2021 Winners and losers: Xiaomi

27 December 2021
It has been a productive year for Xiaomi – it launched over 50 phones and a bunch of other devices.

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SittingOnAToillet, 27 Dec 2021Mi 11 Ultra is a good flagship but I don't like MIUI, ... moreActaully he isn't the most famous basher. As he doesn't often bash (but I have a notorious history with bashing apple tehe). He has been on this site for a pretty long time. I've also been here since mid 2020. I can certainly say I know many of these people. But honestly about the topic I would say he should've said it has the best hardware. As software UI is just an personal preferance.

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    • AnonD-909757
    • pZV
    • 27 Dec 2021

    YUKI93, 27 Dec 2021"...the phone can be PERFECTLY water-resistant without... moreDo you realize that IP rating is a CERTIFICATION?
    Literally, it is the equivalent of making a car more powerful by putting stickers on it.

    There are a LOT of IP rated phones who ALSO die by water in a regular basis, there was even a lawsuit against Apple who showed the phone being used in a pool.
    IP rating is NOT meant for products such as smartphones in the first place, and it is NOT made for immersion, the immersion test is NOT repeatable.
    IPx3 to x6 is meant for products that operate outside, such as a surveillance camera that can handle rain thanks to a cover, IPx7 and x8 is meant for ACCIDENTAL water coverage, a good example is outdoor electrical outlets made to survive a flood, it doesn't mean you should use it in your pool.
    None of the major brand cover water related damages, instead they put water damage stickers in their phones, including their IP rated phones.
    Was one phone made with an ATM rating, yes, it would be good for immersion.

    There are some IP rated phones who died from water and some non IP rated phones who have operated multiple times underwater without any incident, but it is exactly like car crashes and seatbelt, you can be perfectly fine without seatbelt and die while wearing one during an accident, it doesn't mean that you should not wear it, so because an IP rated phone survived doesn't mean it is meant for it.

      GSM Boy, 27 Dec 2021Yes, I guess that a lot of people could not get it over the... moreVery good but it's certainly not cheap though. €1,200 in Europe is similar to Samsung and Apple flagships. Even in China it was more expensive than Oneplus, Oppo and Vivo flagships

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        • Sq2013
        • j98
        • 27 Dec 2021

        Anonymous, 27 Dec 2021Loser: anybody who believes the hype and paper specs and bu... moreOr perhaps you. I bought the pocophone f3 for 290 euros. Phenomenal phone. Yes, the camera is just about average. It not terrible but every other facet of the phone is fantastic. Serious power and grunt in the processor, super fast charging, very few ads, strong battery life, a very good quality oled screen. What's your problem with such a phone? I think you are likely one of those people who spends stupid money on phones and then whines when other people spend a third time the price and get a phone that can do 95℅ of the phone you spent a fortune on

          Anonymous, 27 Dec 2021Can I ask grandma to install custom ROM? Clearly not. I’... moreYour grandma probably don't even know the model, of even brand of her device.

          Do you really think she cares about OS version? If anything, she probably dislikes updates rather than like them. The elderly tend to not like updates as it changes things.
          Changes means making the device they know more difficult to use.

          As long as the apps they use get updates/patched/bug fixed it is no issue for most people that the android OS version don't get updated.

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            • Anonymous
            • nYE
            • 27 Dec 2021

            Anonymous, 27 Dec 2021Miui is far from trash. It's one of the better Android... moreIf you are used to it then maybe it works better for someone.

            I think that if they want to keep MIUI, then they should fix that first and then indeed streamline their line-up.

            I know a lot of Xiaomi users, their phones are great but I can count on 1 hand how many of them like MIUI.

            As for me MIUI, just like EMUI is the only skin where I have to Google where they put what functionality wise... I mean Samsung has a poor skin too but even there I never had to go that far.

            (in the end it is all each to their own preference, I don't like any skin and I am also not the biggest fan of vanilla android for being a little TOO barebone.
            But Xiaomi really has to fix MIUI)

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              • Anonymous
              • Uis
              • 27 Dec 2021

              Anonymous, 27 Dec 2021Xiaomi is a fine company Just drop the trash called MIUI... moreMiui is far from trash. It's one of the better Android skins. It's also Xiaomi's first product. They were developing Miui before they started making phones. Miui made them what they are today. Personally, I think they should streamline their product line so they can update their phones more quickly.

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                • Rkm
                • DkZ
                • 27 Dec 2021

                "Which will apparently be the case with MIUI 13, which will be based on Android 11 and 12"
                Wasn't project treble supposed to fix that? Do xiaomi still continue this garbage method?

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                  • Anonymous
                  • xZI
                  • 27 Dec 2021

                  RhelvZN, 27 Dec 2021Excuse me? Well, I kindly disagree with you. First of al... moreCan I ask grandma to install custom ROM? Clearly not.

                  I’m happy to spend a little extra but not skimp on UI quality nor the specs, unless it’s my backup phone (which I currently don’t have anymore). I learnt the lesson the hard way by listening to GsmArena commenters this is better because it comes with SD8xx and bought a Realme, which I regret it. UI was terrible and the touch delay was obvious, so I sold it not long then.

