Which Xiaomi to 10000 rubles to choose in 2021

The budget smartphone market has undergone a huge change in 2021, and Chinese giant Xiaomi has been one of the main drivers of this transformation: If earlier buying a device under 10,000 rubles meant agreeing to slow work, a weak camera and a low-resolution screen, today the situation is radically different, consumers are gaining access to technologies that a couple of years ago were considered the prerogative of the middle segment.

The choice of a particular model depends on many factors that go beyond just comparing price tags in online stores. You will have to decide which is more important: autonomy, quality of shooting or performance in games. In this article, we will analyze in detail the current brand offers to help you make an informed decision when buying a gadget.

It’s worth noting that the price segment under 10,000 rubles is the most competitive, and this is where the main battle for the buyer unfolds, manufacturers are forced to make compromises, but in 2021 these tradeoffs have become much less painful for the end user.

Evolution of the budget segment and current realities

Just a few years ago, smartphones under 10,000 rubles were powered by two- or four-core processors that could barely navigate, and today, eight-core chipsets are becoming the standard for smooth interfaces and demanding applications, and technological advances have reduced production costs by bringing powerful solutions to the entry level.

But don't expect miracles. There are savings, and they're in the materials of the case -- plastic, more often than not, not glass or metal. It also makes it easier to pack, charging devices can be less powerful and cables can be shorter, but the ergonomics of the devices remain high.

⚠️ Warning: When buying a device in the lowest price segment, carefully check the availability of the device. NFC-In 2021, many models sacrifice up to 10,000 rubles for the sake of lowering the price, making contactless payment impossible.

Software support is becoming an important aspect, with budget models now receiving more Android updates and security patches than they used to, and the company is trying to unify the experience by offering a MIUI shell with broad functionality even on low-cost devices.

Key criteria for choosing a smartphone

Before you decide on a particular model, you need to clearly articulate your needs, and you can divide all buyers into a few groups: gamers, social media enthusiasts, older people, and those who need a second working phone, and priorities will differ for each category.

First of all, you should pay attention to the amount of RAM. In 2021, 3 GB of RAM is the absolute minimum, below which it is not recommended to go, since the system will constantly reboot applications. The optimal option will be a configuration with 4 GB of RAM, which will provide a comfortable multitasking mode.

• 📱 Screen: Pay attention to the type of matrix. IPS-screens provide good viewing angles and color reproduction, while cheap TN-Matrices can distort colors when tilted.
• 🔋 Battery capacity of 5000 mAh is becoming a new standard even for public sector employees, allowing you to safely survive two days without recharging.
• 💾 Memory: Minimum internal storage is 64GB. Apps are getting heavier and photos and videos take up more space, so 32GB in 2021 is no longer enough.

Support for two Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz) significantly improves the stability of connections in apartment buildings, and the presence of a modern USB Type-C port, which is more convenient to use, will not be superfluous.

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When choosing a smartphone, pay attention to the presence of protective glass. Even if it is not included in the kit, the presence of tempered glass on the display (for example, Gorilla Glass) will reduce the risk of scratches in the first months of use.

Comparative table of popular models

To simplify the selection process, we have prepared a summary table of the most popular models that can be found on sale or on the remains of warehouses in the price range up to 10,000 rubles.

Analyzing the table, you can see that the models of the POCO series and Redmi 9T offer much more productive hardware compared to the basic versions like the 9A. The difference in the processor directly affects the speed of opening applications and working on the Internet.

The camera is worth a special attention. With a 48 MP vs. 13 MP module, there is a big difference in detail in good light, but in low light, image processing algorithms play an even bigger role than megapixels.

TOP models for economical users

The leader in sales in the category "up to 10000 rubles" is rightly considered POCO M3. This smartphone offers a unique design with a huge block of cameras resembling professional equipment, and excellent characteristics for its price.

Another strong contender is the Redmi 9T (known in some regions as the Redmi Note 9 4G), which is powered by a huge 6,000mAh battery, a unique feature in this price segment that allows you to forget about the outlet for a few days of active use, and it also features NFC, which is rare for such a price.

For those on a tight budget, the Redmi 9C is a smart trade-off: It doesn’t hold records, but it provides the bare minimum of features: a normal screen, an adequate camera, and a fresh out-of-the-box version of Android.

⚠️ Attention: When buying a model POCO M3 Early batches may have come with bugs that have been patched in later firmware updates.

And the Redmi 10A, which came out towards the end of the period, has a more modern design and improved ergonomics while still keeping the price affordable, but it can be inferior in performance to the top of the list.

Productivity and gaming opportunities

Many users are asking themselves, can you play on Xiaomi's budget? The answer is yes, but with reservations. Helio-level processors. G35 Snapdragon 662 is not intended for heavy duty 3D-games at maximum settings, but popular projects like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile will launch and will work on low or medium graphics settings.

For casual games (three in a row, strategies, card games) the power of any of the smartphones considered will be enough with excess.

Optimizing MIUI allows you to allocate resources efficiently. The Game Turbo feature, built into the shell, helps to free up RAM and block notifications during play, which is especially important for devices with 3-4 GB of RAM.

Camera and multimedia in the budget

Photography on budget smartphones in 2021 is no longer a joke. The 48MP core module in the POCO M3 or Redmi 9T takes pictures during the day that are difficult to distinguish from mid-range photos. Detailing is good, dynamic range is acceptable.

Nighttime photography remains a weak spot. The lack of optical stabilization (OIS) results in greases at the slightest movement of the hands. Night mode algorithms try to compensate for this by taking a series of frames, but the result is often soapy.

Video shooting is usually limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second. Video stabilization is usually electronic and works mediocre, so shooting on the run is not recommended.

• 🌅 Portrait Mode: Works well, but often miscalculates the boundaries of the object, especially if the hair is disheveled or the background is complex.
• 🎥 Video: Don't expect 4K. Maximum - FullHD, and then with bitrate restrictions.
• 🔊 Sound: Stereodynamics in POCO M3 — This is a huge plus, but in other models the sound is monophonic and not very loud.

⚠️ Attention: Macro cameras on 2 MMs, which are often found in blocks from 3-4 The cameras are purely marketing, and the quality of the images is extremely low, so it's better to just crop the photos from the main camera.

Concluding recommendations and conclusion

Choosing a Xiaomi smartphone up to 10,000 rubles in 2021 is a balance between the desired and the possible. If you want a versatile soldier with a good camera and screen, you should look for a POCO M3 or Redmi 9T in stock or in a used state. If the main thing is autonomy, then the Redmi 9T with its 6000 mAh has no competitors.

For the most economical users, the Redmi 9C remains the king of entry-levels, and will serve as the first smartphone or device for calling and instant messengers, and the main thing is not to expect performance miracles from it.

The market of used devices also offers interesting options: for 10 thousand rubles in the secondary market you can find flagships 3-4 years ago, which will give a head start to new state employees in the quality of materials and screens, but will require a replacement battery.

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The best buying strategy in 2021 is to look for discounts on the previous year’s models (for example, the Redmi Note 9), as they often fall in price to 10-11 thousand rubles, offering characteristics of the middle segment.