The best Xiaomi smartphones 2021 with a good camera, price and quality

Xiaomi is a popular Chinese manufacturer whose success began with the development MIUI shell

.
But he decided not to stop at the achieved results, and today the brand’s assortment includes a large selection of smartphones, external batteries, laptops, and any other equipment. To make it easier for you to make your choice, we have prepared a rating of Xiaomi smartphones 2020-2021, in which you will find the 12 best models to buy
this year.

The best budget Xiaomi smartphones

Redmi Note 9 4/128GB - you can never have too many cameras or when even a budget employee takes good photos

The people's favorite has been updated beyond recognition, receiving a number of improvements on all fronts. 84% of its front panel is dedicated to a 6.54-inch IPS display with FullHD+ resolution. In its upper left part you can see a miniature 13 MP selfie camera lens. The manufacturer has focused on balanced characteristics, striking design and photographic capabilities, which in this model exceed all expectations. The rear uses a combination of four sensors:

48 MP main;
8 MP ultra-wide-angle with a viewing angle of 119 degrees;
2 MP depth sensor;
2 MP lens for macro photography.

In combination with f/1.8 aperture, artificial intelligence and sophisticated algorithms, it is possible to achieve high quality photos during the day and minimize the amount of noise in night shots.

The popular smartphone became the first in the brand’s line to be powered by the new MediaTek Helio G85 processor with 8 cores and a frequency of up to 2 GHz. It is complemented by 4/128 GB of memory. Games run smoothly on medium-high graphics. Well, the main feature is a 5020 mAh battery. It lasts for 16.5 hours of video playback, and games at medium brightness consume 12% of the charge per hour. Support for 18 W fast charging is declared, but the package includes a 22.5 W unit. There is NFC and a 3.5 mm jack.

Pros:

Spectacular appearance;
Nice price tag;
Operating time on one charge;
Good cameras;
NFC;
3.5 mm jack, separate slot for MicroSD and IR port for controlling home appliances.

Minuses:

There is not enough brightness reserve, which is especially noticeable when exposed to direct sunlight;
The video is not shot in 4K.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 4/64GB (NFC) - great autonomy for affordable money

The characteristics of the smartphone will be among the best in its price category. The large 6.53-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels immediately catches your eye. In its central part there is a drop-shaped cutout, where an 8 MP front camera was built in. She takes good selfies and participates in face unlocking.

Responsible for performance is the 8-core MediaTek Helio G80 chipset, which is combined with 4/64 GB of memory. You shouldn't expect much from it, but the games will run, and everything, just not on maximum graphics. A separate slot was left for the memory card, which means you don’t have to sacrifice one of the SIM cards to expand the capacity.

The model will delight you with its photographic capabilities. It implements a combination of four modules: 13 MP main, 8 MP ultra-wide-angle, 5 MP macro and 2 MP auxiliary sensor. Not far from them is the fingerprint scanner area. Like many other phones in the Redmi family, Redmi 9 has a high battery capacity of 5020 mAh. It lasts for a couple of days of use. Accelerated 18 Watt charging is supported. The kit includes a transparent silicone bumper.

Pros:

Large display with good brightness and contrast;
Photographic capabilities;
Battery life;
Latest version of Android;
Radio and NFS;
Slot for 2 SIM cards and a flash drive;
Headset jack and IR port.

Minuses:

The body is well assembled, but constructed of plastic;
Performance is inferior to Snapdragon solutions.

Redmi Note 8T 4/64GB - a stylish Xiaomi smartphone with NFC and a gradient back

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T has little memory - only 4/64 GB, but the situation is easily solved by installing MicroSD, for which there is a separate slot. Its maximum capacity is 256 GB, which is more than enough. In addition to this, there is a moderately productive Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor with 8 cores and a frequency limit of 2 GHz. It is enough for games and for comfortable multitasking.

