Xiaomi or Redmi: Which is the best to buy in 2026? 7 key parameters

Choosing between Xiaomi and Redmi is one of the most popular dilemmas among budget and mid-budget phone buyers. Both brands are owned by the same company, but are positioned differently: Redmi traditionally offers the maximum return for minimal money, and Xiaomi focuses on premium chips and design. However, in 2026, the line line line was blurred: some Redmi models received flagship chips, and Xiaomi released affordable devices with top-end cameras.

In this article, we will look at how the two sub-brands differ, compare them in performance, cameras, autonomy and other parameters, and answer the key question: should you overpay for the Xiaomi logo if you can buy a Redmi with similar characteristics?

1.Who's Who: The Difference Between Xiaomi and Redmi Brands

Until 2019, Redmi was a sub-brand of Xiaomi, but then became a standalone player in the market. Today, both brands are developing in parallel, but with different strategies:

• 📱 Xiaomi – flagship and premium smartphones with a focus on design, innovation (for example, Xiaomi 14 Ultra with variable camera aperture) and ecosystem (smart watches, laptops, TV). ~25 000 ₽.
• 💰 Redmi is a budget and mid-range device with a focus on price/quality ratio, and here you will find smartphones for 10,000 to 20,000. ₽ with characteristics close to the flagships 2-3 years ago.
• 🔄 POCO — Another sub-brand (formerly part of Xiaomi) that specializes in gaming smartphones, which we don't touch in this comparison.

However, in 2023-2026, Redmi began to actively encroach on the Xiaomi segment: for example, the Redmi K70 Pro received a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip (like the Xiaomi 14), and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ got a 200-megapixel camera.

⚠️ Note: In China, Redmi and Xiaomi are sold under the same brand name, Mi. This means that some models (e.g. Redmi) are sold under the same brand. K60 Xiaomi 13T) They may be technically identical but have different names for different markets.

2. Price comparison: where is more profitable?

Redmi's biggest advantage is the price. But how much lower is it? Let's look at the current models of 2026.

As you can see from the table, for the same money (for example, for the same amount of money, ~35 000 ₽) You can buy it:

• 📲 Redmi K70 with the flagship chip Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 12 GB of RAM,
• 📲 Or Xiaomi 13 (2023) with the same chip, but with better cameras and premium design.

Critical difference: Redmi often saves on cameras, screens (for example, uses IPS instead of AMOLED in budget models) and body materials (plastic vs. glass/metal from Xiaomi).If you care about the photo or premium look - overpaying for Xiaomi can be justified.

3. Productivity: who is faster?

In 2026, the performance gap between Xiaomi and Redmi has almost disappeared, and some Redmi models are overtaking Xiaomi in hardware.

• 🏆 Redmi K70 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) is faster than Xiaomi 13T Pro (Dimensity 8200 Ultra) in benchmark tests at 15-20%.
• 🔥 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (Dimensity 7200 Ultra beats Xiaomi 12 Lite (Snapdragon) 778G) multitasking.

But there are nuances:

1. Cooling: Xiaomi's flagship (like 14 Ultra) features liquid-cooled, allowing for longer performance retention. Redmi often uses graphite pads that are less efficient.
2. Xiaomi usually gets MIUI updates longer and more often, and has less “junk” in the firmware (for example, preinstalled games).

For gamers and fans of "heavy" tasks (video editing, 3D-The modeling is a better way to look at the Redmi K-series, which offers top-end chips at a minimal price. For everyday tasks (social networks, photos, videos), there will be no difference between brands.

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If you want maximum FPS in games, take the Redmi K70 Pro. If stability and durability are important, the Xiaomi 14.

4. Cameras: Where are the best photos?

This is the only parameter where Xiaomi is confidently leading. Even Xiaomi's budget models (like the 13 Lite) shoot better than the top-end Redmi.

• 📸 Optics. Xiaomi has partnered with Leica (starting with the Xiaomi 13 Pro), uses large arrays (like the 1-inch sensor in 14 Ultra) and quality lenses.Redmi even has Note 13 Pros+ Cost-effective optics with plastic lenses.
• 🎛️ Software processing: Xiaomi algorithms are better at handling noise, white balance and detail. Photos on Redmi are often overexposed or with blurred details.
• 🔍 In Xiaomi, you will find a telephoto with 3-5x optical zoom (for example, 14 Ultra), and Redmi has only digital zoom with loss of quality.

Examples of comparison (same scene, automatic settings):

If the camera is critical for you, choose Xiaomi without hesitation. Exception: Redmi K70 Pro with its 50 megapixel camera IMX890 (the same is in Xiaomi 13) can compete with the mid-budget models Xiaomi.

5. Screen and design: what is more enjoyable to use?

Xiaomi traditionally wins at the expense of premium materials and advanced technologies:

• 🖥️ Even budget Xiaomi (like 13 Lite) get screens AMOLED-display HDR10+ And it's 120 Hz. Redmi's lineup of Notes is still there. IPS-Matrices (e.g. in Redmi Note 12).
• 🎨 Design: Xiaomi uses glass (Gorilla Glass Victus) and metal frames, and Redmi uses plastic. Xiaomi also has thinner bezels around the screen and a smaller body.
• 🔊 Sound. Stereo speakers are there and there, but Xiaomi has them customized in collaboration with Dolby Atmos or Harman Kardon (in flagships).

There are exceptions, however: Redmi K-series (e.g., Redmi K-series, K70 The Pro gets the same screens as Xiaomi, and sometimes even better. K60 Ultra had 2K-144Hz display, while Xiaomi 13 is only FHD+ 120 Hz.

⚠️ WARNING: If you choose between Redmi Note and Xiaomi, check the screen type! budget Redmi still puts IPS, loser AMOLED For contrast and energy efficiency, for example, Redmi Note 12 (IPS) vs. Xiaomi 12 Lite (AMOLED) — The difference is visible to the naked eye.

6. Autonomy and charging: who lives longer?

In terms of battery capacity, Redmi usually wins: in the Note line, the standard is 5000 mAh, while Xiaomi often has 4500-4700 mAh.

• 🔋 Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 5,000 mAh + Dimensity 7200 Ultra (Energy Efficient) → 1.5-2 days with moderate use.
• 🔋 Xiaomi 14: 4610 mAh + Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Voracious) → 1 day with active use.

In terms of charging speed, both brands offer similar technologies:

Redmi leads in wired charging speeds (up to 210 watts in the Redmi Note 12 Turbo), but loses in wireless — it is often not even in top models. If you want wireless charging (for example, for use with a powerbank or car holder), choose Xiaomi.

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To extend battery life, avoid charging to 100% and discharging below 20%. In Xiaomi/Redmi settings, enable the option “Optimized Charging” (Settings → Battery).

7. Updates and Support: Who Lives Longer?

Xiaomi and Redmi’s official policy on updates is the same:

• 📱 3 years of major Android updates (e.g. Android 13 to Android 16).
• 🛡️ 4 years of security (monthly/quarterly patches).

However, in practice, Xiaomi is updated more stable:

• ✅ Xiaomi’s flagship (for example, 13/14 series) receive beta versions of new features MIUI first.
• ❌ Budget Redmis (like Note 10) often stay on the old version MIUI longer-term.

Xiaomi also maintains its devices for longer informally: for flagships, custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) comes out even 4-5 years after release.

1.Look at MIUI Updates Tracker

2. Enter the phone model in search

3.Look at the date of the last update.

4. Make sure that the phone is still on the supported list (not in the archive)

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