Which Xiaomi smartphone to choose in 2022: a detailed guide to models for any task

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2022 is not an easy task. Even though the brand has long ceased to be a “Chinese outsider” and firmly established itself in the top of the world’s manufacturers, the range of models remains so wide that it is easy to get confused. Flagships with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, budget devices with AMOLED-screens for 15 thousand rubles, camera phones with Leica optics and game monsters with active cooling - in the line of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO There is an option for any wallet and for any needs.

But how do you make the right choice? In this article, we'll look at the current 2022 models (rather than the old stock leftovers), compare them by key parameters — performance, cameras, autonomy — and tell you what to look for when buying, and you'll also learn what pitfalls some devices harbor and how to avoid overpaying for unnecessary features.

Xiaomi’s Key Trends in 2022: What Has Changed?

2022 was a watershed for Xiaomi for several reasons: First, the company finally divided the lineup by target audience:

• 📱 Xiaomi – premium and flagship models (series 12, 12S, 12T).
• 💰 Redmi – budget and mid-budget smartphones (Series Note 11, 10, K50).
• 🎮 POCO — Devices for gamers and enthusiasts (series) F4, X4).

Second, Xiaomi has partnered with Leica, the legendary optics manufacturer, and the first fruits of this partnership have been in the Xiaomi 12S Ultra series, where the cameras received branded firmware and color settings from the German brand. In 2022, the company also made a bet on fast charging: even budget models now support 33W, and flagships – up to 120W (full charge in 19 minutes!).

Finally, in 2022, Xiaomi has put a spotlight on the ecosystem: smartphones are better integrated with the Mi Band 7 smartwatch, Mi Smart Speaker speakers, and even electric cars (yes, the company has already announced its first electric car!).

TOP-5 smartphones Xiaomi 2022: rating by category

To avoid overloading you with dozens of models, we have selected the 5 best Xiaomi smartphones of 2022 for different tasks. In the table below, the key characteristics and approximate prices at the time of the article’s release (relevant for Russia and the CIS).

Please note: prices can vary depending on the region and configuration (for example, the version with 8/256 GB of memory is usually more expensive by 5-10 thousand rubles). Also in 2022, Xiaomi began to actively sell devices without a charger in the kit - this can save you 1-2 thousand rubles if you already have a suitable power supply.

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If you want a smartphone with the best camera, go for the Xiaomi 12S Ultra with Leica optics. For games, the Redmi K50 Gaming or POCO F4 GT are almost identical, but POCO has better software for gamers.

Which Xiaomi to choose for photography in 2022?

If your priority is shooting quality, then in 2022 Xiaomi has two obvious leaders: Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Xiaomi 12T Pro.

12S Ultra is a professional camera phone with:

• 📸 Optics Leica Summicron (branded lens coating, color settings).
• 🔍 Sony's main sensor IMX989 50 MP with pixels of 1.6 microns (best on the market in 2022).
• 🎯 Telephoto module with 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 120 mm).
• 🖼️ Possibility of filming in RAW Full dynamic range (suitable for professional processing).

Price (~75 thousand rubles) and dimensions — the smartphone is thick and heavy (225 g), but it is the only Xiaomi that can compete with the iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in terms of photo quality.

The 12T Pro, by contrast, is a resolution-driven camera: its 200MP main camera (Samsung HP1) allows you to take pictures with detail that is not available even to the flagships of competitors.

⚠️ Attention: In mode 200 The photos are taken up to 30-40 MB each, and the only way to shoot is in good light. At dusk, the smartphone automatically switches to binning. 4-into-1 (50 MP), andadvantage is lost.

For budget shooting, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G with a 108 MP camera is suitable. It does not pull to the professional level, but for social networks and everyday shots it will be enough. The main thing is not to be led by marketing: 108 MP is achieved by software combining pixels (9-in-1), so the real quality is closer to the 12 MP flagships of 2019.

Xiaomi 2022 gaming smartphones: POCO vs Redmi K50

If you want a smartphone to play games, Xiaomi has two main candidates in 2022: the POCO F4 GT and the Redmi K50 Gaming.

• 🎮 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor (top chip for Android in 2022).
• 🔥 Cooling system with steam chamber and graphite plates.
• 🔋 Battery 4700 mAh with support 120W fast-charging.
• 🖥️ Screen. AMOLED 120Hz and support HDR10+.

