Xiaomi has long positioned itself as a manufacturer of “smart” and affordable gadgets with top-end features for minimal money. However, over the past 2-3 years, attitudes towards the company have changed dramatically – both from experts and among ordinary users. If before, Redmi and POCO smartphones were considered the best value for money, today they are increasingly becoming a symbol of compromise, deception with characteristics and problems after purchase.
In this article, we’ll look at 7 key reasons why buying a Xiaomi smartphone in 2026 might be a mistake, from hidden firmware restrictions to systematic update issues. We’ll analyze real-world user cases, compare them to competitors (Samsung, Realme, Motorola) and show you what alternatives to consider instead of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO devices. If you’re planning a purchase, be sure to finish it so you don’t waste your money.
1. Features cheat: why "8GB of RAM" is actually 4GB
One of Xiaomi’s biggest problems in recent years is virtual RAM (RAM), which is actively promoting smartphones with 8GB of RAM, 12GB of RAM and even 16GB, but in fact, some of this memory is not physical, but emulated due to the built-in drive. For example, in the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ of the 12GB announced, only 8GB is really available to the user, and the remaining 4GB is just a reserved space on the disk.
Why is that bad?
- 🔹 Productivity is falling in the 2-3 time when using a virtual RAM: Reading / writing speed from the drive is ten times lower than that of this RAM.
- 🔹 Games and heavy apps slow down: emulated memory can not cope with multitasking, which is why Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile begin to “lay down».
- 🔹 The life of the drive is reduced: a constant overwriting of the virtual RAM accelerates the wear of flash memory (especially in budget models with eMMC instead of UFS).
For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A54 with real 8GB of RAM shows in benchmarks 30-40% better multitasking than the Xiaomi 12T with “12GB” (of which 4GB are virtual), with the price difference between these models is only 10-15%.
2.MIUI: firmware that spy and brake
MIUI's branded shell has long been a household name for users, and if it used to be scolded for over-customization and advertising, today the problems are much more serious:
- 📵 Data collection without consent: In 2023, researchers at Cybernews discovered that Xiaomi was transferring location data, browser history, and even activity in third-party apps to servers in China — even if the user had disabled all permissions.
- 🐢 Lags and slowdowns: after updates to MIUI 14/15 Users complain massively about the “freeze” interface, long download applications and spontaneous reboots (especially on Redmi Note models). 11/12).
- 🔒 Blocking the bootloader: Xiaomi has artificially made it difficult to unlock the bootloader, making it impossible to install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) without official permission – it now has to wait up to 30 days.
Alternatives? ColorOS (Realme/Oppo) and One UI (Samsung) firmware are free of these problems: they don't spy on users, work more stable and support unlocking without restrictions.
How to disable data collection in MIUI?
3. Update issues: Why your Xiaomi will be out of date in a year
Xiaomi promises 3-4 years of updates for flagships and 2 years for budget models, but in practice it looks different.
| Model | Declared time frame for support | Real Term (last updated) | Problems after updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 11T Pro | 3 years | 2 years 4 months | Mass complaints about overheating and battery discharge |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | 2 years | 1 year 7 months | Camera lags, GPS bugs |
| POCO X3 Pro | 2 years | 1 year 2 months | Android 13 is missing |
| Mi 11 Lite | 3 years | 2 years 1 month | Bluetooth problems after MIUI 14 |
Moreover, Xiaomi often deliberately understates the performance of older models after updates. For example, after the release of MIUI 14, Redmi Note 9 Pro users faced an artificial limit of the clock speed of the processor to 60% of the maximum - ostensibly to "extend battery life."
💡
Before buying, check the date of the last update on the MIUI Updates Tracker website. If more than 6 months have passed, the smartphone has already been abandoned.
4 Cameras: Why Xiaomi’s photos are worse than competitors
On paper, Xiaomi's cameras look impressive: 108MP, 200MP, optical stabilizers and night modes. But in practice, the results are often disappointing.
- 📸 Aggressive software processing: the images are blurred, with blurred details and unrealistic colors (especially in Redmi models and the Redmi model). POCO).
- 🌃 Night mode works only on paper: in real conditions (for example, in a dark room) photos are noisy, and videos are with strong digital noise.
- 🔍 Deception with megapixels: sensor on 108 MP in Xiaomi 12T The Pro actually uses pixel binning. 9-into-1, giving out the final photo in 12 MP – that is, the real resolution is no higher than the iPhone 11 2019 year-end.