Rich and clear images are displayed on a 6.3-inch IPS display with FullHD+ resolution. But the frames around its perimeter are large by modern standards, which is why it occupies only 80% of the surface. At its top there is an elegant cutout for a good 13 MP selfie camera. The main one turned out no worse. It includes 48, 8, 2 and 2 megapixel modules with f/1.8 aperture. A special night mode combines four pixels into one, improving contrast and reducing digital noise.

The battery is not so large - 4000 mAh, but it is enough for 12 hours of video playback and 5 hours of gaming. It charges up to 50% in half an hour. An hour of video playback consumes only 7% of the charge. There is NFC and an infrared port, which can be used instead of the remote control for a TV, projector, air conditioner and other equipment. The matrix and glass back are covered with ultra-strong Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to prevent scratches.

Pros:

Design;
Splash-proof and Gorilla Glass 5;
Large, rich and high-quality IPS display;
A good camera that copes with its task adequately under any conditions;
Autonomy and fast charging via Type-C port;
NFC, infrared;
Separate slot for MicroSD.

Minuses:

No LED event indicator;
Auto brightness does not work correctly.

Redmi Note 9S 4/64GB is one of the most popular models in the price category up to 15,000 rubles

The TOP of Xiaomi smartphones has been replenished with a new model, impressive with its characteristics. By choosing it, you get a decent level of gaming performance, which is facilitated by the 8-core Snapdragon 720G chipset with 8 cores and a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz. There are two memory modifications - 4/64 or 6/128 GB. Regardless of the version chosen, a microSD of the required size can be placed in a separate slot. This is enough for resource-intensive applications and demanding games. Music lovers will be pleased with the presence of a 3.5 mm audio jack.

On the subject: The best Redmi smartphones

85% of the area is occupied by a 6.67-inch display, which displays a detailed image with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. The drop-shaped cutout for the 16 MP front camera is placed exactly in the center, and four modules of 48, 8, 2 and 2 MP are installed on the rear. They decided to abandon the classic location of the fingerprint scanner and install it on the side. The solution is convenient; the finger falls on it automatically when gripping the phone normally. The downside is the lack of an NFC chip. But there is an infrared port and a 5020 mAh battery with powerful 18 W charging.

Pros:

High build quality;
Spectacular design;
Autonomy;
Quality of photos taken during the day;
Event sensor and IR port;
Dedicated slot for MicroSD;
Fast side fingerprint scanner;
3.5 mm audio jack;
Rich and frameless display.

Minuses:

Lack of NFC;
Photo quality noticeably sags in low light;
There is no stabilization when shooting in 4K.

Cameras of the budget Redmi line

The research itself on the topic of budget options is doomed to dull repetition of the same thing. In this case, the manufacturer feels in a Procrustean bed of restrictions; he needs a high-quality product, but at the same time inexpensive. The Xiaomi Redmi model is equipped quite well, but without frills. The camera matrix is from well-known manufacturers Samsung and OmniVision, which occupy a third of the sensor market segment, which in itself is not bad.

The aperture in the cameras remains virtually unchanged, however, the main and front cameras in the new model (starting with Redmi 4) still received more light - f/2.0

The flash doubled after Redmi 3, but optical zoom still didn’t appear. What's nice about the cameras in the budget line is that the phone has become more sophisticated and multifunctional. The storyline attached by the software to the camera is attractive: panorama, geocoordinates in the photo, face recognition and much more. In general, the camera shoots well during the day and, using HDR, at night.

It is characteristic that there was no increase in megapixels. On the contrary, the latest model from the line, Redmi 5, has a camera with fewer light elements, but larger in size. Which gave the photo more sharpness and depth. The 2021 model even sports 4K video. However, this moment is not an achievement of the company, the video shakes during shooting, it’s worth returning to the proven Full HD

Below are photos of all three devices at different times of the day. The modes selected are maximum. That's all the cameras can do.

