Best Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco Budget Phones in 2026
The same Xiaomi phone often ships with a different chip and battery depending on the country. That is the main thing to check before you buy. This list sorts the cheapest Redmi and Poco models by price and flags where the versions differ. “Under $180” is a rough line, and some phones below sit just above it.
Ultra-budget: about $100 to $140
| Phone | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Poco C81 Pro | 6.9″ display, 6,000mAh battery, Unisoc T7250, 15W charging | From $99 |
| Poco C85x | 6,300mAh battery, Unisoc T8300 | Not confirmed |
| Redmi 17C 4G | Helio G81 Ultra, 5,160mAh, 4G only | ¥799 in China, about $117 for 4GB/64GB |
| Redmi A7 4G | 5,200mAh, 3GB+64GB | Rs 10,999 (India) |
| Redmi A7 Pro 4G | 6,300mAh, 4GB+64GB | Rs 11,999 (India) |
These phones run basic Unisoc or Helio chips, so expect calls, messaging, video and light apps. Gaming is a stretch. The Redmi A7 phones have an IP52 rating, a side fingerprint sensor and a 3.5mm jack. The Redmi 17C keeps the headphone jack too.
Upper budget: about $150 to $250
| Phone | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Poco C95 Pro | 4G, 6.9″ 120Hz, 7,500mAh, 45W, 50MP camera | About $187.99 expected (US) |
| Redmi 17 5G (India) | Snapdragon 4 Gen 5, 7,900mAh, IP64, 3.5mm jack | From Rs 23,999 |
| Poco M8x 5G (India) | 7,900mAh, Snapdragon 4 Gen 5, 120Hz | From Rs 20,999 |
| Poco M8 5G | 6.77″ 120Hz AMOLED, 50MP, 45W, 5,520mAh | $209 early-bird |
These cost more, and you get 5G, faster charging or an AMOLED screen. The Poco M8 also promises four years of Android upgrades and six years of security patches, which is rare at this price.
Check the region before you buy
The Redmi 17 5G is three different phones. China gets a Unisoc T8300 and a 6,300mAh battery, India gets the 7,900mAh Snapdragon version above, and Benelux gets 7,500mAh with a 6.9-inch screen. The Redmi A7 Pro 4G has the same issue: 6,300mAh in India, 6,000mAh at €129 in Europe. The Redmi 17C also has conflicting specs, 5,160mAh at 18W in China versus 6,000mAh at 33W on another listing.
Which one to pick
- Cheapest: Poco C81 Pro or Redmi A7 Pro 4G.
- Longest battery life: Poco C95 Pro, Redmi 17 5G (India) or Poco M8x.
- Best screen and update support: Poco M8.
- 5G: Redmi 17 5G, Poco M8x or Poco M8. The C-series and A-series phones above are 4G only.
Where these phones connect to the rest of Xiaomi
Some of these phones, like the Poco M8x, support Xiaomi Interconnectivity with compatible Xiaomi devices. If you want to see how the software compares to Samsung’s, read the HyperOS 4 vs One UI 9 post. For TVs, see the Xiaomi TV A 2026 and TV F Pro 2026 spec posts. If you are setting up a smart home, the Mijia robot vacuum, air purifier and Clothes Dryer 2 Pro posts cover the devices you would control from the same phone. For other budget angles, see the 4G-only phones post, Big Battery & Power Phones, and the China-to-Global rebrand map, which helps match regional model names.
FAQ
Is the Poco M8 under $180? No. Its early-bird price was $209.
Do the Redmi 17 and 17 5G differ by region? Yes. The chip and battery change between China, India and Europe.
Which phones have a headphone jack? The Redmi 17C, the Redmi A7 series and the Redmi 17 5G (India).
Still unverified: Redmi M100, Redmi 15A, Redmi 17 4G, Poco C81, Poco C81x and Poco M8s. I left them out of the tables instead of guessing.
