With numerous models launched by Xiaomi this year, such as the Mi 11 and its 11 Lite, 11 Pro, 11i, and 11 Ultra variants, not to mention the countless Redmi Note 10s that hit the market recently, it is all too easy to get lost. 2021 alone saw the Chinese manufacturer released more than 10 different models with similar-sounding names (while dropping the "Mi" in its product name), making it all the more confusing for consumers. Still, it is worth taking the effort to familiarize yourself with their catalog of products due to the vaue-for-money proposition that they offer.
The best Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones in 2021
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How does NextPit select the best Xiaomi smartphones?
For this selection, I picked Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones that offered the best value-for-money when it comes to the different price points. As for the price, I based my findings on the prices charged by the manufacturer on its official store. In addition, I also took into account the memory configuration (storage and RAM) before arriving at a conclusion.
This list is obviously a very personal one since it is based on my own preferences. However, I have tried to apply a number of purchasing criteria and adapted them to the price range in question.
While I can forgive a Redmi Note 9 Pro for not having IP certification, it's less excusable on a high-end Mi handset. For the affordable smartphones (under $400, $300, and $200), I considered performance and battery life to be more important by basing it on a utilitarian approach that one tends to have towards these models.
Where the high-end range is concerned, I focused on models that are realistically available within reach of those who look into flagships. That's why I didn't include the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra even though I reviewed it and found it to be a very good smartphone.
Summary
- Recommended Xiaomi smartphones by NextPit in 2021
- Between Xiaomi and Redmi: Which do you pick in 2021?
Recommended Xiaomi smartphones by NextPit in 2021
Listed here are both Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones that the NextPit editorial staff has recommended. For each price range from $200 all the way to a lofty $1,000, we put our best choice forward. As you would have noticed, there was a deliberate choice not to include Poco smartphones in this comparison.
For transparency reasons, decisions were linked to editorial reasons, in order to provide us with additional time to review more Poco models that were released this year. We will of course devote a dedicated comparison to Poco models in the future, this I promise.
The best choice in 2021: Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro
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Read NextPit's Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro review
The Xiaomi 11T Pro has almost all the good points of the Xiaomi Mi 11, which happens to be the manufacturer's flagship device, with very few compromises made that are rather forgivable in my opinion. However, my colleague Ben who reviewed the device was not so forgiving, hence the 3.5-star rating.
The 120Hz AMOLED display sports a Full HD+ definition and not WQHD+ like the Mi 11. The triple 108MP camera module has slightly lower resolution sensors but boasts larger apertures. We also lose out when it comes to wireless and reverse charging compared to the Mi 11.
But on the flip side, the Xiaomi 11T offers a larger 5,000 mAh battery (vs. 4,600 mAh), wired charging at 120 watts (vs. 65 watts) as well as an extended update policy with up to 3 major Android versions and 4 years of security patches, which is a record for the Chinese manufacturer. With a starting price of $629 on various online retailers, I definitely prefer this model to the classic Xiaomi Mi 11 still sold for $640 thereabouts.
The best smartphone below $500: Xiaomi Mi 11i 5G
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Find more information about the Xiaomi Mi 11i 5G at NextPit
The Xiaomi Mi 11i happens to be a slimmed down version of the Xiaomi Mi 11. Strictly speaking, it is not a "lite" version as it's significantly more premium than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.Specifically, it offers more or less the same specifications as the vanilla Mi 11 at an even more conservative price than the Xiaomi 11T Pro as seen above.
In the Xiaomi Mi 11i, there's a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 888 SoC, 108+8+5 MP wide-angle/ultra-wide-angle/macro triple camera module, and a 4,520 mAh battery that can be recharged via a 33-Watt charger.
Compared to the base Mi 11, the Xiaomi Mi 11 has a flat, non-curved display, the same SoC, the same camera module but a smaller battery as well as a slower fast charge (33 Watts vs 55 Watts) that doesn't support wireless charging. It's pretty much the same as with the Xiaomi 11T Pro except that sacrifices were made to deliver a slightly lower price point. The only drawback would be the retail price of the 128GB version at $525, not to mention the lack of availability online.
Xiaomi 11i 5G offers
The best smartphone below $400: Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
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The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is the current mid-range offering in the Xiaomi catalog. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The 6.55-inch AMOLED display offers Full HD+ definition. When it comes to its cameras, we have a 64 MP triple module and finally, a 4,250 mAh battery that accepts 33-watts of wired charging.
We have also not tested this umpteenth variation of Xiaomi's 11 range. But with a starting price of £339.90, the recipe offered by this Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is quite convincing on paper.
Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE offers
The best smartphone below $300: Redmi Note 10 Pro
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Check out NextPit's Redmi Note 10 Pro review
The Redmi Note 10 Pro is the flagship model in Xiaomi's mid-range Redmi Note catalog, having launched on March 4, 2021 in three configurations: 6GB RAM/64GB, 6GB RAM/128GB, and 8GB RAM/128GB, retailing for $279, $299 and $349, respectively. I recommend the 8GB RAM/128GB version which can currently be found for $309 on the official Xiaomi store.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro sports a 6.67-inch Full HD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 732G (no 5G) SoC, a quad wide-angle/ultra-wide/macro/depth photo module in a 108+8+5+2 MP configuration, and a 5,020mAh battery that can be recharged in via a 33-watt charger.
It's the best smartphone under $300 of any manufacturer, according to our latest selection.But I'll go even further because I find that with the 8/128GB version that pushes the price beyond the $300 mark, the smartphone still remains very competitive against the Galaxy A52 5G/A72 or a OnePlus Nord CE. The only downside is that the Redmi Note 10 Pro, unfortunately, lacks 5G support.
Redmi Note 10 Pro offers
The best smartphone below $200: Redmi Note 10S
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The Redmi Note 10S builds on the basics of the Redmi Note 10 by claiming to improve photo quality and performance with a price tag of $222 for the 6/64GB version or $288 for the 8/128GB variant. Basically, it's an iteration of the Redmi Note 10 with a 64MP main camera lens (instead of 48MP) and armed with a MediaTek Helio G95 SoC (instead of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 678 chipset).
So yes, it does run games with slightly higher graphics capability and the camera module is a bit more efficient, though not versatile enough overall. And the AMOLED display remains stuck at a 60Hz refresh rate, which seems to be rather ancient in 2021. But the Redmi Note 10S's real strength over the base Redmi Note 10 is its NFC functionality. This is a standard that is fast becoming more and more important in our daily lives, allowing this model to make the difference, in my opinion.
If you prefer a 5G-capable smartphone with a 90Hz refresh rate for its display, you might want to check out the Redmi Note 10 5G (not the Note 10 outright, mind you). However, it retails at $259 for the 6/128GB version, of which I don't think you'll get much of a bang for your buck.
Offers to buy the Redmi Note 10S
Between Xiaomi and Redmi: Which do you pick in 2021?
If we were to take Xiaomi and Redmi into consideration, we have to consider them as two distinct brands and two ranges within the same catalog. Yes, I know, it's complicated, but basically Xiaomi is slightly more premium overall than Redmi.
However, there are times when Redmi's flagship range is sometimes more interesting than Xiaomi's entry-level handsets. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro at $280 is more competitive than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite at $300.
Top of the range
Let's start with the Xiaomi Mi, the flagship range. These are the manufacturer's top-of-the-line smartphones with, generally, offer the most premium specifications. The flagship of the Mi range is currently the Mi 11. But it also comes in several versions that are not as premium (albeit slightly) in the form of the Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11i, Mi 11 Lite 5G and Mi 11 Lite. In fact, a Mi 11T and Mi 11T Pro version could also be released soon.
Moving down the hierarchy we arrive at the Mi Note. There, it also arrives in several models as seen last year with the Xiaomi Mi Note 10, the Mi Note 10 Lite and the Mi Note10 Pro.
Mid-range
If we were to take the Xiaomi brand on a global scale, then the manufacturer's Redmi range constitutes the bulk of its mid-range catalog. If we were to consider Xiaomi and Redmi as two separate brands, then Redmi also has its own sub-ranges, from flagships to entry-level.
Redmi's high-end, which corresponds to Xiaomi's mid-range, are the Redmi Notes. They too come in several numbered versions like the Redmi Note 10, Note 10 5G, Note 10S and Note 10 Pro, from the basic model to the most premium models. A Redmi Note 10T is also expected in due time and it should be slightly more expensive than the Note 10 by being more premium while being inferior to the Note 10 Pro.
Entry-level
Next up would be Redmi territory, which is the entry level with last year's Redmi 9. Here again, there are variations with the Redmi 9A, more affordable, and the Redmi 9C, the mid-range. Well, at least in this department, you are sure to be able to check out entry-level smartphones from both Xiaomi and Redmi.
Xiaomi and Redmi
| Model | Price |
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| Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | $999 |
| Xiaomi 11T Pro | $665 |
| Xiaomi 11T | $520 |
| Xiaomi Mi 11i 5G | $525 |
| Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE | $299 |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | $350 |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite | $299 |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 5G | $640 |
| Redmi Note 8 2021 | $170 |
| Redmi Note 10 5G | $200 |
| Redmi Note 10S | $200 |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | $250 |
| Redmi Note 10 | $200 |
That's it for this selection of the best Xiaomi smartphones to choose from in 2021. What do you think of NextPit's choices? Which model should be in this comparison that you think we didn't mention? What is YOUR candidate of the best Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone in 2021? Tell us all about it in the comments!
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