Best Xiaomi phones in India: A buyer’s guide

(Pocket-lint) – Xiaomi launched in the Britain in 2018 as part of an expansion across more areas of the globe, making inroads into Europe effectually the aforementioned time.

The company will be familiar to many technology fans, ane of a number of Chinese companies looking to challenge the established brands like Samsung, and make full the shoes of the declining Huawei – peculiarly in smartphones.

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But what phones does Xiaomi offer and which is the best phone for yous? Here’due south a guide to Xiaomi’s phones from across its range, from flagship to affordable.

The timeline of Xiaomi phones

Xiaomi phone numbers generally reflect the year they were launched in, but the release of phones isn’t the aforementioned across all regions, then there will often exist one model available in Republic of india or mainland Europe that’s not in the UK, equally well as dissimilar designations and specs in different territories. Often, phones are appear earlier in China, so the numbering doesn’t always align, but more often than not speaking, this is how the model numbers stack upwardly:

• 12 family unit – 2022
• Mi xi family – 2021
• Mi 10 family – 2020
• Mi nine family – 2019
• Mi 8 family – 2018

You’ll observe that there’s no “Mi” in 2022 – that’due south considering Xiaomi decided to drop this branding and only went with Xiaomi 12 in 2022.

Within those families at that place are lots of unlike models: Low-cal, Pro, Ultra positioning models in different slots and prices, usually followed upward T models later in the year and sometimes there are i models also.

That will frequently hateful that you take a phone like the 2021 Mi 11T Pro that’due south fairly close in spec and operation to 2022 models, but nonetheless widely available and at competitive prices.

Because Xiaomi’s devices are a little complicated, nosotros’ve broken them down into market segment and you can click on the links beneath to bound to a particular section. Note this is positioning at launch, so there are devices in the flagship category with older hardware because they were launched the yr before.

You tin click on the links below to spring to each section.

• Flagship
• Sub-flagship
• Mid-range

Flagship Xiaomi phones

These devices were launched with flagship-level hardware.

Xiaomi 12 Pro

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Specs

• 163.half-dozen ten 74.half dozen 10 8.2mm, 205g
• Snapdragon eight Gen 1 processor, 12GB RAM
• half dozen.73in AMOLED, 1440 x 3200, 120Hz
• 4600mAh,120W wired, 50W wireless
• Triple camera: 50MP, 50MP, 50MP

Quick verdict

A rollercoaster of emotions: Xiaomi’s 2022 flagship is a masterclass in screen quality and design subtlety, its cameras are groovy and come up without unnecessary gimmicks; however, its battery life is questionable and the MIUI software all the same has some minor setbacks. There are moments of pure grade here, though, especially if you lot’re e’er about to a charger and can top-up the battery freely.

• Xiaomi 12 Pro review: Pure class or one to pass?

Xiaomi 12

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Specs

• 152.seventy x 69.90 ten 8.16mm, 180g
• Snapdragon eight Gen 1, 8GB
• six.28in, AMOLED, 2400 x 1080, 120Hz
• 4500mAh, 67W
• Triple camera: 50MP, 13MP, 5MP

A step down from the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the regular model has all the power but a smaller brandish and is a slight step-downwards in the camera department too. It’due south closely related to the Xiaomi 12X, which is slightly less powerful again.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

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Specs

• 164.3 x 74.half-dozen ten eight.4mm, 234g
• Snapdragon 888, 12GB RAM
• half dozen.81in AMOLED, 1440 x 3200, 120Hz; Rear: one.1in AMOLED, 126 10 294
• 5,000mAh, 67W
• Triple camera: 50MP, 48MP, 48MP

Quick verdict

A rare moment from Xiaomi: one that’s excited us more than any other telephone of tardily, yet when it comes to the crunch it’southward the one device that’s left us ultra disappointed for failing to get enough of the basics right.

• Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra review: Ultimate flagship or ultra disappointment?

Xiaomi 11T Pro

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Specs

• 164.ane x 76.9 x 8.8mm, 204g
• six.7in AMOLED, 1080 x 2400, 120Hz
• Snapdragon 888, 8GB
• five,000mAh, 120W
• Triple camera: 108MP, 8MP, 5MP

Quick verdict

This sub-flagship brings together some potent specification in a well-performing packet with a lovely screen and super-fast charging to boast well-nigh too. In that location are some software irks, the build is chunky and, on reflection, nosotros think the ‘non-Pro’ variant is an even better buy.

• Xiaomi 11T Pro review: Punchy performer

Xiaomi Mi 11i

Specs

• 164.7 x 74.6 ten 7.8mm, 196g
• Snapdragon 888, 8GB RAM
• half dozen.67in AMOLED, 1080 10 2400, 120Hz
• 4,520mAh, 33W
• Triple camera: 108MP, 8MP, 5MP

Quick verdict

While the ‘i’ entry in the Mi 11 line-up doesn’t get annihilation wrong, per se, its very beingness in this decorated series is just disruptive – it’s a European version of the Redmi K40 Pro+. Then while using information technology feels largely effortless, at that place’s also no distinctive reason to opt for one.

• Xiaomi Mi 11i review: The Mi to ready the bar, or a Mi too far?

Xiaomi Mi xi

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Specs

• 164.3 10 74.6 10 eight.06mm, 196g
• Snapdragon 888, 8GB RAM
• 6.81in AMOLED, 3200 ten 1440. 120Hz
• 4,600mAh, 55W wired, 50W wireless
• Triple photographic camera: 108MP, 13MP, 5MP

Quick verdict

At this price, it’s certainly worth yous mulling over the Mi 11. Information technology’s packed full of potential and – aside from software and a lack of optical zoom in the camera setup – brings the fight to Samsung, OnePlus, et al.

