The Best Xiaomi phones To Buy In 2018

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Written By Larious

Larious is the Executive Editor of LowkeyTech. He is a tech enthusiast and a content writer. 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated on September 27, 2018 by Larious

Best Xiaomi phones To Buy In 2018 – As you may have probably heard, Xiaomi has plans to enter the American market by the end of 2018 or in 2019. Ahead of this highly anticipated U.S. debut, this post brings you the best of the best from Xiaomi to give you a heads-up of what to look forward to.

Even better, if you are in the market for a new Xiaomi phone, you’ve also come to the right place. We’ve populated the best Xiaomi phones available so far (June 2018), however, availability of the phones might vary depending on your location. But of course, you can always ship one from the likes of GearBest and Geekbuying, among third-party retailers.

Xiaomi’s best Android phones 2018

Here, we take a look at the best the Chinese OEM has on offer in one or several markets. Sadly, the company does its business outside of the US at the moment, which is another opportunity for them.

Let’s take a look at the top phones you buy from Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S

Mi-MIX-2s-2

On paper, the Mi MIX 2S doesn’t disappoint, but all that Xiaomi says about the phone can hardly be denied. According to the Chinese OEM, the Mi MIX 2S is in many ways better than Apple’s iPhone X, yet it is valued at half the price of the Apple flagship phone.

Specs
  • 5.99-inch full HD+ LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
  • 6/8GB RAM and 64/128/256GB storage
  • Dual 12MP + 12MP dual-pixel AI back camera and 5MP front camera
  • 3400mAh non-removable battery
  • Android 8.0 Oreo with MIUI 9.5
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, no 3.5mm audio jack, Quick Charge 3.0, Qi wireless charging, rear-mounted scanner, AI voice assistant, etc.
Pros
  • Great build with a compact body
  • Impressive bezel-less display with no notch
  • Powerful specs and features
  • Good battery life
  • Great photography
  • Ceramic body looks stunning
Cons
  • No 3.5mm audio jack
  • MIUI can be a pain
  • No IP6X rating for water and dust resistance
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2

Mi-mix-2-launch-in-india

You got to love Xiaomi’s near bezel-less Mi MIX 2 flagship. Whether it’s the design, specs, features or even the price, the Mi MIX 2 is the best Xiaomi has to offer. There’s even an 18K gold-plated variant, but this one costs a pretty penny.

The major highlights of the Mi MIX 2 include a 5.99-inch full HD+ screen (18:9), Snapdragon 835, 6GB RAM, 64/128/256GB storage, a 12MP main camera, 5MP selfie camera, 3400mAh battery unit and runs Android Nougat out of the box, but Oreo is already testing. You can even grab the special edition Mi MIX 2 that rocks a massive 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

At launch, the Mi MIX 2 was priced at about $520 for the base model and about $570 and $630 for the 6/128GB and 6/256GB variants, respectively.

Pros
  • Gorgeous design
  • Excellent display screen
  • Powerful specs
  • Ceramic back looks stunning
  • Excellent battery life
  • More affordable compared to the competition
Cons
  • The camera could definitely be better
  • No IP6X rating
  • No headphone jack
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Mi 8 series

Mi-8-and-Mi-8-EE

When we last updated this post, this spot was occupied by the Mi 6, but now that the new Xiaomi Mi 8 is here and packs even more powerful specs, has a trendy design language and is equally affordable, it was always going to take displace the 2017 model.

The phone launched at the back end of May and is already available for purchase. However, it’s not alone. In fact, it has quite a good number of siblings to accompany it. The first batch saw welcomed the Mi 8, Mi 8 SE and Mi 8 Explorer Edition (EE). These three are already selling in multiple markets across the globe, but in September, another duo joined the party – the Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite – making it a total of five Xiaomi Mi 8 variants.

Specs

Mi 8 SE
  • 5.88-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ (2244 x 1080) display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor
  • 4GB/6GB RAM
  • 64GB of storage
  • Dual 12MP + 5MP main camera
  • 20MP front camera
  • 3120mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, Quick Charge 3.0, dual 4G LTE, rear-mounted scanner, facial recognition, etc.
Mi 8
  • 6.21-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ (2248 x 1080) display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 64GB/128GB/256GB storage
  • Dual 12MP + 12MP main camera
  • 20MP front camera
  • 3400mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, Quick Charge 4.0+, dual 4G LTE, dual-band GPS, rear-mounted scanner, infrared face ID, etc.
Mi 8 EE
  • 6.21-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ (2248 x 1080) display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
  • 8GB RAM
  • 128GB storage
  • Dual 12MP + 12MP main camera
  • 20MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, Quick Charge 4.0+, dual 4G LTE, dual-band GPS, in-display scanner, 3D Face ID, etc.

