What Are The Best Xiaomi Smartphones? (2019 Edition)

What are the Best Xiaomi Smartphones Available in 2019?

Best Xiaomi Redmi Smartphone

We take a look at the Best Xiaomi Mi & Xiaomi Redmi Smartphones available in 2019

If you’ve never heard of Xiaomi before, then crawl out from under that rock and read on! They’re a huge consumer electronics company based out of China that have been pushing the envelope of what’s possible from import technology.
While in the UK, they’re mainly known for their apple-like range of smartphones, they also make electric scootersair purifiers, smart trainers, selfie sticks, robot vacuums, TV’s, drones & even a self-balancing scooter that’ll carry your shopping for you.
Over the last couple of years, they have cemented themselves as a premium Chinese import brand standing side-by-side against other Chinese giants like Huawei, Oppo & OnePlus.
With their reputation firmly set in China, 2019 is going to be the year that they cross-over to the west as they open up retails stores in the west. In early November 2017, Xiaomi started selling in Europe and the Xiaomi owned Yi brand has been selling through Amazon EU stores for a while now.
Don’t be surprised if you start to see Xiaomi mobiles being offered on contracts soon. And it makes sense, you can have premium apple-like aesthetics without needing a small mortgage.
So now that you know a little more about Xiaomi, let’s check out their Best 2019 Phones.
The Best Xiaomi Mi & Xiaomi Redmi Smartphones you can get your hands on in 2019!
We keep this article regularly updated but, the can still find the previous generation devices at the end in the ‘best of the rest’ section. Make sure to check these out, as you’ll be getting the biggest discounts.
Love Xiaomi, Hate Xiaomi, Never heard of Xiaomi? Let us know in the comments at the end.



Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha – Concept Phone

From the company that brought us the original bezel-less smartphone, now comes a device… sooooo futuristic… that it makes every other phone look like a relic. Its name… the Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha.
I won’t talk about this phone for long, as it’s only being released in China and in a small quantity, not to mention its ludicrous price-tag. But, if you were in any doubt about Xiaomi being a top player in the Android Arena, let this epic 180% screen-to-body ratio beauty quash those doubts right now.
So let’s get to the Xiaomi phones that you can have!

Xiaomi Mi 9Xiaomi Mi 9 – Our Firm Favourite!

Xiaomi Mi 9 – Tech Specs

Display: Samsung HDR 6.39″ Super AMOLED
Resolution/PPI: 2340×1080, 403
Biometrics: In-display Fingerprint
CPU: Snapdragon 855 (Fastest)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 48MP + 12MP + 16MP Sony IMX586 (4K/60fps)
Selfie Camera: 20MP
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: YES
Headphone Jack: No (Type-C Adapter Included)
Battery: 3300mAh (20w wireless)
Design: Glass Sandwich
Weight: 173 grams
Rather than being an all-out flagship device (like the Mi Mix 3 above), the Mi 9 is all about keeping as many flagships features as possible while maintaining its status as the best value-smartphone available. And trust me, it’s kept most of the flagship features.
You can think of the Xiaomi Mi 9 as what the OnePlus phones used to be; Powerful, stylish and affordable. With the OP7 Pro costing close to 700 USD, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is looking very attractive.
So what does the Xiaomi Mi 9 have to offer?
How about a 48MP wide-angle rear camera! That’s right, the Mi 9’s triple camera (Amazon) a setup has an outrageous camera made by the experts at Sony. You can expect to capture an incredible amount of detail that’ll let you zoom in, and in, and in…
Display-wise, it’s moved to a Samsung Full HD+ Super AMOLED panel that offers the best contrast and ultimate black levels all while saving you battery life. Now AMOLED, it also includes an always-on display and HDR support. You’ll also be happy to know that such a pretty display is protected by Gorilla Glass 6.
Finally, it’s using the fastest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip combined with 6GB’s of RAM and 128GB’s of storage. You also get other high-end features like NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, AC WiFi, and Qualcomm’s Quick-Charge 4.0.
Hang on, isn’t the Xiaomi Mi 9 starting to sound like a better deal than the Mi Mix 3?
You’re right! While it can’t compete on 5G, design or build quality, that wide-angle snapper and hugely lower price-tag is something to consider carefully.
And when we factor in that the Mi 9 has an in-display fingerprint reader, the Mi Mix 3 (above) is starting to show its age.
If the top-end Xiaomi Mi 9 is out of your budget, then don’t worry. You can save a few pennies by opting for less storage or even by switching to the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE version (Amazon).
The Mi 9 SE has a smaller 5.97″ display and drops the flagship CPU in favour of a Snapdragon 712.
Xiaomi Mi 9 – Best Value

