Where is the camera better: Samsung or Xiaomi? full comparison of 2026 with tests and guidelines

Why Samsung and Xiaomi Camera Comparisons Are Relevant in 2026

Smartphone choice today is largely determined by camera quality — as confirmed by user surveys and search engine query analysis. Samsung and Xiaomi have been vying for leadership in the mobile photography segment for several years, offering innovative solutions from budget models to premium flagships. But where is the camera really better? The answer is not as clear as it may seem.

In 2026, both companies have been betting on artificial intelligence, improved sensors and optical systems. Samsung is traditionally strong in color processing and detail, while Xiaomi is surprising with flexibility of settings and price-quality ratio. But even within a brand's lineup, the difference between models can be enormous. S24 Ultra and Galaxy A14 — It's like comparing a professional camera to a soapbox. The same goes for the Xiaomi 14 Pro vs Redmi Note 12.

In this article, we will not confine ourselves to abstract reasoning.

• 🔍 Comparative tests of flagships and budget models of both brands in real conditions (daylight, night, portrait, video).
• 📊 Tables with technical specifications and estimates of key parameters (resolution, aperture, stabilization).
• ⚠️ Warnings about typical mistakes when choosing a smartphone “by camera” and marketing tricks manufacturers.
• 💡 Recommendations for setting up cameras to get maximum quality of pictures.

1. Flagships of 2026: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Comparing top-end models is the best way to understand what each brand’s cameras are capable of in ideal conditions. S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra are equipped with the most advanced modules, but their approaches to photography are fundamentally different.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is betting on a 200-megapixel main sensor with adaptive pixel grouping that automatically adjusts to shooting conditions.Super Technology HDR It allows you to save details in both shadows and brightly lit areas, and it's particularly impressive how the algorithms work when taking portraits -- the skin looks natural, without excessive retouching, and the background blur (bokeh) is smooth and realistic.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra, in turn, uses four 50-megapixel sensors (main, ultra-wide-angle, telephoto). 3.2x periscope 5x) The main advantage is the manual mode with full control of exposure, white balance and focus, which will be appreciated by professionals. However, in automatic mode, the camera sometimes "oversteps the stick" with the richness of colors, especially in the Leica Authentic mode.

• 📸 Daylight: Samsung gives more balanced colors, Xiaomi more detail in post-processing.
• 🌙 Xiaomi is taking a leap forward with Night Mode 2.0, but Samsung is better at handling noise.
• 🎥 Video: Both smartphones are filmed in 8K@30fps, But the Galaxy has stabilized. S24 Ultra is smoother.

⚠️ Note: If you shoot a lot of videos, pay attention to the overheating of Xiaomi 14 Ultra during long recording in the video. 8K. In tests, the smartphone was heated to 47°C, which led to a forced lowering of resolution.Galaxy S24 Ultra heats less thanks to improved cooling system.

2. Budget models: Samsung Galaxy A54 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+

Not everyone has a 100-dollar flagship budget.+ Let's see what brands offer in the segment up to 40 000 rubles. Here Xiaomi is traditionally stronger due to aggressive pricing policy, but Samsung is not losing ground.

Galaxy A54 It is equipped with three cameras: the main 50 MPP (f/1.8), ultra-wide-angle 12 MP and macro module 5 MP: The main advantage is stable operation in automatic mode and good color reproduction. However, in low light conditions, the pictures are noisy, and the detail loses even cheaper models Xiaomi.

Redmi Note 13 Pro+ favorably 200-Megapixel sensor (though by default shooting goes into the 12.5 Binning-map 16-into-1) and optical stabilization (OIS), And it's a rarity in this price segment, and the night mode here is much better than the Galaxy. A54, a video in 4K@30fps It's more stable. Minus -- sometimes there's chromatic aberrations around the edges of the frame.

• 💰 Price: Galaxy A54 ~35 000 ₽, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ ~30 000 ₽.
• 📷 Photo by day: Xiaomi wins in detail, Samsung – in color reproduction.
• 🌃 Night: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ ahead by 1-2 steps ISO, lessen.
• 🔧 Samsung has a simpler interface, Xiaomi has more manual settings.

⚠️ Attention: Budget smartphones of both brands often have a problem with the “soap” quality of digital zoom. A54 already 3x Zume detail drops sharply, and in the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — upon 5x. If zoom is important, consider models with optical telephoto (e.g. Poco) F6 Pro).

Comparison of processing algorithms: who better "draws"?

Modern smartphones do hundreds of calculations in a fraction of a second before showing you the final image. It is the software processing that often determines whether a user likes a photo rather than the naked characteristics of the sensors. Here, the approaches of Samsung and Xiaomi are radically different.

Samsung uses Scene Optimizer technology, which analyzes the scene and applies predefined profiles (e.g., “food”, “sunset”, “night”), which yields predictable results, but sometimes leads to overwork – for example, the sky can become unnaturally blue and faces too smooth, but the colors are almost always balanced, which most users like.

Xiaomi, especially in models with firmware MIUI, Offers several styles of processing:

• 🎨 Leica Authentic: Minimal processing, natural colors, but requires good lighting.
• 🌈 Leica Vibrant: rich colors, high contrast (similar to Huawei style).
• 🖼️ Standard: Universal profile, close to Samsung, but with a little more detail.

The main plus of Xiaomi is the ability to disable processing altogether and remove in the RAW (It's valuable for people who are professionally processing in Lightroom or Photoshop. RAW It is only available in Pro mode, and not in all models.