Redmi3

Redmi4

Redmi 5

The parameters for all models are collected in a table for clarity.

options	Redmi 3 series	Redmi 4 series	Redmi 5 series
Main camera
Matrix	Samsung S5K3L8	Samsung S5K3L8		OmniVision OV12A10
Video format	Full HD	Full HD		4K
Flash type	LED	Double LED		Double LED
Stabilization type	Digital	Digital		Digital
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.0		f/2.2
Autofocus type	phase detection autofocus (PDAF)	PDAF		PDAF
Permission	13 MP	13 MP		12 MP
Front-camera
Matrix	OmniVision OV5670	OmniVision OV5675		OmniVision OV5675
Video format	Full HD	Full HD		4K
Aperture	f/2.2	f/2.0		f/2.0
Autofocus	Eat	Eat		Eat

The best Xiaomi phones in terms of price/quality ratio

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite 6/128GB - AMOLED display with HDR10 and an impressive 5260 mAh battery

Xiaomi managed to create a unique smartphone that combines a lot of positive aspects. I would also like to praise the battery life, which is a merit of the 5260 mAh battery. Not only does it discharge slowly, but it also reaches 58% capacity in 30 minutes from the included 30 Watt unit. The performance is in perfect order, because the Snapdragon 730G chipset and 6/128 GB of memory are hidden inside.

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This is enough to satisfy your gaming ambitions. The best Xiaomi phones in terms of price/quality ratio amaze with their capabilities. So, the picture is displayed on a stunning AMOLED display with support for HDR 10, curved edges and a built-in fingerprint scanner. It occupies 88% of the area thanks to its frameless design and operates at a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. In its central part there is a drop-shaped cutout for a 16 MP selfie camera. The main camera is built on four modules with a resolution of 64, 8, 5 and 2 megapixels. They do their job perfectly.

Pros:

Stylish body made of metal and glass;
AMOLED matrix with HDR10, occupying 88% of the area;
Decent cameras;
Bluetooth codecs for high-quality sound in wireless headphones;
Phenomenal battery capacity with 30-watt charging;
NFC, IR port and 3.5 mm audio connector;
Performance for any task.

Minuses:

The case is not modest in size;
You cannot get additional capacity using a memory card.

Redmi Note 9 Pro 6/128GB is the best choice when you are looking for Xiaomi under 20,000 rubles

In the Redmi line, this is the top model, which attracts with its power, cameras and capacious battery that can easily withstand a couple of days of use. 85% of the front panel is allocated to a 6.67-inch IPS display, in the center of which there is a miniature drop-shaped cutout for a 16 MP front camera. It is also activated when unlocking by face. Alternatively, there is a fingerprint scanner integrated into the side of the power key. In practice, the solution is extremely convenient.

The best Xiaomi smartphone is built on an 8-core Snapdragon 720G chipset combined with 6 GB (LPDDR4x)/128 GB (UFS 2.1) memory. There is a slot for a memory card, and its maximum capacity is limited to 512 GB. A 64, 8, 5 and 2 megapixel quad camera will help you capture bright moments. There is NFC, an infrared port and a powerful 5020 mAh battery, which is recharged by a complete 30-watt unit. A 100% charge takes 1 hour 25 minutes.

Pros:

Beautiful body covered with 5th generation tempered glass;
Great screen;
Powerful iron;
There is both NFC and infrared;
Convenient location of the fingerprint scanner;
30-Watt charging;
Capacious battery, and therefore good autonomy;
Photo quality;
Dedicated slot for MicroSD up to 512 GB;
Generous equipment.

Minuses:

Inconvenient digital zoom control mechanism in the stock Camera application;
Slippery and massive body.

Which Xiaomi phone is better to buy?

It was quite difficult to rank Xiaomi smartphones with a good camera and a powerful battery. The Chinese manufacturer has made such good progress in creating phones that almost every one of its new products deserves a place in this review. For gamers, we can recommend Black Shark and the current flagship Mi8 Pro. Need a big screen? Then the Mi Note lines are the ideal option for your needs. Mi A2 and Mi6X – read as twin brothers, but on different OS versions. They are also good in terms of price-quality ratio. If you want more screen on the front panel, then buy Redmi Note 6 Pro.

The best Xiaomi flagship smartphones

Xiaomi Mi 10 8/256GB - a flagship with a 90 Hz AMOLED screen, plenty of memory, but only one SIM card slot

The review of Xiaomi smartphones moves on to the flagships, of which the company has a lot. Mi 10 turned out to be successful in all respects, but buyers may be put off by only one slot for a SIM card. Only in the Chinese version there are two of them. It is not clear what this is connected with, because previously all the brand’s gadgets had two slots, including a separate one for MicroSD.

The main asset of the new product is a Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and support for HDR10+, which gamers will appreciate. It occupies 90% of the area and is curved on the sides. A miniature 20 MP selfie camera is built into the upper left part. The heart of the phone is the top-end Snapdragon 865 chip and 8/128 GB of LPDDR 5 and UFS 3.0 memory, respectively.

At the back there is a quad camera with a leading 108 megapixel lens, which takes the quality of photo detail to a new level. It is complemented by a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, as well as 2 auxiliary modules of 2 MP each. There is Bluetooth 5.1, NFC and, most importantly, Wi-Fi 6 with data transfer speeds of up to 9.6 Gb/s. The hardware is powered by a 4780 mAh battery with fast both wired and wireless charging (30 W). Reverse charging is also supported, which allows you to place headphones and other gadgets on the phone to recharge them.

Pros:

Stunning camera with a leading 108 MP lens;
Durable battery;
Support for advanced technologies - 5G and Wi-Fi 6;
Infrared and NFC;
Fast, wireless and reverse charging;
90Hz display with HDR10+;
There is a lot of memory and it is fast;
The screen accounts for 90% of the area.

Minuses:

The only slot for a SIM card.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

The best Xiaomi for price and quality is included in the rating for its stunning Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Due to this, the image in games becomes as smooth as possible, which is especially noticeable when displaying dynamic scenes. The remaining characteristics are also excellent - the screen stretches to 6.67 inches with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels, which gives them a high density of 395 ppi. Thin frames help occupy 86% of the area, and modern tempered Gorilla Glass v5 is responsible for protection against scratches. At the top, the 16 MP front camera lens is barely visible.

By choosing the popular Xiaomi smartphone, you get a high level of performance, because “under the hood” there is an 8-core Snapdragon 732G chipset combined with 8/128 GB of memory. Moreover, the volume can be expanded by installing MicroSD in a separate tray. The top-end Xiaomi boasts NFC, an infrared port, a fingerprint scanner built into the power button, and waterproof housing according to the IP53 standard.

Loud stereo speakers complement the immersive gaming experience and will delight all music lovers. Moreover, you can play and listen to music for a long time, because the battery capacity reaches 5020 mAh. And it charges quickly - by 59% in the first 30 minutes. Note 10 Pro has an advanced camera with a leading 108 MP lens, 8 MP ultra-wide-angle, 2 MP macro and 2 MP Bokeh. DxOMark experts rated the new camera at 106 points.

Pros:

Screen with a huge margin of brightness and a frequency of 120 Hz;
The fingerprint scanner responds instantly at the touch of a finger;
NFC works very quickly;
Excellent sound in stereo format;
Separate slot for memory card and audio jack;
The battery lasts for a couple of days with active use;
Fast 33 W charging;
Good cameras with a leading 108 MP lens;
Beautiful and waterproof case;
8/128 GB UFS 2.2 memory.

Minuses:

The proximity sensor sometimes unlocks the phone during a call.

Xiaomi Poco F3

The top-end Xiaomi is equipped with an AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a gaming processor with liquid cooling to prevent overheating. The effect of immersion in the gameplay is complemented by high-quality stereo speakers and a pleasant vibration response that accompanies the events taking place in the game. So that you can enjoy the gaming process for a long time, there is a 4520 mAh battery with support for 33 W charging, which reaches 100% in 52 minutes.

