The choice between Samsung and Xiaomi is not just a brand issue, it’s a battle between two philosophies: Korean stability versus Chinese innovation. Both companies offer smartphones for every budget, from affordable models for 15,000 rubles to flagships for 150,000+. But what really matters is which phone is best for you?
In this article, we’ll look at 10 key criteria — from screen quality to durability — based on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra flagships, as well as the budget Galaxy A54 and Redmi Note 13 Pro+. You’ll learn where Samsung is leading the way, and where Xiaomi offers more for the same money.
Spoiler: If you want a smartphone with the best camera for video, the choice is obvious. If you want autonomy and fast charging, the leader is different. Next, a detailed analysis of tables, tests and expert conclusions.
1.Screen quality: AMOLED by Samsung vs LTPO by Xiaomi
Screens are Samsung's calling card. The company makes its own products. AMOLED-Matrixes for its smartphones (and even supplies them to rivals including Apple). S24 Ultra is set dynamically AMOLED 2X permittingly 3120×1440 and adaptive frequency to 120 Hz. The main advantage is record brightness. 2600 a thread that makes the image clear even under direct sunlight.
Xiaomi is not far behind: the Xiaomi 14 Ultra uses Samsung Display’s LTPO AMOLED (yes, the same vendor!) with similar resolution and frequency. However, there is a nuance here: despite the similar specs on paper, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s DisplayMate screen scored A+ for more accurate color reproduction and less flickering at low brightness. But the Xiaomi 14 Ultra has leapt ahead in its maximum refresh rate of 192 Hz (versus Samsung’s 120 Hz), which is noticeable in games.
- 🔹 Samsung: best color reproduction, brightness of 2600 nits, support HDR10+
- 🔹 Xiaomi: 192Hz, smoother animation, but worse color calibration out of the box"
- 🔹 Budget models: Galaxy A54 Super AMOLED from 120Hz and Redmi Note 13 Pro+ — AMOLED 120 Hz, but without support HDR
⚠️ Note: If you watch videos on YouTube or Netflix frequently, check out the certification. HDR10+. It is only the flagships of Samsung and Xiaomi 14 Pro/Ultra. In budget models HDR It only works in certain applications (e.g., in a gallery).
2.Performance: Exynos vs Snapdragon vs Dimensity
Here's where the fun starts. Samsung in 2026 again split the Galaxy S24 lineup into versions with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (for the US and China) and Exynos 2400 (for Europe and Russia). And if Snapdragon is showing record results in AnTuTu (over 2,000,000 points), the Exynos 2400 loses in energy efficiency and heat. In Geekbench tests, the difference is 15-20% in favor of Qualcomm.
Xiaomi has made it easier: all flagships (Xiaomi 14/14 Pro/14 Ultra) are equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which guarantees stable performance. and in budget models (Redmi Note 13 Pro+) uses Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Ultra – a chip that overtakes the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54, but loses in game optimization.
| Model | Processor | AnTuTu (scores) | Geekbench (single-core) | Trottling (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S24 Ultra (Snapdragon) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 2 100 000 | 2 250 | 8% |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra (Exynos) | Exynos 2400 | 1 850 000 | 2 000 | 15% |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 2 150 000 | 2 300 | 7% |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | Dimensity 7200 Ultra | 750 000 | 1 100 | 12% |
| Galaxy A54 | Exynos 1380 | 500 000 | 900 | 20% |
Key takeaway: If you want the most productive smartphone, choose Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Galaxy S24 Ultra on Snapdragon. For a budget of up to 30,000 rubles Redmi Note 13 Pro+ faster than Galaxy A54, but less optimized for games (for example, Genshin Impact on average settings gives 45 FPS vs. 30 FPS Samsung).
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The Exynos 2400 in the Galaxy S24 loses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in energy efficiency by 25-30%, which affects battery life.
3.Camera: Who shoots better - Samsung or Xiaomi?
Photography is one of the most controversial items. Samsung traditionally relies on natural colors and good detail, and Xiaomi – on brightness, contrast and post-processing capabilities. Galaxy S24 Ultra has a main camera at 200 MP (with pixel binning up to 12.5 MP), and Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 50 MP with a huge sensor 1 inch (as in professional cameras).
According to the results of the DXOMARK tests (2026):
- 📸 Xiaomi 14 Ultra (150 points) bypasses the Galaxy S24 Ultra (145 points) due to the best night shooting and dynamic range.
