Its phones may not go on sale in the US, but Xiaomi is one of the most important smartphone manufacturers in the world. It goes toe to toe with Apple and Samsung in its native China, and is comfortably the third biggest player in the global market too.
Part of Xiaomi’s success has come from what you might call a deluge of devices. For better or worse, Xiaomi makes a lot of phones – both within its own core brand, and across its Poco, Redmi, and Black Shark sub-brands. That means there are a lot of excellent Xiaomi phones to pick from, but also that it can be difficult to find the best one for you.
The good news is that every year we review loads of Xiaomi handsets, and here we’ve done our best to rank them as they stand right now – including pros and cons for each model, the latest pricing, and links to our reviews for in-depth analysis.
Read on to find out exactly which Xiaomi phones we think are the best right now.
Best Xiaomi phone reviews 2023
1. Xiaomi 13 Pro – Best Xiaomi phone

Pros
- Class-leading performance
- Excellent cameras
- Impressive 120W charging
- Solid battery life
Cons
- Huge rear camera module
- Expensive
The Xiaomi 13 Pro takes what made the 12 Pro so great and makes it even better.
Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is absolutely fantastic, with its improved power efficiency and a larger battery delivering significant battery life improvements. New Leica cameras are close to the best you’ll find on any phone, with great results across all four lenses – especially the 1in main camera.
But a huge new camera bump interrupts an otherwise sleek design, while the software experience remains a major source of frustration – though this is true for every Xiaomi model.
2. Xiaomi 13 Ultra – Best for a Limitless Budget

Pros
- Fantastic flagship performance
- Extraordinary quad rear camera
- Beautiful LTPO display
- Vegan leather finish
Cons
- It big
- Selfie camera isn’t as good as the others
- Expensive
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is currently the company’s most powerful phone, but it’s not quite the one we’d recommend most people by.
Part of that is purely practical: the phone isn’t available in the UK or US, though you can buy one in Europe at least. It’s expensive too, at €1,499, and between that and its sheer size this won’t be a phone for everyone. If those don’t put you off then you’re in for a treat though.
The Leica-branded camera is the main draw, with a 1in main sensor equipped with a variable aperture backed up by a trio of exceptional 50Mp ultrawide and zoom lenses, driving detailed photos, great low-light performance, and beautiful natural bokeh.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip delivers strong performance and excellent battery life too, while the display is hard to fault either.
3. Xiaomi 13 – Best smaller Xiaomi

Pros
- Small and stunning design
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
- Excellent main camera
Cons
- Middling battery life
- Competitors offer more for the money
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 latest 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.
4. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ – Best mid-range

Pros
- Great 200Mp main lens
- Superb 120W charging
- Excellent 120Hz display
- Solid performance
Cons
- Disappointing ultrawide and macro cameras
The Note 12 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 12 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.
5. Poco X5 Pro – Best budget option

Pros
- Great value
- Thin and light
- Flagship-level 120Hz AMOLED display
- Capable 108Mp camera
Cons
- Flimsy plastic rear cover
- No OS upgrade commitment
The Poco X5 Pro 5G is a great option for the price in terms of features and design, with a premium look and feel despite the plastic body. The 120Hz AMOLED display is bright, vibrant and buttery-smooth, and still better than most rivals at this price.
While the refresh rate isn’t adaptive like premium alternatives, the phone can still comfortably last more than a day with average use, and when it does need a top up there’s 67W fast wired charging (with the necessary charger supplied in the box).
The 108Mp camera is a real treat too, offering impressive detail and colour representation in well-lit environments, although the lack of OIS means night photography could be improved. The accompanying 8Mp ultrawide is handy, but sadly the same can’t be said for the 2Mp macro lens.
The internals are mid-range, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G leading the show, but performance is very decent for the money. A tempting option for the cost-conscious.
6. Poco F5 Pro

Pros
- Wireless charging
- Slick performance
- Solid main camera
Cons
- Only two OS updates
- Additional cameras disappoint
There’s one thing that will immediately attract potential phone purchasers to the Poco F5 Pro: its price. For the money, it’s a great bargain.
The specs are in-line with 2022 flagship models, but at half the cost. That you get long battery life, a nice main camera, and wireless charging tops off a great deal.
There are, of course, some caveats. On the hardware side the main drawback is the limited performance from the secondary cameras, but it’s also a shame that Xiaomi only promises it two major OS updates, meaning it won’t last as long as some other options on this list.
7. Xiaomi 12

Pros
- Compact design
- Excellent performance
- Solid main camera
- Fast wired & wireless charging
Cons
- Middling battery life
- No IP rating
- No telephoto lens
The Xiaomi 12 is a compelling flagship smartphone. Its compact form factor will appeal to those who don’t want a huge handset (it’s even smaller than this year’s Xiaomi 13) and the design looks and feels great.
You also get some high-end specs, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, an AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, and speedy 67W charging. It’s also got a solid main camera, along with a good ultra-wide shooter, but few buyers will be excited by a telemacro lens.
While there’s lots to like about the Xiaomi 12, it still has no waterproofing, and battery life is nothing special.
8. Poco F5

