Best Xiaomi Gaming Phones (Performance and High Refresh Rate)
Who this is for
These are the Xiaomi phones with a flagship chipset, serious cooling and a 165Hz to 185Hz screen. The value picks near the bottom of the list drop to 120Hz, so read the table before you decide.
Top Picks: Flagship Gaming Phones
| Phone | Chipset | Display | Battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi K100 Pro Max | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 6.9″, 185Hz | 9,070mAh, 100W wired, 50W wireless | 6,300mm² cooling chamber, D2 chip, 200MP main camera, from CNY 4,199 (China) |
| Redmi K100 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V Series | 6.59″, 185Hz | 8,580mAh | 5,150mm² cooling, 200MP main camera, from CNY 3,699 (China) |
| Poco F9 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 6.9″, 185Hz | 8,050mAh, 100W | Global K100 Pro Max, from $799 |
| Poco F9 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V Series | 6.59″, 185Hz | 6,330mAh, 100W | Global K100 Pro, from $699 |
| Redmi K90 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Elite | 6.83″, 165Hz | 8,550mAh | Active cooling fan, D2 chip, China only |
| Redmi K90 Max | Dimensity 9500 | 6.83″, 165Hz | 8,550mAh, 100W | Cooling fan, D2 chip, from CNY 3,499 (China) |
Mid-Range Gaming Value
| Phone | Chipset | Display | Battery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi K100 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | 6.83″, 165Hz | 10,000mAh | First standard K-series phone with a D2 chip, launched in China on Oct 27 |
| Redmi Turbo 5 Max / Poco X8 Pro Max | Dimensity 9500s | 6.83″, 120Hz | 9,000mAh, 100W | Same phone under two names |
| Redmi Turbo 5 | Dimensity 8500-Ultra | 6.59″, 120Hz | 7,540mAh, 100W | 3D ice-loop cooling |
| Poco X8 Pro | Dimensity 8500-Ultra | 6.59″, 120Hz | Not verified | Global Turbo 5 twin |
How to choose
If you want the best phone and don’t care about cost, buy the Redmi K100 Pro Max in China or the Poco F9 Ultra everywhere else. They have the same chipset, the same screen size and the same class of cooling. If battery life matters more than speed, the Redmi K100 has 10,000mAh.
Outside China, the Poco X8 Pro Max is the sensible buy. The battery and screen are big, though the panel only runs at 120Hz. One thing to know about the Poco versions: they often carry smaller batteries than the Redmi phones they’re based on. The F9 Ultra has 8,050mAh, while the K100 Pro Max has 9,070mAh.
Xiaomi ecosystem
The K100 series phones run HyperOS 3, so they pair with other HyperOS devices for file sharing and cross-device features. Poco included a Poco Pad C1 with the F9 Ultra in Malaysia and a Smart Band 10 Pro with the F9 Pro, so those are the obvious add-ons if you’re already buying in. For sound, the F9 series has Bose-tuned speakers, and the Ultra adds a rear subwoofer. A Xiaomi TV is the easy way to get a game onto a bigger screen.
