Xiaomi in 2022: Which smartphone to buy? Comparison of the 10 best models by price and features

Choosing a smartphone in 2022 is not an easy task, especially when it comes to the Xiaomi brand, which offers dozens of models in different price categories. From the budget Redmi to the premium Mi and Black Shark, the range is so wide that it is easy to get lost. In this article, we will not just list the best smartphones Xiaomi 2022 release, but also help determine which model is right for you: for games, photography, long autonomy or work.

It’s important to understand that even within one year, Xiaomi will release updated versions of smartphones (for example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G after the basic Note 11 Pro).We took into account all the latest products available on the market in 2022, and excluded models that have already been discontinued or lost relevance.

1. Xiaomi 2022 flagships: what to overpay for?

Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones in 2022 are the Mi 12 and Mi 12S series, as well as the Black Shark 5 gaming lineup. These devices feature top-end processors (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/8+ Gen 1), premium screens with support for 120 Hz and above, and advanced cameras developed in conjunction with Leica (in the case of the Mi 12S Ultra).

The main advantages of flagships:

• 🔥 Performance: no lags in games and multitasking (for example, Black Shark 5 Pro is equipped with physical triggers for gamers).
• 📸 Cameras: Optical zooms up to 5×, 50-plate+ MP, support 8K-video.
• 🔋 Fast charging: up to 120 watts (full charge in 15-20 minutes).
• 💎 Premium materials: ceramics, aluminum, glass Gorilla Glass Victus.

However, there are disadvantages: the price of flagships starts from 60-70 thousand rubles, and some functions (for example, 10-bit). HDR-The only thing that you can see is when you're directly comparing it to the public sector, unless you want the maximum. FPS in games or professional video shooting, it is worth considering models from the middle segment.

2. Mid-segment: Best Price/Quality Balance

Xiaomi smartphones from the middle segment (price from 25 000 to 45 000 rubles) in 2022 are represented by the Redmi series K50, POCO F4 Xiaomi 11T. These devices offer 90 percent of the flagship's capabilities for half the price. K50 Gaming is powered by a Snapdragon 870 processor (which still pulls all modern games), and Xiaomi 11T The Pro has a 120-hertz AMOLED-screen and charge 120 watts.

TOP-3 models of the middle segment:

• 📱 Xiaomi 11T Pro: Best screen and charging in class, but cameras are weaker than flagships.
• 🎮 Redmi K50 Gaming: Perfect for gamers (cooling, triggers), but no wireless charging.
• 📈 POCO F4 GT: pay-off K50 Gaming with similar hardware, but cheaper.

The main advantage of this segment is long-term relevance. For example, Snapdragon 870 or Dimensity 1200 will be relevant for another 3-4 years for most tasks, while budget chipsets (for example, Snapdragon 680) can start to slow down in 2 years.

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If you choose between the Redmi K50 and the POCO F4 GT, pay attention to the firmware: POCO is often updated later, but has less pre-installed software.

3. Xiaomi budget smartphones: what you can buy up to 20,000 ₽

Budget segment Xiaomi in 2022 is mainly a series of Redmi Note 11 and Redmi 10. Here prices start from 12 000 rubles, but for this money you have to compromise: weak processors (Snapdragon 680, Helio G88), screens with 60/90 Hz, plastic case and cameras at the level of “social networks”.

But there are also advantages:

• 🔋 Battery: 5000 mAh in most models (enough for 1.5-2 days of moderate use).
• 🔌 Fast charging: Even the Redmi Note 11 has 33 watts (full charge per unit) ~1 hour).
• 📏 Compact: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) weigh less than 180g.

The best budget smartphones Xiaomi 2022:

⚠️ Note: In budget smartphones Xiaomi often encountered a problem with microlags in the MIUI (If you care about smooth interfaces, look at models with a 90Hz screen or consider POCO M4 Pro - it's cleaner than the firmware.

4. Xiaomi gaming smartphones: should you overpay?

In 2022, Xiaomi will offer two gaming smartphones: the Black Shark 5 Pro and the Redmi K50 Gaming. Both feature top-end chipsets (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 870, respectively), liquid cooling systems and physical triggers.

Comparison of key features:

• 🎮 Black Shark 5 Pro: Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (most powerful in the lineup). Screen: 6.67″ AMOLED, 144 Hz Features: Magnetic Triggers, RGB-The price is the light: ~70 000 ₽.
• 🎮 Redmi K50 Gaming: Processor: Snapdragon 870 (slightly weaker but cheaper). Screen: 6.67″ OLED, 120Hz Features: shoulder buttons, but no RGB. Price: ~40 000 ₽.

Gaming smartphones are justified if you:

• 🕹️ Play Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG maximum-setting.
• 🔥 You want the maximum. FPS and minimum delays.
• 💰 You are willing to pay for “chips” that are not useful in everyday life (for example, for example, for the “small” part of your life, RGB-lighting).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi gaming smartphones often have autonomy issues due to powerful processors and small batteries (e.g., the Black Shark 5 Pro only keeps a charge of 5-6 hours in games).If you care about the balance between game and running time, consider Redmi K50 Gaming is more balanced.

5. Cameras in smartphones Xiaomi 2022: what to choose for photography?

If you care about the quality of your photos, Xiaomi has a few worthwhile options in 2022: Flagships (Mi 12S Ultra, Mi 12 Pro) offer cameras designed with Leica, with optical zooms and large matrices. But there are decent options in the mid-range segment, such as the Xiaomi 11T Pro with a 108 MP main camera.

Xiaomi 2022 smartphone rating by camera quality:

1. Xiaomi 12S Ultra is the best in the line (co-development with Leica, 50 MP main camera, 5× optical zoom).
2. The Xiaomi 12 Pro is a slightly stripped-down version of the 12S Ultra, but with the same main sensor.
3. Xiaomi 11T Pro is the best option in the mid-range (108 MP, but weak zoom).
4. Redmi K50 Pro – good balance of price and quality (108 MP, but no stabilization on the ultra-wide).

What is important to consider when choosing:

• 📸 Main camera: 50-108 MP is enough for most tasks, but more important is the pixel size (e.g. 1.6 microns per camera). 12S Ultra vs. 0.7 μm in state-owned).
• 🔍 Zoom: Optical zoom (2)×–5×) In budget models, zoom is often absent or implemented software (quality suffers).
• 🎥 Video: If you are shooting videos, pay attention to support 4K@60fps and stabilization (e.g, 12S Ultra has 8K@24fps).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi smartphones often have photo reprocessing (over-saturation, smoothing of textures).If you are interested in natural color, before buying, look at real photo examples (for example, on DxOMark or GSMArena).

See examples of photos on DxOMark or GSMArena|Check for optical zoom (if necessary)|Make sure you're supported. 4K-video|Pay attention to the size of the matrix (the larger, the better in the dark)|Test the night mode (in state employees it is often weak)-->

6.Autonomy: Which Xiaomi smartphones hold the charge longer?

If you want to have a long life without recharging, consider three things: battery capacity, software optimization, and CPU performance, and in 2022, the best results are:

• 🔋 Redmi Note 11S — 5,000 mAh + energy-efficient Helio G96 (2 days' work).
• 🔋 Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE — 4250 mAh, but at the expense of Snapdragon 778G And light firmware lasts longer than many flagships.
• 🔋 POCO M4 Pro 5G — 5,000 mAh + Dimensity 810 (a good balance).

What impairs autonomy:

• ❌ 120 Hz screen (consumes 20–30% more energy than 60 Hz).
• ❌ Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Dimensity 9000 processors (very voracious).
• ❌ Constantly active 5G (In cities with poor coverage, battery consumption increases by 15-20%).

Tip: if you need a maximum working life, choose a smartphone with:

• 🔋 Battery 5,000 mAh+.
• 📉 A mid-level processor (Snapdragon) 7xx or Dimensity 9xx).
• 🔄 Ability to disable 5G and reduce the screen frequency to 60 Hz.

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The longest-playing smartphone Xiaomi 2022 — Redmi Note 11S (up to 10-12 hours of screen with moderate use).

7. Which Xiaomi to buy in 2022: the final guide to choosing

To make the choice easier, we have made a brief recommendation by category:

If you are still in doubt, answer the questions:

• 💰 What is your budget? (up to 20k / 20–40k / 40k)+)
• 🎯 Which is more important: camera, performance, autonomy or design?
• 🔄 Do you need support? 5G?
• 📦 Important? NFC (contactless)?

For example, if you need a smartphone up to 25 000 rubles with a good camera and NFC, the best choice is Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G. And if the budget is 40 000-50,000 rubles and you are important performance, take POCO F4 GT.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing a Xiaomi smartphone