What Xiaomi smartphone to choose in 2026: a detailed guide to models and prices

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2026 has become more difficult than ever: the brand has released more than 20 models in different price categories — from the budget Redmi to the premium Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

What models are relevant for June 2026 (and which are already outdated)

Which Xiaomi to choose for gaming, photography, battery life or office work

Comparison of Snapdragon and Dimensity processors in new smartphones;

Hidden pitfalls when buying (for example, why the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ might disappoint owners of older flagships).

We analyzed technical specifications, user reviews, and test results (including AnTuTu, DxOMark, and real-world autonomous tests) to rank honestly, and if you’re looking for a task-specific device, this guide is for you.

1. Xiaomi 2026 flagships: should you overpay?

The flagship models Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 14 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Ultra turned out to be some of the most balanced in the lineup of the brand. But their price (from 70,000 to 130,000 rubles) makes you wonder whether it is better to take last year’s flagship cheaper?

The main advantages of the new flagships:

• 🔥 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the most powerful chip on the market (20-30% faster than Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 in gaming and multitasking)
• 📸 Leica cameras: Xiaomi 14 Ultra – variable aperture f/1.6-f/4.0 and optical zoom 3.2x;
• 🔋 90W Wireless charging (in 14 Pro and 14 Ultra) – full charge in 40 minutes
• 🖥️ 2K LTPO screens with a frequency of 120 Hz and a brightness of up to 3,000 nits (seen in the sun).

But there are downsides:

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi 14 flagships don’t support microSD card slots – if you need more than 256GB, you’ll have to overpay for the top-end trim with 512GB or 1TB.

If you need a flagship but budget is tight, consider the Xiaomi 13T Pro (with Dimensity 8200 Ultra) – it’s 30-40% cheaper, but it’s almost as good as newer models in terms of performance.

2.The best Xiaomi smartphones to play in 2026

For gamers, Xiaomi offers two key lines: Black Shark (specialized gaming smartphones) and POCO F/Redmi K (budget “flagship killers”). In 2026, the leader in price/performance ratio was the POCO F6 Pro.

What is important for a gaming smartphone:

• 🎮 Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or later (in POCO F6 Pro — Snapdragon 8 Gen 2);
• 🔥 Cooling system: Black Shark 6 Pro – liquid cooling + fan
• 🔋 Battery: from 5000 mAh (Redmi K70 Pro – 5000 mAh + 120W charging);
• 🖥️ Screen: 144Hz (in Black Shark 6 Pro) or 120Hz with HDR10+ support.

TOP-3 gaming smartphone Xiaomi in 2026:

1. Black Shark 6 Pro – better cooling, physical triggers, but expensive (~60,000 ₽)
2. POCO F6 Pro — Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for 40,000 ₽ (best price/performance ratio)
3. Redmi K70 Pro — Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 + screen 2K 120 Hz (~50 000 ₽).

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If you play Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, turn on 90 FPS in your graphics settings and turn off VSync, which will reduce delays by 15-20 ms.

For most gamers, the POCO F6 Pro is the best choice — it’s cheaper than Black Shark, but it’s almost as fast as it can be in performance. And if you want maximum FPS, take the Redmi K70 Pro with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

3. Xiaomi budget smartphones: what to choose up to 20,000 ₽

In the segment up to 20,000 rubles Xiaomi offers two key lines: Redmi Note 13 and POCO M6. the main difference is in processors and screens. For example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro received a AMOLED- screen with a frequency of 120 Hz, and the POCO M6 Pro — more powerful chip Snapdragon 4 Gen 2.

Comparison of budget models:

Who's gonna do it?

• 📱 Redmi Note 13 – for social networks, calls and light games (Clash Royale, Brawl Stars)
• 🎯 Redmi Note 13 Pro – if you need a good screen and fast charging
• 💰 POCO M6 Pro is the best price/performance pick (the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip is more powerful than the Dimensity 6080).

⚠️ Warning: Budget Redmi and POCO often have a microphone problem during calls (especially in models for the Russian market).

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If the budget is strictly up to 15,000 ₽, take a Redmi 13C – it has a weak processor (Helio G85), but a great battery (5000 mAh) and a 90 Hz screen.

4. Xiaomi for Photography: Which Models Shoot Better than the iPhone?

In 2026, Xiaomi finally caught up with Apple and Samsung in photo quality. The leader was Xiaomi 14 Ultra with a Leica camera, but more affordable models (for example, Xiaomi 13T Pro) shoot at the level of the iPhone 14 Pro.