Seamless Xiaomi supports HDR10+ content and responds to touches faster than competitors thanks to the touch response rate of 360 Hz. Combined with a frequency of 120 Hz and a large diagonal of 6.67 inches, we get huge potential for games. Moreover, the processor here is one of the best in the world - Snapdragon 870 5G with 8 cores and a frequency of 3.2 GHz. It is combined with Adreno 650 graphics, 6/128 GB of UFS 3.1 memory and liquid cooling. This is the most powerful Xiaomi smartphone, as confirmed by AnTuTu tests, where it scored 629,822 points.

The cameras are also impressive - the main 48 MP lens is complemented by an 8 MP wide-angle lens and an 8 MP lens for macro shots. Video is recorded in FHD 60 fps and in 4K, but only 30 fps. You will take selfies using the 20 megapixel front camera. There is NFS, IR port, aptX HD, OTG, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 codecs.

Pros:

Very thin case - only 7.8 mm thick;
Efficient liquid cooling;
One of the most powerful smartphones today;
Quick unlock by face or side scanner;
Stereo sound;
Supports Wi-Fi 6, 5g and NFS;
Stunning AMOLED matrix with a frequency of 120 Hz and HDR10+ support;
Works for a long time on a single charge and charges to 100% in 52 minutes;
Rich scope of supply;
Pleasant vibration response.

Minuses:

You cannot insert a memory card;
The screen turns on periodically during a call;
no 4K 60 fps.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 8/256GB is the company's most breakthrough smartphone for 2021 with 8K video recording

The best Xiaomi phone to date

— Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, which loudly announces itself with its bright appearance and technological filling.
It received a 6.67-inch waterfall screen
, smoothly turning into the side edges.
It is made using AMOLED
with its characteristic high brightness and contrast.
Gamers will appreciate the 90Hz refresh rate
.
Support for HDR10+
is declared .
20 megapixel front camera and a fingerprint scanner
are integrated into the matrix .

The device is based on the flagship Snapdragon 865. Memory can be 8/256 or 12/512 GB

.
It is unlikely that you will be upset by the lack of a MicroSD slot
with such a volume.
Only one slot is allocated for a SIM card
. Two are only available in the version for the Chinese market.

Main 108, 20, 12, 8 megapixel cameras

provide a minimum amount of noise, high detail and natural color reproduction.
There is 10x hybrid and 50x digital zoom
.
Video is recorded up to 8K.
The 4500 mAh battery lasts for a couple of days.
There is both fast and wireless charging. Stereo speakers provide not only loud, but also surround sound that is pleasant to the ears. There is NFC, an infrared port, and out of the box the device runs Android
Q.

Pros:

Some of the best cameras on the market;
Supports 5G and advanced wireless communications;
The most powerful chipset to date;
Up to 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal memory;
Top camera with a main 108 MP sensor;
50x zoom;
Android Q;
NFS and IR port;
Gorgeous AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and HDR10+;
Stereo speakers;
Impressive autonomy.

Minuses:

Only one SIM card slot.

The evolution of Redmi Note series cameras

Table of parameters of the Xiaomi smartphone line - Redmi Note 3/4/5.

Options	Xiaomi Redmi Note 3	Xiaomi Redmi Note 4	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Main camera
Matrix	Samsung S5K3P3	Sony IMX258 exmor RS	Samsung S5K2L7
Flash type	Double LED	Double LED	Double LED
Stabilization type	Digital	Digital	Digital
Autofocus type	PDAF	PDAF	Dual-PD
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.0	f/1.9 + f/2.0
Permission	16 MP	13 MP	12 MP +5 MP
Front-camera
Matrix	OmniVision OV5670	Samsung S5K5L8	OmniVision 13855
Video format	Full HD	Full HD	4K
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.0	f/2.0
Autofocus type	PDAF	PDAF	PDAF
Sensor size	2.95 x 2.21 mm	2.9 x 2.15 mm	4.75 x 3.54 mm
Permission	5 MP	5 MP	13 MP

The aperture has been increased in the latest series. The resolution is decreasing, but in 2021, when the super budget monster Redmi Note 5 was released, it has two main cameras. The pixel size has been increased, and coupled with the second camera, the images are close in quality to those of flagship devices.