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro (Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro)

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (Redmi K20 Pro) – Tech Specs

Display: Samsung HDR 6.39″ Super AMOLED
Resolution/PPI: 2340×1080, 403
Biometrics: In-display Fingerprint
CPU: Snapdragon 855 (Fastest)
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 64/128GB
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 48MP + 12MP + 16MP Sony IMX586 (4K/60fps)
Selfie Camera: 20MP (popup)
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: YES
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 4000mAh (27w QC4+)
Design: Glass Sandwich
Weight: 191 grams
2019 is the year of popup selfie cameras, so not one to be left out, Xiaomi has announced the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro … also called the Redmi K20 Pro in international markets. #confusing.
Personally, I’m a massive fan of the Mi Mix 3’s (see below) sliding design, but maybe I’m a little nostalgic as a once proud Sony Ericsson W850i owner.
And while we all might have our doubts about a popup cameras longevity, there’s no denying that it’s one step closer to the perfect 100% ratio display.
So you might be thinking… Should the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro or Mi 9T Pro be my next phone? Heck Yes!
For starters, both upgrade the Mi 9’s average 3300mAh battery, replacing it with a respectable 4000mAh’s. They ditch the waterdrop top notch in favour of a 20MP popup selfie camera… and yes, both brings back the 3.5mm headphone jack.
But there is a few subtle differences between the western-marketed Mi 9T Pro and the Redmi K20. The Mi 9T Pro will offer much wider support for European and US networks compared to the Redmi K20 Pro.
The 6.39″ Super AMOLED Display and epic 48MP triple rear camera setup with that wonderful dedicated ultra-wide-angle lens, are thankfully, the same across the Mi 9, Mi 9T & Redmi K20.
So what’s the catch?
Compared to the Mi 9, the 9T Pro & K20 Pro both lose the wireless charging, are 16% thicker at 8.8mm and 10% heavier at 191g (easily forgiven considering the bigger battery). Also, they both revert back to Gorilla Glass 5.
And just like the Mi 9 SE, there’s also the non-pro version Mi 9T available. It loses some of the performance features but keeps the epic camera & AMOLED display setup.
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro – The New Best All-rounder