But there are key differences:

Who has what to choose?

• 🎮 POCO F4 GT — If you care about physical triggers (like on game consoles) and clean software. PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty, Genshin Impact.
• 💥 Redmi K50 Gaming — if you prefer the official firmware and don't mind overpaying for the brand, it also has slightly better cameras (but it's not critical for gaming).

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Before buying a gaming smartphone, check for support for the game on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Some titles (such as Fortnite) may not run due to Epic Games limitations.

Budget smartphones Xiaomi 2022: what to buy up to 20 000 rubles?

In the segment up to 20,000 rubles, Xiaomi offers several decent options, but not all of them are equally good. The main problem of state employees is saving on hardware: cheap processors, weak cameras and screens with low refresh rates.

Best choice:

1. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G (~25 000 rubles, but often with a discount of up to 20 thousand: AMOLED-120Hz screen, 108MP camera, 120W Cons: Dimensity 920 processor is weaker than Snapdragon 778G.
2. Redmi Note 11S (~18,000 rubles.). Pros: AMOLED 90 Hz, 108 MP camera, IP53 (splash protection). Cons: no 5G, weak processor Helio G96.
3. POCO M4 Pro 5G (~17 000 RUB.). Pros: 90 Hz screen, 5G, Dimensity 810 (better than the Helio G96). Cons: IPS-matrix (worse contrast than AMOLED).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi’s budget smartphones often have a problem with the camera’s autofocus. For example, in the Redmi Note 11 (without the Pro), the 50MP main camera has a fixed focus – meaning that when shooting from close range (less than 30 cm), the photos will be blurred.

If your budget is tightly limited to 15,000 rubles, consider Redmi 10C or POCO C40, but be prepared for compromises: 60 Hz screen, weak processors and cameras at the level of 13 MP. For social networks and calls, it will work, but for games or shooting – no.

Make sure the model supports 5G (if necessary)|Check the type of screen (AMOLED better IPS)|Note the Bluetooth version (5.2 is better than 5.0)|View reviews about the camera on the forums (often the real quality is worse than the stated one)-->

Xiaomi for work and multitasking: which models are suitable?

If you need a smartphone to work with—with good autonomy, performance, and support for DeX mode (connecting to a monitor like a PC), then in 2022 Xiaomi has a few suitable options.

TOP-3 for work:

• 💼 Xiaomi 12 Pro – flagship with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 12 GB of RAM and support for Wi-Fi 6E. Suitable for document processing, video conferencing and easy video editing.
• 📊 Xiaomi 12T — A more affordable alternative with Dimensity 8100-Ultra (Performance is close to Snapdragon 8+). There is. IR-blaster.
• 🖥️ Redmi K50 Pro – Optimum balance of price and power (Dimensity 9000, 120W Supports Mi Desktop Mode (similar to Samsung DeX).

For office tasks (Word, Excel, mail) will suffice and Redmi Note 11 Pro+, but if you need to connect your smartphone to the monitor or work with graphics, take a model with Snapdragon 8xxx or Dimensity 9000.

⚠️ In 2022, Xiaomi stopped supplying models with official support for Google Mobile Services to Russia (GMS). This means that on some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S In China, you will have to install Google services yourself, which can lead to problems with updates.

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To work with documents, install Microsoft Office or WPS Office from the official store. These are optimized for MIUI and support multitasking.

What to avoid when choosing Xiaomi in 2022?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are worth your attention. Here are 3 types of models that you can avoid:

1. The outdated flagships of 2021 (Xiaomi 11T Pro, Mi 11) are losing out on new models in autonomy and performance, despite the discounts. For example, the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11 warms up more than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 12S.
2. 5G-free smartphones (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) – In 2022, even budget models (like the Redmi Note 11S) support fifth-generation networks. It makes no sense to buy outdated technology.
3. Models with IPS-screens in the segment above 15 000 rubles. AMOLED It has long ceased to be a luxury - in 2022 it is installed even in the Redmi Note 11 for 18 000 rubles.. IPS worse in contrast and energy efficiency.

Also beware of gray shipments from China. 10-15%, but:

• ❌ There is no official guarantee in Russia.
• ❌ Firmware without Google Play (you will have to install manually).
• ❌ The risk of a fake (especially relevant for Xiaomi) 12S Ultra).

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing Xiaomi in 2022