• Xiaomi Mi eleven review: Packed with potential

Sub-flagship Xiaomi phones

These devices were launched with hardware merely downwards a stride from flagship level at the time of launch.

Xiaomi 12X 5G

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Specs

• 152.70 x 69.ninety x 8.16mm, 176g
• Snapdragon 870, 8GB
• 6.28in AMOLED, 2400 x 1080, 120Hz
• 4500mAh, 67W
• Triple photographic camera: 50MP, 13MP, 5MP

The Xiaomi 12X is a sub-flagship device, sitting nether the Xiaomi 12, offering the aforementioned design, design, camera – but differing on the hardware. The slight reduction in power means it’s slightly more than affordable – simply still a great allrounder.

Xiaomi 11T

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Specs

• 164.1 x 76.9 10 viii.8mm, 203g
• MediaTek Dimensity 1200-Ultra, 8GB
• 6.67in AMOLED, 2400 x 1080, 120Hz
• 5000mAh, 67W
• Triple camera: 108MP, 8MP, 5MP

The Xiaomi 11T looks like the 11T Pro, and has the same dimensions, simply drops to a MediaTek processor and slower overall charging. It’due south close to the 11T Pro, but this model has fewer features that stand out. It is cheaper, notwithstanding.

Mid-range Xiaomi phones

These devices are launched on mid-range hardware – and might find close competition from Xiaomi’s affordable brand, Redmi.

Xiaomi Mi eleven Lite 5G NE

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Specs

• 160.5 x 75.7 x 6.8mm, 157g
• Snapdragon 788G, 8GB RAM
• six.55in AMOLED, 1080 ten 2400, 90Hz
• 4250mAh, 33W
• Triple photographic camera: 64MP, 8MP, 5MP

The Mi 11 Lite 5G NE is quite literally an incremental step upward from the Mi 11 Low-cal 5G, switching from a slightly older Snadragon platform to 1 that’s slightly newer. As such, this is a great selection for those wanting a mid-range device.

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G

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Specs

• 160.5 ten 75.7 x 6.8mm, 157g
• Snapdragon 780G, 8GB RAM
• six.55in AMOLED, 1080 x 2400, 90Hz
• 4250mAh, 33W
• Triple camera: 64MP, 8MP, 5MP

Quick verdict

We can’t think of a slimmer, tidier looking 5G handset – which makes this Xiaomi something of a unique proposition. And despite beingness called ‘Lite’, it shouldn’t be seen entirely in that regard – there’s ample power to keep the 90Hz AMOLED screen ticking along, and for battery life to last surprisingly long too. Ditch the 5G demand, however, and there’s enough of other competition to consider instead.

• Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G review: Chic and unique

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

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Specs

• 160.5 x 75.7 x 6.8mm, 157g
• Snapdragon 732G, 6GB RAM
• 6.55in AMOLED, 1080 10 2400, 90Hz
• 4250mAh, 33W
• Triple camera: 64MP, 8MP, 5MP

A carbon copy of the 5G models in the Mi eleven Lite line, now presented with the Snapdragon 732G, which drops the 5G – so this is a 4G option merely. That means slower speeds for mobile data, but at the same fourth dimension, it’s a great mid-range device.

What other smartphone brands is Xiaomi behind?

There’s a lot more to Xiaomi’due south phones that just Xiaomi. Xiaomi, despite existence a more affordable brand than many, has a budget brand, called Redmi. The “mi” hither ties these brands together. Redmi oft follows Xiaomi, runs on similar software – MIUI – but usually makes some compromises to offer more affordable devices.

Xiaomi is too behind the Black Shark gaming brand, offer highly-competitive gaming phones.

Pocophone is some other Xiaomi brand, with Pocophone being pitched as the phone for phone lovers – fewer models, just targetting the of import details.

Who is Xiaomi?

Xiaomi is a Chinese company founded in 2010 that would consider itself to exist a software company. Based in Beijing, the company was founded by billionaire and entrepreneur Lei Jun, having previously been CEO of Kingsoft, a software giant, backside applications like WPS Role.

One of Xiaomi’s early ventures was MIUI, ROM software for Android phones, at a time when Android wasn’t totally consumer friendly. The company congenital its reputation and gained fans in smartphones with regular updates and a community-based arroyo, with software very much at the heart of things. MIUI still runs on near Xiaomi phones.

The company at present offers a full range of smartphones for which it is best known, but also offers a wider ecosystem of devices. Many of the Xiaomi branded devices are fabricated past third parties, but Xiaomi invests and supports in these third-political party companies to bring these products to market place.

Ane of the founding principles of Xiaomi is that skillful applied science shouldn’t toll y’all a lot of coin and the company pledges not to make more than 5 per cent profit on hardware sales, which often means really competitive prices.

How do you say “Xiaomi”?

Xiaomi – 小米 – literally means green millet or piffling rice, a staple of the Chinese diet. The word Xiaomi is actually the Anglicised version of the Chinese, Xiaomi tells united states.

The slightly bad-mannered matter is phonically “X” is commonly “ex” or “zee” in English, and information technology’s neither of those sounds, information technology’southward a “sh” instead.

The easiest way to approach it is to pause the give-and-take down into Xiao-mi. The “mi” part it easy, it’south like “me”, so nosotros can forget that.

Xiao is like the “testify” part in the discussion “shower” (not like evidence as in Broadway). Information technology’s the central sound that causes the trouble – like “ow, I’ve hit my thumb”.

Put the two parts together and y’all have Xiaomi – Shh-ow-mi.

Writing past Chris Hall.