Xiaomi phones: which models are better to choose in 2026? Rating by price and features

Why Xiaomi is the leader in the price/quality ratio

Xiaomi has been holding the palm of the championship among smartphone manufacturers for more than a decade, offering the maximum technology for minimal money. In 2026, the brand released more than 20 new models - from budget devices for 10,000 rubles to flagships with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors and cameras from Leica. But how not to get lost in this variety and choose the phone that is ideal for your tasks?

This article will help you understand which Xiaomi phones are best to buy depending on your budget and goals: for gaming, photography, long-term autonomy or just as a reliable workhorse. We analyzed the technical specifications, user reviews and test results to compile an up-to-date rating for the second half of 2026, and we will pay special attention to the new products – Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6 Pro, which have already been evaluated by the expert community.

Spoiler: If you want a full-time smartphone without overpaying for your brand, look at the Redmi Note lineup. And if you're willing to invest in top-end camera and performance, the flagship Xiaomi 14 series will be the best choice. But about it all!

🔝 Top-5 Best Xiaomi Phones in 2026 Year: A Brief Overview

Let's start with a quick-to-orientation ranking, and we'll take a full look at each model in the following sections.

• 🏆 Best flagship: Xiaomi 14 Ultra – camera from Leica, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, ceramic case
• 🎮 Best for gaming: POCO F6 Pro – 120 W charging, AMOLED 144 Hz cooling system
• 📸 Best camera in the mid-segment: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G — 200 MP main module, OIS
• 💰 Best budget: Redmi 13C — 90 Hz screen, 5000 mAh, price from 12,000 ₽
• 🔋 Best Autonomous: Xiaomi Redmi 10C – 6000 mAh, 2 days of operation without recharging

It's important to understand that "best" is subjective. For example, the POCO F6 Pro outperforms even some flagships, but loses as a camera. And the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offers a premium design for half the price of the iPhone 15, but is inferior in software optimization.

🎮 Xiaomi phones for gamers: which models pull heavy games

If you need a smartphone for Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG New State at maximum settings, pay attention to three key parameters:

1. Processor: minimum Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000+
2. Screen: AMOLED with 120 Hz+ frequency and support for HDR10+;
3. Cooling system: steam chamber or graphite plates.

According to these criteria in 2026, the following are leading:

⚠️ Warning: Black Shark models are not officially sold in Russia, but they can be ordered through global versions (e.g., AliExpress).

Does the model play your games on YouTube (search for "[game name] [phone model] test")

Memory card slots (important for heavy Genshin Impact games)

Support for fast charging (from 67 watts and above for comfortable play on the road)

Guarantee on official firmware (avoid "gray" deliveries)

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For most users, the POCO F6 Pro is the best choice — it’s cheaper than Black Shark, but offers comparable performance. And if you want an absolute FPS maximum, the Redmi K70 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 shows a record 180+ FPS in Call of Duty Mobile at low settings.

📸 Best Xiaomi phones for photography: camera comparison

Photo capabilities of Xiaomi smartphones in 2026 are divided into three categories:

• 📱 Budget: Redmi 13C, POCO M6 Pro — the main camera 50-108 MP, without optical stabilization;
• 📸 Mid-segment: Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T – 200 MP, OIS, wide-angle;
• 🎥 Flagships: Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 13S Ultra — Leica cameras, 1-inch sensor, 8K video.

For an objective comparison, take the results of the tests from DxOMark (August 2026):

🔍 Key findings from the cameras:

• 🌃 For night photography, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is best suited thanks to the large sensor and Leica algorithms.
• 📏 If macro and superzoom are needed, only flagships (from 70,000 ₽) offer optical 5x;
• 💰 In the segment up to 30,000 ₽, the leader is the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a 200 MP camera, but its weak point is video processing.

If photography is a hobby for you, and not a profession, then overpaying for Xiaomi 14 Ultra makes no sense. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T will cope with 90% of tasks no worse, and are 2-3 times cheaper.