Pros
- Power-efficient and powerful chip
- Speedy charging
- Reliable battery life
- Headphone jack
Cons
- So-so camera system
- Limited software support
The Poco F5 is a powerful phone at the more affordable end of the mid-range market, and with a secret weapon: a headphone jack.
Performance is what makes the F5 stand out, with more power under the hood than you’ll find in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy A54 or Pixel 7a, making it a great choice for gamers on a budget.
It does lag behind those phones when it comes to the camera though, so if you want a more well-rounded experience then look elsewhere – or at one of Xiaomi’s other affordable options.
9. Xiaomi 13 Lite

Pros
- Slim & lightweight
- Solid performance
- Fast recharge times
- Large AMOLED screen
Cons
- Camera downgrade from 12 Lite
- Build issues
Following up on success is always difficult, but Xiaomi nailed it – mostly – with the 13 Lite.
The design and build is lovely, with a lightweight frame that is nice to use all day, and the decent battery life with quick recharging means you won’t have to worry about power.
However, the cameras are a little underwhelming this time around, which is the one area where the older 12 Lite has an edge. There are also some build issues surrounding the curved edges of the display.
Still, there’s plenty of performance and charm on offer, plus the camera quality can most likely be improved by updates to the software, so the Xiaomi 13 Lite is a solid option if you want a lightweight mid-ranger with the latest specs and performance.
10. Redmi Note 12 Pro

Pros
- Slick, premium design
- Superb 120Hz flat display
- IP53 water-resistance
- Impressive main camera
Cons
- Frustrating MIUI software
- Limited to 128GB storage
The Note 12 Pro lacks the wow factor of the Pro+, but it’s arguably better value for money. If you can live without a 200Mp camera and 120W charging, this is an excellent affordable option.
It retains the gorgeous 120Hz OLED screen, capable MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset, and solid 5000mAh battery of its bigger brother, plus an excellent selfie camera.
Dropping down to a 50Mp main camera doesn’t feel like much of a compromise, and the 67W charging is still fast compared to the competition.
MIUI remains the single biggest reason not to buy it, especially when many rivals have a more polished software experience. Internal storage is also limited, and can’t be expanded, so you may need to invest in cloud storage.
You can save even more money by dropping down to the regular Redmi Note 12 5G, but for what it’s worth we think that the Pro model delivers better bang for your buck.
Xiaomi phone buying advice
What’s the difference between Xiaomi’s different brands?
Xiaomi has a range of different brands, which can make things confusing. First up, it has its core Xiaomi products – these used to have the ‘Mi’ moniker, but now they’re simply branded with the company’s name. This is where you’ll find its latest flagships and foldables, but also plenty of cheaper options.
Budget phones come from the Redmi sub-brand. These are still made by Xiaomi, but the Redmi brand is a signal that a phone will be cheaper than the core line.
Then there’s Black Shark. This is the company’s gaming phone line, with a focus on pure performance and features like advanced cooling, extra controls, and bold designs.
Finally, Poco. While Poco started as a Xiaomi sub-brand, it’s technically been spun off as an independent company since then. However, it still shares Xiaomi’s R&D and uses Xiaomi software, so Poco phones are often quite similar to Xiaomi and Redmi models. They tend to be affordable, like Redmi devices, with a particular focus on power and performance.
Should I buy a Xiaomi phone from China?
If you live in the US then you may be tempted to turn to Chinese importers such as GearBest and Geekbuying to buy a Xiaomi phone – and even readers elsewhere in the world will find that there are still some models that stay exclusive to China and may tempt you into an import, including the top-of-the-range 13 Ultra for now.
If you do, make sure you buy a model with a global ROM installed, or be prepared to mess around with the software when it arrives (novice users should avoid this). The global models have full access to Google services and an English-language interface out of the box. If you accidentally purchase a Chinese ROM model, we’ve explained how to install Google Play on a Xiaomi phone here.
Second, if you’re buying from China you should take into account that your consumer rights are different to when you buy elsewhere, and that should something go wrong you’re going to find aftersales support more difficult.
Lastly, delivery can be a pain. Delivery times will be longer in general, though there are usually free and express shipping options. More than that, though, there could be hidden costs: you may be asked to pay import duty upon the phone’s arrival, which is calculated based on whatever value is printed on the shipping paperwork, usually plus an additional admin fee.
What software do Xiaomi phones use?
All Xiaomi phones run the Android operating system, with the company’s own MIUI Android skin installed on top.
To be honest, MIUI isn’t our favourite version of Android out there – it’s a little cluttered and complicated – but you can expect a fairly smooth and reliable experience, with plenty of customisation options and fairly frequent updates.