Xiaomi and Redmi: What’s the difference between brands and what’s the best thing to buy?

When choosing a smartphone or a gadget from Xiaomi, many people face a confusion: which is better — Redmi or Xiaomi? At first glance, both brands belong to the same company, but in fact they have different positioning, target audience and even development philosophy. Some users believe that Redmi is a “simplified” version of the flagships, others believe that it is a standalone line with unique features.

In fact, the difference is not just in price. Xiaomi, as the parent brand, divides its devices into several sub-brands, each of which solves its own problems: Redmi focuses on price-quality ratio, POCO on performance for gamers, and the main line of Xiaomi offers premium solutions. But how does this affect the choice? Should you overpay for the Mi logo, or Redmi will give the same features cheaper? Let's go through the details with model examples, performance comparisons and expert conclusions.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 The history of sub-brands and their role in the Xiaomi ecosystem
• 📱 Key differences in price, hardware and software
• 🛒 Comparative table of current models 2023-2026
• ⚠️ Common Mistakes When Choosing Between Redmi and Xiaomi
• 💡 Recommendations for different categories of users (budget, games, photo)

1.Who makes Redmi and Xiaomi: Brand structure

Both brands belong to the same company, Xiaomi Corporation, but their paths diverged back in 2013.Redmi was originally a series of budget smartphones under the main brand Xiaomi, but in 2019 it was spun off as a separate sub-brand with a separate development strategy.Redmi today is not only smartphones, but also smart watches, headphones, TVs and even laptops.

The main difference in approach:

• 🏭 Xiaomi (main line) are flagship devices with advanced technology, premium materials and high price. 13/14 or foldable Mix Fold.

Fun fact: Redmi is marketed as a “youth” brand in China, while Xiaomi is associated with premium, and in Russia and Europe, this line is blurred – Redmi is often perceived as a “budget Xiaomi”, although this is not entirely true.

2. Price difference: how much does the logo cost

The main argument in the dispute “Redmi vs Xiaomi” is the cost: on average, Redmi smartphones are 30-50% cheaper than their counterparts from the main brand with similar characteristics.

• 📲 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (2023) with Dimensity 1080 and 200 MP camera cost ~25 thousand rubles.
• 📲 Xiaomi 12T Pro (2022) with the same chipset and 200 MP camera — ~45 thousand rubles.

Where does the difference come from? Here are the key factors:

1. Case materials: Xiaomi uses Gorilla Glass Victus, ceramics or metal, whereas Redmi is often limited to Gorilla Glass 5 plastic or glass.
2. Screen: the flagships Xiaomi – AMOLED 2K with 120 Hz and support for Dolby Vision, Redmi – AMOLED Full HD+ or IPS.
3. Cameras: Xiaomi has sensors from Sony IMX8xx with Leica optics, Redmi has simpler modules (for example, Samsung ISOCELL).
4. Firmware: Xiaomi gets updates longer (up to 4 years), Redmi – 2-3 years.

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Before buying, check the current prices on official sites – the difference between Redmi and Xiaomi can decrease during sales (for example, on AliExpress or in the Messenger).

Critical detail: Redmi smartphones often lose value in the secondary market faster than Xiaomi. For example, after a year of use, the Redmi Note 11 Pro can be sold for 50% of the original price, and the Xiaomi 11T Pro for 60-70%.

3.Technical specifications: where Redmi overtakes Xiaomi

Despite the lower price, Redmi sometimes outperforms the mainstream brand in some ways, and that’s where budget models can be more profitable:

Where Xiaomi is definitely winning:

• 📸 Photo: optical stabilizers, large sensors (for example, 1-inch in Xiaomi 13 Ultra).
• 🖥️ Display: Adaptive refresh rate 1–120 Hz (Redmi is usually fixed) 60/90/120 Hz).
• 🔒 Security: In-screen fingerprint scanner (Redmi often has side-by-side scanners).

