Xiaomi has been the most popular smartphone manufacturer in Russia for the past several years. I myself was a constant user of their devices since 2020. However, the Chinese company’s complete disregard for problems forced me to abandon Xiaomi at the end of 2025 in favor of another brand. I’m not urging you to follow my example, but I suggest you recognize: smartphones from this ultra-popular company really do have many drawbacks, so it’s worth looking at the market a bit more broadly. And ultimately figure out what to buy instead of Xiaomi if you’re tired of ads in the firmware and other issues.
Choosing a smartphone to replace Xiaomi. Image: Matthews Tech
realme, OPPO, and OnePlus Smartphones
OPPO, realme, and OnePlus are like Xiaomi, POCO, and REDMI. They seem like different brands, but they all come off the same assembly line and are similar to each other. Even different shell names don’t change the fact that OPPO, realme, and OnePlus are essentially the same thing, even if each has its own flavor.
I covered the similarities and differences between OPPO, realme, and OnePlus in a separate article, so I won’t repeat myself here and will just highlight a few models worth considering:
- realme 15. The most balanced smartphone under 20,000 rubles with an optimal ratio of screen and camera quality, as well as performance and battery life.
- OPPO Reno15. A relatively affordable camera phone with a periscope camera for portraits and zoom, complemented by a large amount of storage.
- OnePlus 15. The optimal flagship of 2026 with the best battery life on the market at a quite affordable price.
Of course, these are just a small part of the smartphones worth considering. But these models best demonstrate that Xiaomi isn’t the only one making top value-for-money devices.
vivo and iQOO Sub-brand Smartphones
vivo and iQOO are also like twin brothers, but each has its own character. vivo is more about cameras and a premium feel, while iQOO is about battery life and performance. Just like Xiaomi and POCO.
iQOO and vivo are also a good option. Image: TechHook
Smartphones from both brands are officially sold in Russia, but I would direct mobile photographers’ attention to vivo devices, since I myself switched from Xiaomi 12T Pro to vivo X300 — hands down the best compact smartphone of 2026.
The smartphone fully met my expectations, although it did leave some disappointment due to the aggressive AI processing in the camera. In addition to it, I would recommend checking out the vivo X300 FE (a simplified version of the vivo X300) and the vivo X300 Pro (an advanced version in a larger body).
HONOR Smartphones
HONOR smartphones are really good looking. Image: GSMArena Official
Surprisingly, HONOR smartphones look very competitive against Xiaomi. Not at launch, though, when they’re sold at a premium, but after some time. Right now on AliExpress you can purchase:
- affordable camera phone HONOR 200 for 19,197 ₽;
- foldable smartphone HONOR Magic V2 for 50,728 ₽;
- flagship smartphone HONOR Magic7 Pro for 56,015 ₽.
These models have dropped significantly in price. And unlike Xiaomi, they don’t have built-in ads and often offer even more attractive specifications.
Best Samsung Smartphones
You can switch to Samsung with their One UI. Image: Marques Brownlee
Finally, instead of Xiaomi, you can of course get a Samsung smartphone. But not at launch and not a budget model. I would recommend looking at flagships that, like HONOR, have already dropped significantly in price. Right now you can purchase:
Samsung has no ads, but it does have built-in Galaxy AI artificial intelligence, which is leagues ahead of Xiaomi’s sorry attempt. The shell runs smoothly, and with discounts, Samsung’s prices often turn out to be even lower than those of the Chinese value-for-money champion’s devices.
