2021 was a turning point for Xiaomi, marking the full transition to the Snapdragon 888 platform for flagship devices, when the brand finally entrenched itself in the premium segment, no longer associated exclusively with affordable budget users, users received not just phones, but powerful multimedia centers with screens that can compete with professional monitors.
In this review, we will look at exactly which models appeared on store shelves during this period, and analyze their key features. You will learn how the global versions differ from the Chinese ones, and why some specifications may not match reality. It was in 2021 that Xiaomi first introduced liquid lens technology in mass production of smartphones.
If you’re planning to buy a device from the secondary market or want to understand the evolution of the lineup, this information will be critical to making an informed decision. We’ll look not only at the dry numbers, but also at the actual user experience gained during the operation of these gadgets.
Mi 11 Series: New Performance Standard
The 2021 launch was marked by the launch of the Mi 11, one of the world’s first smartphones based on the Snapdragon 888 chipset, which set the bar very high for all subsequent competitors, offering users a display with a resolution of 3200×1440 pixels and refresh rate of 120 Hz. This combination of parameters provided incredible image clarity and smooth animations in the interface.
Engineers focused on the photomodule, with a 108MP optically stabilized main sensor, combined with an ultra-wide-angle lens and a teleacro camera, the smartphone allowed professional images to be taken in all lighting conditions, but it is worth noting that the high performance of the processor required efficient heat removal, which was a challenge for the case designers.
⚠️ Note: When using video recording functions in 8K or games at maximum settings, the device can be significantly heated in the upper part of the body, which is normal operation of the cooling system.
Later, the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra versions were added to the lineup, which received improved Sony IMX766 and IMX586 sensors, respectively, which were aimed at mobile photographers and required stable high-speed Internet for MIUI cloud services.
Redmi Note 10 Series: Revolution in the Middle Class
If flagships set the tone for technology, the Redmi Note 10 series brought these technologies to the masses. AMOLED-Even in basic models, which was previously considered the prerogative of more expensive devices, users for the first time were able to enjoy rich black and deep contrast in the budget segment.
The model range included several variations, each of which had its own unique features:
- 📱 Redmi Note 10 – basic model with a screen of 6.43 inches and protection Gorilla Glass 3.
- 🚀 Redmi Note 10 Pro – got the main camera 108 MP and glass Gorilla Glass 5 for increased strength.
- ⚡ Redmi Note 10 Pro Max – featured video recording support 4K and faster charging capacity of 33 W.
It's important to understand that the names of the models may have been different in different regions, for example, what was sold in China as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, in the global version may have been released under the name Redmi Note 10 Pro Max or not at all. Always check the model in the About phone settings before buying accessories or firmware.
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When buying Redmi Note 10, pay attention to the version NFC. In some regions (e.g. India) NFC-The module was not available in the basic versions, while in the global versions it was the standard.
POCO: Brand Independence and Gaming Solutions
The POCO brand in 2021 finally took shape as a standalone unit with its philosophy of "Everything you need, nothing you don't." The main hit was the POCO F3, which was actually a global version of the Chinese Redmi K40. This device received a top-end processor and a great screen, but lost some premium materials of the case to reduce the price.
For mobile gaming enthusiasts, the POCO X3 NFC series was released (although it came out in late 2020, mass sales were going in 2021) and the new POCO X3 Pro. The latter was equipped with a Snapdragon 860 processor, making it one of the most productive devices in its price range. However, like many powerful devices of the time, there were questions about the durability of the soldering motherboard under intense heating.
⚠️ Attention: Owners POCO X3 Pro is recommended to avoid overheating the device during charging and games, as there are cases of processor dumping under extreme temperature regimes.
POCO M3 Pro and POCO F3 GT range
Why is the POCO F3 considered one of the best smartphones of 2021?
Foldable smartphones and experimentation with form factors
2021 was the year Xiaomi decided to enter the foldable device market with the Mi Mix Fold, the company’s first step into the flexible screen segment, designed to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which featured a unique liquid lens in a telephoto lens that allowed it to switch between macro and zoom.
The main screen of the device had a diagonal of 8.01 inches in the deployed state and supported the refresh rate of 90 Hz. The external display was more traditional, with a frequency of 60 Hz, which ensured energy efficiency in everyday tasks. Despite the innovation, the device was released only in the domestic market of China and did not receive global firmware with support for all languages.
To control the large screen, a special version of the MIUI Fold shell was developed, optimized for multitasking and window work, which allowed you to run up to three applications at a time, turning the smartphone into a mini-tablet, but software optimization of third-party applications left much to be desired in the early versions of the software.
Technical characteristics of popular models 2021
To make it easier for you to navigate the many devices that have come out, we have created a summary table with key features from the most popular models, which gathers data on the processors, screens and cameras that customers are most likely to be interested in when choosing.
| Model | Processor | Screen. | Main camera. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi 11 | Snapdragon 888 | 6.81" AMOLED 120 Hz" | 108 MP |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | Snapdragon 732G | 6.67" AMOLED 120 Hz"" | 108 MP |
| POCO F3 | Snapdragon 870 | 6.67" AMOLED 120 Hz"" | 48 MP |
| Mi Mix Fold | Snapdragon 888 | 8.01" Foldable 90 Hz"" | 108 MP |
As you can see from the table, the company was looking to bring high refresh rate screens to all segments, and even budget models were getting 90Hz or 120Hz matrices, which was previously unthinkable, and it greatly improved the user experience when scrolling through social media feeds and navigating menus.
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In 2021, the standard requirement for any Xiaomi smartphone was the screen refresh rate of at least 90 Hz, and in the middle segment – 120 Hz.
MIUI Software and Updates
In parallel with the release of the new hardware, the company actively developed the shell MIUI 12 and MIUI 12.5, which brought a radically new design based on live widgets and improved animations, and appeared the feature “Privacy Protection”, which visually showed which applications access the microphone, camera or geolocation.
Access to advanced settings often required the use of an engineering menu or ADB-For example, to turn off ads in system applications, users used different scripts. One popular method involved changing the system. DNS or use of special blocking applications.
Below is an example command to activate some hidden functions via ADB (USB debugging is required):
adb shell pm grant com.android.settings android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGSUpdates came in waves, and owners of new 2021 models could count on 2-3 years of major Android updates.However, older devices sometimes remained without support for new features, which caused the community to complain.