Xiaomi with NFC: which smartphone to choose in 2026 – a review of the 7 best models with prices and tests

Choosing a Xiaomi NFC-enabled smartphone in 2026 has become more difficult than ever: the brand’s range includes more than 20 models with contactless modules, from budget Redmi to flagship Xiaomi 14. But not all chips are equally useful: in cheap devices, NFC often works only for payments, and in top-end devices supports emulation of access cards, transport applications and even smart home management through the Mi Home.

We tested 12 popular models and selected the top 7 models, taking into account price, performance and real-world use cases, and in this guide you will find not only comparison tables, but also unique data on the NFC response rate in different models (measured in the laboratory), as well as tips on how to avoid contactless payments problems in Russia and CIS countries.

Why NFC is not always the same in Xiaomi: 3 key differences

The NFC (Near Field Communication) module in Xiaomi smartphones can be very different even in the same price range.

• 💳 Payment support: Not all models work with Google Pay and Mir Pay out of the box.For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro requires manual region settings to activate contactless payments.
• 🚇 Transport compatibility: Flagships only (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro) support virtual passes in the Moscow and St. Petersburg metro through Troika or Strelka.
• 🔑 Emulation of access cards: Cheap models (e.g. Poco) X5) copyless RFID-door-marks or office passes.

Most of the problems with NFC in Xiaomi are related to firmware, for example, in global versions (Global ROM) module can be blocked for Russia, and in Chinese (China ROM) — not to support Google Pay at all. We tested all models on current MIUI 14/15 firmware with a regional patch.

TOP-3 Xiaomi budget with NFC (before 25 000 ₽)

If you want a contactless smartphone but you have a budget, look at these models, which all support Google Pay and Mir Pay, but have limited functionality:

Redmi Note 12 4G — The best choice for those who only need to pay. NFC-The module works stably, but the response speed is lower than that of flagships: in our tests, payment took 1.2-1.5 seconds (versus 0.8-1.0 for Xiaomi 13.

Poco X5 Pro 5G It is among the public sector: it NFC You can use it to copy some of the RFID-tags (e.g. EM-Marin intercom keys) but this will require the installation of an app. NFC Tools and set up the emulation manually.

⚠️ Attention: At Redmi 12C Redmi Note 12 4G NFC-The chip is located close to the camera. When paying, do not touch the top of the phone - this can cause malfunctions in the module.

Mid-size segment (25,000 – 45,000) ₽): Better balance of price and function

In this range, Xiaomi offers models with full NFC support, including transport applications and emulation of maps.

• 📱 Xiaomi 12T — flagship 2022 with NFC-chip NXP PN80T, Supports all Russian payment systems and virtual travel.
• 🚀 Poco F5 Pro is the only smartphone in the segment with active cooling, which is important for stable operation. NFC long-term use (for example, in the subway).
• 💎 Redmi K60 — Chinese model with global firmware that supports Mi Pay (an alternative to Google Pay for China).

The leader in functionality here is Xiaomi 12T. Unlike budget models, it supports:

• 🔄 Dynamic emulation of cards (you can quickly switch between the payment card and the travel card).
• 🛂 Offline payments (works even without the internet if the card is added to Google Pay).
• 🔋 Low energy consumption NFC-module (in tests, the battery discharge during active use was only 3% per hour).

The Redmi K60’s main drawback is the Google Pay certification issues in Russia. To activate payments, you’ll have to change your region to Turkey or India via Settings → Additional → Region.

Flagships (from 50,000) ₽): maximum functionality NFC

If the budget is not limited, consider Xiaomi's flagship models. NFC-The modules support all existing scenarios, from payments to smart home management:

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is the only smartphone in the lineup to support UWB (Ultra-Wideband), which allows the phone to be used as a digital key for cars (such as the BMW Digital Key) or for precise navigation indoors. Coupled with NFC, this opens up new scenarios: for example, you can unlock a car by simply holding the phone to the door handle.

Xiaomi 13T Pro set the record for NFC response speed in our tests: payment takes 0.6-0.8 seconds (versus 1.0-1.2 from competitors), this is achieved thanks to the optimized NXP PN81B chip and MIUI 15 firmware, which reduces delays when activating the module.

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 NFC-The antenna is divided into two parts: one is folded, the other is folded. If the payment does not pass, try changing the position of the phone.

Which Xiaomi NFC to choose for specific tasks?

The choice of model depends on what you need NFC for, and we have compiled recommendations for the most popular scenarios:

💳 Only for contactless payments

If you need a smartphone exclusively for Google Pay or Mir Pay, a budget model is enough:

• 📌 Redmi Note 12 4G (16 990 ₽) — cheapest option with stable NFC.
• 📌 Poco X5 Pro 5G (22 990 ₽) — if you need support 5G And a little bit better performance.

🚇 For metro and transport

For virtual travel (Troika, Strelka) suitable:

• 📌 Xiaomi 12T (38 990 ₽) — Supports all transport applications of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
• 📌 Poco F5 Pro (34 990 ₽) — Better cooling alternative (important for long-term work) NFC).

🔑 To copy keys and passes

If you need to emulate RFID-cards (intercom, office), choose models with a chip NXP:

• 📌 Xiaomi 13T Pro (64 990 ₽) — Best choice for complex labels (HID Prox, Indala).
• 📌 Poco X5 Pro 5G (22 990 ₽) — budget option, but will require manual adjustment.

Use NFC Tools or Mi Fare to copy keys, and note that not all tags can be copied due to the limitations of ISO 14443 protocols.

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Before buying, check your type. RFID-tagging NFC TagInfo. If the tag uses the protocol LEGIC Advant or MIFARE DESFire, it can not be copied to a smartphone.

Frequent NFC Issues in Xiaomi and How to Solve Them

Even in the top Xiaomi models, users are facing NFC problems, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them:

• 🔴 NFC It does not include: Check the region in settings. For Russia, choose Russia or Turkey. If it does not help, update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔴 Payments do not pass: Make sure the terminal supports Google Pay.Some Sberbank ATMs require a card to be linked directly via SberPay.
• 🔴 Phone doesn't read tags: The problem may be the location of the antenna. - Xiaomi 13 and 14 NFC-The chip is located at the top of the case – attach the phone to this side.

If NFC stopped working after the firmware update, try resetting the network settings:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
2. Confirm the reset and restart the phone.
3. Once enabled, re-activate NFC in Settings → Connections → NFC.

In extreme cases, you can use the hidden menu of NFC testing (does not work on all models):

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You can check the status of the antenna and run the diagnostics on this menu, and if the test shows an NFC IC Error error, contact the service center, if the chip may be damaged.

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Before buying Xiaomi with NFC, be sure to check the firmware version. In the Chinese versions (China ROM), contactless payments are often blocked, and in the global (Global ROM) there may be problems with Russian banks.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent NFC Questions in Xiaomi