Redmi or Xiaomi: Which phone is best to buy in 2026? Comparison of 7 key criteria

Choosing between Redmi and Xiaomi is one of the most popular dilemmas among budget and mid-budget phone buyers. Both brands belong to the same Xiaomi Group, but are positioned differently: Redmi traditionally offers the best value for money, and Xiaomi focuses on premium design, advanced cameras and ecosystem chips. However, since 2023, the line line has blurred: flagship Redmi got top-end processors, and budget Xiaomi became cheaper.

In this article, we will look at 7 key criteria that will help you decide on your choice: from performance and autonomy to software features and long-term support. You will learn which models to consider in 2026 for games, photography or everyday tasks, and where the pitfalls of each brand lie, the comparison is based on official specifications, tests from GSMArena and DXOMARK, as well as feedback from real users from sites like Yandex.Market and AliExpress.

If you're on a budget but want the most hardware for money, Redmi will be the best choice. If you care about design, stability, and integration with smart Mi Home devices, look at Xiaomi. Now let's dig deeper.

1.Price and positioning: what to overpay for?

The main difference between Redmi and Xiaomi is the target audience. the Redmi brand was originally created as the “budget wing” of the company, but today its lineup covers devices from 10,000 to 40,000 rubles. Xiaomi focuses on the mid- and premium segment (from 20,000 to 100,000+ rubles), although in 2026 there were budget models like the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro.

Here is how the price niches are distributed:

• 💰 Up to 15,000. ₽: Redmi (Redmi A, Redmi series) 12C, Redmi Note 12: Xiaomi is not represented here.
• 💵 15 000–30 000 ₽: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ vs Xiaomi Poco X6 Xiaomi 13 Lite, the competition is maximum.
• 💎 30 000–50 000 ₽: Redmi K70 Xiaomi 14: Here Xiaomi offers the best cameras and design, but Redmi is not far behind in hardware".
• 👑 From 50,000. ₽: Xiaomi (Xiaomi 14 Ultra Series, MIX Fold 3. Redmi doesn't come in here.

Paying more for Xiaomi makes sense if you care about:

• 📸 Cameras with Leica optics (in flagships).
• 🎨 Premium materials (ceramics, aluminum of the 7th series).
• 🔄 Longer support for updates (up to 4 years vs 2–3 for Redmi).

⚠️ In 2026, Redmi began to produce models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processors (for example, Redmi). K70 Pro, which in performance is not inferior to the flagship Xiaomi last year, but the camera and screen Xiaomi remain better.

2. Performance: Who is faster at gaming and multitasking?

If you choose a phone for games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile), video editing or heavy applications, the priority will be the processor. Here Redmi often beats Xiaomi in its price segment due to the aggressive policy of the company: new chips MediaTek Dimensity or Snapdragon first appear in Redmi, and then in Xiaomi.

Compare the top models of 2026:

As you can see from the table, the Redmi K70 Pro beats the Xiaomi 14 in synthetic tests, but in real-world scenarios the difference is minimal. But in the mid-range Poco X6 Pro (which belongs to the Xiaomi family, but is positioned as a game) confidently leads over the Redmi Note 13 Pro+.

Not only is hardware critical, but the cooling system is critical. Xiaomi’s flagship (e.g. Xiaomi 14 Ultra) comes with evaporation cameras with cooling areas of up to 5,000 mm2, while Redmi’s use of combined solutions (liquid tubes + graphite) means that Xiaomi will warm less with prolonged loads.

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Before buying, check if the model supports the Game Turbo function in MIUI settings. Redmi often disabled by default, and Xiaomi works out of the box with optimizations for popular games.

3. Cameras: Where is the best place to take pictures?

If you prioritize the quality of photos and videos, Xiaomi will definitely win the comparison. Even in budget models, Xiaomi uses more advanced image processing algorithms, and in flagships it cooperates with Leica (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra has certified lenses with proprietary color reproduction).

Let's look at the key differences:

• 📷 Main camera: Xiaomi 14 Pro: 50 Sony MP IMX989 (1 inch), diaphragm f/1.4–f/4.0. Redmi K70 Pro: 50 Sony MP IMX890 (1/1.49"), diaphragm f/1.9. The difference in size and light strength gives Xiaomi an advantage in the 2–3 once-in-the-dark.
• 🎥 Video: Xiaomi supports 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps s HDR10+. Redmi is limited 4K@30fps without HDR most models.
• 🔍 Xiaomi 14 Ultra: optical zoom 3.2x + digitally 100x. Redmi K70 Pro: optical zoom 2x + digitally 20x.

According to the results of the DXOMARK tests (2026):

• Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 150 points (1st place in the ranking).
• Xiaomi 14 Pro – 145 points.
• Redmi K70 Pro - 120 points.

But it's not that clear. In the budget segment (up to 25,000). ₽) The difference between the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Xiaomi 13 Lite is minimal: both phones are equipped with a 200-MP main camera (Samsung) ISOCELL HP3), Xiaomi is better at color processing thanks to the proprietary algorithm Xiaomi ProFocus.

