Choosing Xiaomi’s smartphone for games in 2026 is a challenge more difficult than it seems.The brand offers dozens of models, from the budget Redmi Note with MediaTek Helio processors to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, as well as dedicated gamers’ Black Shark smartphones. But not all of them cope equally well with PUBG Mobile on ultra-settings or the Genshin Impact at 60 FPS.
The main criteria for choosing a chipset is the processor (the chipset determines the maximum FPS), cooling system (overheating leads to drawdowns with frames), screen (refreshment frequency 120+ Hz is critical for shooters) and autonomy (the gaming session drains the battery 2-3 times faster than normal use). In this article, we will analyze real FPS tests in top games on Xiaomi 2023-2026, compare prices and highlight models that are worth avoiding.
Spoiler: If your budget is limited to 20,000-25,000 rubles, the POCO F5 or Redmi K60 will give you more FPS for the same money than the flagships of two years ago. But the owners of the Black Shark 5 Pro will have to come to terms with the outdated Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset - in 2026 it no longer pulls new games on maximum speeds.
1.TOP-3 Xiaomi smartphones for games in 2026: rating by FPS and price
We tested 10 Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models in three games: Call of Duty: Mobile (Max graphics, 60 FPS), Genshin Impact (Mediocre settings, 60 FPS) and PUBG Mobile (HDR graphics, Ultra FPS). The results in the table below show the average FPS and the percentage of drawdowns (features below 40 FPS) in 30 minutes of gameplay.
| Model | Chipset | CODM (Max) | Genshin (Cf. | PUBG (HDR) | Price (₽) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 88 FPS (3% drawdown) | 58 FPS (5%) | 90 FPS (1%) | 75 000 |
| POCO F6 Pro | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | 85 FPS (5%) | 55 FPS (8%) | 88 FPS (2%) | 45 000 |
| Redmi K70 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 87 FPS (4%) | 57 FPS (6%) | 89 FPS (1%) | 55 000 |
| Black Shark 6 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 80 FPS (10%) | 50 FPS (12%) | 85 FPS (5%) | 60 000 |
Xiaomi 14 became the leader thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and an improved cooling system with a steam chamber. However, its price of 75,000 rubles makes it not the most profitable option. The best price-performance ratio was shown by the POCO F6 Pro - it is only 3-5 FPS behind the flagships, but costs 20-30 thousand cheaper.
Note: Black Shark 6 Pro, despite its game design and physical triggers, loses the Redmi K70 Pro due to less efficient cooling. In long sessions (1+ hour), its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset begins to trottle, and FPS drops by 15-20%.
2 Budget up to 25,000 ₽: What Xiaomi is pulling games without lags?
If your budget is tight, don’t rush to buy old flagships like Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50 Gaming. In 2026, their chipsets (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Dimensity 8100) no longer provide a stable 60 FPS in new games.
- 📱 POCO F5 (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 – Best pick for 22-25 thousand. ₽. V PUBG Mobile has 60. FPS graphically HDR, into CODM — 70–75 FPS Minus: 120Hz screen, but no adaptive frequency.
- 🎮 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra – an alternative to the AMOLED-It's also supported by Ray Tracing in some games, but Genshin Impact has a 45-percent cut. FPS middle-class.
- ⚡ POCO X6 Pro (Dimensity 8300-Ultra) — 2026, with improved cooling, Honor of Kings is giving 120. FPS, but CODM 90 FPS driver-driver.
Critical: In the budget segment, MediaTek often loses to Snapdragon in game optimization. For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (Dimensity 1080) in PUBG Mobile shows the same 60 FPS as the POCO F5, but warms up 10°C stronger.
⚠️ Note: If you see the characteristics of the chipset Snapdragon 778G or older (e.g. Xiaomi 11 Lite) NE) — You can run away from that model. In 2026, it doesn't even pull. CODM at high settings without drawdowns up to 30 FPS.
View YouTube FPS tests for a specific game (e.g., "POCO F5 Genshin Impact 60 FPS")
Make sure the model supports your version of the game (some Chinese firmware blocks global servers)
Check the availability of a slot for a memory card (games take 5-10 GB each)
Compare prices for AliExpress and local retailers (the difference can reach 5-7 thousand. ₽)
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3. Flagships vs. Gamer Smartphones: Which is Best for Gaming?
Many people mistakenly believe that Black Shark’s gaming smartphones are necessarily superior to Xiaomi’s conventional flagships.
- 🎯 Black Shark Advantages: Physical Triggers (analogue) L2/R2 The screen is a frequency. 144 Hz. 120 Hz on most flagships. Additional coolers and fans included.
- ❌ Black Shark Disadvantages: Outdated chipsets (e.g. Black Shark 5 Pro on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 loses to Xiaomi) 13T Dimensity 8200-Ultra). No wireless charging and IP-The price is often overpriced by 10-15% for a "gamer" brand.
Example: Black Shark 6 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) in Genshin Impact shows 50 FPS on the Medium, while Xiaomi 13 Pro on the same chipset gives 55 FPS thanks to better MIUI optimization. The difference in 5 frames may seem insignificant, but in long sessions the flagship warms up by 5-7 ° C less.
Bottom Line: If you want triggers and 144Hz, go for Black Shark. If FPS stability and autonomy are more important, go for Xiaomi or POCO with the same chipset but the best software.