💡

To reduce the soapiness of photos on Samsung, turn off the Scene Improvement option in the camera settings. In Xiaomi, for natural colors, select the Leica Authentic profile and reduce saturation by 10-15% manually.

Video: Stabilization, sound and additional features

If a photo is a snapshot, then a video tests a smartphone for strength, and it's not just resolution and frame rate that matters, but stabilization, autofocus, sound, even body heating, and let's compare how both brands do these things.

Samsung is traditionally strong in video thanks to:

• 🎞️ Super Steady: Hybrid Stabilization (OIS + EIS), which works even when running.
• 🎤 Sound: microphones with noise cancellation and Dolby Atmos support.
• 🔥 HDR10+: Advanced Dynamic Range Video (available with Galaxy) S22).

Xiaomi is not far behind, especially in flagships:

• 📐 Log profile: the ability to shoot in 10-bit D-Log for color correction (with Xiaomi 13 Pro).
• 🎬 Mode: imitation of depth of field in real time (similar to Cinematic Mode from Apple).
• 🔊 Directed microphones: Xiaomi 14 Ultra uses three microphones to better separate sound.

For most users, Samsung videos will look more “ready” to post on social media, while Xiaomi provides more post-processing tools. However, if you need long-term recording (such as streams or vlogs), pay attention to the heat: Xiaomi is more likely to suffer from trolling when recording in high resolutions.

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To shoot video in 4K@60fps Samsung is better suited - stabilization is smoother and autofocus responds faster to movement. Xiaomi wins in creative scenarios (logs, movie mode), but requires more skills to customize.

5 Night shooting: who sees in the dark?

Night modes in smartphones have long ceased to be a curiosity, but the quality of their work varies from “acceptable” to “amazing”. Samsung and Xiaomi use different approaches: the first relies on multi-frame shooting. + AI, the second - on hardware improvements (large pixels, bright flashes).

In the 2026 tests (according to DxOMark and GSMArena):

• 🌌 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Better at handling noise and retaining more detail in the shadows, but sometimes “over-lights” light sources (e.g., flashlights).
• 🌠 Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Gives more natural colors in the dark, but the ultra-wide-angle camera shows distortions around the edges.
• 📱 The Redmi Note 13 Pro is a model+ bypasses the Galaxy A54 Due to a brighter flash and better processing.

An important nuance: in Xiaomi night mode often requires manual activation, whereas in Samsung it turns on automatically in low light. This can be both a plus (no need to adjust anything) and a minus (sometimes the camera “thinks” longer before taking a picture).

⚠️ Warning: When shooting in night mode, keep your smartphone as still as possible - even microscopic hands shakes lead to blur. In Xiaomi 14 Ultra, there is a hint in the form of stabilization animations, and in Samsung, an audible signal that the shooting is completed.

6. Portrait mode: natural vs detailing

Portrait photography is one of the most popular modes, and here Samsung is traditionally considered the leader. However, Xiaomi every year reduces the gap, especially in flagship models.

In the Galaxy S24 Ultra Portrait Mode is based on 3D-This allows you to precisely separate the object from the background even with complex hairstyles or accessories (glasses, scarves), but sometimes the algorithm eats away at small details - for example, individual hair can merge with the background.

Xiaomi 14 Ultra uses dual pixels to determine depth, which gives clearer edges of the object. But here is another problem: in the mode of Leica Portrait, the camera sometimes darkens the face if the background is too bright, but this smartphone has a unique feature - adjust the shape of the blur (round, linear, spiral), which will appreciate creative people.

• 👤 Details: Xiaomi retains more textures (wrinkles, pores), Samsung smooths them.
• 🎨 Blurring effects: Xiaomi has more options (including imitating Leica lenses).
• ⚡ Speed: Samsung processes the image faster (0.3c vs 0.8c from Xiaomi).

7. Which stamp to choose in 2026? script recommendations

There is no universal answer to the question of “what is better” – it all depends on your tasks and budget. Below we have collected recommendations for different categories of users based on tests and reviews of real owners.

📸 For amateur photographers (social networks, travel)

Choice: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Xiaomi 13T Pro.

• 🔹 Samsung is perfect if you want simplicity and predictable results without manual settings.
• 🔹 Xiaomi wins in detail and flexibility (you can shoot in the video) RAW handle later).

🎥 For video bloggers and tick-tookers

Choice: Samsung Galaxy S24+ Xiaomi 14 Pro.

• 🔹 Samsung is better for dynamic scenes (sports, dancing) thanks to Super Steady stabilization.
• 🔹 Xiaomi is suitable for staged videos (reviews, interviews) because of the best microphones and movie mode.

💰 For public sector employees (up to 25 000) ₽)

Choice: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Samsung Galaxy A34.

• 🔹 Xiaomi will give you better night shots and more detailed photos during the day.
• 🔹 Samsung is easier to use and less likely to overheat during long shooting.

👨‍💼 For professionals (RAW, manual)

Choice: Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

• 🔹 Xiaomi offers more creative tools (logs, Leica profiles, manual focusing).
• 🔹 Samsung is more stable in automatic mode and less likely to make mistakes with white balance.

💡

If you shoot mostly automatically and share photos on Instagram, choose Samsung. If you are willing to learn and process photos, Xiaomi will give more features for the same money.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Samsung and Xiaomi cameras