Why is Honor and Xiaomi Compared?
In the smartphone market, Honor and Xiaomi have long competed for the attention of consumers, offering devices with similar characteristics, but different approaches to design, software and pricing: both brands are native to China, both are actively exported to Europe and Russia, both are positioned as an alternative to the flagships of Samsung and Apple – but they have fundamental differences that affect the choice.
If you are in a dilemma, buy the Honor 90 or Xiaomi. 13T, Honor Magic V2 Or Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, this article will help you figure out which brand is closer to your needs.We will analyze hardware, software, ecosystem, pricing policy and even service support so that you can make an informed choice without a doubt.
Spoiler: There's no definitive answer to the question, "what's better," and it depends on what's more important to you: Honor is betting on premium design and optimized software, and Xiaomi is betting on maximum performance for less money. Let's get into more detail.
1.The history of brands: how Honor split from Huawei and Xiaomi went global
To understand the difference between brands, it’s worth looking back at their past: Xiaomi was founded in 2010 by Lei Jun and was originally marketed as “China’s Apple” — with a focus on quality iron at an affordable price. Today, it’s one of the world’s largest technology companies, making not only smartphones, but also smart appliances, laptops, electric cars.
Honor, in turn, was originally a sub-brand of Huawei (created in 2013) and focused on youth audiences. However, in 2020, due to US sanctions, Huawei sold Honor to a consortium of Chinese companies so that it could freely cooperate with Google, Qualcomm and other Western partners. Since then, Honor has developed independently, but retains some of Huawei’s achievements in the field of photography and Kirin processors (although now uses Snapdragon chips).
The key difference today: Xiaomi is a standalone giant with its own ecosystem and aggressive pricing policies.Honor is a former sub-brand of Huawei that is now trying to occupy the niche of premium devices with unique design and optimized software.
2.CPUs and performance: Snapdragon vs Dimensity vs Kirin
One of the main criteria for choosing is the “stuffing” of the smartphone, where the approaches of brands are radically different.
Xiaomi has traditionally used Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (in flagships) and MediaTek Dimensity (in the mid-segment).
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra — Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — Dimensity 7200 Ultra
Advantage: maximum performance in games and benchmarks, but sometimes due to overheating and rapid discharge.
Honor, by contrast, diversifys suppliers:
- Flagships (e.g. Honor) Magic6 Pro) get Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (like Xiaomi), but with improved cooling and software optimization.
Some models (such as the Honor 90) are equipped with MediaTek Dimensity processors.
- In China, Honor also launches devices on Kirin. 9000s (Huawei, but not in the global versions due to sanctions.
The main plus of Honor: better energy efficiency and more balanced work without lags.
| Model | Processor | AnTuTu (note) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | ~1 900 000 | Max. clock speed 3.3 GHz, overheating under load |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | ~1 850 000 | Cooling with evaporation chamber, stable FPS play |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | Dimensity 7200 Ultra | ~1 200 000 | Energy efficient but weaker on schedule |
| Honor 90 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 | ~950 000 | Optimized for long-term autonomy |
⚠️ Note: If you plan to play heavy games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile), Xiaomi with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will give more FPS, Honor with the same chip will last longer on a single charge.
3.Software: MIUI vs MagicOS
The operating system is something you interact with every day, and there's a huge difference between brands.
Xiaomi MIUI (Android-based):
The pros: a huge number of settings, themes, widgets. Xiaomi HyperOS support (since 2026) has improved smoothness.
Cons: Aggressive background optimization, which can cause apps to close unexpectedly, a lot of advertising in budget models (in Redmi).
- Example: c MIUI 14 You can even change the shape of the icons, but the background processes are killed after 5 minutes without activity.
Honor MagicOS (also based on Android but with Huawei elements) EMUI):
Pros: Minimalist design, no advertising, smart multitasking (apps don't close for no reason) and MagicRing support, an ecosystem for syncing with Honor laptops and tablets.
- Cons: fewer themes and widgets than in MIUI. Some features (such as Hot Nodes for fast application launch) require getting used to.
Example: MagicOS 8.0 has a Magic Capsule mode – a floating window with notifications, like on the iPhone.
- 🔧 MIUI: Flexibility and customization, but with “crutches” in the form of dead background processes.
- 🧹 MagicOS: Cleanliness and stability, but less “chips” for geeks.
- 📱 For whom: If you like to customize everything, Xiaomi. If you value stability and lack of lags, Honor.
