Why Xiaomi is better than Huawei: an objective comparison of 7 key criteria

Choosing between Xiaomi and Huawei in 2026 is not just a matter of preference, but a strategic decision that will impact your digital experience for years to come. Both brands offer powerful smartphones with innovative features, but the companies’ approaches to development are radically different. While Huawei is betting on premium materials and its own Kirin chips, Xiaomi is focusing on optimal price-to-opportunity ratios, offering flagship specs for less money.

The main paradox: Huawei, despite the sanctions and the lack of official support for Google Mobile Services (GMS), remains popular in China and some regions of Asia, while Xiaomi is steadily increasing market share in Europe, India and Russia. But why Xiaomi smartphones are the best choice for most users? In this article, we will discuss 7 key aspects – from software to the ecosystem of accessories – that make Xiaomi a more profitable and promising alternative.

Spoiler: If you care about regular Android updates, getting Google services to work, and accessing global apps without workarounds, the answer is obvious. But that's just the tip of the iceberg -- let's dig deeper.

1.Software: MIUI vs EMUI (and why it's more important than iron)

The operating system is the brain of a smartphone, and here the difference between Xiaomi and Huawei is huge. Xiaomi’s MIUI is built on current versions of Android (up to Android 14 in 2026) and receives regular security updates. At the same time, Huawei’s EMUI runs on HarmonyOS (in China) or outdated Android forks (in global versions), which creates compatibility problems.

The main advantages of MIUI are:

• 🔄 Long-term support: Xiaomi promises to support the company 4 the year of major updates and 5 years of security patches for flagships (e.g. Xiaomi) 14 Huawei has even for top-end models (Mate) 60 Pro) updates are terminated through 2-3 year-end.
• 🤖 Full Google Play: Xiaomi has all of Google’s services (including YouTube, Maps, Gmail) running out of the box, and Huawei will have to install them manually through AppGallery or third-party sources – risking security.
• 🛠️ Flexible setting: B MIUI You can change almost everything from animations to the layout of interface elements. EMUI More restricted and limited the user.

The critical point is that if you use Google Pay, Netflix in HD, or enterprise apps (like Microsoft Teams), Huawei will create a lot of problems, such as Google Pay on devices without GMS certification, just won’t launch, and Netflix will only show 480p video.

2.Price and price-quality ratio: where Xiaomi beats Huawei with a knockout

Even the most ardent fans of Huawei admit that Xiaomi offers the best “iron” for the same money. For example, the flagship Xiaomi 14 (2026) with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a 2K+ 120 Hz display is cheaper than the Huawei P60 Pro with Kirin 9000s and a FHD+ 120 Hz screen. At the same time, in benchmarks, Snapdragon is ahead of Kirin by 15-20% in performance and 30% in energy efficiency.

Compare prices for similar models (data for June 2026):

But it’s not just the flagships. In the segment of budget smartphones Xiaomi does not leave Huawei any chances: Redmi Note 13 with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 and 120 Hz display costs 20,000 rubles, while the similar Huawei Nova Y71 offers a Kirin 710 (2018!) and 60 Hz screen for the same money.

💡

Xiaomi gives a new processor architecture and high refresh rates even in budget models, while Huawei saves on everything but design.

3.Cameras: Myths and Reality (spoiler: Xiaomi catches up and distills)

For a long time, cameras were considered a weak spot for Xiaomi, but in 2023-2026, the situation changed dramatically. The cooperation with Leica bore fruit: Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra bypass the Huawei Mate 50 Pro in DXOMARK tests on most parameters, including night shooting and dynamic range.

Key differences:

• 📸 Hardware: Xiaomi 14 Ultra is equipped 1-Sony-inch sensor IMX989 with variable aperture, whereas Huawei P60 Pro uses a smaller amount 1/1.28" sensor IMX888.
• 🌙 Night shooting: Xiaomi algorithms better cope with noise in low light thanks to AI processing from Leica.
• 🎥 Video: Xiaomi supports 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps s HDR10+, Huawei is limited by 4K@30fps most models.

