Which Xiaomi smartphone to choose in 2023: flagship, middle class or budget?

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2023 is not an easy task. The brand offers dozens of models, from the budget Redmi to the premium Xiaomi 13 Ultra, and it is difficult to understand this diversity without expert help. In this article, we will not just list the top devices, but help you to choose Xiaomi for specific tasks - whether it is a gaming smartphone, a photo shooter or a long-lived battery.

A key trend in 2023 is price optimization. After a wave of price hikes in 2022, Xiaomi returned some models to the affordable segment, but at the same time improved the “iron”. For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ now comes with a 200-megapixel camera and 120-watt charging — options that only flagships had a year ago. At the same time, the flagships of the Xiaomi 13 series received the world’s first 1-inch Leica sensors, which brought them to the level of professional cameras.

We analyzed more than 20 models, user reviews and tests from independent labs (including DxOMark and AnTuTu) to get an honest rating.

• 🔝 Top.-5 Xiaomi 2023 price/quality ratio
• 🎮 The best gaming smartphones with cooling and 144 Hz
• 📸 Rating cameras – which Xiaomi shoots better than iPhone
• 🔋 Long-lived with a 2-battery battery+ day-time
• 💰 Comparison of prices in official and "gray" stores

1. Top.-5 Xiaomi 2023 Year: rating by price/quality ratio

If you want a universal smartphone without overpaying for a brand, look at these five, and we've selected models that offer the most features for the lowest possible amount of money, given the current prices for June 2023.

The leader of the rating – Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G. It’s the perfect balance between performance, camera and battery life: 120W charging fills the battery in 19 minutes, and 200MP sensor (albeit with software interpolation) gives better detail than many flagships in 2022. The only drawback is a plastic case, but at 35 000 ₽ that's forgivable.

⚠️ Attention: Models POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ They're often confused because they're similar. POCO No screen heating in the cold (relevant for Russia), but it is cheaper by 5 000 ₽.

2.The best gaming smartphones Xiaomi 2023: 144 Hz, cooling, triggers

For gamers, Xiaomi offers two specialized lines: Black Shark (premium segment) and POCO F (budget solutions).In 2023, the key innovations are Black Shark 6 Pro and POCO F5 Pro, but there are more affordable options.

The main criteria for choosing a gaming smartphone:

• 🎮 120-frequency screen+ Hz (preferably) AMOLED)
• ❄️ Cooling system (liquid or graphite)
• 🔋 Battery 5000+ fast-charging mAh
• 🎯 Physical triggers (from Black Shark) or software (POCO)

Top.-3 gaming Xiaomi 2023:

1. Black Shark 6 Pro – flagship with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, physical triggers and 144-Hz AMOLED. Price: 80,000 ₽.
2. POCO F5 Pro – an alternative with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, but no triggers, but cheaper: 45,000. ₽.
3. Redmi K60 — A universal smartphone with 144 Hz and 5500 mAh, suitable for both gaming and everyday tasks. Price: 40 000 ₽.

The Black Shark 6 Pro is the only active-cooled smartphone in the lineup (built-in fan) that allows the processor to keep clock speeds at maximum length longer than competitors. For example, in Genshin Impact, at maximum settings, Black Shark delivers a stable 58-60 FPS, while the POCO F5 Pro sags to 45-50 FPS after 20 minutes.

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Before buying a gaming smartphone, check for support for games on Google Play. Some titles (such as Diablo Immortal) do not officially work on devices with an unlocked bootloader (custom firmware).

3. Xiaomi with the best camera in 2023: a comparison with iPhone and Samsung

In 2023, Xiaomi made a leap in photography thanks to a partnership with Leica. Now even mid-budget models bypass the flagships of 2021-2022. The main novelties are Xiaomi 13 Ultra (the best camera on the market according to DxOMark) and Xiaomi 13 Pro (the optimal choice for most).

Key advantages of Xiaomi 2023 cameras:

• 📷 1-inch sensor (in 13 Ultra/Pro) — collect 70% More light than standard 1/1.28".
• 🔍 Optics Leica – natural color reproduction (unlike “juicy” photos Samsung).
• 🌃 Night photography - Xiaomi 13 Ultra bypasses iPhone 14 Pro Max in the Dark Scenes on the 15-20%.
• 🎥 8K-Dolby Vision-enabled video (available on all flagships).