💡
MagicOS has a hidden Super Transfer feature (in Settings) → Honor Share, which allows you to transfer files between Honor devices at speeds up to 1 GB/s – faster than AirDrop!
4.Cameras: Who shoots better - Honor or Xiaomi?
Photography is one of the key criteria when choosing a smartphone, where both brands are strong, but the approaches are different.
Xiaomi cooperates with Leica (in the flagships of Xiaomi) 13/14 Ultra and focuses on:
- Details (thanks to large matrices, such as Sony's 1-inch) IMX989 Xiaomi 13 Ultra).
Color reproduction (Leica Authentic and Vibrant profiles)
Night Mode (Night Mode 2.0)
Minus:
Honor uses its own algorithms (developed in conjunction with Huawei) and focuses on:
Natural colors (less soap processing than Xiaomi)
Portrait mode (exact segmentation of hair and small objects).
- Video (stabilization of Honor Image Engine) Magic6 Pro allows you to shoot 4K@60fps shaky).
Minus:
Redmi
| Parameter | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Honor Magic6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera. | 50 MP, 1", f/1.6-4.0 | 50 MPP, 1/1.3", f/1.4-2.0 |
| Ultrashire | 50 MP, 122° | 50 MP, 122° |
| zoom | 5x optical, 10x hybrid | 3.5x optical, 10x hybrid |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps s HDR |
How to check the quality of the camera before buying?
5. Design and Assembly: Premium vs. Practicality
Honor has recently been betting on premium design:
Aluminum and glass case (even in the mid-range, such as the Honor 90).
- Curved screens with minimal frames (for example, Magic6 Pro has 6.8-inch OLED permittingly 2800×1280).
Unique colors (e.g. Emerald Green with pearl effect)
Minus:
Xiaomi, especially in the Redmi lineup, prefers practicality:
Plastic rear panels (such as the Redmi Note 13) or matte glass (in Xiaomi 14).
Flat screens (more convenient for protection with glass).
More color options, including bright ones (e.g. Flamingo Pink in Xiaomi 13 Lite).
Minus:
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Honor Magic
- 💎 Honor: For those who want a smartphone that stands out in the crowd.
- 🛠️ Xiaomi: For those who value reliability and do not want to overpay for the design.
- 🔍 Detail: Honor has Magic6 Pro screen protected by Kunlun Glass 2 – according to the brand, it is 5 times stronger than ordinary glass.
Estimate the weight of the device (flagships weigh 200)+ gram)|Check if the back panel is slippery.|Make sure that the Type-C connector does not interfere with the phone’s holding.|Look at the buttons (Honor often has higher buttons than Xiaomi)-->
6.Prices and Value: Who offers the best price/quality ratio?
Here, Xiaomi has traditionally led the way, with the brand known for its strategy of “maximum iron for minimum money.”
- Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (With a Dimensity 7200 Ultra and 200 MP camera, it is ~35 000 ₽.
- Xiaomi 14 (Flagship with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) — ~80 000 ₽ (Samsung Galaxy S24 20 to 30%).
Honor is positioned more premium, so the prices are higher:
- Honor 90 with Snapdragon 7 Gen 1) — ~50 000 ₽ (More expensive than the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ similarly).
- Honor Magic6 Pro — ~120 000 ₽ (Competing with the iPhone 15 Pro).
But!
Honor
upgrade
100W
67W
Updates are maintained longer
⚠️ Attention: If the budget is tight, Xiaomi will give more hardware for the same money, but if you're willing to pay more for the design, the camera and the software, look towards Honor.
💡
Honor is more expensive, but offers a more premium experience: better build, longer update support and a unique design. Xiaomi is cheaper and more productive, but with trade-offs in the form of advertising and less developed software.
Ecosystem and additional devices
Both brands make smart devices, not just smartphones, but also smart devices, but they're different.
Xiaomi offers a wide range of products:
Smartwatches (Mi Watch, Redmi Watch)
The Robot Vacuum (Mi Robot Vacuum)
- Laptops (Xiaomi Book).
- Scooters, lamps, routers and even electric cars (model Xiaomi) SU7).
Plus:
Mi Home
minus
Honor focuses on synchronization:
- Laptops (Honor MagicBook).
- Honor Pad tablets.
- Headphones. - Honor Earbuds.
The main feature is the MagicRing technology, which allows, for example:
Copy text on your smartphone and paste it on your Honor laptop.
Use your smartphone as a webcam for your laptop.
Minus: