Which browser is better for Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: a comparison of 2026

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often face a dilemma: which browser to install to combine high page loading speed, minimal battery consumption and protection from trackers. MIUI Browser, preinstalled in firmware, does not always meet the needs of users – especially if we are talking about privacy or work with a large number of tabs.

On the other hand, popular solutions like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox have their drawbacks: the first “eats” RAM and quickly discharges the battery, and the second can brake on budget models Redmi (for example, Redmi). 10A In this article, we tested 5 browsers on real Xiaomi devices and identified the best options for different scenarios, from saving traffic to anonymous surfing.

Particular attention was paid to battery consumption and compatibility with the MIUI, Because many browsers conflict with Xiaomi optimizations, which leads to spontaneous tab closures or errors when downloading media files, and also took into account unique firmware chips, such as integration with Quick Apps or support for gestures in full screen mode.

If you are looking for not just a “good browser”, but a solution for a specific task – saving traffic, blocking ads, synchronizing with a PC or maximum performance – below you will find a detailed comparison with the tests on the Redmi Note 13 Pro.+ and POCO X5 Pro.

1. Standard MIUI Browser: pros and hidden cons

MIUI Browser is the native browser for all Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi line, preinstalled and optimized for the company’s hardware, but that doesn’t always mean better user experience. Let’s take a look at its strengths and weaknesses with the latest version (16.1.24).

Among the obvious advantages:

• 🔹 Minimum battery consumption – due to deep integration with the MIUI The browser consumes 15-20% less power than Chrome (based on tests with Redmi Note 12 Pro).
• 🔹 Fast Start – Opens instantly, even on weak chipsets (e.g. Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 in Redmi) 12C).
• 🔹 Built-in translator with 50 support+ languages (works offline for Chinese, English, Spanish).
• 🔹 Easy mode – a simplified version to save traffic (compresses images and blocks autoplay video).

However, there are some critical flaws that Xiaomi prefers to keep silent about:

⚠️ Attention: MIUI Browser automatically sends data about visited sites to Xiaomi servers (even if you disable personalization in the settings), as confirmed by independent tests from Privacy International in 2023. To completely disable telemetry collection, you need to manually block the browser access to the network through Settings. → Annexes → MIUI Browser → Permits.

Another pitfall is limited extension support, which, unlike Chrome or Firefox, cannot install uBlock Origin or Dark Reader from official sources, but instead has to be content with a built-in ad blocker that is unstable (e.g., doesn’t filter pop-ups on some sites).

Who's good for:

• 📱 Redmi users with weak iron (up to 4 GB of RAM).
• 🔋 Those who value battery savings over privacy.
• 🌐 Fans of fast switching between Chinese and Western sites (built-in translator works better than Google Translate for Asian languages).

2. Google Chrome: speed vs. battery jog

Google Chrome remains the most popular browser for Android, but on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones it behaves ambiguously. V8 JavaScript Engine and preload links, and on the other hand, the famous "devourer" of RAM and battery.

Based on the results of the tests on Redmi K60 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) and POCO F5 (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2):

• 🚀 Chrome is 20 to 30 percent faster than competitors when you open heavy sites (like YouTube or TikTok in the web).
• 🔋 Battery consumption: When used actively (10)+ The scaling is 40% faster than the MIUI Browser.
• 🛡️ Security: Built-in protection against phishing and malicious sites (updated daily).
• ☁️ Sync: Better integration with your Google account (bookmarks, history, passwords automatically synced to your PC).

The main problem of Chrome on Xiaomi is the conflict with optimizations MIUI. The firmware aggressively closes the background processes, which can cause the browser to “fly out” when switching between applications. To fix this, you need to manually add Chrome to the list of Secure applications (Settings). → Battery → Optimizing the battery).

⚠️ Note: If your Redmi has a global firmware installed (EEA Or Global, Chrome can automatically enable "Lite Mode" (compression of traffic through Google servers). This speeds up the load, but all your requests go through a Google proxy, which violates privacy. → Settings → Lite Mode.

Who's good for:

• 💻 Those who actively use the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Docs, Drive).
• 🎮 Gamers who run web versions of games (e.g. GeForce) NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming).
• 🔍 Users who are interested in the current database of malicious sites.

💡

To reduce battery consumption in Chrome, turn off background sync: go to Settings → Synchronization → Background synchronization and deactivate the option.

3. Mozilla Firefox: Privacy vs. Performance

Mozilla Firefox is the only browser on our list that blocks trackers by default and doesn't collect telemetry.This makes it an ideal choice for privacy paranoids, but on Redmi smartphones with budget hardware, it can slow down.

The advantages of Firefox on Xiaomi:

• 🔒 Built-in Protection: Default Tracker Lock (Enhanced Tracking Protection).
• 📥 Extensions support: You can install uBlock Origin, NoScript or Bitwarden to manage passwords.
• 🖥️ PC Sync: Works through a Firefox account that is not tied to Google.
• 🎨 Flexible customization: Themes, gestures, custom search engines.

