The Best Xiaomi Phones 2024

What you should know before buying a Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi phones offer impressive specs at competitive prices, making them attractive options for budget-conscious users. But you’ll want to weigh their pros and cons to see if they suit your needs. Here are four major things you should know before buying them:

HyperOS software 

Xiaomi is an Android phone, but its operating system (OS) is a custom version. See it the way Samsung’s One UI overlays on the stock Android version and offers more personalization features. It also borrows one notable element from the iPhone, the Control Center. You may find it appealing if you like having a say in how your device’s skin looks. 

But some people find the excessive transitions, large app icons, and pre-installed themes tacky. Also, it has bloatware, which takes up significant space and is hard to uninstall unless you root your device.

Warranty variations

Xiaomi gives you a standard one year warranty when you buy their smartphones. Select phones like the Xiaomi 12 series are eligible for two years warranty. It should cover any defects that come with the phone. The company won’t handle any damages that your phone got from personal accidents, misuse, or unauthorised repairs.

You’ll provide a proof of purchase to enable them verify that you bought the phone from an authorized retailer. Depending on the problem, they might give you a replacement or repair the device.

Privacy concerns

For years, consumers have pointed fingers at tech giants for stealing their information. Particularly, Google. If you’re one of such people, then Xiaomi may not allay any fears. In 2020, a cybersecurity researcher revealed to Forbes that his Redmi Note 8 smartphone was transmitting his data to a remote server that the company hosted. 

Although Xiaomi has since cleaned up its phones with its latest HyperOS update and reviewed its privacy policies, you still want to be careful of how much data you leave lying around on your device.

Consumer rights and support

China is Xiaomi’s home base, and offers different consumer protection laws for other regions. If you order a phone from outside the country via a third-party reseller or you’re more likely to face customer service struggles for numerous reasons. 

For one, distance will make it hard and expensive to return a faulty phone. Then there’s every chance that you might not find your preferred phone model locally. That said, Xiaomi handsets are officially available in many regions, with the obvious exception of the United States.

Overview: The best Xiaomi phones for your money

• Best Xiaomi phone: Xiaomi 13 Pro 
• Best camera phone: Xiaomi 13 Ultra
• Best gaming phone: Xiaomi Black Shark 5
• Best compact phone: Xiaomi 12
• Best value balance: Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro

Xiaomi 13 Pro

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Display: 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage size:  128GB, 256GB, 512GB | OS: MIUI 14 (based on Android 13) | Cameras: 32MP wide wide selfie, 50MP wide, 50MP telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide | Battery: 4820mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: $787

The Xiaomi 13 Pro comes as most flagships do these days, which is good if you want to blend in. It has a sleek design that catches the eyes. The display is a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel that peaks at 1900 nits. It’s a high level for screen visibility when outdoors and dealing with direct sunlight. The material is Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus that can survive drops up to two metres and shrug off scratches four times better than most competitor glasses.

Behind its performance is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a high-end Processor with 4nm power efficiency. The process has an octa-core CPU, enabling your phone to switch between the most efficient ones for heavy tasks. It assists the 4820mAh battery significantly. Your phone will use less energy while striving to maintain a balanced performance. 

The rear triple camera setup provides fair qualities for taking memorable pictures, but don’t expect anything more than 50MP from the main, telephoto, and ultrawide sensors. Additionally, the phone breaks away from offering a 4GB RAM option altogether. The base memory is 8GB of RAM, with a 12GB variant if you want more out of your phone’s performance. The storage space is also available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions. However, bloatware does take a significant portion.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Display: 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED | RAM: 12GB, 16GB | Storage size: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | OS: MIUI 14 (based on Android 13) | Cameras: 32MP wide, 50MP wide, 50MP periscope telephoto, 50MP telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide | Battery: 5000mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: $949

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the better Xiaomi phone for photography enthusiasts. Frankly, there’s no significant increase in megapixels. But there are changes to other camera aspects. Both phones have a large 1-inch sensor, but the Ultra uses Sony’s advanced IMX989 sensor. It captures more light, produces less noise, and delivers better image quality in dim or dark conditions. 

The phone also has two telephoto lenses where its Pro version has only one. The first lense has 5x optical zoom for capturing closeup shots from far range. The second one uses a 120mm focal length for an even further reach. 

Its ultrawide lens has 122-degree that helps you get a wider coverage. You don’t need to be sandwiched with loved ones to capture a group shot, and it’s much easier to shoot expansive environments, like cityscapes, and mountain regions.

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Display: 6.6-inch OLED | RAM: 8GB, 12GB, 16GB | Storage size: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | OS: Joy UI 12 (based on Android 12) | Cameras: 20MP, 108MP wide, 8MP wide, 5MP macro | Battery: 4650mAh | Earphone jack: 3.5mm | Price: $899

If you’re a candy crush and similar Android games, you should be fine with any entry-level Xiaomi phone using 4GB RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chip. On the other hand, heavy mobile gaming requires higher RAM to render textures, open-world environments, and other elements. These combined demands means your phone will push your processor, use more refresh rates, as well as consume battery. 

The Black Shark 5 Pro is as its name projects, a fierce gaming phone for a thrilling handheld experience. It presents features that may be overkill for casual gaming, such as an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. RAM options span from 8GB and 12GB to 16GB. 

The OLED screen refreshes at 144Hz for smooth visuals, less lag, and little motion blur in fast-paced games. The caveat here is that it’ll eat more battery and there’s a higher risk of burn-ins with OLEDs. It shouldn’t be a problem within the first year of purchase, as most users report experiencing them after two years. Still, you want to be careful as they’re permanent.

On the side of the phone are trigger buttons that literally pop up. Normally, you can use them for volume control and other basic functionality. But they add tactile improvements and satisfying clicks for games like Call of Duty mobile.

Xiaomi 12

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Display: 6.2 AMOLED | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage size: 128GB, 256GB | OS: MIUI 13 (based on Android 12) | Cameras: 32MP selfie, 50MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide, 5MP telephoto macro | Battery: 4500mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: $425

Where most phones reach up to 6.7-inches, the Xiaomi 12 stops at 6.2 inches and weighs a reasonable 180g. It’s great for one-hand holding and fitting into your pocket as it’s not bulky. 

The curved edges add an extra touch of elegance, and they blend into the phone’s rear smoothly. Compared to the more pronounced versions on the Galaxy S22 Ultra and other models, this phone’s edges are a less vulnerable point of damage and don’t sit awkwardly in your hands. But its compactness doesn’t stop at physical specifications. 

The battery capacity is a decent 4500mAh, and should get you through the day on a single charge if you don’t overwork the phone with too much activity. If you need a quick top-up, the 67W fast charging technology should juice up your phone in minutes. A fingerprint sensor is embedded into your screen, eliminating any additional buttons on the phone’s build.

Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Display: 6.7 AMOLED | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage size: 256GB, 512GB | OS: | Cameras: 16MP selfie, 64MP wide, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro | Battery: 5160mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: 

The Poco F5 Pro sits comfortably between flagship and budget qualities. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor supports 5G connectivity, allowing for fast speeds when accessing the Internet. 

More impressive is its triple cameras, where the main sensor is a whopping 108MP. Although multiple reviews confirm that it falls short of expectations, we’re just excited to see that much Pixel counts on a midranger. Battery capacity is 5160mAh, which is excellent for the pricing. The base storage space is at 256GB, and you can get a model with 512GBGB. It’s also expandable with an SD card. 

It has a plastic build, which is expected as flagships use high-grade glass or metal. It’ll have a less premium feel and will scratch faster, though it shouldn’t be a problem if you’re not careless with your gadgets.

Xiaomi gives you variety

Though a number of Xiaomi devices have limited availability outside of China, they still manage to meet many people’s needs. But with so many options, remember that your ideal Xiaomi phone depends on your priorities. However, if you want a brand has a solid reputation for quality, provides a wider range of devices, and supports more countries, buy a Samsung phone instead.