But Huawei has one undeniable advantage: optical zoom. For example, the Mate 60 Pro+ offers 5x optical zoom versus 3.2x for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. But in practice, the difference is noticeable only to professionals: for everyday shots, there is enough software zoom with AI enhancement from Xiaomi.

4.Ecosystem and accessories: why Xiaomi wins in the long run

Xiaomi is not just a smartphone, but an ecosystem of smart devices, from robot vacuum cleaners to electric toothbrushes, all synchronized via the Mi Home app (now Xiaomi Home) and controlled from a smartphone. Huawei also has a Huawei Smart Life ecosystem, but it is closed and less compatible with other brands.

Ecosystem comparison:

• 🏠 Smart home: Xiaomi supports Zigbee 3.0, Matter and Integration with Google Home/Amazon Alexa.Huawei has its own Huawei HiLink protocol that only works with their devices.
• 🎧 Audio: Headphones Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro support LDAC and LE Audio, while Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 is limited to proprietary codec HWA.
• ⚡ Charging: Xiaomi offers 200W fast charging (in Redmi Note 12 Turbo), while Huawei has the maximum — 88W (Mate 60 Pro).

Critical: If you already use smart light bulbs Yeelight (owned by Xiaomi) or robot vacuum cleaner Mi Robot Vacuum, then the Huawei smartphone will not be able to control them without additional “crutches” like Home Assistant.

💡

Before buying, check the compatibility of your smart devices with the new smartphone.For example, Xiaomi Mi Home Security cameras will not stream video to the Huawei screen without third-party apps.

5. Updates and Support: Who Lives Longer?

Xiaomi is leading the way here. The company follows a 4+5 policy: 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security patches for flagships. By comparison, Huawei provides just 2 years of major updates and 3 years of patches - even for top-end models.

Examples:

• 📅 Xiaomi 12T Pro (2022) received Android 14 in 2026 and will be updated until 2027.
• ⏳ Huawei P50 Pro (2021) stuck on EMUI 12 (based on Android 11) and will no longer receive new versions.

Moreover, Xiaomi actively supports older models through the MIUI Pilot program, where users can test new features before the official release.

Find out the model and year of issue|View the official schedule of updates on the manufacturer's website|Check the current version of Android in settings (Settings) → The phone)|Compare with competitors in support tables-->

6 Global Availability and Services: Why Huawei is Losing Outside China

After 2019 sanctions, Huawei lost access to Google Mobile Services (GMS), And that made it a little less suitable for the global market (HMS) and AppGallery, but:

• 🚫 Google Play: You will need to install apps through APK-files or third-party stores (such as Aptoide) that are not secure.
• 🔒 Problems with banking applications: Many banks (including Sberbank, Tinkoff) block work on devices without Google certification.
• 🌍 Limited geolocation: Google Maps on Huawei is buggy or never running. Alternatives like Huawei Petal Maps are inferior in accuracy.

Xiaomi, on the other hand, is certified by Google and does not have such problems, and the brand is actively localized for different regions: for example, in Russia Xiaomi cooperates with Yandex (pre-installed Yandex.Maps, Yandex.Mail), and in India – with local payment systems.

💡

If you travel or use international services (Uber, Airbnb, PayPal), Huawei will create a lot of inconvenience.

7. Design and Ergonomics: Subjectively but Important

Design is always subjective, but there are objective criteria:

• 📏 Weight and thickness: Xiaomi 14 weighs 188g at 8.2mm thick, whereas Huawei P60 Pro - 200 g and 8.3 mm. the difference in 12 grams is noticeable with prolonged use.
• 🖥️ Display: Xiaomi more often uses curved screens with minimal bezels, while Huawei prefers flat panels with noticeable “foreheads” and “pusses».
• 🎨 Colors: Xiaomi offers brighter and more custom shades (for example, Xiaomi 13 Lite in Lite Blue), while Huawei sticks to the classics (black, white, gold).

It's also worth noting that Xiaomi is experimenting more often with materials: for example, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra had a ceramic body, and the Xiaomi 14 had vegan leather. Huawei mainly uses glass and metal, making the devices more slippery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Xiaomi and Huawei