It’s worth noting that the Mi 8 has multiple variants and while we’d very much like to recommend the transparent variant, it’s likely that it won’t be easily available when compared to the standard model. Still, if you are able to access it, it’s the model that you should be buying, especially since it also includes flashy features like in-display fingerprint scanning and 3D facial recognition.

Xiaomi also has the Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite, two devices that offer a great bang for your buck. The former borrows a significant chunk of specs and design from the Mi 8 and to justify the Pro moniker, amps a bunch of them to rooftop levels while still managing to keep the price checked. As for the Lite variant, the specs are watered-down but coming from Xiaomi, you are still getting a solid package, especially for its price about $205 in China.

Xiaomi-Mi-8-Pro-2
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro

Specs

Mi 8 Pro
  • 6.21-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
  • Snapdragon 845 processor
  • 6GB or 8GB RAM
  • 128GB storage
  • Dual 12MP + 12MP main camera
  • 20MP front camera
  • 3000mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, in-display FPS, NFC, Quick Charge 4.0+, IR Face unlock, HDR10, Gorilla Glass 5, etc.
Mi 8 Lite
  • 6.26-inch FHD+ LCD display
  • Snapdragon 660 processor
  • 4GB or 6GB RAM
  • 64GB or 128GB storage
  • Dual 12MP + 5MP main camera
  • 24MP front camera
  • 3350mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, rear-mounted FPS, Quick Charge 3.0, etc.
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]
Xiaomi-Mi-8-Lite-3-768x432
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite

The Mi 8 Pro goes for CNY 3,199 in China, approximately $470/INR 33,800 for the 6GB/128GB model, while the higher-end version with 8GB/128GB sells for CNY 3,599, approximately $525. As for the Mi 8 Lite, the company has three configurations as follows: 4GB of RAM/64GB of storage at CNY 1,399 (about $205), 6GB of RAM/64GB of storage at CNY 1,699 (about $250), and 6GB of RAM/128GB of storage at CNY 1,999 (about $290).

    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Poco F1

New-brand-Poco-F1

The Xiaomi Pocophone F1, simply known as Poco F1 in India, is the ultimate flagship killer on the market. The likes of OnePlus 6 and Asus ZenFone 5Z are indeed flagship killers, but the Poco F1 shoots down these at two point blank and there’s nothing either OnePlus or Asus can do to turn the tables around. The device packs premium performance specs and features, a big battery, a promise for the latest OS in town, and is dirt cheap, making it one of the sort-after Xiaomi phones of the moment.

Specs

  • 6.2-inch 19:9 FHD+ (2248×1080) LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
  • 6GB or 8GB RAM
  • 64GB, 128GB or 256GB expandable storage
  • Dual 12MP + 5MP main camera
  • 20MP front camera
  • 4000mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo, upgradable to Pie

The Poco F1 has for the premium model of 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. However, not all variants are sold in all markets across the globe.

    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

mi-note-3-specs

Last year’s Xiaomi Mi Note 3 surprised many when it was ranked among the top camera smartphones by experts at DxOMark. However, there’s more to the Mi Note 3 than just the camera. Boasting a decent 5.5-inch full HD display, the handset has a powerful Snapdragon 660 SoC mated with a massive 6GB RAM.

The back has a dual 12MP unit that borrows a lot from the impressive Mi 6 while the front has an impressive 16MP unit that supports Adaptable AI Beautify mode to offer realistic beautify effect that improves the quality of photography. Keeping it alive is a 3500mAh battery and for the pricing, the Mi Note 3 starts at about $395 for the 64GB variant and about $460 for the 128GB model.

Pros
  • Premium build quality
  • Great display
  • Thin and lightweight
  • Zippy performance
  • Impressive dual-lens camera
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • No 3.5mm audio jack
  • Poor selfie camera
  • Mi 6 offers a better value for money
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Mi A2

Mi-A2_01

Xiaomi’s first Android One smartphone was a hit and it looks like the second-generation Xiaomi Mi A2 will be even better. The phone was launched on July 24 and has yet to start selling in most markets, but Xiaomi says at least 40 countries will be able to get one of these locally.

Like many other Xiaomi phones, the Mi A2 is almost perfect as far as design and specs are concerned, but the lack of NFC is once again set to be a major pain among many who’ll be getting this one. Even worse is the missing 3.5mm audio jack, but on the brighter side, you are still getting things like USB-C, fast charging technology, a fingerprint scanner, a dual-lens camera, and a promise for timely software updates at just €250.

Specs
  • 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ LCD display
  • Snapdragon 660 chipset
  • 4GB or 6GB RAM
  • 32GB, 64GB or 128GB storage
  • Dual 12MP + 20MP main camera
  • 20MP front camera
  • 3010mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Extras: LTE, Fast charging, USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0, Rear-mounted scanner, Face unlock, etc.

Unlike last year, the Mi A2 has a partner in the shape of Mi A2 Lite. Essentially, this device packs just about the same hardware as the Mi A1 or Redmi 5 Plus for that matter, but with a few tweaks here and there.

