The mobile market in 2021 experienced a real revolution, and Xiaomi was at the center of these events, the consumer faced a dilemma: on the one hand, the shortage of microchips spurred prices, on the other – competition forced brands to introduce top technologies in the budget segment.
This year, the Chinese giant has bet on the separation of the Mi and Redmi line, as well as the active promotion of the sub-brand POCO. If you are wondering which phone to buy in 2021, you will have to understand the maze of Snapdragon 888 processors, cameras with a resolution of 108 MP and screens with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Wrong choice can mean overpaying for unnecessary functions or, conversely, disappointment in the speed of work in six months.
This article will be your navigator in the world of specifications and marketing gimmicks. We will analyze the real-world indicators of autonomy, build quality and long-term software support. Attention: buying equipment in 2021 requires special care, as many of the “new” products of the beginning of the year by fall are already obsolete due to the rapid release of new chipsets.
The flagship race: Mi 11 and Ultra series
The Mi 11 series is the company’s top engineering concept this year, setting the tone for the Android industry, with the Snapdragon 888 chipset providing tremendous performance in games and heavy applications. But when you choose a flagship, it’s important to understand that you’re not just paying for power, but also for premium body materials and advanced camera modules.
The Mi 11 Ultra, which features a second rear-facing display and a Samsung GN2 sensor measuring 1/1.12 inches, offers incredible detail even in low light. For mobile photography professionals, it is arguably the best tool on the market to compete with full-fledged cameras.
⚠️ Warning: Flagship models of the Mi 11 series based on the Snapdragon 888 are prone to heating under load.Using a heavy protective case during games can lead to trottling (reduced processor frequency).
Do not forget about the standard version of the Mi 11, which offers a more compact body and AMOLED-resolution-screen WQHD+. It is a choice for those who appreciate ergonomics and are not ready to put up with the dimensions of the shovel. The basic model retains all the key advantages of the flagship, sacrificing only a zoom camera and moisture protection of the upper class.
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When buying a flagship, pay attention to the memory version. In 2021, the optimal minimum is a bundle of 8/128 GB, but for comfortable work with MIUI, it is better to consider the option of 12/256 GB.
The Golden Mean: Redmi Note 10 and Note 10 Pro
If the question of “what phone to buy” is a big deal, and the budget is limited, the Redmi Note 10 series becomes the uncontested leader. AMOLED-And even in the basic models of the line, it changes the way you see the picture, making the colors richer and the black really deep.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro features a 108-megapixel camera and a Snapdragon 732G processor. This combination provides excellent performance in everyday tasks and decent shooting results. The smartphone received stereo speakers and splash protection on the IP53 standard, which is rare for this price segment.
The important aspect is the charging speed. The Pro version comes with a 33W power supply that allows you to fully charge a 5020 mAh battery in less than an hour. For users who are constantly on the move, having such a unit in the box is a huge plus, saving you extra costs.
- 📱 Screen: DotDisplay AMOLED 90 Hz and brightness up to 1200 nits.
- 🔋 Autonomy: 5020 mAh battery with support for fast charging of 33 watts.
- 📸 Camera: 108 MP core module with night shooting 2.0.
Budget King: Redmi 9T and POCO M3 Pro analysis
In the lower price segment, the Redmi 9T (known as the Redmi Note 9 4G in some regions) is the dominant model in 2021, with a huge battery of 6,000 mAh, a record high that allows the smartphone to work up to two days in active use without recharging.
The competitor is here. POCO M3 Pro 5G, It offers support for fifth-generation networks and a Dimensity 700 processor. IPS yield AMOLED-Matrices of older brothers, the presence of 5G And the design that's fresh and it's very attractive to a younger audience, and the choice between these two models often comes down to the priorities of autonomy or speed.
Both smartphones run on the shell of MIUI 12.5, which has become lighter and more optimized than previous versions. However, owners of budget devices should be careful with the number of installed applications. RAM of 4 GB in 2021 is already considered minimally comfortable, and heavy games can cause slowdowns.
It's worth noting that budget models often have a plastic case, which not only makes it cheaper to produce, but also has a positive effect on the weight of the device and the absence of signal problems. For those who often drop their phones, plastic may be a more practical solution than fragile glass.
