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Best Xiaomi phones of 2020: these are the top Mi, Redmi, Poco and Black Shark devices

The best Xiaomi phones have impressive specs and specialities, yet sell for relatively affordable price tags - the Chinese company has come to be known with value and style, with phones that many prefer over the best from Samsung and Huawei.


Compared to some brands, Xiaomi is a relative newcomer to the west, so it's impressive it's built up such a keen base of fans. That's just a testament to phones from the brand.

So if you're looking for a new smartphone that gives you access to a range of top features and specs, but won't break the bank, you're in the right place. We've made this list of the best Xiaomi phones so you can compare which might be great for you.

Xiaomi markets its phones under mulitple brand names: Mi, Redmi, Pocophone and Black Shark; Mi tends to be its main mid-range brand, with Redmi its budget series, Black Shark putting out gaming phones and Pocophone doing... well, something, as the original Poco F1 on this list was a budget phone, but the Poco F2 Pro certainly isn't. 

Most recently, we added the Poco F2 Pro to this list, the company's new mid-ranger from its revived Pocophone brand. The phone scores pretty highly, showing the company's tactic of offering great specs at affordable prices is a good one.

The Redmi Note 9 series are the next phones which will be added, as they're in our labs right now, but some time soon we're hoping the Xiaomi Mi Note 11 and Mi 11 devices will be launched so we can see how they fare too.

Here's our ranking of the best Xiaomi phones, including Mi, Redmi, Pocophone and Black Shark handsets, that you can buy right now.

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The best Xiaomi phones
1. Xiaomi Mi Note 10
Release date: December 2019 | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 6.47-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 730G | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Battery: 5,260mAh | Rear camera: 108MP + 12MP + 5MP + 20MP + 2MP | Front camera: 32MP
If you want the very best phone Xiaomi has right now, the Mi Note 10 is what you need to look for.

Looking at the specs list and images, you'd be forgiven for thinking this phone was a top-end flagship phone, with a curved screen, 108MP main camera and huge battery pack. But then look down to the price and you see a phone that's a third of the price of the biggest and best phones out there right now.

Sure, there are a few weaknesses that stopped us giving this phone a perfect score, but it was a close call, and using the phone for a variety of purposes is a treat.

2. Xiaomi Mi 10
Xiaomi's 2020 premium offering
Release date: February 2020 | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 9mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.67-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8/12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Battery: 4,780mAh | Rear camera: 108MP + 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | Front camera: 20MP
The Xiaomi Mi 10 is the company's best phone released in 2020 so far - it doesn't take the top spot, because while it's an improvement on the Mi Note 10 in a few ways, it's also got some downgrades, and it costs more too.

The phone has an impressive and punchy screen, camera array led by a 108MP main snapper (albeit with some less-than-stellar companions), great 20MP selfie camera, long-lasting battery and design we were certainly fond of.

While our main issue with the Mi 10 is its price which seems a little too high, the phone does rank higher than its Pro sibling thanks largely to that device's even higher price, so if you want a great phone that won't empty your bank - not fully, at least - this is a device to consider.

3. Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro
A pop-up mid-ranger
Release date: May 2020 | Weight: 219g | Dimensions: 163.3 x 75.4 x 8.9mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.67-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Battery: 4,700mAh | Rear camera: 64MP + 5MP + 13MP + 2MP | Front camera: 20MP
Two years after the original Pocophone F1 (which used to be on this list) Xiaomi unveiled the Poco F2 Pro.

This phone has a pop-up selfie camera, a large unbroken screen, and some of the best processing power we've seen in a smartphone. It's also fairly good in the camera and battery departments.

So it's a pretty worthy phone in a lot of ways, but its size may put some off. It also lacks any cool or noteworthy features that its competitors have, which is why it isn't higher on this list.

4. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
Xiaomi's most premium phone
Release date: February 2020 | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.67-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB | Battery: 4,500mAh | Rear camera: 108MP + 12MP + 8MP + 20MP | Front camera: 20MP
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro crowns the company's line-up of early-2020 powerhouses, with a range of specs that solidify its position as the most premium phone from Xiaomi. It has a top-end Snapdragon 865 chipset, 108MP main camera, 90Hz refresh rate screen and snappy 50W fast charging.

The main problem with the phone is its price, as it's roughly twice as expensive as the Mi Note 10, but doesn't come with too many major changes to justify that cost (hence the Mi Note 10 taking first slot on this list). There are also some interface issues too, like the fact it comes with lots of bloatware and has a slow fingerprint sensor.

It's worth pointing out that the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has seen a very staggered release, as it's available in some regions but not others, and in some places it might not come out until late 2020. Keep an eye out when it's available in your region, though, because it's certainly worth considering.

