If the tempting $799 / £849 / AU$1,339 starting price of the iPhone 14 puts you off, you might want to take a look at the Xiaomi 12T, an anticipated mid-range phone that should debut very soon.
It's rumored to be a lower-cost spin-off of the Xiaomi 12, as well as a successor to the Xiaomi 11T, and some leakers seem to think it could be released imminently, alongside a Pro version (as techies often do). Xiaomi T phones), as well as an inexpensive tablet and headphones.
Xiaomi 12T, 12T Pro, Redmi Pad and Redmi Buds 4 Pro are likely to launch globally next week. pic.twitter.com/x8GY2U0owVSSeptember 14, 2022
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Leaks so far suggest the phone could have a 200MP high-res rear camera (similar to the recently launched Motorola Edge 30 Ultra), though beyond that we're expecting a similar device to previous models, but with some updates and tweaks. here and there. That's a good thing, because Xiaomi T phones are generally reliable, rugged handsets with really intuitive side-mounted fingerprint scanners, big, beautiful displays, and useful camera features.
The best part is probably the price, as these phones sit right in the middle of the mid-range market. The Xiaomi 11T Pro costs exactly the same as the Google Pixel 6, despite having better specs in many departments, and the non-Pro version costs even less.
Analysis: more for your money
Given the price of new iPhones, especially in the UK, where a price hike means you pay a lot more for phones there than in the US.
We're expecting the Xiaomi 12T, along with a Pro sibling, to launch next week as it will give them more time to compete with Apple's four new iPhones. As mid-range devices, Xiaomi's next potential releases probably aren't destined for our list of best cheap phones or best smartphones overall, but they could still be great alternatives for some people.