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

The choice between Xiaomi and Huawei in 2026 is more difficult than ever, with both brands offering top-end processors, innovative cameras, and advanced ecosystems. But if you dig deeper, the difference becomes clear: Xiaomi is not just catching up with competitors, but offers unique advantages that make its devices a better choice for most users.

In this article, we will discuss 7 key aspects where Xiaomi is bypassing Huawei – from price/quality ratio to support for global services. Without bias, only the facts: technical tests, comparison of specifications and real-world experience. If you are faced with a choice between the flagships Mi 14 Ultra and Huawei P70 Pro or the budget Redmi Note 13 and Huawei Nova 12 – this material will help to make an informed decision.

Spoiler: Xiaomi doesn't win everything, but it wins where it's critical for most users. Now, to the details.

1. Price/Quality Ratio: Why Xiaomi is Cheaper at the Same Features

Xiaomi’s main trump card is aggressive pricing without casualties in terms of hardware. Take the flagships of 2026 for example:

• 📱 Xiaomi 14 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 2K AMOLED 120 Hz and 4600 mAh costs ~70,000 ₽ in Russia.
• 📱 Huawei P70 with Kirin 9010 (similar to Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1), OLED 90 Hz and 4500 mAh from ~90 000 ₽.

The difference is 20,000 ₽, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is 30% more efficient than the Kirin 9010 in Geekbench 6 tests and supports ray tracing in games. Even in the segment up to 30,000 ₽ Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers 200 MP camera and 120W charging, while the Huawei Nova 12 in the same price category is limited to 50W and 50MP.

The reason for this difference is the brand strategy:

• 💰 Xiaomi makes money on sales and ecosystem (smart home, accessories), so it can afford minimal markups.
• 🏢 Huawei is forced to compensate for the losses from the lack of access to Google Mobile Services and TSMC (chip production), which affects the final price.

But there's a caveat: Xiaomi's cheapness doesn't mean low quality. According to the DXOMARK 2026 test results, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra overtook the Huawei P70 Pro in the video category (165 vs 158 points) at a price 15% lower. It's not marketing, it's objective data.

2. Performance and "iron": Snapdragon vs Kirin in 2026

Huawei led the way in performance until 2020 thanks to the Kirin 990/9000 chips, but after the US sanctions, that changed: Today Xiaomi uses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon, and Huawei has to rely on:

• 🔧 Kirin 9010 (2026) — essentially a redesigned Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (2022) with reduced support 5G.
• 🔋 Kirin 9000S is a chip with a 7-nm process technology (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 - 4 nm), which affects energy efficiency.

The results of the tests (AnTuTu v10, 3DMark Wild Life)

The GPU performance gap is critical for gamers: Xiaomi 14 delivers 60 FPS to Genshin Impact at maximum settings, while Huawei P70 Pro barely pulls 40 FPS at the same parameters. Even in everyday tasks, the difference is noticeable: rendering video in Adobe Premiere Rush on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 takes 40% less time than on Kirin 9010.

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If you care about performance in games or video editing, check the support for ray tracing and Vulkan API in the smartphone specifications.

Another key point is support for 5G. In 2026, Huawei releases models without a full-fledged 5G (for example, Nova 12 works only in 4G networks), while even budget Redmi supports 5G SA/NSA.

3.Software: MIUI vs EMUI/HarmonyOS

Here, Xiaomi has two key advantages:

1. Google Mobile Services (GMS) is full support for Google Play, YouTube, Maps and other services, and Huawei only has Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) with a limited set of applications.
2. Update frequency: MIUI receives monthly security patches and 3-4 major updates, while HarmonyOS is updated every six months.

Ecosystem comparison:

• 🌍 MIUI: Full access to Google Play, the ability to install APK without restrictions, integration with Google Assistant.
• 🚫 HarmonyOS: No Google Play (you have to use Petal Search or manual installation APK), many apps (e.g. Netflix, Fortnite) don't work or run with bugs.

A case in point: if you use Google Pay for contactless payments, Huawei will have to switch to Huawei Pay, which is not supported by all banks in Russia, as well as Waze, Gmail and other services, their counterparts from Huawei often inferior in functionality.

Another nuance is MIUI advertising. Yes, it is, but you can turn it off completely through settings (Settings → About Phone → Additional → Advertising). HarmonyOS has less advertising, but also customization options — no themes, no flexible gestures, no third-party launchers.

4.Cameras: Who's the best shooter in 2026?

Here, Huawei has traditionally been considered the leader, but in 2026 Xiaomi not only caught up, but also overtook the competitor in a number of ways.

