Choosing between Xiaomi and Huawei in 2026 is harder than ever. Both brands offer top-end smartphones, but they are suitable for different categories of users. If you are looking for maximum performance for reasonable money, Xiaomi with its flagships Redmi and POCO may seem like the perfect choice. On the other hand, Huawei is traditionally strong in photography and premium design, especially in the P and Mate lines.
But it’s not all that clear: After the sanctions of 2019, Huawei lost access to Google services, which made its smartphones less convenient for international users. Xiaomi, in turn, is actively developing its own ecosystem HyperOS, which now competes with Huawei’s HarmonyOS. In this article, we will discuss 7 key aspects that will help determine the choice: from cameras and processors to durability and price.
Spoiler: If you want a smartphone with Google Play and stable updates, the answer is obvious. But if you're willing to experiment with alternative software for unique chips, read on.
1.Performance: Who is faster in 2026?
In 2026, Xiaomi is betting on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in Xiaomi's flagships 14 Ultra and Redmi K70 Pro), and Huawei is betting on its own Kirin processors. Huawei's latest top-end chip, the Kirin 9010 (in the Mate 60 Pro), shows impressive results in tests, but there are nuances:
- 🔥 Xiaomi offers better optimization for gaming thanks to collaboration with Qualcomm and Game Turbo technology POCO F6 Pro and Black Shark hold stable 120 FPS Genshin Impact on maximum settings.
- ⚡ Huawei wins in energy efficiency: Kirin 9010 is 20% more economical than Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (according to AnTuTu.
- 🤖 Both brands use artificial intelligence to speed up tasks, but Huawei has it integrated deeper – for example, in the Mate 60 Pro, the neural network optimizes even background processes.
| Model | Processor | AnTuTu (Grade Average) | Energy efficiency (mAh/hour standby) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 2 100 000 | 0.8% |
| Huawei Mate 60 Pro | Kirin 9010 | 1 950 000 | 0.5% |
| POCO F6 Pro | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | 1 450 000 | 1.1% |
| Huawei P60 Pro | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4G) | 1 380 000 | 0.7% |
⚠️ Note: If you plan to use a smartphone for professional video editing (for example, in CapCut or LumaFusion), look for Xiaomi with support AV1-Decoding in new chips. Huawei is still lagging in this direction.
2. Cameras: Who shoots better day and night?
Huawei has traditionally been considered the leader in mobile photography, but in 2026 Xiaomi has seriously reduced the gap.
- 📸 Daytime shooting: Huawei P60 Pro with Leica lens and Sony 1-inch sensor IMX898 It gives more natural colors and better detail. Xiaomi 14 Ultra loses in dynamic range, but wins in focus speed.
- 🌙 Night shooting: Xiaomi's Night Mode 2.0 technology now overtakes Huawei in low-light conditions.+ It’s better at night than the Huawei Nova 12.
- 🎥 Video: Xiaomi supports recording 8K@30fps s HDR10+, a Huawei is restricted 4K@60fps. Huawei is better at stabilizing because of its AIS Pro.
Secret camera mode in Xiaomi
For portrait photographers, Huawei is better suited – its background blurring algorithms (bokeh) are still considered benchmark. But for macro photography, the leader was Xiaomi 14 Ultra with a Leica lens (yes, now Xiaomi has a collaboration with the legendary brand!).
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If you often shoot documents or checks, turn on the AI Document Scan mode in the Xiaomi camera settings – it automatically straightens the perspective and enhances text contrast.
3.Software: MIUI vs HarmonyOS
This is one of the most controversial points: after the sanctions, Huawei was forced to develop its own HarmonyOS ecosystem, while Xiaomi switched to HyperOS (the successor to MIUI).
| Criteria | HyperOS (Xiaomi) | HarmonyOS (Huawei) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Play availability | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No, only Huawei AppGallery) |
| Security updates | 4 years | 3 years (for international versions) |
| Integration with the ecosystem | Xiaomi Home, Mi Band, Robot Vacuum Cleaners | Huawei Smart Home, laptops, tablets |
| Productivity | Optimized for Snapdragon | It works better with Kirin. |
The key issues with HarmonyOS are:
- 🚫 No official support for Google Mobile Services (GMS). You will have to install them manually through GSpace or analogues, which is not safe.
- 🛑 Many banking applications (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may not work or require workarounds.
- 🔄 Updates come less frequently than Xiaomi’s, and often contain bugs (especially in the first versions).
On the other hand, HarmonyOS offers unique features:
- 🖥️ Super Device – wireless integration with Huawei laptops and tablets (for example, you can pull files directly from your phone to the MateBook screen).
- 🎨 Animations and smoothness – HarmonyOS interface subjectively seems more responsive than HyperOS.
⚠️ Note: If you use Huawei outside of China, be prepared for some features (like the Celia voice assistant) to only work in Chinese.