⚠️ Note: In Redmi models below the Note series (e.g. Redmi) 12C) Cameras are often cut down to 50 MP without optical stabilization. If photography is important, avoid the cheapest options.

4.Display: AMOLED vs IPS, 120Hz vs 90Hz

Screens are another point where Xiaomi has traditionally outpaced Redmi. Xiaomi's flagship models get 2K-Displays with Dolby Vision support and HDR10+, Even the top Redmis are limited to Full. HD+. However, in 2026, the gap narrowed: for example, Redmi K70 Pro got it. AMOLED-screen with refresh rate of 120 Hz and peak brightness of 4000 nits – almost like the Xiaomi 14.

Let's compare the key parameters:

For most users, the difference between 1.5K and 2K will be invisible, but the adaptive refresh rate (LTPO technology) in Xiaomi 14 really saves battery power. Xiaomi also offers more stereo speakers (in Redmi it is usually mono), which is important for movie lovers.

If you watch video on your phone often, pay attention to Dolby Vision support – it is only available in the top Xiaomi and Redmi K-series. For games, the refresh rate is critical: 90 Hz (in budget models) vs 120/144 Hz (in the mid and premium segment).

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Screens with LTPO technology (as in Xiaomi 14) automatically adjust the refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, which increases autonomy by 15-20% compared to fixed 120 Hz.

5. Battery and charging: who lives longer?

Autonomy is one of the few parameters where Redmi often bypasses Xiaomi. Budget and mid-budget models of Redmi are equipped with batteries with a capacity of 5000-5500 mAh, while Xiaomi in pursuit of thinness of the body is limited to 4500-5000 mAh.

• Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 5000 mAh
• Xiaomi 14: 4610 mAh.
• Redmi K70: 5000 mAh.
• Xiaomi 14 Pro: 4880 mAh.

But capacity isn't the only factor, as Xiaomi compensates for a smaller battery with more efficient processors and optimized software.

• Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 112 hours standby, 18 hours of video playback.
• Xiaomi 14: 105 hours standby, but 20 hours of video (thanks) LTPO-screen).

In terms of charging, both brands offer ultra-fast technologies:

• 🔌 Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 120W (full charge 19 minutes).
• ⚡ Xiaomi 14 Pro: 120W + 50W wireless.
• 🔋 Redmi K70 Pro: 120W (But the 5,000 mAh battery takes longer to charge because of the larger capacity).

⚠️ Attention: Fast charging 120W+ It reduces battery life by 15-20% after 500 cycles. If you plan to use your phone for longer than 2 years, you'd better limit your battery life to a battery life. 67W or 33W.

Use the original power supply unit|Don't discharge below 20%|Turn off fast charging after 80%|Avoid overheating (do not play while charging)|Update the software (in new versions) MIUI optimized energy consumption)-->

6.Software: MIUI on Redmi vs Xiaomi

Both brands run on MIUI (the shell of Xiaomi’s Android), but there are nuances:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Xiaomi gets updates 1-2 months early.Redmi often cuts down on features (for example, there is no Mi Share for transferring files on older models).
• 🔄 Term of support: Xiaomi flagships: 4 Android Update Year + 5 years of safety, Redmi: 2 Android + 3 Safety Year (except for the K-series, where 3+4).
• 🗑️ Advertising and Blaatware: Redmi has more pre-installed apps (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music) and Xiaomi has less advertising, but it is in system utilities (Themes, Security).

How to remove unnecessary applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Pay).
3. Click Remove or Disable (if deletion is blocked).
4. Complete removal of system applications will be required ADB-Commands: Adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

If you are annoyed by MIUI ads, you can turn it off:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Advanced Settings.
3. Go to Settings → Additional → Special Opportunities → Advertising and turn off all sliders.

7. Design and Assembly: Plastic vs Glass/Metal

Appearance is a subjective criterion, but the trends are obvious:

• 🏆 Premium: Xiaomi uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and aluminum frames. Redmi (except the K-series) - plastic or glass Gorilla Glass 5.
• 🎨 Colors and textures: Xiaomi 14 offers options with vegan leather and ceramic back panel.Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — only glossy plastic or matte glass.
• 🛡️ Protection: Xiaomi flagships have a certificate IP68 (The Redmi only has dust and water protection. IP53 (Splash protection, even in top-end models.

Xiaomi is said to be better in hand thanks to its rounded edges, and Redmi is often criticized for its slippery rear panels (especially in glossy versions).If you drop your phone frequently, look for models with rubber bumpers (for example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro in the “desert” version).

To check the assembly before buying:

1. Press the screen in the area of the cameras - there should be no backlash.
2. Shake the phone - you should not hear rattles (a common problem with the Redmi 12C).
3. Check the gaps between the body and the screen (admit a gap of up to 0.3 mm).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions