Which is better, Realme or Redmi?

It depends on what you want. Realme suits budget buyers who want fast charging and big specs and do not mind cleaning up apps. Redmi suits value hunters who want lots of hardware for the money and will spend 10 minutes switching off ads.

What is the best Realme phone and the best Redmi phone?

Realme GT 8 Pro (8.3/10, ₹72,999) and Redmi Note 17 Pro Max (7.4/10, ₹49,999).

Which gives longer software updates, Realme or Redmi?

On the phones we recommend, Redmi promises longer updates on average (Realme 3 years, Redmi 3.6 years).

Realme vs Redmi: which brand should you buy?

Only the phones we recommend from each brand. Checked 19 October 2026.

Side by side

Best for: Realme: Budget buyers who want fast charging and big specs and do not mind cleaning up apps.Redmi: Value hunters who want lots of hardware for the money and will spend 10 minutes switching off ads.
Phones we recommend: Realme: 3, ₹16,499 to ₹72,999Redmi: 5, ₹18,499 to ₹49,999
Average updates (our picks): Realme: 3 yearsRedmi: 3.6 years
Updates on top phones: Realme: GT 8 series: 4 Android upgrades and 6 years of security patches.Redmi: Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra: 5 Android upgrades and 6 years of security patches.
Updates on budget phones: Realme: Realme 16 Pro and 16 Pro+ were raised to 4 upgrades and 6 years. Realme 14, 15, P3 and P4 series got one extra year. No clear promise found for C and Narzo phones.Redmi: Redmi Note series and Poco M8 Power: 4 upgrades and 6 years of security. Cheaper Redmi number-series phones reportedly get only 2 upgrades and 4 years of patches.
Service in India: Realme: Over 550 service centres in India, with plans to pass 600 (Sept 2024 figure).Redmi: Xiaomi says its service network covers every pin code in India. It is adding Premium Service Centres: 10 in 2025, 15 more cities in 2026, with a target of 100. We did not find a recent total centre count.
Preloaded apps and ads: Realme: Heavy preloads. 91mobiles counted 67 preinstalled apps plus app recommendations on the Realme 16x and called it one of the most cluttered in its class. Many can be removed. Realme UI is reportedly being folded into ColorOS 17.Redmi: HyperOS shows ads and recommendations in the app drawer, system apps, GetApps and Themes. Most can be turned off in settings (msa, personalised ads, per-app recommendations), but GetApps and Themes ads cannot be fully disabled.

Best phone from each, by budget

Under ₹20,000Realme P4 Lite 4G₹16,499 • 6.1/10Redmi 15C 5G₹18,499 • 6.4/10Compare Realme P4 Lite 4G vs Redmi 15C 5G →
₹20,000 to ₹40,000Realme P4 Power₹32,999 • 7.9/10Redmi Note 17 5G₹27,999 • 6.9/10Compare Realme P4 Power vs Redmi Note 17 5G →
₹40,000 to ₹80,000Realme GT 8 Pro₹72,999 • 8.3/10Redmi Note 17 Pro Max₹49,999 • 7.4/10Compare Realme GT 8 Pro vs Redmi Note 17 Pro Max →

Common questions

Which is better, Realme or Redmi?: It depends on what you want. Realme suits budget buyers who want fast charging and big specs and do not mind cleaning up apps. Redmi suits value hunters who want lots of hardware for the money and will spend 10 minutes switching off ads.
What is the best Realme phone and the best Redmi phone?: Realme GT 8 Pro (8.3/10, ₹72,999) and Redmi Note 17 Pro Max (7.4/10, ₹49,999).
Which gives longer software updates, Realme or Redmi?: On the phones we recommend, Redmi promises longer updates on average (Realme 3 years, Redmi 3.6 years).