎥 Video 8K@24fps Supported by Dolby Vision HDR.
- 💰 Price: ~60 000 ₽ (cheaper than Xiaomi 14 by 40,000 ₽ 90% quality of photo).
According to the tests of DxOMark (November 2023), Xiaomi 13T Pro took the 3rd place among all smartphones in photo quality, second only to the Google Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. At the same time, in night shooting, he overtook even the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
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Xiaomi 13T Pro is the only smartphone in the segment up to 70 000 ₽ Supports video recording in Dolby Vision format.
7. Comparative table: which Xiaomi to choose for your tasks
| The challenge | Best model. | The alternative | Budget budget (₽) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Games (PUBG, COD Mobile) | Black Shark 6 Pro | Redmi K70 Pro | 65 000–75 000 |
| Photography (travels, portraits) | Xiaomi 13T Pro | Xiaomi 14 | 50 000–100 000 |
| Autonomy (2+ days of operation) | POCO M6 Pro (6000 mAh) | Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 20 000–35 000 |
| Budget flagship (up to 30,000) ₽) | POCO X6 Pro | Redmi Note 13 Pro | 25 000–30 000 |
| Premium (no compromise) | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Xiaomi 14 Pro | 100 000–130 000 |