Key advantages of Xiaomi 14 Ultra:

• 📸 Double telephoto lens with optical zoom 3.2x and 5x (Huawei only has one 3.5x).
• 🎥 8K Dolby Vision HDR video (Huawei has a maximum of 4K).
• 🌙 Nighttime exposure up to 30 seconds (Huawei has 10 seconds).

But there are also advantages to Huawei:

• 🎨 More "natural" color reproduction (Xiaomi sometimes overstates colors).
• 🔍 Best macro mode thanks to the Ultra Macro sensor.

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If you want to shoot video or zoom, go for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and if you want to prioritize natural colors and macro, go for the Huawei P70 Pro.

In the budget segment, the gap is even more noticeable: Redmi Note 13 Pro + with a 200 MP camera bypasses the Huawei Nova 12 (50 MP) in detail by 4 times, while it is cheaper.

5. Ecosystem and Smart Home: Why Xiaomi Wins

If you use not only a smartphone, but also smart devices (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners, cameras), then Xiaomi offers the most developed ecosystem in Russia.

• 🏠 Xiaomi: more than 500 compatible devices (from Mi Band to Mi Robot Vacuum), a single Mi Home app, support for Yandex Alice and Google Assistant.
• 🏢 Huawei: about 200 devices, the Huawei Smart Life app only works with HMS, no integration with Yandex or Google.

Real-life examples:

• 🔌 Xiaomi can control all the outlets, lamps and sensors through Google Home or Yandex Station. Huawei needs a separate Huawei Smart Hub, which costs ~10,000 ₽.
• 🤖 Robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X10+ builds a map of the room in 5 minutes and supports LDS- Lidar. Analog from Huawei (Huawei Smart Clean H500) works without lidar and often "lost" in large rooms.

Another plus of Xiaomi is the price of accessories.

• 💡 Xiaomi Mi LED Smart Bulb — ~1 500 ₽.
• 💡 Smart lamp Huawei Smart Bulb — ~3000 ₽ (in 2 times more expensive at the same characteristics).

Does it support Google Home or Alice’s Yandex?

Is there a Russian-language firmware and application?

Is it compatible with your smartphone (MIUI/HarmonyOS)?

Can I control my device without the Internet (local network)?-->

If you are planning to build a smart home, Xiaomi is the clear leader in terms of price/functionality.

6. Battery and charging: who works faster and longer?

In 2026, Xiaomi set new standards for fast charging and battery capacity, comparing flagships and budget models:

Key observations:

• ⚡ Xiaomi offers 120W charging even in the mid-range (Redmi Note 13 Pro+), while Huawei is limited to 66W in the same price range.
• 🔋 Despite the smaller capacity, the Xiaomi 14 Pro lasts longer thanks to a more energy-efficient processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Kirin 9010).
• 🔌 Xiaomi has a 50W wireless charging (Huawei has a maximum of 40W).

According to Battery University tests, the batteries in Xiaomi smartphones lose ~15% of capacity in 2 years, while Huawei’s rate reaches 20-25% due to less advanced charging management algorithms.

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To extend the battery life on Xiaomi, turn on Optimized Charging mode in settings (Settings → Battery → Charging).It limits the charge to 80% at night and recharges to 100% by morning.

If you want maximum autonomy, look at the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with a 5300 mAh battery or the POCO F6 Pro (5000 mAh + 120W). Huawei has similar performance only in the Mate line, which costs 30% more.

7.Service and warranty: where is easier to repair and update?

In Russia and CIS countries, Xiaomi has a much more developed service network:

• 🛠 120+ authorized service centers (Huawei has about 50).
• 📦 24-month warranty on all devices (Huawei has 12 months, some models have 18).
• 💰 Repair cost: Replacing the screen with Xiaomi 14 costs ~15 000 ₽, and Huawei P70 Pro costs ~25 000 ₽.

Another critical point is the software updates. Xiaomi guarantees:

• 🔄 3 major Android updates (e.g., Xiaomi 13 got an update to Android 14).
• 🛡 4 years of patch security (monthly).

Huawei is in a worse situation:

• 🔄 1 major update (from HarmonyOS 4.0 to 4.2, but without changing the Android kernel version).
• 🛡 Security patches are released every 3-6 months.

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If you plan to use a smartphone for longer than 2 years, Xiaomi is a more reliable choice in terms of support for updates.

The Redmi Note 13 screen can be found in 90% of service centers, while the display for the Huawei Nova 12 often has to wait 2-3 weeks due to logistical problems.

⚠️ Warning: When buying Huawei in 2026, check whether the Google Mobile Services model supports many devices (e.g. Huawei P70 for the European market) are sold without GMS, making them virtually useless for users tied to Google services.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Xiaomi and Huawei