Xiaomi launched in the UK in 2018 as part of an expansion across more areas of the globe, making inroads into Europe around the same time.
The company will be familiar to many technology fans, one of a number of Chinese companies looking to challenge the established brands likeSamsung, and fill the shoes of the declining Huawei - especially in smartphones.
But what phones doesXiaomioffer and which is the best phone for you? Here’s 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 same across all regions, so there will often be one model available in India or mainland Europe that’s not in the UK, as well as different designations and specs in different territories. Often, phones are announced earlier in China, so the numbering doesn’t always align, but generally speaking, this is how the model numbers stack up:
You’ll notice that there’s no “Mi” in 2022 or 2023 - that’s because Xiaomi decided todrop this brandingand just went with Xiaomi 12 in 2022.
Within those families there are lots of different models: Lite, Pro, Ultra positioning models in different slots and prices, usually followed up T models later in the year and sometimes there are i models too.
That will often mean that you have a phone like the 2021 Mi 11T Pro that’s fairly close in spec and performance to 2022 models, but still widely available and at competitive prices.
Because Xiaomi’s devices are a little complicated, we’ve broken them down into market segments and you can click on the links below to jump 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 year before.
you may click on the links below to jump to each section.
Flagship Xiaomi phones
These devices were launched with flagship-level hardware.
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Quick verdict
Xiaomi’s latest flagship ‘Pro’ device offers a huge amount of performance for the money, delivering a best-in-class display, great build quality and stupidly fast charging speeds.
With a smaller form factor, lovely design, loads of power and a decent camera - there’s loads to love about the Xiaomi 13. If you’re looking for a smaller flagship, this is the one to beat.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
A rollercoaster of emotions: Xiaomi’s 2022 flagship is a masterclass in screen quality and design subtlety, its cameras are great and come without unnecessary gimmicks; however, its battery life is questionable and the MIUI software still has some minor setbacks. There are moments of pure class here, though, especially if you’re always near to a charger and can top-up the battery freely.
A step down from the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the regular model has all the power but a smaller display and is a slight step-down in the camera department too. It’s closely related to the Xiaomi 12X, which is slightly less powerful again.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
A rare moment from Xiaomi: one that’s excited us more than any other phone of late, yet when it comes to the crunch it’s the one device that’s left us ultra disappointed for failing to get enough of the basics right.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra Dual-SIM 512GB ROM 12GB RAM GSM CDMA Factory Unlocked 5G SmartPhone Ceramic Black - International Version
Xiaomi 11T Pro
This sub-flagship brings together some strong specification in a well-performing package with a lovely screen and super-fast charging to boast about too. There are some software irks, the build is chunky and, on reflection, we think the ‘non-Pro’ variant is an even better buy.
Xiaomi Mi 11i
While the ‘i’ entry in the Mi 11 line-up doesn’t get anything wrong, per se, its very existence in this busy series is just confusing - it’s a European version of the Redmi K40 Pro+. So while using it feels largely effortless, there’s also no distinctive reason to opt for one.
Xiaomi Mi 11
At this price, it’s certainly worth you mulling over the Mi 11. It’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.