Game Solutions: POCO F3 and X3 NFC Series
For mobile gamers, the company has developed a separate line of devices under the POCO brand. POCO F3 model became a real hit with the installation of the flagship Snapdragon 870 processor. This chip is less hot than the 888th, but provides consistently high FPS in demanding games like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact.
The screen in these devices is calibrated with high color accuracy and supports a frequency of 120 Hz. This provides smooth animations and instant response to touch, which is critical in competitive shooters. In addition, the presence of an infrared port and stereo speakers makes using the smartphone comfortable in multimedia scenarios.
Settings for maximum performance:
1. Open Settings → Advanced Settings → Memory.
2. Enable virtual memory extension (if available).
3. In "No Limits" mode, start the game.The alternative is the POCO X3 NFC (and its updated version), which offers similar design and great ergonomics, but based on a weaker processor.It is a choice for those who want a similar experience to the flagship, but are not willing to overpay for excess power.
Comparative Characteristics Table
To help you make your choice, we have prepared a summary table of key characteristics of the popular models of 2021, which presents the main parameters that you should pay attention to when buying.
| Model | Processor | Screen. | Camera (main) | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi 11 | Snapdragon 888 | AMOLED 120 Hz | 108 MP | 4600mAh |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | Snapdragon 732G | AMOLED 120 Hz | 108 MP | 5020 mAh |
| POCO F3 | Snapdragon 870 | AMOLED 120 Hz | 48 MP | 4520 mAh |
| Redmi 9T | Snapdragon 662 | IPS 60 Hz | 48 MP | 6,000 mAh |
Why do different types of screens appear in the table?
Camera and photo: what sensors are capable of in 2021
In 2021, the megapixel race peaked in the mass segment, with 64MP and 108MP sensors becoming standard even for mid-range devices. However, pixel count is not the only parameter (OIS).
The Mi 11 and Mi 11 Ultra series flagships feature optical stabilization, allowing clear photos and videos to be taken with even trembling hands. At the same time, many Redmi models lack OIS, relying solely on electronic stabilization (EIS), which can produce artifacts when moving quickly.
And macro cameras are also worth mentioning, and you can often see in the specs 2 MP or 5 MP modules, which marketing calls a "telephoto lens," and the actual utility of these cameras is extremely low, and in most cases they only serve to fill the void in the camera block, and you can better focus on the quality of the main and ultra-wide-angle modules.
- 🌃 Night shooting: Flagships use frame-to-frame algorithms to reduce noise.
- 🎥 Video: Support 8K Available only on top models, 4K 60fps — top-segment standard.
- 🔍 Zoom: Optical zoom is only available in models with a telephoto lens (usually 2x or 5x).
Software and Long-Term Support
When you buy a smartphone, you buy not only hardware, but software. In 2021, Xiaomi announced an expansion of support for its devices. Flagship models can count on three years of major Android updates and four years of security updates. This is an important aspect that is often ignored when choosing.
The MIUI 12.5 shell, which replaced version twelfth, brought privacy improvements, memory protection, which restricts applications' access to data, and more flexible permission settings, which is a significant step forward for privacy-conscious users.
⚠️ Attention: Update to new versions MIUI On older devices, it can temporarily reduce battery autonomy due to the process of indexing files in the background. 2-3 day-to-day.
☑️ Check before buying a used smartphone
Also worth considering is the availability of ads in system applications, which are less common in global firmware versions, but still present in standard utilities, and fortunately, you can manually disable them in the settings of each application, which is recommended immediately after purchase.
Final verdict: what to choose?
Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2021 depends solely on your needs and budget. If you want maximum performance and the best camera, take the Mi 11 or Mi 11 Ultra. For gamers, the ideal price-power balance will be the POCO F3. Redmi Note 10 Pro is the king of the mid-range for those who want a good screen and camera without overpaying.
If the budget is tight, the Redmi 9T will offer unmatched autonomy, and the POCO M3 Pro will give access to 5G networks. In any case, the Xiaomi ecosystem in 2021 offers options for any wallet, maintaining a high value for money.
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The top tip for 2021 is: don't chase the number of cameras.One quality optically stabilized core module is better than four useless sensors.
Don’t forget to check the region of the device version (Global, EU, CN). Chinese versions (CN) are often cheaper, but may not support some LTE frequencies (for example, Band 20), which is critical for suburban communication in Europe and the CIS.