Huawei vs Xiaomi Redmi: an objective comparison of smartphones 2026

Choosing between Huawei and Xiaomi Redmi is one of the most popular dilemmas in the smartphone market: Both brands offer devices with excellent value for money, but they are suitable for different categories of users. If you want a smartphone with long battery life and premium design, Huawei may seem more attractive. On the other hand, Xiaomi Redmi has traditionally led in price-performance ratio, offering top-end chipsets for less money.

In this article, we will make a detailed comparison of 10 key criteria, from processors and screens to software and ecosystems, which brand is best suited for gaming, photography or everyday tasks, and unique data on current models in 2026 (including tests of autonomy and performance).

1. Performance: chipsets and benchmarks

The main difference between Huawei and Xiaomi Redmi lies in the processors used. Xiaomi traditionally cooperates with Qualcomm and MediaTek, offering in the line of Redmi chipsets Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (in Redmi Note 13 Pro+) or Dimensity 7200 Ultra (in Redmi K70E), these processors show 15-20% better performance in games and multitasking compared to counterparts from Huawei.

On the other hand, Huawei is betting on its own Kirin chips (such as the Kirin 9000S in the Mate 60 Pro), which are optimized for energy efficiency, but are inferior to Qualcommโ€™s flagships in raw power. Importantly, after US sanctions, new Huawei chips are produced using 7-nm process technology (versus 4-nm in competitors), which affects heating and autonomy.

  • ๐Ÿ“Š AnTuTu Benchmark (2026): Redmi K70 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) โ€“ 1,950,000 points vs. Huawei Mate 60 Pro (Kirin) 9000S) โ€” 1 350,000 points.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Game Tests: Redmi holds 90 FPS Genshin Impact is on high settings, while Huawei is limited to 60 FPS heat-proof.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Energy efficiency: Kirin chips are more economical 10-15% in simple tasks (social networks, videos), but lose in load.

โš ๏ธ Warning: If you are critical to performance in games or video rendering, Xiaomi Redmi with Snapdragon 8 chipsets+ Gen 1 and newer will be preferred, Huawei will be suitable for everyday tasks, but not for โ€œheavyโ€ loads.

๐Ÿ“Š Which processor is more important to you in a smartphone?
Maximum performance (for games)
Energy efficiency (holds charge longer)
Balance of price and capacity
Never mind, main camera.

2.Screens: AMOLED vs LTPO, refresh rate

Here, leadership depends on the particular model. flagship Huawei (such as the P60 Pro or Mate 60 Pro) are equipped with LTPO-OLED screens with adaptive frequency from 1 to 120 Hz, which provides smoothness and battery savings. Xiaomi Redmi in top models (such as the Redmi K70 Pro) offers AMOLED with a fixed 120 Hz, which is worse for autonomy, but cheaper in production.

Important nuances:

  • ๐ŸŒˆ Color rendering: Huawei screens calibrated better (ฮ”E ~0.3 vs ~0.8 Redmi, which is critical for photographers.
  • โ˜€๏ธ Brightness: Mate 60 Pro delivers 1500 nits (peak), Redmi K70 Pro: 1200 nits. The difference is noticeable in the sun.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Adaptability: Only Huawei supports 1-120 Hz (smooth change), Redmi switches between 60/90/120 Hz stepwise.
ParameterHuawei Mate 60 ProXiaomi Redmi K70 Pro
Screen typeLTPO-OLED, 1-120 HzAMOLED, 60/90/120 Hz
Permission2616ร—12122712ร—1220
Peak brightness1,500 nits1,200 nits
Support for HDRHDR10+, Dolby VisionHDR10+
ProtectionKunlun Glass (similar to Gorilla Glass)Gorilla Glass Victus

๐Ÿ’ก

If you watch videos on YouTube or Netflix often, check out Dolby Vision support โ€“ itโ€™s only available on Huaweiโ€™s flagship (like the Mate 60 Pro) and is absent from most Redmi (except the Redmi K70 Pro).

3. Cameras: megapixels vs. algorithms

Photos are one of the key differences between brands. Huawei has traditionally led computer image processing using proprietary algorithms (e.g., XD Fusion in the P60 Pro), which allows for more detailed images in poor lighting conditions, but sometimes leads to overprocessing (blurred textures, unnatural colors).

Xiaomi Redmi is betting on hardware: for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ features Sonyโ€™s main IMX890 (200 MP) optically stabilized sensor, which bypasses many Huawei in detail during the day. However, in night mode, Huawei algorithms often give the best result due to aggressive noise cancellation.