    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Mi-A2-Lite_10It also joins Xiaomi’s notch camp and even though the display is smaller than its counterpart, you get a massive 4000mAh battery, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a disappointing micro USB port. You can check out everything there’s to know about the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite in the link below.

    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Mi Max 3

Mi-Max-3-8

The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 continues the Mi Max’s legacy of a big display and huge battery, coming in with a massive 6.9-inch panel that conforms to today’s standards and an even bigger 5500mAh battery unit. Being an upgrade to the Mi Max 2, the Mi Max 3 also packs a greatly improved specs sheet that is led by the Snapdragon 636 processor paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.

Specs
  • 6.9-inch 18:9 FHD+ LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor
  • 4GB or 6GB RAM
  • 64GB or 128GB expandable storage
  • Dual 12MP + 5MP main camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 5500mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo

Xiaomi chose to stick to the 3.5mm audio jack and USB-C port from last year and the fingerprint scanner also keeps its place on the back. Speaking of which, you also find a second lens to add to the single 12MP unit used on the Mi Max 2 while the front gets an AI-powered face unlock feature. Xiaomi Mi Max 3’s massive 5500mAh battery supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology and as expected, the phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI on top.

    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro

Redmi-Note-5-Pro-

There’s no walking past the Redmi Note 5 Pro. By far, this is the best budget phone money can buy at the moment. Boasting a full-screen design with a massive 5.99-inch full HD+ resolution, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is the first to rock a Snapdragon 636 SoC, which is mated with up to 6GB RAM, but there’s a 4GB RAM variant, although both have the same 64GB storage.

There’s an iPhone X-like dual 12MP + 5MP camera on the back while for the selfies, you get a 20MP unit that is also accompanied by a LED flash. The battery stands at a massive 4000mAh, which also supports fast charging technology. The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a price tag of about $215 for the base model and $260 for the 6/64GB variant.

Pros
  • Impressive display
  • Great camera
  • Powerful processor
  • Excellent battery life
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Android Nougat out of the box
  • Availability
  • Micro USB port
  • No LTE band 20 (800MHz)
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro

Redmi-6-Pro

If you feel like the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a little too costly, Xiaomi has another great piece of hardware in Redmi 6 Pro. An amped version of the natural successor to the popular Redmi 5, you are basically getting the same unit as the Redmi Note 5 (Redmi 5 Plus) but with a new design language and some new features as well. The Redmi 6 Pro has a 5.84-inch full HD+ display with a notch, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage, a dual 12MP + 5MP main camera, 5MP selfie camera, a huge 4000mAh battery unit, and runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with a promise for Android 9 Pie update. The Redmi 6 Pro, if you like, is an improved Redmi Note 5 but cheaper on the price.

These figures translate to about $150 and $180, respectively. You can check out everything you need to know about the Redmi 6 Pro here.

Pros
  • Quality build
  • A big 19:9 display screen
  • Speedy performance
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Good camera
  • Fast fingerprint scanner
  • Great value for money
Cons
  • Still uses micro USB port
  • No NFC
  • Bluetooth 4.2 instead of Bluetooth 5.0
  • Weak selfie camera
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi Redmi 6A

Redmi-6A-1

Xiaomi is king of the budget segment and indeed the Redmi 6A is king of the budget phones. At about $85, the Redmi 6A is the best device such money can buy. As usual with Xiaomi phones, you get a great build and in keeping up with the trends, there’s an 18:9 HD+ LCD display screen that stretches over 5.45 inches, a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset, 2GB RAM and 16/32GB storage options. There’s a 13MP main shooter and a 5MP unit for selfies that Xiaomi says has AI portrait mode. Keeping it alive is a decent 3000mAh battery unit.

The high-end variant of the Redmi 6A , which is still a steal for what you get. You can check out everything you need to know about the Redmi 6A here.

Pros
  • Great build
  • Big screen with 18:9 aspect ratio
  • Powerful specs for a budget phone
  • Excellent battery life
  • AI portrait mode
  • AI Face unlock
  • Best value for money
Cons
  • No fast charging
  • No USB-C port
  • No NFC
  • No fingerprint scanner
    • RECOMMENDED STORE TO BUY:
    JUMIA: [button color=”” size=”” type=”round” target=”” link=”http://c.jumia.io/?a=2091&c=11&p=r&E=kkYNyk2M4sk%3d&ckmrdr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.com.ng%2Fandroid-phones%2Fmi%2F&utm_source=cake&utm_medium=affiliation&utm_campaign=2091&utm_term=”]BUY NOW[/button]

Xiaomi is also an OEM that keeps rolling out phones throughout the year. That says a lot about their capability of making exciting phones that are worth waiting for, given the range you are looking to buy your next Android device in.

Here are all the Xiaomi phones that are going to be released in the coming months. You will be surprised how much data has already been tossed around in leaks and rumors section.

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