5. Xiaomi Black Shark 3
A Xiaomi gaming phone
Release date: March 2020 | Weight: 222g | Dimensions: 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.67-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | RAM: 8GB/12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Battery: 4,720mAh | Rear camera: 64MP + 13MP + 5MP | Front camera: 20MP
If you're looking for a phone that's good for gaming, but don't want to splash out on a top-end device, you might find a Black Shark device great for you, and the Black Shark 3 is the newest phone from Xiaomi's gaming-focused subsidiary.

The Black Shark 3 has plenty of top-end specs like a Snapdragon 865 chipset, 5G connectivity, a big battery and a 90Hz refresh rate screen, but doesn't cost as much as many of its similarly-specced competitors. The phone has a great camera too, which is somewhat of a surprise.

Sure, this phone isn't for everyone, and if you're not an avid mobile gamer we wouldn't recommend it for you (not least because its design is certainly divisive), but if you're prone to a game of PUBG Mobile, Fornite or Call of Duty: Mobile, you should definitely consider it.

6. Xiaomi Mi 9
An enduring mid-range flagship
Release date: March 2019 | Weight: 173g | Dimensions: 157.5 x 74.7 x 7.6mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 6.39-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 855 | RAM: 6/8GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Battery: 3,300mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 12MP + 16MP | Front camera: 20MP
The Xiaomi Mi 9 is the best Xiaomi phone you can buy right now, offering some impressive features at a low price.

It was the first phone in the world to get the Snapdragon 855 chipset (although the Samsung Galaxy S10 was the first in the West), and also one of the first at this price point to have three rear cameras, including a 48MP main sensor.

Since its release other phones have appeared with similar specs and features, but the Mi 9 is still impressively affordable, and has fewer weak points than some of its rivals.

7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
The best Redmi phone we've tested
Release date: April 2020 | Weight: 209g | Dimensions: 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.67-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2400 | CPU: Snapdragon 720G | RAM: 4GB/6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Battery: 5,020mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP
Redmi is Xiaomi's affordable phone brand, and while it hasn't put as many handsets out under the name in the West as its Mi line, there's still a good few Redmi phones, and the Note 9S is the best we're tested.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S won't break the bank but it has a long-lasting battery, good-looking display and a high screen-to-body ratio, so if you opt to pick it up, you might be impressed by some of what's on offer.

Sure, there are some symptoms of its low price too - the charging isn't exactly snappy, the cameras are only 'okay' and we found a few bugs in our time with the device. But if you're happy to overlook some flaws, you'll be picking up a cheap phone that's better than many of its competitors with the Redmi Note 9S.

8. Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
A mini Mi 9
Release date: March 2019 | Weight: 155g | Dimensions: 147.5 x 70.5 x 7.5mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 5.97-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 712 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Battery: 3,070mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 13MP | Front camera: 20MP

If you want a phone that's close to the Xiaomi Mi 9 but want to spend a bit less money, then the Mi 9 SE is for you – it's got many of the features of the top-rated Xiaomi phone, but in a scaled-down format.

It's smaller, with a few weaker specs in a few areas, like slightly lower-resolution cameras and a mid-tier chipset, but there's still a lot to like, especially in terms of its design and display.

If you're looking for a stylish but affordable Android phone then, you could do a lot worse. It's by-the-book in a lot of areas, but that's what a lot of people want in a smartphone.

9. Xiaomi Black Shark 2
An accomplished gaming phone
Release date: March 2019 | Weight: 205g | Dimensions: 163.6 x 75 x 8.8mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 6.39-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 855 | RAM: 6GB/8GB/12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Battery: 4,000mAh | Rear camera: 48MP + 12MP | Front camera: 20MP

The Black Shark 2, from Xiaomi's gaming-focused sub-brand, is one of the best phones you can buy if you're looking for a device to play mobile games on. It's got top-end (for its time) specs and gaming optimization so it provides a great gaming experience, and it doesn't cost as much as other devices with similar specs either.

You might not want to consider the Black Shark 2 if you're not a mobile gamer, as its appearance screams 'gamer' with LED lights on the back and a black 'X' design, and on top of that it might be a little too big to hold if you have small hands.

So the Black Shark 2 is aimed at a particular buyer, and if that's you, it's certainly a device you should consider. 

10. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
A budget pop-up phone
Release date: November 2018 | Weight: 218g | Dimensions: 157.9 x 74.7 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 9 | Screen size: 6.39-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2340 | CPU: Snapdragon 845 | RAM: 6GB/8GB/10GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB | Battery: 3,200mAh | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 24MP + 2MP
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 has a sliding camera array, so if you want to take a selfie you pull up the rear section – it means the screen isn't broken up by a notch or punch-hole, giving you a glorious full-screen experience.

Other than that, the Mi Mix 3 is a competent mid-range device, with a decent battery life, top-end (for late 2018) processor and two rear cameras.

We found the slider a little stiff, and as a whole the phone is on the large side. But if you want a mid-range phone with a fun party trick, this is a great option. There's a 5G variant too, which will cost you a little more.

CTTO to Tom Bedford August 24, 2020 
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-xiaomi-phones
Article's are not mine just reposting here to share to others 

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