It is noteworthy that the proven phase autofocus, an instant means of focusing, was replaced in the fifth model with a supernew development from Samsung, namely Dual-PD. Without going into details, it can be noted that the time to focus objects in the frame has decreased significantly, without loss of image quality.

A separate review can be made about the front camera in the fifth version of Note; selfies with its help are very high quality, a blurred background of objects surrounding a person is implemented, which gives the picture a very realistic digital display.

Starting in 2021, the global market has become saturated with Redmi of a different level of performance. The table clearly shows that the level of technology embedded in smartphones is quite high.

Let's take a closer look at the photos from all the phones presented in the table below.

Photos of Redmi Note 3

Photos of Redmi Note 4

Photos of Redmi Note 5

⇡#Night photography

The most difficult plot for any smartphone is that due to the small size of the sensor, no smartphone camera can receive as much light as even a regular point-and-shoot camera. All that remains is to count on optical stabilization, high-quality software processing and high-aperture optics, which all smartphones taking part in testing can boast of. Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ with a relative aperture of the main lens of ƒ/1.5 stands out especially. We did not test shooting with zoom or wide-angle lenses in this story. The same applies to the special night mode using multiple exposures - we checked all the smartphones that have it (Google Pixel 3 XL, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9), but left the results out of the competition.


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9


Night mode. From left to right: Google Pixel 3 XL, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9

Huawei Mate 20 Pro, despite the absence of a proprietary monochrome sensor (now a matrix with an RYYB filter can be considered proprietary), demonstrates high quality shooting - normal white balance, contrasting picture; The smartphone tries too hard to artificially increase sharpness, but this does not lead to disastrous results. Samsung produces a slightly soapier picture - this is unusual for Korean gadgets, which have long been “famous” for working too actively with contour sharpening. But there are no complaints about color rendering and white balance. The iPhone shoots with approximately the same detail as the Samsung, but is inferior in color reproduction - its camera is noticeably “green.” Xiaomi has good sharpness, which is good considering the gadget lacks an optical stabilizer, but there is a problem with the dynamic range - overexposure is very noticeable. The Google smartphone with default settings produces a weak picture - huge overexposures and at the same time the presence of obvious “soap” and noticeable noise in the picture: the “pixel” is literally begging to turn on a special night mode.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro – 5 points;
Samsung Galaxy S10+ – 4 points;
Apple iPhone Xs Max – 3 points;
Xiaomi Mi 9 –2 points;
Google Pixel 3 XL – 1 point.


From left to right: Google Pixel 3 XL, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9


From left to right: Google Pixel 3 XL, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9

But when night mode is activated, which requires 3-5 seconds of stillness from the photographer, the Pixel is transformed - we wouldn’t say that it surpasses Huawei in its “basic” night photography, but the gap from itself in normal mode is very significant. Huawei produces a much brighter picture, but tries too hard to smooth out the image - it becomes more soapy than when shooting by default. Xiaomi works unstable in this mode: it is not always possible to get a high-quality image the first time, but when it works, everything is in order - a bright, sharp picture, but with incorrect color rendition (there is a bias towards red tones).

⇡#Street landscape

A simple, basic scene where the camera's primary focus is detail, wide dynamic range, and color quality.


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9

Shooting with the main camera, without using wide-angle or zoom mode, default settings are set everywhere (Huawei can use its “real-time HDR”, and Pixel 3 XL – HDR+). Here everyone performs well - this is exactly the scene where even budget devices should produce a normal picture.