  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Day Shooting: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (200 MP) bypasses Huawei Nova 12 (50 MP) in detailing small objects.
  • ๐ŸŒ™ Night shooting: Huawei P60 Pro shows better exposure and less noise thanks to SuperNight 2.0 algorithms.
  • ๐ŸŽฅ Video: Only Huawei supports recording in 4K@60fps s HDR (Mate 60 Pro), Redmi is limited 4K@30fps.

โš ๏ธ Note: If youโ€™re shooting a lot of videos, note the lack of stabilization in budget Redmi (e.g. Redmi) 13C). Even if 1080p camera is very "twitched" when moving.

4.Software: EMUI vs MIUI

The operating system is one of the most controversial issues, as Huawei lost access to Google services after the US sanctions, so the new models run on HarmonyOS (for China) or EMUI without GMS (for the global market).

  • โŒ No Google Play, YouTube, Gmail and other services out of the box".
  • โœ… Alternatives: AppGallery, Petal Search, but many apps (e.g. banking) may not work.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ The ability to manually install Google Services, but it violates the warranty and is fraught with bugs.

Xiaomi Redmi runs on MIUI (based on Android), where all Google services are available by default. However, MIUI is known for aggressive advertising in budget models (for example, in Redmi 12) and duplicate applications. flagships (for example, Redmi K70 Pro) have no advertising, but the interface is overloaded with settings.

How to install Google on Huawei without root rights?
1. Download LZPlay or GSpace from AppGallery. 2. Launch the installer and follow the instructions (requires you to enable installation from unknown sources in Settings) โ†’ 3. Once you install Google Play, some features (such as push notifications) may not work well. โš ๏ธ Risks: account synchronization errors and system slowdown.

CriteriaHuawei (EMUI/HarmonyOS)Xiaomi (MIUI)
Google servicesโŒ No (manual installation required)โœ… Full support
Updatesโœ… 4-5 years (for flagships)โœ… 3-4 year (for the Redmi series) Note/K)
Advertising in the systemโŒ No.โœ… There's in budget models
Interface.Minimalist, no extra widgetsOverloaded, many duplicate functions

5.Autonomy: Battery and fast charging

In terms of battery life, Huawei traditionally leads thanks to optimization HarmonyOS/EMUI And energy-efficient Kirin chips, like Huawei Nova. 12 battery-powered 4500 mAh in the PCMark test is held on 20% longer than the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ s 5000 The difference is particularly noticeable in standby mode: Huawei is losing everything. 2-3% overnight, while Redmi โ€” 5-7%.

However, Xiaomi Redmi wins in charging speed:

  • โšก Redmi Note 13 Pro+ supportive 120W quick-load (0-100% post 19 minute).
  • โšก Huawei Nova 12 limited 66W (0-100% post 40 minute).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Wireless charging is only available in flagship Huawei (for example, Mate 60 Pro โ€” 50W).

Use the original RAM |Do not discharge below 10% |Disable adaptive brightness manually |Charge up to 80% for long-term storage | Avoid overheating (do not play while charging)

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โš ๏ธ Attention: Fast charging 120W Redmi heats the body very hot. When used intensively (games) + charging) temperature can reach 45ยฐC, which reduces battery life.

Price and price-quality ratio

The main advantage of Xiaomi Redmi is an aggressive pricing policy. For example, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a Dimensity 7200 Ultra chipset and a 200 MP camera costs ~ 35,000 rubles, while the similar in characteristics of Huawei Nova 12 will cost ~ 50,000 rubles. The difference of 15,000 rubles is justified only if you are critical:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Premium design (metal/glass vs plastic in Redmi).
  • ๐ŸŽจ Better color reproduction of the screen.
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Long-term updates (5 years for Huawei vs 3 years for Redmi).

In the budget segment (<20 000 Redmi has no competitors at all: Redmi 13C Helio G85, 90 Hz screen and 5000 mh for ~12 000 RUB, while similar to Huawei Enjoy 60 stand 30% More expensive at worse productivity.

ModelPrice (2026)ChipsetScreen.Battery
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+~35 000 โ‚ฝDimensity 7200 UltraAMOLED, 120Hz5000 mAh, 120W
Huawei Nova 12~50 000 โ‚ฝKirin 830OLED, 120 Hz4500 mAh, 66W
Xiaomi Redmi 13C~12 000 โ‚ฝHelio G85IPS, 90 Hz.5000 mAh, 18W
Huawei Enjoy 60~16 000 โ‚ฝKirin 710IPS, 60 Hz.4,000 mAh, 22.5W

๐Ÿ’ก

If the budget is tight, Xiaomi Redmi offers the best value for money. Huawei is only justified if you care about design, brand ecosystem or long upgrades.