Xiaomi Mi A3 PhoneXiaomi Mi A3 – Value Champion

Xiaomi Mi A3 – Tech Specs

Display: Samsung HDR 6.088″ Super AMOLED
Resolution/PPI: 1560×720, 286
Biometrics: In-display Fingerprint
CPU: Snapdragon 665 (Mid-range)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 48MP Sony + 8MP + 2MP (4K/30fps, 1080P/60fps)
Selfie Camera: 32MP AI Selfie (1080P/30fps)
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: NO
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 4030mAh (10w Included | 18w Supported)
Design: Glass Sandwich (Gorilla Glass 5)
Weight: 173.8 grams
So the Xiaomi Mi A3 has a few tricks up its sleeve. For starters, it’s the first of Xiaomi’s value-orientated phones to use an AMOLED display. This means you’re getting ultra-rich colours and perfect blacks out of the box.
The downside is, that to keep the cost down, the Mi A3 uses a 720P display panel. So text isn’t as sharp when compared to a Full HD (1080P) display. You’ll have to decide whether this trade-off is worth it: Do you want richer more vibrant colours or the ultra-sharp text that Full HD provides.
It is worth mentioning that the lower resolution combined with AMOLED tech does mean that you’re getting a healthy battery boost with the Mi A3.
The design itself is very sleek with a polished an 8.4mm metal frame sandwiched between two pieces of Gorilla Glass 5. And standard for this price-range, there’s no IP rating, but you might be in luck. Early leaks of the Mi A3 showed graphics of the phone in water but were later removed. So it’s most likely that the Mi A3 is at least splash-proof but Xiaomi later removed the rating.
Finally, the Mi A3 becomes our Value Champion for the following 3 reasons.
·         No.1 is the Excellent connectivity (AC WiFi, Bluetooth 5, IR Remote, 18w Fast Charge Type-C)
·         No.2 is the In-Display Fingerprint Reader (Yes that’s right, this budget phone is loaded with flagship tech.)
·         No.3 the Awesome triple camera setup (48MP Main snapper with a dedicated wide-angle lens!)
All-in-all, the Xiaomi Mi A3 packs in a lot while costing very little. And for any Android fanboys, you’ll be happy to know it’s running the latest Android One OS. This means zero bloatware and you’ll be the first to receive security updates directly from Google.
Xiaomi Mi A3 – Budget Champion

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 (5G) – Style Meets Performance!

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 (5G) – Tech Specs

Display: Samsung HDR 6.39″ Super AMOLED
Resolution/PPI: (2340×1080) 403
CPU: Snapdragon 855 (Fastest)
RAM: 6GB
Storage:
 128GB
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 12MP + 12MP Sony IMX363 (4K/60fps)
Selfie Camera: 24MP Sony IMX576 + 2MP Depth Sensor
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: YES
Headphone Jack: No (Type-C Adapter Included)
Battery: 3800mAh (10w Wireless)
Design: Ceramic
Weight: 225 grams
The most innovative line of smartphones ever, Xiaomi’s Mi Mix range, is back at it again in 2019 with the Mi Mix 3 (5G) Amazon. But what does the 5th instalment of the Mi Mix series have to offer us? Let’s find out.
For starters, there’s that 6.39″ glorious Samsung AMOLED display with over 430nits of brightness and HDR support built in. This all adds up to give an impressive 93.4% screen-to-body-ratio, pushing us ever closer to the perfect all-display smartphone!
But we had that on the original Mi Mix 3, so what’s new?
For starters, the Mi Mix 3 (5G) now features the 2019 flagship Snapdragon 855 processor that enables it to support the ultra-fast 5G network. In London, you can expect speeds of up to 20x faster than 4G.
Overkill? Probably. Good to show off with? Definitely.
In terms of performance, the global Mi Mix 5G comes packed with 128GB’s of storage and a healthy 8GB’s of ultra-fast RAM.
And I haven’t even mentioned the best bit yet…
On your brand new Mi Mix 3, you’ll get the epic magnetic sliding mechanism! Yes that’s right, the Mi Mix 5G is a phone of two halves that uses sliding magnets to glide over each other. A quick slide will reveal the ultimate 24MP selfie snapper! On the back, you’ll also find two capable 12MP cameras that can record in 4K@60fps as well as super-slo-mo 960fps@1080p.
While this all might sound very impressive, unless you’re a sucker for the premium ceramic build quality, then check out the Xiaomi Mi 9 which comes in at half the price.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 – No Compromises Flagship

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 DisplayXiaomi Max 3 – Big Beautiful & Netflix Ready!