The iPhone image looks the most pleasant - the colors are a little cold, but it looks thoroughbred; the detail is excellent. Galaxy is a little yellow, the picture is noticeably lighter, less contrasty, but it suits the stage. Pixel doesn't use its proprietary processing to its fullest, and shadows are not detailed enough. We also note reddish colors. Huawei, despite its very high status, produces a slightly soapy picture with failed shadows and too warm colors. Xiaomi has natural colors, but otherwise there is nothing to brag about: the dynamic range is weak and the detail is not the utmost.

Apple iPhone Xs Max – 5 points; Samsung Galaxy S10+ – 4 points; Google Pixel 3 XL – 3 points; Huawei Mate 20 Pro – 2 points; Xiaomi Mi 9 – 1 point.

How to choose a Xiaomi smartphone

All Xiaomi phones are of high quality, so when choosing, you should focus on the tasks that will be assigned to the device and your financial capabilities. Those who want to get the most out of a smartphone and don’t spare money on it should pay attention to Mi 10 or Mi 10 PRO

If you don’t have enough money for a full-fledged flagship, you can sacrifice performance and buy the Mi 9T. Inexpensive phones are also worth considering. For example, Redmi Note 8T allows you to enjoy games at medium settings and take high-quality pictures by installing the Google Camera.

The Mi Note 10 also allows you to get clear and rich photos and videos, although even for state employees, the camera quality is at a fairly high level.

If you have made a choice in favor of one model or another, we recommend reading the full review before purchasing, since we paid attention only to the main points that are important to most users.

Just looking at Mi products and don’t know which gadget is better to buy, we will help you choose a Xiaomi smartphone with a good camera and battery. Such a phone will not only be able to take good pictures, but will also boast good battery life.

⇡#Portrait under artificial light

When shooting a portrait under artificial light, we shot with each smartphone at the focal length that was most comfortable for it.


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9

Pixel quite expectedly won this competition as well - it is obviously the best smartphone for shooting portraits that exists today: again, good colors, sharpness and contrast; the face looks a little pale, but this fully reflects the state of lighting in the place where the shooting took place. Samsung performed well in this case when shooting full-length - softening of facial features accompanied shooting on all smartphones (except Pixel) due to insufficient lighting and, as a result, noise reduction turned on, otherwise the Galaxy is in order - good white balance and decent sharpness . Huawei has noticeably strong anti-aliasing, but at the same time autofocus worked very well (sharpness is clearly visible), good blur and normal color rendition. The iPhone is also, in principle, not bad, but it did a worse job with color rendering on the skin. Xiaomi is helpless in this mode: the picture is dark, pale, without sharpness.

Google Pixel 3 XL – 5 points;
Samsung Galaxy S10+ – 4 points;
Huawei Mate 20 Pro – 3 points;
Apple iPhone Xs Max – 2 points;
Xiaomi Mi 9 – 1 point.

Text /still life

This test, traditional for such comparative reviews, should first of all reveal the detail of smartphone cameras. All photos were taken with the main camera without using zoom.


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9


Top row from left to right: Apple iPhone Xs Max, Google Pixel 3 XL; bottom row from left to right: Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Xiaomi Mi 9

Huawei confidently wins this competition due to its combination of natural, correct color reproduction and maximum sharpness. The iPhone is close in terms of detail, but the colors are a little cooler. Samsung also performed well in terms of sharpness, but was inferior in terms of color reproduction - the picture is too warm (which is unexpected for this gadget) and oversaturated. Xiaomi is inferior both in sharpness and color reproduction, strongly shifting the tones into blue. The Pixel is surprisingly weak in terms of both sharpness and white balance. Also, the picture is too noisy, making the text difficult to read.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro – 5 points;
Apple iPhone Xs Max – 4 points;
Samsung Galaxy S10+ – 3 points;
Xiaomi Mi 9 – 2 points;
Google Pixel 3 XL – 1 point.