Which Xiaomi is the best to buy in 2018: a detailed guide to choose from

2018 was a turning point for Xiaomi, when the brand finally entrenched itself as a global player, offering technologies previously available only in the premium segment. Consumers faced a difficult dilemma: the market was flooded with dozens of models, from budget “workhorses” of the Redmi series to technology flagships Mi. It was during this period that a clear division into lines for economical users and for those looking for maximum performance was formed.

You need to be clear about your priorities before you go to the store or place an order online. The best choice depends on whether you are willing to put up with no headphone jack for waterproof or prefer a classic design with high autonomy. We analyzed the full range of devices released during this period to help you not get confused in marketing tricks.

In this article, we will analyze the key characteristics in detail, compare Snapdragon processors from different generations and determine which model will be the most reasonable investment in the current market conditions. The most balanced solution of mid-2018, experts recognized Xiaomi Mi 8 due to the combination AMOLED-And so, you can see, you can see, you can see, these are the devices that deserve your attention.

Flagship race: Mi 8 vs Mi Mix 2S

The top segment in 2018 is represented by two of the most powerful devices based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. This is the case when the choice between “best” and “best” becomes really difficult, the performance of both devices is redundant for any everyday tasks, including heavy three-dimensional games and graphics.

Xiaomi Mi 8 has become a direct successor to the successful “seven”, offering users a display with “bangs” and unlocking the face, which, however, works only when the screen is turned on. At the same time, the Mi Mix 2S has retained a recognizable design with minimal bezels from the bottom and top, but sacrificed the front camera, placing it in an unusual place. If you care about the ergonomic design and the classic arrangement of elements, the first option will seem more familiar.

The cooling system and the body materials deserve special attention. The glass panels of the Mi 8 are beautiful, but require the use of a case, as they are slippery and easily beat. The Mi Mix 2S is also made of glass and ceramics, which makes it heavier and more pleasant to the touch, but more vulnerable to falls.

⚠️ Attention: Buying a Mi Mix 2S, Remember, the front camera is located in the lower right corner of the back, which can be a inconvenience when you're making video calls if you're used to holding your phone in a standard way.

Choosing between these giants, you’re actually choosing between an innovative but controversial design and a proven classic with better camera specs. Optical stabilization works perfectly in both cases, but the software processing of the photos in the Mi 8 is still slightly better thanks to newer AI algorithms.

The Golden Mean: Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro

The mid-range price segment was undividedly captured by the Redmi Note 5 lineup in 2018, which became bestsellers, offering specs that were considered flagship a year earlier. The price-to-quality ratio here reached its peak, making smartphones available to a wide audience of students and office workers.

Global version of Redmi Note 5 Chinese Redmi Note 5 Pro differ primarily in processors: Snapdragon 636 against Snapdragon 660. The difference in productivity is about 15-20%, And that's something that's only noticeable in real-world applications, and for most users, the key is dual-band Wi-Fi and high-quality Wi-Fi. IPS-Full HD screen resolution+.

• 📱 Screen: 18:9 with protective glass, providing excellent color reproduction.
• 🔋 Battery: 4,000mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 support.
• 📸 Camera: Dual module with improved night shooting and portrait mode.
• 🎧 Audio: 3.5mm saved connector and support for aptX codec.

It is important to note that the case of the device is made of metal, which has a positive effect on heat removal, but limits the possibilities of wireless charging (which, however, is not here). Redmi Note 5 has become a benchmark for what a modern smartphone should be for the people: reliable, fast and inexpensive to repair.

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When buying the Redmi Note 5, pay attention to the NFC version. In 2018, the short-range module was not present in all regional versions, although they are externally identical.

Budget King: Honor 7X or Redmi 5 Plus?

The Redmi 5 Plus (also known as the Redmi Note 5 in China) offers a huge screen and metal body for mere pennies. Its main competitor, devices from Honor or Huawei, often loses in autonomy, but wins as a build.

But Xiaomi’s Redmi 5 Plus is unparalleled, and the Snapdragon 625, despite its age, remains one of the most energy-efficient chips in the history of mobile, and the autonomy of the device is striking: two days of active use is the norm, not the exception.

And you have to consider that in the pursuit of low cost, the manufacturer sacrificed a lot -- the plastic stubs of the antenna, the lack of a fingerprint scanner in some versions, and the basic camera -- that's the price of affordability, but for a child, an elderly person, or a second working phone, it's the perfect option.

⚠️ Note: Budget models of 2018 often come with a lot of pre-installed advertising software. Immediately after turning on, it is recommended to go to the settings and disable personalized recommendations and advertising in system applications.

Comparative Characteristics Table

To make it easier for you to navigate the technical details, we have brought the basic parameters of the models we are discussing into a single table, which will help you quickly compare the capabilities of processors, cameras and batteries.

As you can see from the table, the battery gap between flagships and budgeters is significant, because powerful processors require more power, and the thin housing of flagships does not allow for a larger battery, and energy consumption is one of the main factors to consider when choosing.

Camera and multimedia: what is capable of artificial intelligence

2018 saw the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms into the cameras of even budget smartphones. Xiaomi has been pushing AI technology Scene Detection, which automatically detects 200+ scenes and adjusts shooting parameters, allowing the Redmi Note 5 to take pictures that were previously only possible for top-end devices.

The Mi 8 and Mi Mix 2S feature support for 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, as well as slow-motion Super Slow Motion at 960 frames per second. These features require high data write speeds to the built-in drive, so expensive models use UFS 2.1 memory.

And don't forget the sound. Despite the rejection of the minijack in flagships, the sound quality through Bluetooth headsets has increased thanks to the support of the aptX HD codec. If you use wireless headphones, the difference in the quality of audio stream will be noticeable to the naked ear.

Outcome recommendations and conclusions

To sum up, 2018 has been a hugely diverse year for consumers: With budgets in place, the Xiaomi Mi 8 remains the king of performance and photo quality. For those looking for balance, the Redmi Note 5 is the absolute market leader. And for those with budgets, the Redmi 5 Plus will offer everything you need to live comfortably.

Remember that buying a smartphone is an investment of 2-3 years, so it’s better to take a model with a margin of performance than a year from now to suffer from interface lags. RAM of 4 GB in 2018 becomes the new minimum, and 6 GB is a comfortable standard.

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The best choice of 2018 depends on your needs: Mi 8 for photos and games, Redmi Note 5 for work and multimedia, Redmi 5 Plus for savings and autonomy.