Xiaomi smartphones: which is better to buy in 2026 - a comparison of 7 models by price and characteristics

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone in 2026 is not an easy task. Even experienced users get lost in the variety of series: Redmi for budget, POCO for gamers, Xiaomi for flagship solutions. And then there are sub-series like Redmi Note, Xiaomi T or Mix, which differ in design, hardware and price. How not to overpay for unnecessary features and not lose with performance?

We analyzed the current models of 2023-2026, which are officially sold in Russia and the CIS, and selected the 7 best options for different tasks: from a budget phone for calls to a flagship camera level iPhone 15 Pro. In the article you will find a comparative table, pros and cons of each model, as well as a checklist of 5 steps that will help you decide on your choice.

1. Which Xiaomi smartphone to choose: selection criteria

Before comparing specific models, decide what you need a phone for. Here are the key parameters to look at:

• 🔋 Battery and charging: Minimum battery capacity is 4500 mAh for comfortable operation during the day. Flagships (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3) support wireless charging up to 50 watts.
• 🎮 Performance: for games and heavy applications, you need a processor no weaker than the Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000+. Budgetary (Redmi) 12C) It's overrun by Helio G85, But slow down in Genshin Impact.
• 📸 Camera: If shooting is important, look for models with a sensor from Sony IMX800 (for example, Xiaomi 13T For selfies, a frontal 20 is fine.+ MPP.
• 💰 Price: Budget up to 15,000 ₽ — Redmi, 20–40 000 ₽ — POCO Xiaomi Civi, more than 50,000 ₽ — flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series.

Note the MIUI version: MIUI 15 is still relevant in 2026 (based on Android 14). Older models (until 2022) may not receive updates, which can lead to security and app compatibility issues.

⚠️ Not all Xiaomi models are officially sold in Russia, for example, POCO F6 Pro can only be bought through "gray" deliveries, which means no warranty and possible firmware problems (no Russian, no Google Services!

2. TOP-3 Xiaomi budget smartphone (up to) 20 000 ₽)

Xiaomi’s budget models are the perfect choice for those looking for a reliable phone for calls, social networks and simple tasks. They will not pull modern games at maximum settings, but will cope with PUBG Mobile on average and last a day on a single charge.

The best choice in the budget is the POCO M6 Pro. Despite the low price, it comes with a quick charging of 67 watts (full charge in 45 minutes) and a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, which is 30% more productive than the Helio G85 in the Redmi 12C. The only drawback is the plastic case, but for this price it is forgiven.

⚠️ Attention: At Redmi 12C Redmi Note 12 uses an outdated microUSB connector instead of the Type-C. This means you will have to buy a separate cable or adapter for modern headphones and powerbank.

3.The best Xiaomi smartphones for gaming (20-40,000) ₽)

If you like mobile games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact or Diablo Immortal, look for models with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000+ processors, which provide stable 60+ FPS on most projects and do not overheat due to the cooling system.

The segment is dominated by:

• 🎮 POCO F5 — Best price/performance balance: Snapdragon processor 7+ Gen 2 + 8 GB RAM allows you to play at high settings. Screen AMOLED 120 Hz makes the picture smooth.
• 🔥 Redmi K60E — alternative with Dimensity 8200 and charging at 67 W Minus - there is no official sale in Russia (only "gray" deliveries).
• 💎 Xiaomi Civi 3 – stylish design and good camera (50 MP) + 8 MP), but weaker in games due to Dimensity 8100-Max.

Secret Life Hack for Gamers: POCO F5 has a hidden Game Turbo mode that turns off background processes and speeds up screen response. To activate it, go to Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo Mode.

4. flagship Xiaomi smartphones (from 50 000) ₽)

Xiaomi flagships in 2026 are not inferior to the Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 15 in performance, but are 15-20% cheaper.

• 📱 Screen: AMOLED 2K 120-144 Hz and Dolby Vision support.
• 📷 Camera: collaboration with Leica (at Xiaomi) 13/14 Pro) provides professional colour reproduction.
• ⚡ Charging: up to 120 W wired and 50 W wireless (in Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

Xiaomi 13T Pro is the most interesting flagship in terms of price/quality. Its 200-megapixel camera with a Samsung HP3 sensor takes pictures as good as the iPhone 14 Pro, and the screen with a frequency of 144 Hz is ideal for gaming.

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If you choose between the Xiaomi 14 and 13T Pro, pay attention to the size: Xiaomi 14 is smaller (6.36" vs. 6.67") and more comfortable in the hand, but loses in the refresh rate of the screen (120 Hz vs. 144 Hz).

5. Xiaomi smartphones with the best camera

If photography is your priority, look for models with Leica optics or Sony IMX800 sensors. In 2026, the best camera phones from Xiaomi:

1. Xiaomi 14 Ultra – the absolute leader with three 50-megapixel modules (wide-angle, telephoto, periscope) and support 8K-The minus is priced from 130,000. ₽.
2. Xiaomi 13T Pro is a budget alternative with a 200 MP main camera. Suitable for shooting in the dark thanks to a pixel binning 16-in-1.
3. Xiaomi Civi 3 is the best choice for selfies (32 MP + 32 MP frontal) and portrait shooting.

By comparison, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra scored 150 on the DxOMark test (versus 146 on the iPhone 15 Pro Max). Its periscopic lens with a 5x optical zoom allows you to take clear pictures from a distance, and the Leica Authentic mode mimics the Leica M10 film.

⚠️ Attention: In Xiaomi 13T Pro no optical zoom - digital only (up to 8)×). If you want to shoot remote objects, choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Mix Fold 3.

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For better color rendering in Xiaomi 14 Ultra, use the Leica Vivid profile (in camera settings).It automatically adjusts white balance and saturation, bringing the shots closer to professional.

6. Xiaomi for a long run: the best batteries

If you want a phone that lasts 2-3 days without recharging, look for models with a battery of 5,000 mAh and energy-efficient processors. In 2026, the leaders in autonomy are:

• 🔋 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G — 5,000 mAh + Dimensity 1080 (up to 2 days of operation) Supports 120W charging (full charge in 19 minutes!).
• 🔌 POCO M6 Pro - 5000 mAh + Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Power Saving Mode Lasts Up to 3 Days.
• ⚡ Xiaomi Redmi 10C — 5,000 mAh + Snapdragon 680, the most budget option (from 8,990) ₽), but with poor productivity.

Important: Autonomy depends not only on battery capacity, but also on software optimization. MIUI 15 introduced Ultra Battery Saver mode, which disables background processes and limits performance, extending the work to 5 days. Activated in Settings → Battery.

7.Where to buy Xiaomi cheaper: 3 proven ways

Xiaomi prices can vary by 10-20% depending on the seller, and here is where it is most profitable to buy:

1. The official Mi Store website is a 2-year warranty, but often 3-5000 more expensive. ₽, retailer.
2. Marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon, Yandex Market) – there are discounts of up to 30% during sales (for example, Black Friday or 11.11).
3. Foreign stores (AliExpress, Banggood) – you can find models 10-15% cheaper, but the risk of running into a fake or “Chinese” firmware without Google Services.

The secret way to save money is to buy last year’s models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 instead of Xiaomi 14).The performance difference is minimal (5-10%) and the price can be lower by 20,000. ₽. Check if the model supports the upgrade to MIUI 15.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing Xiaomi