Xiaomi Max 3 – Tech Specs

Display: 6.9″ IPS Display (520nit)
Resolution/PPI: 2160×1080, 350
Biometrics: Rear Fingerprint Reader
CPU: Snapdragon 636 (Low-to-mid-range)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB (expandable +256GB)
OS: Android 8.1 (MIUI 9)
Rear Camera: 12MP + 5MP (4K/30fps)
Selfie Camera: 8MP
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: NO
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 5500mAh
Design: Metal Unibody
Weight: 221 grams
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is a pocket-killer! At 6.99 inches, the Full HD+ Display is humongous and venturing deep into tablet territory but with cellular capabilities.
It’s a true mid-range smartphone offering solid media-gulping performance thanks to its 4GB’s of RAM coupled with the mid-level 8-core Snapdragon 636. While it can’t keep up with the Pocophone F1 or even the Xiaomi Mi A2, it does feature a solid camera and an epic 5500mAh battery.
Before you get too excited though, rumours are that Xiaomi are in development of a Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Pro, that’ll feature the next-gen Snapdragon 710 and give this smartphone the performance it deserves!
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 – Your Netflix Buddy

Xiaomi Pocophone F1Xiaomi Pocophone F1 – The Global Standard

Pocophone F1 – Tech Specs

Display: 6.18″ IPS Display (500nit)
Resolution/PPI: 2246×1080, 403
Biometrics: Rear Fingerprint Reader
CPU: Snapdragon 845 (Flagship)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB (expandable +256GB)
OS: Android 9 (Via Update)
Rear Camera: 12MP + 5MP (4K/30fps)
Selfie Camera: 20MP
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: NO
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 4000mAh (QC3.0)
Design: Plastic Body (Metal Frame) + A Kevlar Option
Weight: 182 grams
If you like the idea of the Xiaomi Mi A2, a stock Android smartphone, with the excellent build quality of Xiaomi, then you’ll love the Pocophone F1!
Designed for a western audience from the get-go, it comes with a leaner version of MIUI OS, infrared Face-Unlock, excellent rear dual cameras, plus liquid cooled internals and a beautiful FHD+ notch display.
Usually, with smartphones at the price-range, we have to mention there mid-range performance. Not so with the Pocophone F1, as it uses the flagship level Snapdragon 845 coupled with 6GB’s of RAM and a 64/128GB storage choice. Battery life is also impressive with a fast-charge ready USB Type-C connection to a 4000mAh non-removable battery.
The downsides? The Pocophone F1 misses out on NFC as well as wireless charging. You’re also getting an IPS display which lacks contrast & ‘pop’ compared to Xiaomi’s newer phones. The plus-side? The price.
If you can stretch your budget, then I recommend going for the Mi 9 SE above, over the older Pocophone F1. While I’m sure there’s an F2 in the works, for now, the Mi 9 SE’s triple camera setup is too good to miss out on.
Xiaomi Pocophone F1 – For The Purists

Xiaomi Black Shark 2Black Shark 2 – Xiaomi’s Dedicated Gaming Smartphone

Black Shark 2 – Tech Specs

Display: 6.39″ AMOLED Display (430nit, DCI-P3)
Resolution/PPI: 2340×1080, 403
Biometrics: Rear Fingerprint Reader
CPU: Snapdragon 855 (2019 Flagship)
RAM: 6/8/12GB Options
Storage: 128/256GB (expandable +256GB)
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 48MP + 12MP (4K/30fps)
Selfie Camera: 12MP
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: NO
Headphone Jack: No (Type-C Adapter Included)
Battery: 4000mAh
Design: Metal
Weight: 205 grams
Xiaomi was obviously taking notice when Razer launched their gaming phone in late 2017, as they recently announced the Black Shark 2. Even ignoring the gaming credentials for a moment, this is an absolute monster flagship-grade phone. Packing the Snapdragon 855 CPU with 12GB’s of RAM, this shark is clearly one of the biggest baddest fish in the smartphone sea.
So what’s special about the Black Shark 2? And what makes it a ‘gaming’ phone?
Firstly, there is a Shark Key button on the side which activates the high-performance gaming mode. This works in parallel with a unique liquid cooling system to make sure it doesn’t get too hot to handle. There’s a dedicated gamepad attachment to give you seamless control of your games. I’m already thinking of the PUBG-related possibilities!
There’s also a true stereo speaker setup and it’s using the same Super AMOLED HDR Samsung’s display that we see in the Mix & Mi 9.
Finally, a gamers worst nightmare is losing signal during a match, so to combat this the Black Shark 2 has an enhanced 2x antenna system to make sure your sweaty fingers don’t block your WiFi! This all adds up to make your gaming mobile experience better than ever.
Some of us were expecting more though. I would have loved to see a screen with a 120Hz refresh rate for an uber gaming phone. Yeah the HDR OLED display will look awesome, but compared to the high Hz competition, the Black Shark 2 might not cut it.
The Cons? With an asking price this high, it’s a real shame to see NFC and waterproofing missing of the spec list. Even so, we’re eagerly looking forward to reeling in this monster from the deep. Stay tuned for our upcoming hands-on review!
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 – For The Gamers

