What Xiaomi smartphone to buy in 2023: expert guide

The mobile market has changed dramatically in 2023, and Xiaomi has taken a leading position in offering consumers a wide range of gadgets. Choosing a particular model is challenging as the range of prices and specs between budget and flagship devices is huge.

This year, the vendor has put a particular emphasis on integrating Qualcomm and MediaTek’s cutting-edge processors into a mid-range segment that was previously unavailable for such capabilities, and image stabilization and nighttime shooting quality have become standard even for entry-level devices, which was previously the preserve of top-end models, and understanding these nuances will help you avoid overpaying for features you won’t use.

Our goal is to take a detailed look at the current offerings so you can make an informed purchase decision, and we will analyze the performance, autonomy and quality of the screens to answer the main question: which device is the best investment right now.

The flagship solutions of the Xiaomi series 13 and 14

The company’s engineering highlights during the period under review were the Xiaomi 13 series and the Xiaomi 14, which are coming out at the end of the year, designed for those looking for maximum performance and not ready to compromise on quality of materials and photography. The device is based on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset or its updated version of Gen 3, which provides the work of any heavy applications and games on ultra-sets.

The team has focused on collaborating with the legendary Leica company to introduce unique image processing algorithms, with cameras that are physically larger than most competitors, providing natural background blur and excellent detail in low light conditions. For professionals and mobile photography enthusiasts, this is the only series with native support for Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant color profiles.

The flagships are LTPO AMOLED with refresh rates of up to 120 Hz and peak brightness of more than 1900 nits, which ensures excellent readability even in direct sunlight. The device cases are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus glass and have full IP68 moisture protection, so you do not have to worry about the accidental hit of the device in water.

⚠️ Attention: Global versions of flagships may have differences in the set of cellular frequencies from Chinese counterparts, which is important to consider when ordering from abroad.

Subflagships and the upper middle class

The subflagship category in 2023 has become one of the most attractive to buy, offering 90% of the capabilities of top models for 60-70% of their cost. It is dominated by the Xiaomi 13T Pro and Xiaomi 12T series, which are often based on powerful MediaTek Dimensity chips or stripped-down versions of Snapdragon. The main advantage of these models is the availability of fast charging capacity of 120 watts, allowing you to fully charge the battery in less than 20 minutes.

Displays in this segment are often as good as flagships in color reproduction and refresh rate, but can be made on a flat matrix, which many users like. Cameras here are equipped with optical stabilization, but telephoto lenses may have less magnification or are absent in the basic versions. However, for everyday shooting and video blogging, their capabilities are more than enough.

The materials can combine metal and plastic, but the build remains high. In software, you get the same MIUI 14 shell features or the new HyperOS as owners of more expensive devices. It is an ideal choice for gamers who want clean performance, but the budget is limited.

• 🚀 High performance in AnTuTu benchmarks
• ⚡ Superfast charging in the delivery package
• 📸 Availability of a telephoto lens with optical zoom
• 💎 Glass back panel in most models

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Subflagships are the “golden mean”, where the price does not grow exponentially, and the functionality remains almost maximum.

Budget segment: Redmi Note 12 and 13 series

The Redmi Note lineup is traditionally a bestseller, offering the best specs in its price range.The 12 and 13 Series models received the best-selling feature. AMOLED-120Hz screens, which was unthinkable for budget users until recently. Snapdragon 6 and 7 processors ensure smooth interface operation and run popular games on medium graphics settings.

The main emphasis in public sector is on autonomy: the battery capacity of 5000 mAh is enough for a day and a half to two of active use, cameras have learned to write video in 4K resolution, although stabilization is often digital. The design of devices has become more premium: thin bezels around the display and the lack of a “back-face” from the bottom have become the norm even for low-cost models.

When choosing a budgetary, it is important to pay attention to the type of memory. In 2023, UFS 2.2 or UFS 3.1 becomes the standard, which significantly speeds up the launch of applications compared to outdated eMMC memory. It is also worth checking the presence of stereo speakers and an IR port that turns a smartphone into a universal remote control of household appliances.

⚠️ Note: Budget models often use a hybrid slot, where the second one is the second one. SIM-The card cannot be installed simultaneously with the microSD card.

Poco brand gaming smartphones

The Poco sub-brand is aimed at an audience that cares about maximum performance figures and minimum price.Poco F5 and X5 Pro series models

Game smartphone screens are calibrated with a focus on touchscreen response speed and minimizing input delay. Sensor polling rates can reach 240Hz or higher, giving an edge in shooters and competitive disciplines. Case design is often aggressive, with geometric patterns and bright accents, although strict options are also found.

The software has special game modes that block notifications and optimize the allocation of CPU resources, but the cameras in Poco devices are often inferior to those of Redmi or the main Xiaomi brand, as the savings are on photo modules.

• 🎮 Maximum FPS heavy-play
• ❄️ Enhanced passive cooling system
• 🔋 Optimizing energy saving in games
• 📱 High frequency of sensor survey

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For long gaming sessions on Poco, it is recommended to buy an external cooler, since the body can significantly heat up at peak loads.

Comparative Characteristics Table

To organize information and make it easier to choose, we have brought the key parameters of popular models into a single table, and here are the averaged data that will help you quickly navigate the variety of offers.

And as you look at the table, even in the mid-range, manufacturers are starting to roll out 200-megapixel sensors, but the megapixel count doesn't always guarantee better photo quality, and the size of the sensor and the quality of the optics are more important, as evidenced by the presence of telephoto lenses in the 13T and 13 Pro series.

Software and Update Support

In 2023, the company began active implementation of the new operating system HyperOS, which replaces the usual MIUI. It is not just a name change, but a deep redesign of the system architecture to better interact with the ecosystem of the smart home. Security updates and new versions of Android now come faster and are guaranteed for a longer time.

Flagship models can expect 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security patches. For the mid-range, this is usually 2-3 years. This is an important parameter when choosing a smartphone, as it affects the liquidity of the device when resold and the security of your data.

The user interface is lighter and more animated, removing ads in system applications (in global versions), optimizing widgets, and allowing those who are used to pure Android to use the “No extra elements” mode to remove visual jewelry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)