Choosing between Samsung and Xiaomi Redmi is one of the most popular dilemmas among buyers in 2026. Both brands offer devices in different price categories, but approaches to design, performance and ecosystem are radically different. Samsung is traditionally associated with premium flagships and advanced technologies, while Redmi (a sub-brand of Xiaomi) is famous for optimal value for money.
In this article, we will analyze real user reviews, compare key models of 2023-2026, assess the pros and cons of each brand, and help determine which device is right for you – whether it is Samsung Galaxy. A54 Photo courtesy of Redmi Note 13 Pro+ We'll focus on the hidden pitfalls that manufacturers don't mention, but that owners often mention in reviews.
1. Comparison of flagship models: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Redmi K70 Pro
Flagships are a showcase of brand technology. - 2026 Samsung Galaxy S23 redmi K70 Pros represent two different approaches to the premium segment: one focused on the balance of performance and ecosystem, the second on “iron” power at a more affordable price.
According to GSMArena and AnTuTu tests, Redmi K70 Pro overtakes Galaxy S23 In synthetic tests, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from Samsung), however, in real life, the difference is almost invisible: both smartphones cope with games at maximum settings and multitasking:
- 🔋 Autonomy: Galaxy S23 It lasts 15-20% longer thanks to energy efficiency. AMOLED-The screen and adaptive mode of the processor. K70 Pro discharges faster due to a more powerful chipset and less optimized MIUI.
- 📸 Camera: Samsung leads in photo processing (especially in low light conditions), but Redmi offers more flexible manual settings and format support RAW 14-bit.
- 🛡️ Updates: Galaxy S23 Guaranteed to get 4 years of major Android updates + 5 years of safety, Redmi. K70 Pro – 3 years of Android and 4 years of patches.
In reviews on Yandex.Market and AliExpress owners of Galaxy S23 They praise stability and premium design, but blame slow charging (25W). Redmi. K70 Pro more often mention overheating during long games and “raw” firmware in the first months after release.
2. Mid-range price segment: Galaxy A54 vs Redmi Note 13 Pro+
Budgets up to 30-35,000 rubles are the most competitive. A54 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Both devices have been highly praised in reviews, but reviews from real users reveal nuances.
The advantages of Galaxy A54:
- 🌧️ Water protection by standard IP67 (Redmi's only IP53 — spray-proof).
- 🔄 4 Android updates (vs 2 for Redmi Note 13 Pro)+).
- 🎨 AMOLED-screen with a frequency of 120 Hz and support HDR10+.
The advantages of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+:
- ⚡ Fast charging. 120W (vs 25W Galaxy A54). Full charge in 19 minutes.
- 📏 More compact case (161.4 × 74.2 mm 158.1 × 76.7 mm).
- 💰 Price of 5-7 thousand rubles lower with similar characteristics.
| Parameter | Galaxy A54 | Redmi Note 13 Pro+ |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Ultra (4nm) |
| Main camera. | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.67, OIS |
| Autonomy | 5000 mAh, 25W | 5000 mAh, 120W |
| Price (2026) | ~32 000 ₽ | ~25 000 ₽ |
In reviews on Wildberries and MegaMarket owners of Galaxy A54 complain of overheating when shooting video 4K And the sound is soapy. The Redmi Note 13 Pro.+ more often mention problems with autofocus in macro mode and "glitches" MIUI two-way SIM-map.
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If you want to be durable, pay attention to the Galaxy. A54: The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.+, And the body is an aluminum frame.+ Gorilla Glass 5 and plastic frame, which increases the risk of damage when falling.
3. Budget models: Galaxy M14 vs Redmi 12
Smartphones up to 15 thousand rubles are compromises. M14 And Redmi 12 shows you how you can save on hardware without losing functionality.
The main problems of the Galaxy M14 reviewably:
- 🐢 Exynos 1330 processor slows down in games and multitasking.
- 📵 Weak Wi-Fi and mobile network signal (frequent complaint in regions with poor coverage).
- 🔕 One speaker (monosound) instead of stereo.
The main problems of Redmi 12 reviews:
- 🤖 MIUI Advertising in standard apps (even after disabling in settings).
In the Geekbench Redmi 12 (Helio) Tests G88) The results are 10-15% higher than the Galaxy. M14, But in real life, the difference is not obvious. The main advantage of Samsung in this segment is a clean Android without advertising and unnecessary applications. Redmi 12 win only in price (by 2-3 thousand rubles cheaper).
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If you want a phone on social media, go for Redmi 12. If you're planning to shoot videos or play light games, you'd better pay extra for a Galaxy. M14 for more stable software.
Ecosystem and Software: One UI vs MIUI
The operating system and ecosystem is something you'll encounter on a daily basis. Here's Samsung One UI Xiaomi MIUI offer radically different experiences.
The pluses of One UI (Samsung):
- 🔄 Long Updates: Even Budget Models Get 4 Years of Security.
- 🎨 Minimalist design without unnecessary "chips".
- 🔗 Integration with Windows (link to Windows function).
Cons of One UI:
- 🐌 Slowdowns on budget models in 1-2 years.
- 📱 Duo applications (e.g., two browsers: Samsung Internet and Google Chrome).
Pluses MIUI (Xiaomi):
- ⚡ Fast animations and flexible interface settings.
- 🔧 Additional features: app cloning, superwalls, game turbo mode.
