The smartphone market in 2021 has experienced significant changes, and the Chinese giant Xiaomi has once again been in the spotlight, offering customers an incredible variety of devices. Choosing a gadget in a budget of up to 30,000 rubles today has turned into a difficult dilemma, as the competition between its own sub-brands — Redmi and POCO — has reached its peak.
At this price point, you don’t have to put up with overtly weak screens or slow charging, but the differences in the details of the MIUI implementation and build quality can be crucial. We’ve analyzed current offerings to help you understand the maze of specifications and understand which model will be optimal for your tasks.
It's important to understand that retailers' pricing is dynamic, and models that were significantly more expensive six months ago can now fall into the desired range of 30,000 rubles. This opens up the possibility of buying a previous generation device with top-end hardware, instead of a mid-range novelty. Let's look at the key aspects of choosing so that your investment in technology is justified.
Choice Criteria: What to Look at First
With a budget of 30,000 rubles, priorities shift toward balancing performance and display quality. The processor is the heart of the smartphone, and in 2021, the standard for this segment became Snapdragon 732G, Dimensity 1080 or even Snapdragon 860.
The second most important parameter is the type of screen array, which has already become the de facto standard in this budget with AMOLED technology, which provides deep black and high contrast. However, the refresh rate, which directly affects the smoothness of the animations of the MIUI interface, is also important. Many users mistakenly believe that high resolution is more important than frequency, but in everyday use, the difference between 60 Hz and 90/120 Hz is much stronger than the density of pixels.
RAM capacity is also critical. If you plan to use the device for several years, it is better to focus on the version with 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM. Less volume can lead to constant reboots of background applications, which will negatively affect multitasking and overall system speed.
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In the budget up to 30 000 rubles, it is more important to choose a model with a more powerful processor and AMOLED-The screen is more than chasing a record number of megapixels in the camera.
Xiaomi and Redmi models in budget up to 30,000
The leader of sales and the uncontested favorite in this niche has long been the Xiaomi Mi 10T. Despite the fact that this is a model of 2020, in 2021 it became a hit precisely due to the drop in price. The device offers the flagship Snapdragon 865 processor, which still bypasses many new mid-range products in terms of power. This is the ideal choice for those who care about clean performance and power reserve for the future.
Another worthy candidate is the Redmi Note 10 Pro. This smartphone has become a benchmark in its class, offering users a 108-megapixel camera and excellent performance. AMOLED-It's 120 Hz, unlike Mi. 10T, It uses a less powerful Snapdragon chip. 732G, But for most use cases, it's abundant. It's sprayproof as standard. IP53, This is a rare thing for this price segment.
You can't ignore it. POCO X3 The Pro, which is billed as a flagship killer, is equipped with the same powerful Snapdragon 860 as many expensive models, but has a plastic design and a high-end model. IPS-If you don't care about premium materials and you want the best speed for your money, that's your choice, but you should be careful about the build quality and the possible heat over long loads.
⚠️ Attention: When buying POCO X3 Pay special attention to the firmware version and battery status, since early batches had problems with the chip dump in case of severe overheating.
It is also worth looking at the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite. This is a more affordable version of the flagship, which retained a great design and screen with a frequency of 120 Hz, but got a less powerful Snapdragon 750G processor. But there is support for fifth-generation 5G networks and very nice ergonomics thanks to the rounded edges.
Comparison of cameras: where are the best to shoot public sector
Photographic capabilities are something manufacturers often save on, but that's changed in 2021.The Redmi Note 10 Pro stands out for its 108MP core module, which, in good light, delivers detailed shots comparable to devices in the class above. HDR processing algorithms here work aggressively, pulling shadows and preventing overlights, which is something most users like.
In turn, the Xiaomi Mi 10T and its light version use Sony IMX682 sensors at 64 MP. Their trump card is the presence of optical stabilization (OIS), which is critical for shooting video and photos in low light conditions. Stabilization allows you to take clear shots even when your hands shake, and videos are smooth and devoid of jerks.