💰 Budget phones Xiaomi: what to buy up to 15 000 rubles

In the segment up to 15 000 rubles Xiaomi offers smartphones with basic characteristics, but often with unpleasant compromises: weak processors, plastic body, lack of 5G. However, there are successful models that we selected by the criteria:

• 🔋 Battery from 5000 mAh;
• 📱 A screen with a frequency of at least 90 Hz;
• 📸 Main camera at least 50 MP;
• 🔄 Support for fast charging (from 18W).

The best options in 2026:

⚠️ Warning: Models with Helio G36/G85 processors are poorly optimized for modern games. For example, Redmi A2+ runs PUBG Mobile only at low settings from FPS below 30. If games are important, take POCO M6 Pro from Helio G99.

For everyday tasks (social media, calls, photos for memory) Redmi 13C will suffice. But if you need a spare for 2-3 years, you better pay 2,000 ₽ and take POCO M6 Pro — it has a better screen and faster charging.

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Before buying a budget Xiaomi, check for Global ROM. Some models are sold only with Chinese MIUI, where there are no Google Services or Russian.

🔋 Xiaomi phones with the longest battery life

If you want a smartphone that lasts 2 days without recharging, look for models with a battery of 6,000 mAh and energy-efficient processors. In 2026, the leaders in autonomy were:

• 🔋 Xiaomi Redmi 10C – 6000 mAh, Snapdragon 680, up to 36 hours of video playback;
• 🔋 POCO M5s — 5000 mAh, Helio G95, but with optimized software for savings;
• 🔋 Redmi Note 12 Pro+ – 5000 mAh, Dimensity 1080, support for 120 watts of charging.

It is important to understand that the actual operating time depends not only on the capacity of the battery, but also on:

• Screen resolutions (FHD+ eats 20% more than HD+)
• Upgrade frequencies (120 Hz reduces autonomy by 15–25%)
• Software optimization (in MIUI 15 added mode "Extreme energy saving").

📊 Results of the PCMark Battery 2.0 test (hours of operation):

Xiaomi Redmi 10C - 18h 32min




POCO M5s - 16h 45min




Redmi Note 12 Pro+ – 14h 10min (at 120Hz)

If you're too self-contained, the Redmi 10C is the best choice of all Xiaomi smartphones for running time, but it's a weak processor and a screen that's only 720p.

📱 Xiaomi vs POCO vs Redmi: What's the difference and what to choose

Many people confuse the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO brands, although they are owned by the same company and are targeted at different customers:

• 📌 Xiaomi – flagship and premium models (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 13T Pro);
• 📌 Redmi – mid- and low-end (Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Redmi 13C)
• 📌 POCO are phones for gamers and enthusiasts (POCO F6 Pro, POCO X6).

🔍 Which brand to choose?

⚠️ Warning: The POCO devices often lack an official warranty in Russia, as the brand left the local market in 2022.

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If you want a balanced smartphone, go with the Redmi Note, which is the middle ground between price, performance and cameras.

🛒 Where and how to buy Xiaomi profitable: tips for choosing

When buying a Xiaomi smartphone in 2026, consider a few key points, so as not to run into a fake or “gray” import:

• 🛡️ Official sellers in Russia: Svyaznoy, M. Video, Wildberries (marked "Official Dealer");
• 🌍 Global Versions: On AliExpress, look for models with the Global prefix (e.g. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G Global);
• ⚠️ What to avoid: Models without Russian in firmware; Phones marked China ROM (no Google Play); Apparatus without a warranty card (the risk of “gray” imports).

💡 How to check the originality of Xiaomi?

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – should be global firmware (MIUI Global);
2. Check the IMEI on imei.info – the data must match the box.
3. Make sure that the box has a branded film on the screen with the Xiaomi logo.

📅 Best time to buy: New Xiaomi models are going down 10 to 15 percent in 2 to 3 months after launch. For example, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ was 35,000 ₽ at launch, and after six months, its price dropped to 29,000 ₽.

• 🎄 New Year's Eve (January);
• 🎓 End of school year (May-June);
• 🛍️ Black Friday (November).

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If you buy Xiaomi on AliExpress, choose sellers with a rating of at least 98% and the number of orders from 1000+. Pay attention to the reviews with photos - there is often a real state of the box and configuration.

❓ FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi phones