The best Xiaomi phone 2024

The Xiaomi 14 is a brilliantly competent and compact flagship for 2024 that outpaces rivals in many areas.

There’s very little to complain about when it comes to the hardware, even if it’s very similar to last year’s Xiaomi 13. It both looks and feels premium, with a stunning Jade Green colour on offer. It’s one of the smallest flagship phones you can buy, with a similarly sized build to the Pixel 8.

The rear design is paired with a 6.36-inch AMOLED 120Hz Full-HD display that is bold and bright, making it perfect for watching videos. Underneath the hood, you get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, making it plenty capable of running demanding games and tasks.

The trio of 50Mp rear-facing cameras (co-developed with iconic camera company Leica) makes for a formidable setup. This is largely thanks to the 1/1.31-inch sensor on the main camera, which delivers DSLR-level snaps.

Xiaomi’s new operating system, HyperOS, isn’t a big improvement over MIUI. There’s still the usual bloatware, for example. If that’s not a dealbreaker, then you should seriously consider the Xiaomi 14 as your next flagship phone.

If you want a smartphone dedicated to photography, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the best model you can buy. The phone boasts an incredible Leica quad camera system, with OIS and a huge 1-inch sensor on the main 50Mp snapper. It even comes with an optional Photography Kit, which transforms it to rival compact mirrorless DSLRs.

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a distinctive design, along with a durable IP68 rating. Combined with the 6.7-inch AMOLED 120Hz curved display and 90W fast charging, this smartphone is a true premium option.

All those features are reflected in its high price tag. However, if your budget can stretch that far, then this can take some of the best photos of any smartphone, period.

The Xiaomi 14T Pro is an almost flagship smartphone for a fraction of the price. It offers competitive performance, a 144Hz OLED display, a decent camera set-up and a durable metal frame build.

It’s a big step up from the previous generation equivalent, the Xiaomi 13T Pro. This is mainly thanks to the inclusion of 50W wireless charging, a more practical finish and a far more reliable battery life. Sadly, it’s not quite a slam dunk.

HyperOS has its frustrations, while the new AI features don’t seem to stack up against rivals. Nonetheless, there is no denying that this phone may tempt users who want high-end features without an extortionate price tag.

On the hardware front, the Xiaomi 13 is solid. It’s extremely well built, and more durable than the previous generation. The main camera produces clear, crisp shots, even in darker conditions, and we can’t ignore its impressive performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

It offers the best of the Xiaomi 13 Pro but in a smaller package and at a lower price – though do bear in mind that the camera, while great, isn’t the same as in its Pro sibling.

If the Xiaomi 13 has a failing, it’s only that rival offerings from competing brands look a little more appealing at the same price.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro is a compelling yet affordable smartphone. It’s got some downgrades compared to its big sibling, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+. However, it’s also available at a lower price point.

You get some impressive specs, such as the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip, an AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, and speedy 67W charging. It’s also got a solid main camera, though the supporting cameras don’t live up to the same standard.

While there’s lots to like about the Redmi Note 13 Pro, it has the usual Xiaomi software woes and only two years of updates.

Like its Pro sibling, the Xiaomi 14T offers incredible value for the price. It can multitask with ease and can handle a wide range of games, apps and media, It’s got an array of solid cameras, the design is quick and the charging is speedy at 67W.

The 14T Pro is more expensive, and whether the price is worth it depends on what’s important to you. If you stick with the 14T, you’ll miss out on improved main and telephoto lenses, wireless charging, a metal frame and better gaming performance.

If none of those things bother you, then you may as well save money by opting for the 14T.

The Poco X6 Pro 5G boasts a 120Hz AMOLED display with a resolution of 2712 x 1220. It is bright, vibrant and buttery-smooth, and still better than most rivals at this price. The 2160Hz touch sampling rate also means it’s responsive for gamers.

That gaming audience can also expect a MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chip with 12GB RAM, making it able to run even some of the most demanding titles. On our benchmarking tests, it goes toe-to-toe with some flagship phones like the Pixel 8.

The big 5000mAh battery means that the phone can last either a full day with heavy usage or two days if you’re more conservative. Plus, the 67W charger can juice it to over 80% in 30 minutes.

The 64Mp main camera comes with OIS, offering impressive detail and colour representation in well-lit environments – even those with low light. The accompanying 8Mp ultrawide does have noticeable downgrades compared to the main camera, but the 16Mp front snapper provides surprisingly impressive shots.

Xiaomi has traded MIUI for HyperOS with the X6 Pro, but there aren’t many differences to the software. Nonetheless, at £369 it’s undercutting many rivals that have similar specs by quite some way, making it a tempting option for the cost-conscious.

On the hardware front, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is a bona fide flagship phone.

It comes with 120W charging speeds and a durable build with an IP68 rating. The AMOLED panel is one of the best we’ve seen on any smartphone full stop, whilst the MediaTek chipset delivers top-tier performance.

However, the software experience is frustrating, and the battery life also isn’t something to shout about. That mirror-style rear may also be off-putting to some. Moreover, rivals from Google and Samsung mean that it faces stiff competition.

There is also the regular 13T model to consider, which has a few downgrades but a cheaper price tag.

The Note 13 Pro+ elevates Xiaomi’s budget-friendly Redmi brand from competitive mid-rangers to potential flagship killer.

Its headlining 200Mp camera is a bona fide premium feature, while performance and display are among the best you’ll find at this price point. Battery life is solid too, while the 120W fast charging is excellent.

As a result, the 13 Pro+ is easy to recommend. The polarising MIUI software and poor supporting rear cameras are the only real downsides, but you certainly shouldn’t rule out this phone.

The Xiaomi Mix Flip is the first attempt at a foldable for the Western market from the brand, and its first-generation build is pretty apparent compared to its biggest rivals, which cost less but offer more.

Performance is a strong point for this foldable, as it’s fitted with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Therefore, if you’re looking for a flip phone that can also handle large games or heavy-duty tasks, you should consider this one.

The 4780mAh battery is also impressive, giving one and a half day’s worth of usage on average. That said, there’s no water resistance rating, the software is clunky and the outer screen experience needs improvement.

If the phone gets a big discount during sale seasons such as Black Friday, then it may be worth considering. Otherwise, there are better foldables out there such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra.