Samsung Galaxy A32 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: a detailed comparison of smartphones 2021

Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy A32 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is a classic dilemma for budget smartphone buyers. Both models released in 2021 are still actively sold in the secondary market and in some regions - even in new trim levels. But what better to choose in 2026? This question requires careful analysis, because in 3 years a lot has changed: prices have fallen, new standards have appeared (for example, 5G has become mass), and user requirements have increased.

On the one hand, the Galaxy A32 It offers a Samsung design with AMOLED-The One screen and ecosystem UI, And that's something that many people like for its smoothness and integration with other devices in the brand. 10S Xiaomi has traditionally won in terms of price and hardware: it has a more powerful processor, faster charging and higher resolution of the main camera. But not so clear. In this article, we will discuss a key difference that 90% of reviews miss: How both models age in terms of update support and compatibility with modern apps.

We tested both smartphones on current firmware (Android 13 for the A32 and MIUI 14 for the Note 10S), tested them in real-world scenarios: shooting 4K video, multitasking with 10+ apps, playing in mid-range settings, and the results will surprise you — especially if you plan to use the phone for longer than a year.

1. Design and ergonomics: plastic vs glass

At first glance, both smartphones look modern, but the materials and build are different. Samsung Galaxy A32 uses a plastic case with a glossy back panel that quickly becomes covered with scratches and prints. But the phone is lighter (184 g vs. 190 g in Redmi) and thinner (8.4 mm vs. 8.3 mm - the difference is minimal).

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S, despite its budget position, has a matte-textured glass back (Gorilla Glass 3) that is plus premium, but minus practicality: glass beats when it falls, and repairs cost more, but the phone is more confident in hand thanks to slightly rounded edges. Both devices have IP53 spray protection, but this will not save you when you dive into water.

• 📏 Dimensions: A32 — 158.9×73.6×8.4 mm; Note 10S — 160.5×74.5×8.3 mm
• 🎨 Colors: Samsung has 4 variants (including "purple"), Xiaomi has 3 (black, blue, white)
• 🔋 Connectors: both have a 3.5 mm audio jack and USB-C, But Redmi's port is inconveniently close to the bottom edge.

⚠️ Note: If you drop your phone frequently, Galaxy A32 It's going to survive the fall better because of the plastic, but the glossy surface requires a cover, and without it, the body quickly loses its presentable appearance.

Screen: AMOLED vs IPS - what's more important for the eyes?

Samsung is clearly pushing ahead. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED, with a resolution of 2400×1080 (FHD+), delivers deep black, high contrast (infinite in specs) and HDR10+ support. Maximum brightness reaches 800 nits, which is enough for use in the sun. There are 90 Hz, but only in Adaptive Refresh Rate mode - the system automatically reduces the frequency to 60 Hz in static scenes.

Redmi Note 10S fitted 6.43-inch IPS-resolution-screen 2400×1080 frequency 60 Hz. Brightness below (450 silk), contrast is worse (1500:1), But it's more natural, without the saturation that Samsung has. TÜV Low Blue Light, which reduces eye strain with prolonged use.

⚠️ Note: If you watch videos on YouTube or Netflix frequently, Galaxy A32 It will improve with support. HDR10+. But for reading texts and working with documents Redmi Note 10S It is more comfortable due to less aggressive color reproduction.

3.Performance: MediaTek Helio G85 vs Snapdragon 480

On paper, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S looks more powerful: it has an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 (8 nm) with a clock speed of up to 2.0 GHz. In synthetic tests (for example, AnTuTu 9), it scores ~270,000 points against ~200,000 from MediaTek Helio G85 in the Galaxy A32. The difference is noticeable in games: the Note 10S pulls PUBG Mobile on the Balanced settings with 40 FPS, while the A32 gives 30 FPS even on the Smooth.

But in real life, the gap is not that big: both chipsets handle everyday tasks: social networks, instant messengers, watching videos. But Samsung has the advantage of optimizing: One UI runs smoother than MIUI, especially after a year of use. Cache clears more efficiently, and background processes do not load the system as much, but Xiaomi opens heavier applications (for example, Lightroom or AutoCAD) faster thanks to a more powerful processor.

• 🎮 Games: Note 10S It is better suited to gaming (on the 20-30% higher FPS mid-set)
• 📱 Multitasking: A32 Keeps more applications in memory without rebooting
• 🔥 Heating: Both warm up at long loads, but Samsung cools faster

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For most users, the performance difference is not critical, but if you're playing mobile games or editing videos, the Redmi Note 10S will be the preferred choice.

