We’ve tried and tested the best Xiaomi phones, looking at gaming features, battery life, camera quality, and value for money to help you decide.
The best Xiaomi phones may not be as well recognized as the likes of Apple and Google, but they represent some of the best smartphones on the market. If you’re looking to get a smartphone, we’ve tried and tested the top Xiaomi phones to help make the decision easier for you. The lineup of handsets gets updated several times a year, and the powerful Xiaomi 13 Pro review sits at the top for price and features.
Getting a Xiaomi handset from previous years can be a great to find value, and the humble Redmi range gives you some great budget options. Whether you’re looking for the best Xiaomi smartphone with amazing cameras, a fast gaming processor, or something ultra-cheap, the best Xiaomi phones in the list will match your needs.
Xiaomi doesn’t officially import phones to the US, so you may need to purchase them from third-party sellers, which can artificially inflate the price. These devices may not include a warranty or support your network provider, so be sure to read the listing properly before making a purchase.
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Here are the best Xiaomi phones in 2024:
- Xiaomi 13T Pro – best Xiaomi phone overall
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ – best value
Xiaomi 13T Pro
The best Xiaomi phone on the market.
Prices last refreshed: Sun, 07 Jan 2024 17:52:33 GMT
Xiaomi 13T Pro specs:
| Display | 6.67-inch 144Hz CrystalRes AMOLED (2712 x 1220) |
| Battery | 5000mAh (typ) battery with Xiaomi 120W HyperCharge |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
Pros
- Great Leica cameras
- Long-lasting battery life
- High-performance gaming
Cons
- No SD card slot or headphone jack
- MIUI 14 UI can be clunky
- Design is a little basic
Despite swapping out the Snapdragon chip of the regular Xiaomi 13 series for a MediaTek 9200+ alternative, the Xiaomi 13T handles games like a superstar, easily capable of running popular games like Honkai Star Rail, Asphalt 9, and more. Combine this with a gorgeous AMOLED screen, and gaming is a real treat on the 13T, with streaming just as good.
Still, the real stars of the show here are the cameras. The 13T Pro is a perfect showcase for the Xiaomi and Leica co-engineered cameras, offering incredibly detailed shots even when compared to big hitters like the Google Pixel 7 Pro. The picture editing software isn’t as developed as Google’s, but from a capture quality perspective alone, this smartphone is one of the best.
It’s hard to suggest any caveats here, but it is worth mentioning that we’re not massive fans of the MIUI 14 Android skin. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on the brand in that regard, as a replacement is coming soon in the form of the HyperOS software, which promises to offer a more fluid experience. Like many modern Androids, there’s no headphone jack, so you’re going to need Bluetooth headphones to listen to audio.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus
The best value Xiaomi phone.
Prices last refreshed: Sun, 07 Jan 2024 17:19:42 GMT
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus specs:
| Display | 120Hz 6.67-inch OLED (1080 x 2400) |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 |
| RAM | 8-12GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
Pros
- 120Hz AMOLED display
- Fast charging
- Headphone jack
Cons
- Lots of pre-installed apps eating up memory
- Lacking software support compared to rivals
If you’re looking for a mid-range phone, the Xiaomi Redmi Note Pro+ has a fantastic AMOLED display, great cameras for the price, and super-fast charging. Its MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor finds a balance between stable performance and efficiency, while a hefty 5,000mAh battery and 120 W ultra-fast wired charging keep you topped up.
The main selling point for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is its 200MP main camera, which allows well-balanced and sharp daytime photography. Elsewhere, an 8 megapixel ultra-wide lens and 16MP selfie camera are average in this price category.
If you want a mid-range phone that offers value for money, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is a great choice. It suffers some flaws in terms of software, but it’s capable of meeting your day-to-day needs.
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
The best Xiaomi gaming phone.
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro specs:
| Display | 144Hz 6.67-inch OLED (1080 x 2400) |
| Battery | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| RAM | 8-16GB |
| Storage | 128-512GB |
Pros
- Powerful processor for gaming
- Crisp 144 Hz OLED screen
- Built-in triggers
- Good camera
Cons
- Gets very hot during long play sessions
- Average battery life
The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is a powerful device designed for a pro mobile gaming experience. It boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a fast and responsive 6.67” 144Hz OLED display bright enough for outdoor use, and a maximum 16GB RAM with 256GB internal storage (for a price) though the cheaper version still has plenty of space for the best mobile games. The main 108MP camera has AI processing and HDR support, both of which help you to snap sharp and detailed photos.
The design features built-in, programmable magnetic triggers, customizable LED lighting on the rear, and a futuristic design made up of bold lines that fall in line with the popular gamer aesthetic. Unfortunately, the battery comes in at a slightly lower capacity than some of its competitors, sitting at 4650 mAh as opposed to the 4700 mAh of Xiaomi’s other high-end gaming phone, the Poco F4 GT. Luckily, the ultra-fast 120 W charging speed allows you to charge the device in as little as 18 minutes.
The main downside to the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is how hot it gets during prolonged play sessions. This can have a pretty hefty impact on performance, as well as making the device uncomfortable to hold, so you may need to invest in an external cooler – which certainly isn’t preferable with a pricey handset like this.