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7Redmi Note 7 – Mid-range Master

Redmi Note 7 – Tech Specs

Display: 6.30″ IPS Display
Resolution/PPI: 2340×1080, 409
Biometrics: Rear Fingerprint Reader
CPU: Snapdragon 660 (Mid-level)
RAM: 3/4GB Options
Storage: 32/64GB (expandable +256GB)
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 48MP + 5MP (1080P/120fps)
Selfie Camera: 13MP
WiFi: Dual-band (ac)
NFC: NO
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 4000mAh (QC4.0)
Design: Glass Sandwich (Gorilla Glass 5)
Weight: 186 grams
We’ve named the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 our mid-range master. With a glass-sandwich bold gradient design, both sides Gorilla Glass 5, the Redmi Note 7 certainly looks the part. But how about performance?
Unlike a lot of the phones in the best Xiaomi list, the Note 7 opts for the mid-range Snapdragon 660 mobile CPU. Still a very capable chipset, but you won’t be getting the lightning fast responsiveness of the 845 or 855.
That doesn’t matter though, as the Note 7 is firmly priced in the ‘very wallet friendly category’.
The IPS display comes with a full HD resolution (2340×1080), giving it a crisp PPI of 408. Other high-end features include a tiny top-notch for the selfie camera, a whopping 48MP rear camera and excellent (fast charge ready) battery life. As a bonus, Xiaomi has left in the headphone jack and included an IR Blaster so you can control your TV & Aircon from your phone.
The Redmi Note 7 keeps what’s important in a smartphone: Design, Battery Life, Camera Performance & Display while cutting back on speed to offer us one of the best mid-range smartphones ever.
Redmi Note 7 – Mid-rage Awesomeness

Xiaomi Redmi 7Redmi 7 – Budget Choice

Redmi 7 – Tech Specs

Display: 6.26″ IPS Display (450nit)
Resolution/PPI: 1520×720, 269
Biometrics: Rear Fingerprint Reader
CPU: Snapdragon 632 (Entry-level)
RAM: 2/3GB Options
Storage: 16/32/64GB (expandable +512GB)
OS: Android 9 (MIUI 10)
Rear Camera: 12MP + 2MP (1080P/60fps Video)
Selfie Camera: 8MP
WiFi: 2.4GHz (b,g,n)
NFC: NO
Headphone Jack: Yes
Battery: 4000mAh (fast-charge-ready)
Design: Gradient (Plastic)
Weight: 180 grams
Considering you can get the lower-spec’d Xiaomi Redmi 7 for less than 100 USD, you’re in for a big surprise.
While it drops the full HD display of the Note 7 above, the Gorilla Glass 5 HD+ display helps push the already excellent battery life even further. The top camera notch is tiny, but we still get a big chin at the bottom, at this price though, I’m not complaining.
Another great touch is that the Redmi 7 uses a true dual-SIM design. This means that you can opt for the 16GB storage option while adding 2 SIM (4G) cards and an SD card all at once.
In terms of design, Xiaomi has carried on its bold gradient design language but this time it’s with a high-gloss plastic. Just like the Note 7 above, it keeps the IR Blaster and headphone jack.
If price is your main concern, then you can’t go wrong with the Xiaomi Redmi 7.
Redmi 7 – Budget Beauty