7. Ecosystem and additional chips

Huawei is actively developing its own ecosystem of Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), which includes:

  • ๐ŸŽง Seamless integration with Huawei MateBook laptops (general clipboard, file transfer).
  • โŒš Synchronize with Huawei Watch smartwatches and Band fitness bracelets.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฆ Huawei Cloud Storage (50GB free for new users).

Xiaomi responds with the Mi Home ecosystem, which is better suited for smart homes:

  • ๐Ÿ’ก Yeelight lamp control, Mi Robot vacuum cleaners, air conditioners.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Matter support (standard for compatibility with Google Home and Apple HomeKit).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Mi Fit app for Mi Band trackers (more than 100 million users).

๐Ÿ’ก

If you already have Xiaomi devices (like a robot vacuum cleaner or light bulbs), choosing Redmi will make it easier to manage everything through one Mi Home app.

8. Who's the brand?

We will summarize the results taking into account different use scenarios:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Gamers and power lovers: Xiaomi Redmi K70 Pro or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (Snapdragon chipsets 8 Gen 3/Dimensity 7200 Ultra).
  • ๐Ÿ“ธ Photographer: Huawei P60 Pro or Mate 60 Pro (best processing algorithms, especially in night mode).
  • ๐Ÿ’ผ Business users: Huawei Nova 12 (long-term updates, no advertising, premium design).
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Budget up to 20,000 โ‚ฝ: Xiaomi Redmi 13C Redmi 12 (no alternatives to price and performance).
  • ๐Ÿก Smart Home Users: Xiaomi Redmi (Best Integration with the Mi Home Ecosystem).

โš ๏ธ Note: If you are actively using Google services (e.g. Google Drive, Gmail, Google Maps), buying Huawei without first checking compatibility can lead to problems. For example, some banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) refuse to work on devices without Google Services.

FAQ: Frequent questions

โ“ Can I install Google Play on Huawei?
Yes, but with reservations: For models in 2020 and later (e.g., Mate 40, P50) you will need to use LZPlay or GSpace. On devices in 2023-2026 (e.g., Mate 60 Pro), installation is possible only through informal methods (e.g., ChatPartner), which violates the warranty. Some features (e.g., Google Pay or Widevine L1 for Netflix in HD) may not work. Recommendation: Before buying, check the compatibility of the applications you need on forums (e.g., 4PDA or XDA-Developers).
โ“ Which smartphone is better to hold charge: Huawei or Redmi?
According to the PCMark Battery 2.0 tests (2026): Huawei Mate 60 Pro: 14 hours 30 minutes (a 120 Hz screen); Xiaomi Redmi K70 Pro: 11 hours 45 minutes (a 120 Hz screen); Huawei Nova 12: 16 hours 10 minutes (a 90 Hz screen); Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 13 hours 20 minutes (a 120 Hz screen); Conclusion: Huawei wins in autonomy thanks to software optimization, but Redmi compensates for this with ultra-fast charging (up to 120W).
โ“ Should you pay for Huawei for a camera?
Depending on shooting scenarios: Huawei Pros: Better night shot processing, more natural colors in portrait mode, support for 4K@60fps with HDR. Redmi Pros: More detailed day shots (due to megapixels), better video stabilization in budget models (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro). Recommendation: If you shoot mainly during the day, Redmi is enough. For professional shooting (especially in difficult conditions), Huawei is preferable.
โ“ What models Huawei and Xiaomi Redmi support 5G?
List of current models (2026) with support 5G: HuaweiXiaomi Redmi Mate 60 ProRedmi K70 Pro P60 ProRedmi Note 13 Pro+ Nova 12 ProRedmi K60 Ultra โ€”Redmi 12 5G (Budget model: Important: In Russia, the network 5G Not officially deployed (as of 2026), so the advantage 5G-models will appear only in roaming or after the launch of networks.
โ“ Which brand is more likely to break down?
According to service centers (2023), the most frequent breakdowns: Huawei: Battery problems (bloating after 2-3 years), failure of the NFC module. Xiaomi Redmi: Burnout of the motherboard (especially in models with 120W charging), detachment of the touchscreen in budget devices. Tip: When buying, check the presence of an official service center in your city - for Huawei there are fewer of them than for Xiaomi.