By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A73 with a 108MP camera delivers 40% better detail in daytime shots and 60% less noise in nighttime (DxOMark tests), while costing the devices comparable.
💡
If the camera is important to you, choose smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 or Dimensity 9000/9200 processors. Xiaomi budget chips (such as the Snapdragon 695) are physically unable to process raw data from high-megapixel sensors.
5.Battery: Why Xiaomi is quickly discharged and swelling
Another systemic problem is short-lived batteries, and according to service centers, the batteries in Xiaomi smartphones lose up to 30% of their capacity after 1 year of use (at a rate of 10-15% for competitors).
- ⚡ Cheap Charging Controllers: In Budget Models (Redmi) 10A, POCO M4 Pro) simplified power management schemes are used that do not optimize charging cycles.
- 🔥 Overheating during fast charging: HyperCharge technology (120W) Xiaomi 11T Pro leads to battery heating up to 45°C, which reduces its service life by 2 times.
- 📉 Capacity cheating: Redmi Note 11 claims a 5000 mAh battery, but the real capacity (according to GSMArena tests) is 4700 mAh.
Result: 1,5-2 Many users are faced with the bloating of the battery (which is dangerous for the screen) or its complete degradation (the smartphone discharges for a long time). 3-4 For comparison, Samsung and Motorola use Graphene batteries that are stored in the battery. 80% capacitance 800 charge-cycle.
Turn off fast charging in Settings → Battery|Don't discharge below 20%|Use the original chargers|Turn off background activity of unnecessary applications-->
6.Service and warranty: why Xiaomi repairs are more expensive than a smartphone
If your Xiaomi breaks, prepare for the following:
- 🛠️ Lack of official service centers: in Russia and CIS countries, most workshops are “partners” that do not have access to original spare parts.
- 💰 Replacement prices: screen replacement in Xiaomi 13 cost 25-30 thousand rubles (up to) 50% The cost of a new smartphone).
- ⏳ Guarantee Term: Even if you have a check, repair under the guarantee can take up to 2 months (according to reviews on Yandex.Market).
Samsung and Apple have their own service centers in most major cities, and the cost of repairs is 30-40% lower due to standardized parts.
⚠️ WARNING: If you buy Xiaomi through AliExpress or unofficial sellers, the warranty is automatically voided - even if the smartphone is new.The company refuses to recognize such devices as "official».
7. Xiaomi Alternatives: What to Buy Instead of Redmi, POCO and Mi
If you’re disappointed with Xiaomi, consider these options (comparable to the price, but without most of the problems):
| Price segment | Xiaomi's Alternative | Advantages | A model for example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget: up to 15,000. ₽) | Motorola Moto G32 | Clean Android, 3 years of updates, long-lasting battery | Moto G32 (4/128 GB) |
| Medium (15-30 thousand. ₽) | Samsung Galaxy A54 | 4 years of updates, best camera in the segment, IP67 waterproof | Galaxy A54 (8/128GB) |
| Flagship (30)+ thousand. ₽) | Realme GT Neo 5 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 120 Hz AMOLED processor, without virtual RAM | GT Neo 5 (12/256 GB) |
If you do decide to buy Xiaomi, follow this algorithm to minimize the risks.
Buy a model no older than 6 months (check release date)|Choose only official sellers (list on the Xiaomi website)|Check for updates in the last 3 months|Discard models with virtual RAM (Look for the characteristics of "physical memory")|Immediately after purchase, disable data collection in MIUI-->
FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's flaws
❓ Is it true that Xiaomi is deliberately slowing down older smartphones?
❓ Can I remove it? MIUI and install a clean Android?
❓ Why Xiaomi is cheaper than its competitors?
❓ What Xiaomi models can be bought in 2026?
❓ What to do if I have already bought Xiaomi and am disappointed?
If you've read this, you know all the pitfalls Xiaomi is hiding in its smartphones. Of course, the brand has its pros (like low price or some innovations like under-display cameras), but in 2026, the cons outweigh. Always check real-world tests before buying (not YouTube reviews from Xiaomi partners), read reviews on independent platforms, and compare with alternatives from Samsung, Motorola or Realme. Perhaps overpaying 10-15% for another brand will save you nerves and money in the long run.