4.Software: MIUI for everyone, but not the same

Both brands operate on the MIUI brand shell, but with nuances:

• 📲 Xiaomi: Gets Updates Longer (up to 4 Years for Flagships) and Has Exclusive Features:
• 📱 Redmi: updates are less frequent (2-3 years), but the firmware is optimized for weak hardware. 10A with 2GB of RAM MIUI It works smoother than on the old flagships Xiaomi.

Important: Redmi often has ads in MIUI (like in the settings menu or on the lock screen). Xiaomi can turn it off via Settings → About Phone → Additional → Advertising Services, and Redmi sometimes requires manual removal via ADB.

⚠️ Note: If you are buying Redmi for the European market (marked) EEA), There will be no firmware advertising. (Global) and Chinese (CN) It's present by default.

5. Who is suitable for Redmi, and who needs Xiaomi: recommendations for choosing

The choice between brands depends on your priorities, and here is a checklist for making a decision:

You are looking for a smartphone up to 20 thousand rubles. with good performance → Redmi Note 13 Pro or POCO X5 Pro

You care about photography and video. → Xiaomi 13 Lite or Xiaomi 14

You are a gamer and need a high FPS → POCO F5 or Redmi K60

Premium design and long-term support are important → Xiaomi 13T Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

You are buying your first smartphone for your child. → Redmi 12C or Redmi A2

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Typical scenarios:

• 👨💻 Office worker: Redmi Note 12 Pro (enough for 2-3 years, good screen for documents).
• 🎮 gamer: POCO F5 (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, 120 Hz, cooling).
• 📸 Blogger/photographer: Xiaomi 13 Ultra (sensor 1 inch, optical zoom) 3.2x and 5x).
• 👵 Elderly Relatives: Redmi 10A (simple MIUI, big screen, low price).

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use a smartphone for longer than 3 years, avoid Redmi models with Helio G processors (e.g. Redmi). 12C helio G85). They quickly become obsolete and won’t pull up with modern games or updates. MIUI.

6.Typical Mistakes When Choosing Between Redmi and Xiaomi

Many users make the same mistakes. Here's what you can't do:

1. Choose by appearance: Redmi and Xiaomi often copy each other's designs. For example, Redmi Note 12 Pro + and Xiaomi 12T Pro look almost the same, but the first is cheaper by 20 thousand rubles.
2. Ignore the firmware region: Chinese versions (CN) do not have Google Play, and global (Global) can slow down due to unnecessary services.
3. Buy last year’s flagship: Xiaomi 12 Pro in 2026 is worth as new Redmi Note 13 Pro+, but the characteristics they are comparable.
4. Don't check for support 5G: Not all Redmi models with 5G They work in Russian networks (for example, Redmi Note). 11T 5G Not catching N78 from some operators).

How do you avoid mistakes?

• 🔍 Check the models on the GSMArena website – all supported ranges are listed there. 4G/5G.
• 🛒 Buy only in official stores (Mi Store, Messenger, M. Video) - this guarantees the correct firmware.
• 📦 Compare not only prices, but also the cost of ownership: for example, Xiaomi gets longer updates, which will save money on replacing the device.

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If you want a smartphone for a year or two, take Redmi. If you plan to use a longer time or if you want to use a photo/design, invest in Xiaomi.

7.The future of brands: what to expect from Redmi and Xiaomi in 2026-2026

According to insiders, Xiaomi plans to further divide the lines:

• 📱 Redmi will focus on budget and medium-budget devices (up to 30 thousand rubles) with an emphasis on long battery life and fast charging.
• 💎 Xiaomi will develop a premium segment (from 50 thousand rubles), including foldable smartphones and devices with AI cameras.
• 🎮 POCO It will remain a niche brand for gamers, but it can get exclusive chipsets (for example, Snapdragon). 8s Gen 3).

What to expect in the near future:

• 📸 Xiaomi 14 Ultra will receive a sensor 1 inch with variable aperture (like Huawei) P60 Pro).

If your current smartphone is working properly, wait for the announcements in the second quarter of 2026 - significant improvements in performance and cameras are expected.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi and Xiaomi