Secrets of night shooting on Xiaomi
Ultra-wide angle cameras in all of these models have a resolution of 8 MP. They are suitable for landscapes, but the detail at the edges of the frame noticeably suffers. Macro modules at 2 or 5 MP in most cases are decorative and do not represent real value for the photographer.
| Model | Main camera. | Stabilization | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi 10T | 64 MP | Aye (OIS) | 4K @ 30/60 fps |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | 108 MP | No. | 4K @ 30 fps |
| POCO X3 Pro | 48 MP | No. | 4K @ 30 fps |
| Mi 10T Lite | 64 MP | No. | 4K @ 30 fps |
Productivity and gaming opportunities
If you’re an avid mobile gamer, the choice narrows to models with Snapdragon 8xx series chips. Xiaomi Mi 10T and POCO X3 Pro are able to pull PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty at high graphics settings with high frame rate. The Adreno 640 and Adreno 650 graphics accelerator still perform great in the AnTuTu benchmarks, scoring more than 500,000 points.
Snapdragon 732G models like the Redmi Note 10 Pro can also handle games, but they can make trade-offs. You'll have to cut your graphics settings down to average to keep FPS stable. However, for casual games like Clash Royale or Among Us, they're more than enough power, and you won't notice any difference in the interface's response speed.
The cooling system is an important aspect. POCO X3 The Pro uses a large graphite plate that effectively removes heat, but the body itself can be appreciably heated. - Xiaomi Mi 10T This is a lot more difficult, but with a long game. 4K-video 3D-Shooter screen brightness can automatically decrease to protect the matrix.
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To improve your gaming experience, turn on Game Turbo in your security settings, which not only blocks notifications, but also redistributes CPU resources to the running game.
Autonomy and charging speed
The 5,000mAh battery became the standard for Xiaomi smartphones in 2021. The Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro and Mi 10T Lite are equipped with just such batteries, which makes you feel confident when you use it for a day and a half to two. The Xiaomi Mi 10T is a little out of the ordinary here, offering 4700mAh, which is due to the layout of the flagship iron.
Charging speeds are where Chinese manufacturers set the tone for the industry: 33W technology (and in some cases, more) can be used to recharge from zero to 100% in about an hour, eliminating the need to leave your phone on charge overnight, just plug it in during the morning camp.
However, it is worth considering that the power adapter may not be included in the supply of some versions, especially in the global series. In this case, you will have to buy the unit separately or use the old one, but it must support the Power Delivery or Quick Charge protocol for maximum speed.
⚠️ Attention: Using cheap, unoriginal cables and power supplies can lead to lower charging speeds and, in rare cases, damage to the smartphone power controller.
Screen and multimedia: sound and picture
The quality of the display directly affects the enjoyment of using the smartphone, AMOLED-Matrixes in Redmi Note 10 Pro and Mi 10T Lite provides a bright and rich picture. Peak brightness in 1000-1200 The thread allows you to comfortably read information on the screen even under direct sunlight.
The sound system has also improved, and the stereo speakers have become louder and cleaner, although bass is still lacking due to the physical limitations of the body. IPS-screens, such as POCO X3 Pro, often used a simpler layout of speakers, where one of them is combined with a conversational, which can create a sound imbalance.
The presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack in 2021 was a nice bonus that almost all Xiaomi models have kept in this budget.This allows you to use wired acoustics without losing sound quality, which is important for audiophiles who do not want to spend money on wireless devices. TWS-headphones.
☑️ Checklist before buying a smartphone
Summary and recommendations
To sum up, choosing the best Xiaomi to 30,000 rubles in 2021 depends on your personal preferences. IPS-with the lack of a screen or a waterproof POCO X3 Pro or Xiaomi Mi 10T They're the choice of a pragmatic person who looks primarily at iron".
For those who value multimedia experiences, a bright screen and a good social media camera, the Redmi Note 10 Pro looks like the most balanced offering.It's nice in hand, shoots well and looks great. The most versatile choice in 2021 was the Redmi Note 10 Pro, thanks to a combination of 120Hz AMOLED and IP53 protection.
Do not forget that buying a smartphone is an investment for several years, so it is worth overpaying a couple of thousand rubles for a version with a large amount of memory or an extended warranty than regretting the savings in a year.