Comparison with competitors (DxOMark data, May 2023):

Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the only smartphone with variable aperture (f/1.9–f/4.0), like professional cameras, which allows you to control depth of field and the amount of light by hand, for example, for portraits you can set f/1.9 (blurred background), and for landscapes – f/4.0 (maximum sharpness).

⚠️ Note: In Russia, Xiaomi 13 Ultra is sold only through “gray” deliveries (there is no official warranty). Alternative – Xiaomi 13 Pro with a similar sensor, but without variable aperture.

4. Xiaomi with the longest running time: top battery 2023

If you want a smartphone that can live 2+ days on a single charge, look for models with a 5,000+ mAh battery and energy-efficient processors. In 2023, the leaders in autonomy are:

1. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G – 5000 mAh + 120-W charging (full cycle in 19 minutes).
2. POCO M5s – 5000 mAh + Helio G95 (low power consumption).
3. Xiaomi 13 Lite is 4500 mAh, but with Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, which is 30% more economical than its predecessors.

For maximum autonomy, we recommend turning off:

Disable 5G (if not in use)

Set a dark topic (for the purpose of AMOLED-screen)

Limit the background activity of applications

Turn off the "Constantly Active Screen" (AOD)

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Autonomous test (mode: 5 hours of screen, Wi-Fi, 50% brightness):

• Redmi Note 12 Pro+ – 1.5 days (36 hours)
• POCO M5s – 2 days (48 hours)
• Xiaomi 13 Lite – 1.2 days (28 hours)

The POCO M5s is the best choice for those looking for an “unkillable” smartphone. Despite the budget Helio G95 processor, it is showing record results in tests for autonomy thanks to optimized MIUI 14 software and no background processes.

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If you need a smartphone for 2+ days of operation, choose models with Snapdragon 6/7 series processors or Helio G – they are less voracious than flagship chips.

5. Which Xiaomi to choose in 2023: a selection of tasks

In order not to make a mistake with the choice, determine what you need a smartphone:

If you’re not sure, take the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, the most balanced smartphone of 2023 in terms of price/quality, and it’s suitable for games (thanks to Dimensity 1080), shooting (200 MP camera), and long-term work (5,000 mAh).

6.Where to buy Xiaomi in 2023: Official stores vs. "gray" imports

In Russia, Xiaomi is sold through:

• 🏬 Official stores (Mi Store, Svyaznoy, M. Video) - guarantee 12-24 months, but prices are higher 10-15%.
• 🌍 "Grey imports (AliExpress, Joybuy, local retailers) – cheaper, but only warranty 3-6 months.
• 📦 Used market (Avito, Yula) - the risk of running into a "drowned" or smartphone with a broken display.

Price comparison for Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G (June 2023):

• Mi Store — 35 990 ₽ (24-month guarantee.).
• AliExpress (Global Version) — 31 000 ₽ (6-month guarantee.).
• Avito (state as new") — 25 000-28 000 ₽ (guarantee).

Checklist before purchase:

Check the IMEI on imei.info (must match the box)

Make sure your smartphone is not blacklisted (*#06#)

Ask for a check or a warranty card

Check the work of all sensors (Sensor Test in the Play Market)

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⚠️ Note: Models for China (China) ROM) They don't have Google Play or Russian. They can be reflashed, but that's not guaranteed. EEA (Europe).

7. Frequent Mistakes When Choosing Xiaomi and How to Avoid Them

Many buyers face problems after buying Xiaomi due to ignorance of the nuances.-5 Mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Buying a Chinese version without Google Play or Russian. ✅ Solution: Look for Global or EEA.
2. Ignoring the version MIUI — older versions, for example, MIUI 12) do not support new functions. ✅ Solution: Check on the Xiaomi website, which version of the software is installed on the model.
3. Selection by megapixels - 200 MP ≠ photo. ✅ Solution: See DxOMark or GSMArena tests.
4. Savings on RAM – 6 GB in 2023 is not enough for multitasking. ✅ Solution: Take a minimum of 8GB of RAM.
5. Buying without checking the network 5G — Not all models support Russian frequencies. ✅ Solution: Clarify support for ranges n1/n3/n7/n28/n78.

The most critical mistake is to buy a smartphone without an IMEI check, and scammers often sell stolen or locked devices to avoid problems:

1. Ask the seller for an IMEI (printed on the box or in the settings on the About Phone → General information).
2. Check it out on imei.info – the status should be Clean.
3. If you buy from hand, ask to unlock the phone and check the operation of all functions (NFC, camera, speakers).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Choosing Xiaomi