- 📡 Best Optimization for Weak Chipsets (such as Helio G Series).
MIUI's downsides:
- 📢 Advertising in system applications (even after disconnection returns after updates).
- 🔄 Unstable Updates: New Versions MIUI bugs often.
- 🗑️ Garbage files: the system creates duplicate photos and cache.
In the poll on 4PDA 68% of Samsung users said they had never encountered a critical software bug. Among Xiaomi owners, only 42% of them – the rest complained about accidental reboots, “flights” of applications and problems with Bluetooth.
How to turn off MIUI ads forever?
5.Cameras: Who shoots better in 2026?
Photos and video are one of the key smartphone choices, where Samsung is traditionally considered the leader, but Xiaomi is actively catching up, especially in the budget and mid-range segments.
Comparison of cameras in flagships:
- 🌃 Night shooting: Galaxy S23 It uses Nightography algorithms that are better at dealing with noise.Redmi K70 Pro gives more natural colors, but loses in detail.
- 🎥 Video: Samsung supports 8K@30fps and HDR10+, Redmi is limited. 4K@60fps without HDR.
- 🔍 Zoom: Galaxy S23 3× optical zoom, Redmi K70 Pro - only 2.×.
Comparison of cameras in the middle segment:
- 📷 Main module: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ With 200 MP overtakes the Galaxy A54 (50 MP) in detail, but loses in the processing of portraits.
- 🌈 Samsung gives warmer and richer colors, Xiaomi – more natural, but sometimes faded.
In tests DxOMark (2026) Galaxy S23 Scored 146 points for photos (vs 138 for Redmi) K70 In the budget segment, Redmi 12 (85 points) overtook the Galaxy M14 (78 points) due to better daylight detail.
View examples of photos on GSMArena or DxOMark
Test the shooting in manual mode (checking noise at high levels) ISO)
Take a video with movement (stabilization check)
Compare the colors on the display and the real object
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6. Autonomy and charging: who holds the longer?
Battery life is a critical parameter for many users, where Xiaomi has traditionally led the way with its capacious batteries and fast charging, but Samsung is still on track to optimize.
Leaders in autonomy (according to PCMark tests):
- Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — 14h 30 min (screen).
- Galaxy M14 — 13:45 min.
- Galaxy A54 — 12:10 min.
- Redmi 12 - 11 p.m. 20 min.
Charging speed:
- ⚡ Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 120W (0-100% for 19 minutes).
- ⚡ Redmi 12: 18W (0-100% for 1 hour 40 minutes).
- 🐢 Galaxy A54: 25W (0-100% for 1 hour 20 minutes).
- 🐢 Galaxy M14: 15W (0-100% for 2 hours 10 minutes).
⚠️ Attention: Fast charging Redmi strongly heats the smartphone.In reviews, users complain that when charging from the smartphone 120W body heated to 45-50°C, which can shorten battery life.We recommend using charging 60W–80W for everyday use.
In long-term tests (6-12 months), Samsung’s battery degrades more slowly: a year later, the capacity of the Galaxy A54 fall ~10% and Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — on ~15% This is due to Xiaomi’s more aggressive fast-charging algorithms.
7. Design and assembly: which is more reliable?
The look and quality of the build are subjective but important criteria, with Samsung betting on premium materials and Xiaomi on practicality and maintainability.
Materials of shells:
- 🏆 Galaxy S23: aluminum-frame + Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
- 🥈 Redmi K70 Pro: aluminum frame + Gorilla Glass 5 glass glass.
- 🥉 Galaxy A54: plastic-frame + glass glass glass Gorilla Victus+.
- ⚠️ Redmi Note 13 Pro+: plastic-frame + glass glass Gorilla 3.
Frequent problems with reviews:
- 🔧 Samsung: creaking back panel of the Galaxy M14 Galaxy A14 (It's in 15% of reviews).
- 💔 Xiaomi: cracks on the back of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Falling from a height of 1 m (22% of users complain).
In the tests for strength (JerryRigEverything) Galaxy S23 appreciated 8/10 for the resistance to scratches and blows, and Redmi K70 Pro — 6/10 It's because of the brittle glass in the Redmi budget segment. 12 (5/10) Galaxy is losing M14 (7/10) due to the lack of oleophobic screen coverage.
⚠️ Warning: If you drop your smartphone frequently, avoid models with glossy back panels (e.g., Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ It's slippery and collects prints, and you'd better go with matte options or you'd better use a case with reinforced corners.
8. Bottom line: what to choose in 2026?
The choice between Samsung and Xiaomi Redmi depends on your priorities.
- 📱 For photography and video: Samsung (especially Galaxy) S23 Galaxy A54).
- 🎮 For games: Redmi K70 Pro or Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (Thanks to powerful chipsets and cooling system).
- 💰 For savings: Redmi 12 or Redmi Note 13 (best price/quality ratio).
- 🔄 For durability: Samsung (longer supports updates, more reliable build).
- ⚡ For fast charging: any Redmi with support 67W–120W.
If you want stability and reliability, go with Samsung. If performance and price are more important, go with Xiaomi Redmi. A54 vs Redmi Note 13 Pro+) Xiaomi wins on hardware, but Samsung wins on software and support.
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In 2026, Xiaomi caught up with Samsung in the quality of cameras in the middle segment, but lags behind in software optimization. A54. If you want maximum performance for less money – Redmi Note 13 Pro+.