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                    • Anonymous
                    • JT5
                    • 27 Dec 2021

                    [deleted post]Yes, you can.

                    If you have proper tools you can open Pro-i and trade the 12GB for 16/18GB and 512GB for 1TB. It works flawlessly.
                    Obviously you lose warranty.

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                      • hmm
                      • TX{
                      • 27 Dec 2021

                      Jason Aliferis, 27 Dec 2021At least from my experience the MIUI has been very good. It... moreMy redmi note 5 AI got updates for something 18 months so probably this note 9 wont get much more of them in the future. Also Note 5 was with SD636 and with a promise that it's in some sort of program to have longer time updates but didnt happen anyways.

                      I probably will get Xiaomi phone as my next one anyways but i still waiting something smaller from them

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                        • hmm
                        • TX{
                        • 27 Dec 2021

                        Weird that for apple the winner and loser article was all about the devices and for Xiaomi is it's software and other things and less about the devices.

                        Not even pad 5 in this article for winner or loser.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • tZk
                          • 27 Dec 2021

                          AnonD-1030868, 27 Dec 2021Loser : Xiaomi They couldn't even hold a place in Eur... moreThis is what I came here for. Trolls like you crying is best entertainment for me. Try harder, babi

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                            • Anonymous
                            • tZk
                            • 27 Dec 2021

                            Anonymous, 27 Dec 2021Loser: anybody who believes the hype and paper specs and bu... moreSeeing haters like you cope hard by giving nonsensical reasons is becoming an entertainment for me. Next year you will need to cope eveb harder haha

                              Anonym, 27 Dec 2021> Xiaomi phones are literally the easiest to flash custo... moreOh yeah I forgot about them too lol

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                                • Anonymous
                                • JT5
                                • 27 Dec 2021

                                AnonD-731363, 27 Dec 2021Well who else thinks MI 11 ultra is best phone out in 2021 ... moreIphone 13 is better than your future phone K50 Pro+.
                                No matter how much scandal you can make.
                                It is a fact.
                                And the iphone 13 hardware costs 25%.

                                And you need to compare the price device was announced, not current.
                                11 ultra has near 1 year already. Obviously would be cheaper. Also many units sold as new are devices returned.

                                Initial price was €1300 ...

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • JT5
                                  • 27 Dec 2021

                                  AnonD-909757, 27 Dec 2021Oh, c'mon, stop with this water obsession. *First, it... moreCertification is much cheaper than using the hardware.
                                  Saying all units had the seals but not certified is just a lie told by youtubers.
                                  The glass of water test is BS.

                                    Xiaomi still have a long way to go if it want to beat Samsung
                                    for me
                                    Mi11Ultra:Xiaomi prove they can build a superphone(super flagship)now
                                    K40(Poco F3)&Poco X3Pro&Redmi Note10 series&Poco F3GT/X3GT and other entry level phone:Xiaomi still know how to make high value price ratio midrange/flagship killer phone and fulfill different needed by different phone
                                    Xiaomi Civi:it is a attampt that Xiaomi made to meet the need of girl/women..
                                    Miband 6:the improvement of smartband is so small,i can barely feel any different when i using both Miband 4 and 6...the age of smartband is over,those low end smartwatch is more better choice(although they are big smartband actually)
                                    Mix 4:Xiaomi need relocate their Mix series...They fight against their own Mi11 series
                                    Mix fold:disaster...the phone should be released at 2020 instead of 2021,it is more close to samsung first gen Fold....Problem is CSOT cant provide as good fold screen as samsung...So Xiaomi return to samsung screen for next year phone.
                                    Earphone:Xiaomi make hugh improvement in TWS earphone era,both Flipbuds pro and Airpods 3Pro released in China are very good at their price range.
                                    Smartwatch:compare to earphone,it hardly make any improvement...waitting the watch S1 release with Mi12 series

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                                      • Anonym
                                      • Lci
                                      • 27 Dec 2021

                                      RhelvZN, 27 Dec 2021Excuse me? Well, I kindly disagree with you. First of al... more> Xiaomi phones are literally the easiest to flash custom ROMs on it, aside from Pixels

                                      OnePlus is far better in that regard, no waiting time like Xiaomi and pretty much all their flagship devices are officially supported by LineageOS. I do like Xiaomi's better value proposition and currently daily-drive a Xiaomi phone with LOS, but that does not change the fact OnePlus is better at this game than Xiaomi.

                                        Anonymous, 27 Dec 2021Loser: anybody who believes the hype and paper specs and bu... moreExcuse me? Well, I kindly disagree with you.

                                        First of all, unlike software, hardware can't be updated once it's set in your phone (Still possible but it's too much of a hassle). You can still just use Custom ROMs if you are too sick of MIUI. Xiaomi phones are literally the easiest to flash custom ROMs on it, aside from Pixels.

                                        Second of all, we buy what we want and you have absolutely no right to call us idiots or losers or whatever you like just because you don't like the brand we bought from.

                                        Clearly you haven't read the posting rules. I kindly request the GSMArena team to remove your comment as you have proven to be unfit here and you don't have an account.

                                        I would like to say more but I am afraid I have to break the rules and it's not worth it.