Key parameters for the camera phone:

• 📷 Basic module: minimum 50 MP with large aperture (f/1.6 and wider);
• 🔍 Optical zoom: Xiaomi 14 Ultra — 3.2x, Xiaomi 13T Pro — 2x;
• 🌃 Night shooting: better results with 1/1.28 sensor models (e.g. Xiaomi 14 Pro)
• 🎥 Video: Support for 8K@24fps or 4K@60fps with stabilization.

Xiaomi camera rating according to DxOMark (2026):

1. Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 150 points (better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max);
2. Xiaomi 14 Pro – 145 points;
3. Xiaomi 13T Pro – 135 points (best budget camera phone).

If you care about photography but have a budget, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is the best choice. It's cheaper than the Xiaomi 14 Pro by 40,000 ₽, but shoots almost as well thanks to the 200MP sensor and optimization from Leica.

5. Xiaomi with the best battery: who lives longer without a power outlet?

Autonomy is a weak spot for many smartphones, but Xiaomi in 2026 released several models with record-breaking running times: the leader is the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a 5,000 mAh battery and an optimized Dimensity 7200 Ultra processor.

TOP-5 Xiaomi in autonomy (real tests):

If you want a smartphone that can last 2 days without recharging, take the Redmi 13C — despite the weak processor, its battery and MIUI are optimized for maximum autonomy. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is suitable for balancing performance and running time.

6. Xiaomi for the job: Which models are right for the office?

What matters to office work is long autonomy, good document screen, and stable communication, and in 2026, the best workhorses are:

• 📄 Xiaomi 13T — AMOLED- screen 1.5K, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, support for Wi-Fi 6
• 🔄 POCO F5 — Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, 67W charging, price from 25,000 ₽;
• 📊 Redmi K60 — Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a 2K 120 Hz screen, but the battery is only 4700 mAh.

If you’re a frequent user of Excel, Word, or PDF, look for support for DeX mode (there’s Xiaomi 13T and later), which lets you connect your smartphone to a monitor and use it as a full-fledged computer.

How to turn DeX on Xiaomi:

1. Connect your smartphone to the monitor via USB-C → HDMI adapter;
2. In the screen settings, select DeX or Desktop Mode.
3. Use your mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth or USB.

⚠️ Warning: In some models (e.g. Redmi Note 13), DeX is unstable, can slow down Microsoft Office windows. Check for compatibility on forums (e.g. 4PDA before buying.

7.What Xiaomi models should not be bought in 2026?

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are worth considering, but here are the models we don’t recommend buying in 2026 (and why):

• ❌ Xiaomi 12T Pro — outdated Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, no support for new Wi-Fi standards 6E;
• ❌ Redmi Note 12 Pro+ — problems with overheating of the Dimensity 1080 processor;
• ❌ POCO X5 Pro is a weak AMOLED- screen (60 Hz) compared to competitors.
• ❌ Xiaomi Civi 3 is an overrated “selfie camera” with a weak core module.

Also avoid models with Helio G processors (like the Redmi 12C) – they are poorly optimized for MIUI 14 and slow down after a year of use.

If you see these models selling at a promotional price, don't go ahead. You'd better pay 3000-5000 ₽ and get some of the current lines (Redmi Note 13, POCO F6).

8.Where to buy Xiaomi in 2026: Official and unofficial channels

In Russia, Xiaomi is sold through several channels, and the choice depends not only on the price, but also on the warranty, firmware, and sometimes even equipment.

Official sources (12-24 month warranty):

• 🛒 Mi Store (official website) - the latest firmware, but prices are higher than the market;
• 🏬 Svyaznoy, M. Video, Eldorado - often discounts up to 15%;
• 🌍 AliExpress (official Xiaomi Global Stores) – cheaper by 10-20%, but warranty only 1 year.

Informal sources (risks):

• 🚨 Avito, Yula – you can find cheaper, but there is a high probability of running into a “gray” import with Chinese firmware;
• 📦 Parcels from China (through intermediaries) – no guarantee, there may be problems with LTE- networks in Russia;
• 🔄 B/w market – check IMEI on imei.info (can sell stolen or locked phones).

How to check the originality of Xiaomi before buying:

If you buy on credit or installments, it is better to take in large networks (Svyaznoy, M. Video) - there it is easier to return the phone under warranty if something goes wrong.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing Xiaomi in 2026