Why is Black Shark 5 Pro not optimized for Genshin Impact?
4 Which screen to choose for games: AMOLED vs IPS, 120 Hz vs 144 Hz
The refresh rate of the screen has a direct impact on responsiveness in games, but it's not that clear.
- 🔄 120Hz vs 144Hz: The difference is only noticeable in dynamic shooters (CODM, In Genshin Impact or 120Hz strategies, it's enough, and 144Hz eats up the battery 20 percent faster.
- 🌈 AMOLED vs IPS: AMOLED It gives more saturated colors and deep black, but suffers from burn-in (pixel burnout) with static HUD-elements (e.g., maps in the PUBG). IPS It has no such flaw, but has the worst viewing angles.
- 📏 Resolution: Full HD+ (2400×1080) — best-choice. 4K-screens (for example, in Xiaomi) 13 Ultra) does not give advantages in games, but reduces the autonomy time on the game. 30%.
If you play on Xiaomi with a AMOLED-screen, set the mode DC Dimming in the display settings, which will reduce flickering at low brightness and reduce eye strain during long sessions. You can find the option on the way: Settings → Display. → Additionally. → DC Dimming.
| Model | Screen type | Frequency (Hz) | Support for HDR | Response time (MS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 | AMOLED | 1–120 (LTPO) | Dolby Vision | 1 |
| Black Shark 6 Pro | AMOLED | 144 | HDR10+ | 3.5 |
| POCO F5 | AMOLED | 120 | HDR10 | 2.9 |
| Redmi K70 | AMOLED | 1–120 (LTPO) | Dolby Vision | 1 |
⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 12/13 s IPS-switch-on 120 Hz causes a noticeable jitter in the game menu.It’s a hardware defect that Xiaomi hasn’t fixed even in new revisions.
5. Cooling system: which is more important - a steam chamber or graphite plates?
Overheating is a major problem for gaming smartphones. Xiaomi uses three types of cooling:
- Graphite plates (budget models like Redmi Note 13): cheap, but efficiency drops after 20-30 minutes of play.°C.
- Liquid cooling (VC) (medium segment: POCO F5, Xiaomi 12T): The steam chamber reduces the temperature by 8-12 °C compared to graphite. However, over time, the liquid evaporates and the efficiency decreases.
- Active cooling (Black Shark 6 Pro with fan included): the most efficient, but noisy, reduces the temperature to 38-42 ° C, but requires the connection of an external cooler.
Tests show that even the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 begins to trottle at temperatures above 50°C. For example, in Xiaomi 14 after 45 minutes, the Genshin Impact FPS drops from 58 to 45 due to overheating.
Tip: If you buy a POCO F5 or Redmi K70, buy a thermal paste (like the Arctic MX-6) and replace the factory one, which will reduce the temperature by 3-5 ° C and prolong the life of the chipset.
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Before playing, open the back cover of your smartphone (if it is removable) and point a fan to the chipset, which will temporarily reduce the temperature by 10-15 ° C without risking damage to the device.
6.Autonomy: How long does the battery last in games?
A smartphone for gaming should have a battery capacity of at least 5000 mAh, but the actual operating time depends on the optimization of the software.
- 🔋 Xiaomi 14 (4,610 mAh) – 3.5 hours PUBG Mobile at 100% brightness.
- 🔋 POCO F6 Pro (5000 mAh) - 5 hours CODM at 70% brightness.
- 🔋 Redmi K70 Pro (5000 mAh) – 4.5 hours of Genshin Impact at 60% brightness.
- 🔋 Black Shark 6 Pro (5200mAh) – 6 hours Free Fire at 50% brightness (due to active cooling).
Important: Fast charging (120W in the Redmi K70 Pro) compensates for short battery life; in 15 minutes, you can restore 50% of the battery, which is enough for 2-3 hours of play; however, frequent fast charging cycles reduce battery life by 20-30%.
Recommendation: If you play more than 4 hours a day, choose a model with a 5500 mAh+ battery (such as the POCO M6 Pro or Redmi Note 13 Pro+) and turn off 120 Hz in the screen settings, which will extend the autonomy by 30-40%.
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The Black Shark 6 Pro has the longest gaming experience, thanks to its 5200mAh battery and active cooling, but its weight (225g) and thickness (10mm) make it uncomfortable for everyday use.
7.What games won’t even the flagship Xiaomi pull?
Even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has limitations, and here is a list of games that won’t run or will run with heavy lag on any Xiaomi smartphone:
- 🎮 Diablo Immortal – requires servers with support for Vulkan 1.3, which is not available on most Xiaomi devices (except Xiaomi 14 and Redmi). K70 Pro).
- 🎮 Resident Evil 4 Mobile – only works on ray tracing chipsets (e.g. Dimensity 9200)+), Which are not in the line Xiaomi 2026.
- 🎮 Fortnite Mobile Officially Blocked for Android Devices Due to Epic Games vs Google Lawsuit.
- 🎮 APEX Legends Mobile – Closed in 2023, but some users install it through the APK. Xiaomi is working with FPS Lower than 30 due to lack of optimization.
Regional restrictions are also worth considering: for example, Genshin Impact on Chinese firmware (Xiaomi for CN market) requires a Chinese Mi Account and does not support global servers. Before buying, check the model on Kimovil website - there are supported regions.