Disadvantages:

• ⚡ Chrome is 15-25% slower when loading dynamic sites (tests on Redmi Note 11 Pro with Snapdragon 695).
• 🔋 Battery consumption is higher than that of MIUI Browser, but lower than Chrome.
• 📱 Unstable work on devices with 3-4 GB of RAM (can hang at 5 GB)+ tab).

Firefox on Xiaomi sometimes conflicts with the function of “Smart Assistant” (Smart Assistant) MIUI. If the browser spontaneously closes, disable optimization for it in Settings → Annexes → Firefox → Battery → No restrictions.

⚠️ Note: The latest versions of Firefox (120)+) Firefox View has been introduced, which saves your browsing history even after you clear the cache. If you want complete anonymity, turn it off in your settings or use Private Window mode, which automatically deletes data when you close it.

Who's good for:

• 🕵️‍♂️ People who value privacy above speed.
• 🔧 Advanced users who need extensions.
• 🌍 Travellers (Firefox has built-in functionality) VPN 5 countries including the United States and Canada).

Turn off background synchronization|Add to protected applications|Install uBlock Origin|Set up image compression|Turn off Firefox View-->

4 Microsoft Edge: Dark Horse with Unexpected Chips

Microsoft Edge is often underrated, but on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones it performs well - especially if you're using the Microsoft ecosystem (Windows, Office 365).

How Edge is better than Redmi's competitors:

• 🔄 Continuation on PC: You can instantly transfer the tab from your phone to your Windows 11 computer (works through a Microsoft account).
• 📚 Immersive Reading: Removes ads and unnecessary items from pages (good for news sites).
• 🎵 Built-in player: Plays video in the background (even if you close the browser).
• 🛡️ SmartScreen: Filters phishing sites more efficiently than Chrome (AV-Test 2023).

Based on the results of the tests on Redmi K50 Ultra:

The main disadvantage of Edge is aggressive advertising of Microsoft’s own services (Bing, Office, Xbox). For example, when you first start, the browser suggests changing the search engine to Bing, and promo materials appear in the news feed. This can be turned off in the settings, but requires manual adjustment.

Who's good for:

• 💼 Windows users who want to sync bookmarks and passwords.
• 📖 People who read a lot of articles and want to remove advertising.
• 🎮 Gamers (Edge has built-in support for Xbox Cloud Gaming).

💡

Microsoft Edge is the best choice for those who work in the Microsoft ecosystem and want synchronization between phone and PC.

5. Brave: Browser for maximum privacy

Brave is the only browser on our list that blocks all ads and trackers by default, without requiring extensions. It's built on the Chromium engine, but with a radically redesigned privacy system.

What makes Brave unique on Xiaomi Redmi:

• 🚫 Ad Blocking: Removes banners, pop-ups and video ads at the browser level (saves up to 40% of traffic).
• 💰 Rewards: You can earn cryptocurrency BAT Viewing “acceptable” ads (disabled in one click).
• 🔒 Tor mode: Built-in anonymization via the Tor network (useful for bypassing locks).
• 🔋 Battery savings: With script blocking, energy consumption is 30% lower than in Chrome.

However, there are also disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Conflict with MIUI: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Brave may not display Cyrillic fonts correctly.
• 📥 No extension support (except for built-in features).
• 🔄 Slow synchronization of bookmarks between devices.

⚠️ Note: If you use Brave on Xiaomi with Chinese firmware, Tor mode may not work due to carrier-level locks. In this case, we recommend installing a separate Orbot app to route traffic.

Who's good for:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Those who want complete anonymity online.
• 💸 Users willing to put up with bugs for the sake of blocking advertising.
• 🌍 Residents of censored countries (built-in Tor bypasses most blockings).

6. Which browser to choose for your Xiaomi Redmi?

The choice of browser depends on your device and usage scenarios, and we have compiled recommendations based on tests on different Redmi models:

For budget smartphones (Redmi) 10A, 12C, Note 11):

• 🏆 MIUI Browser – if you need stability and battery savings.
• 🥈 Brave – if advertising blocking and privacy are important.

For the mid-segment (Redmi Note 12 Pro, POCO X5 Pro):

• 🏆 Microsoft Edge – the best balance of speed and functionality.
• 🥈 Firefox – if you need extensions and sync with PC.

For flagships (Redmi) K60, K70 Pro, POCO F5 Pro):

• 🏆 Google Chrome is the fastest speed for heavy websites.
• 🥈 Brave – if privacy is a priority.

For specific tasks:

• 🔍 Anonymous surfing: Brave with Tor enabled.
• 📚 Reading articles: Microsoft Edge (mode "Immersive reading").
• 🎮 Cloud Gaming: Chrome or Edge (GeForce Support) NOW Xbox Cloud).
• 🌍 Bypassing locks: Brave + Orbot (for countries with censorship).

If you are still undecided, answer the questions:

1. How much RAM does your phone have?
2. Is it important to sync with PC?
3. Are you willing to sacrifice speed for privacy?
4. Do you use the Google or Microsoft ecosystem?

Based on the answers, select a browser from our comparison table:

FAQ: Frequent questions about browsers on Xiaomi Redmi