4. Design and assembly: who's more reliable?
In 2026, both brands switched to premium materials, but the approaches are different:
- 💎 Xiaomi uses ceramic cases in flagships (such as Xiaomi 14) and aluminum 7-series in the middle segment. the design has become more minimalistic, but some models (such as Redmi Note 13) still look “plastic".
- 🏆 Huawei is betting on titanium inserts (in the Mate 60 Pro) and sapphire glass over the cameras.P and Mate line designs are often copied by other brands.
According to crash test results (data from JerryRigEverything):
- Huawei Mate 60 Pro can withstand a drop from 1.5 m to concrete without cracked screen (thanks to Kunlun Glass 2.0).
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra cracks when falling from 1 m, but its screen is less prone to burn-in with prolonged use.
Check the ends of the body for gaps
Check the backlash buttons (especially volume)
Test the vibration response (should be clear)
Light a flashlight on the screen - there should be no "backlight" at the edges-->
If you care about weight and thickness, Xiaomi offers lighter models (for example, the POCO F6 weighs 168 g against 225 g at the Huawei Nova 12).
5. Battery and charging: who will live longer?
Xiaomi has traditionally led the way with ultra-fast charging and capacious batteries, but Huawei is not far behind in energy efficiency.
| Model | Capacity (mach) | Max. Charging (W) | Full charge time. | Autonomy (screen 5 hours/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 5000 | 120 | 19 minutes | 1.8 days |
| Huawei Mate 60 Pro | 5000 | 88 | 30 minutes | 2.1 days |
| Xiaomi 14 | 4610 | 90 | 35 minutes | 1.5 days |
| Huawei P60 Pro | 4815 | 66 | 45 minutes | 1.9 days |
What's important to know:
- ⚡ Xiaomi offers 200-watt charging in some models (like the Redmi Note 12 Turbo), but this shortens battery life on the market. ~15% for 2 years.
- 🔋 Huawei uses graphene batteries in some flagships that degrade more slowly (capacity loss) ~5% year-on 10-12% rival).
- 🔌 Both brands support reverse wireless charging, but Huawei has more power (up to 20 watts vs. 10 watts for Xiaomi).
⚠️ Note: If you travel frequently, note that Huawei with its proprietary SuperCharge charging can cause compatibility issues at hotels/airports. Xiaomi uses the standard USB-PD, which is supported by most chargers.
6.Price and price/quality ratio
Xiaomi has traditionally won, but Huawei has become more aggressive in pricing in 2026.
| Segment | Xiaomi model | Price (₽) | Huawei Model | Price (₽) | What's better? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgetary | Redmi 13C | 12 990 | Huawei Nova Y71 | 15 990 | Xiaomi (best screen and charging) |
| Medium. | POCO X6 Pro | 34 990 | Huawei Nova 12 | 39 990 | Xiaomi (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 vs Kirin 830) |
| Flagship | Xiaomi 14 | 89 990 | Huawei P60 Pro | 99 990 | Huawei (Best Camera and Design) |
Where Huawei justifies the price:
- 📱 In the premium segment (from 80 000) ₽) — For the same money, you get the best camera and build.
Where Xiaomi is out of competition:
- 💰 In the budget and medium segment (up to 40 000) ₽) — Xiaomi offers the best hardware features for the same money.
- 🎮 For gamers, models. POCO Black Shark is cheaper than Huawei’s counterparts 20-30%.
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If your budget is up to 30,000 ₽, Xiaomi is definitely winning, but if you're willing to spend $70,000.+ ₽ On camera and design – consider Huawei.
Durability and maintainability
This is one of the most underrated criteria, and let's see which brand is better off in the long run.
- 🔧 Replacement of the display in the Redmi Note 13 Pro costs in the ~8 000 ₽. - Huawei: Replace the screen in Nova 11 — ~12 000 ₽ (proprietary).
- 🔋 Battery replacement: - Xiaomi batteries are often glued, but service centers offer replacement for the battery 3 000-5 000 ₽. - In Huawei, batteries are sometimes soldered to the board (for example, in the Mate). 50 Pro), which increases the cost of repairs to 7 000 ₽.
- 📱 Xiaomi promises 4 years of updates for flagships and 2 years for budget users. – Huawei provides 3 years of updates for international versions, but often with delays.
Where Huawei is losing:
- 🚨 Sanctions risk: Huawei may stop supporting some models ahead of schedule (as it did with the company’s new model) P40 Pro in 2022).
- 🛠️ Parts shortage: In Russia and Europe, it is harder to find original parts for Huawei than for Xiaomi.
Where Xiaomi concedes:
- 🔄 Build quality: Redmi budget models often suffer from backlashes of buttons and squeaking of the case through 1-2 year.
- 🔥 Overheating: Some models on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pros are warmer than Huawei on Kirin.
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Before buying, check the model on the GSMArena website in the “Disassembly” section – it shows how easy it is to disassemble a smartphone for repair.