4.Cameras: megapixels vs processing

On paper, Xiaomi is back in the lead: the main camera is 64 MP (f/1.8) vs. 48 MP (f/1.8) for Samsung. But megapixels are not the main thing. In real life, the Galaxy A32 often takes more balanced shots thanks to better color processing and optical stabilization (OIS), which the Note 10S does not have. Photos in daylight are brighter, and portrait mode more accurately separates the object from the background.

At dusk and at night, the picture changes: Xiaomi uses a more aggressive Night Mode, which brightens up dark areas, but sometimes over-lits with noise cancellation. Samsung saves more detail, but the pictures come out darker. Both shoot in 4K@30fps, but the A32 has better stabilization - the difference is visible when shooting from the hand.

5. Battery and charging: who lives longer?

Both smartphones are equipped with batteries with capacity 5000 mAh, but battery life is different. - Galaxy A32 averagely 10-15% More than that, optimizing one UI and AMOLED-It's a screen that uses less power when it displays dark topics, when it's used actively (social media, instant messengers, 2 hourly) A32 live 1.5 day, and note 10S — day-night.

With charging, it’s the opposite: Xiaomi supports fast charging of 33 watts (the adapter comes with the kit), whereas Samsung is limited to 15 watts. In practice: Redmi Note 10S charges from 0 to 100% in 1 hour 10 minutes, and Galaxy A32 – in 2 hours 15 minutes. Both support USB Power Delivery, but Xiaomi also has Quick Charge 3.0.

• ⚡ Fast charging: 33 watts at Xiaomi vs 15 watts at Samsung
• 🔋 Autonomy: A32 win 10-15% real-life
• 🔌 Wireless charging: not available for both

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If you travel frequently, bring a 20,000mAh Power Bank with you.Both smartphones support OTG, so you can charge them from an external battery even without an outlet.

6.Software: One UI vs MIUI

Here, the Samsung Galaxy A32 has a long-term advantage. At the time of release, the phone received Android 11 with One UI 3.1, and by 2026 it has updated to Android 13 (with One UI 5.1). Samsung promises 3 years of major updates and 4 years of security patches - that is, support will last until 2026. One UI is known for stability, minimal bugs and convenient chips like DeX (desktop mode).

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S started with Android 11 and MIUI 12.5, and now runs on MIUI 14 (Android 13). Xiaomi promises only 2 years of major updates and 3 years of patches - that is, official support has already ended in 2023. MIUI offers more customization (themes, animations), but suffers from advertising in system applications (it can be disabled manually) and sometimes slows down.

⚠️ Note: If you want to keep up with the updates, Galaxy A32 — The one-word choice. Redmi Note 10S It will not receive new versions of Android, which means risks with app compatibility (for example, banking programs may require the current OS).

7. Additional chips: what they can and what they can't

Both smartphones support NFC (for contactless payments), Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-band Wi-Fi.

• 🎧 Audio: Xiaomi has stereo speakers (top) + Samsung has the bottom one, and the difference is noticeable when you watch the video.
• 📡 5G: It's missing from both models. 5G, Consider the Redmi Note 11 Pro or Galaxy A52s.
• 🔒 Security: Samsung has Knox hardware – a plus for enterprise users.
• 🎮 Game chips: Xiaomi offers Game Turbo to optimize performance in games.

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If you often listen to music or watch movies without headphones, the Redmi Note 10S stereo speakers will give you a more surround sound.

8.Price and relevance in 2026

In the secondary market (2026) prices for both smartphones are approximately the same:

• 💰 Samsung Galaxy A32: 12 000–15 000 ₽ (depending on state and memory)
• 💰 Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: 10 000–14 000 ₽

Should I buy these models today? Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ For: basic tasks (calls, social networks, photo for memory), if the budget is limited.
• ❌ Not for: modern games, long-term use (more than 2 years), shooting professional video.

Alternatives in the same price range (2026):

• 📱 Redmi Note 12 (AMOLED, 120 Hz, 5G)
• 📱 Samsung Galaxy A24 (AMOLED, 90Hz, 4 years of updates)
• 📱 Realme 10 (Super AMOLED, 33 watts of charging)

⚠️ Note: Before buying, check the status of the battery through the AccuBattery app. 3 In the years of operation, the battery capacity may fall to 70-80% from the initial, which greatly reduces the time of work.

FAQ: Frequent questions