- 🎥 Video: Galaxy S24 Ultra (152 points) leads thanks to stabilization and natural color reproduction (Xiaomi video often gets overexposed).
- 🔍 Zoom: Samsung has optical zoom 5x digitally 100x, Xiaomi has optical 3.2x and 5x (But with the best software to increase).
Budget models: Here Xiaomi is unconditionally ahead. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ has a main camera at 200 MP (albeit with software processing), while the Galaxy A54 is limited to 50 MP. The difference is noticeable when shooting at dusk: Xiaomi has less noise, and Samsung has more realistic colors.
⚠️ Note: If you shoot a lot of videos for social networks (TikTok, Reels), Galaxy S24 Ultra will give a more "instagram" result without additional processing. For a memory photo or professional shooting, Xiaomi 14 Ultra is better than the first.
Which smartphone is better for shooting documents?
4. Battery and charging: who lives longer?
Autonomy is Samsung's weak spot - even the flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra with battery 5000 In intensive use, the scaling is discharged for 6-7 hours (test with on-set) 5G, brightness 100% The reason is poor optimization of Exynos and background activity of Samsung services. 14 Ultra with battery 5300 - I'm holding on. 1.5-2 longer.
The situation with fast charging is even more interesting:
- ⚡ Xiaomi 14 Ultra: Support 90W wired 80W Full charge in 30 minutes.
- ⚡ Galaxy S24 Ultra: Only 45W wired 15W Full charge in 1 hour 10 minutes.
- ⚡ The Redmi Note 13 Pro is a model+ has 120W Charge (charge in 19 minutes!) and Galaxy A54 — everything 25W.
Bottom Line: If you want a smartphone that charges fast and lasts long, Xiaomi is out of the competition. But consider: 120W ultrafast charging reduces battery life by 15-20% in 2 years (GSMArena test data).
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To extend the battery life in Xiaomi smartphones with fast charging, turn off the Ultra Fast Charge function in the settings and use charging power no more than 60W.
5. Software: One UI vs HyperOS
Samsung uses the One UI shell (based on Android), and Xiaomi in 2026 switched to HyperOS, a completely redesigned firmware that integrates an ecosystem of devices (smartphones, smartwatches, TVs).
| Criteria | One UI (Samsung) | HyperOS (Xiaomi) |
|---|---|---|
| Term of support | 4 years of major updates, 5 years of security | 3 years of basic, 4 years of safety |
| Customizability | Limited (fixed launcher, few topics) | Deep (change of icons, animations, system fonts) |
| Advertising in the system | Absent. | There are in some regions (manually disabled) |
| Integration with the ecosystem | Samsung Knox, DeX, Buds, Watch | HyperOS connects the smartphone with Xiaomi smart home, laptops, TV |
The pluses of One UI:
- 🔒 More security with Samsung Knox (important for enterprise users).
- 📱 Stability: fewer bugs and occasional reboots.
The benefits of HyperOS:
- 🎨 Full customization freedom (even system sounds can be changed).
- 🖥️ Embedded virtualization of Android applications on Windows (via Xiaomi) PC Suite).
⚠️ Note: If you use your smartphone to handle sensitive data (banking, corporate email), Samsung is more reliable because of Knox and monthly security patches. In Xiaomi patches are released less often, and in some regions the firmware contains preinstalled Chinese services (removed only through the use of the software). ADB).
6.Price and price/quality ratio
Xiaomi traditionally wins here. Even the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra costs 15-20% cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra with similar characteristics. And in the budget segment, the gap is even wider: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a 200-MP camera and 120W charging cheaper than the Galaxy A54 by 30-40%.
Samsung smartphones are longer to receive updates (5 years vs. 4 Xiaomi), they are easier to sell in the secondary market (demand is higher), and they are less likely to break down (according to service centers, Xiaomi often requires repair of the display or battery).
| Model | Price (2026, Russia) | Discount in 1 year (%) | Cost of screen repair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | 140 000 ₽ | 30% | 25 000 ₽ |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 120 000 ₽ | 45% | 20 000 ₽ |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 35 000 ₽ | 50% | 8 000 ₽ |
| Galaxy A54 | 45 000 ₽ | 35% | 12 000 ₽ |
☑️ What to Consider When Choosing a Price
7. Additional chips: What do brands offer?
Samsung and Xiaomi are adding unique features to their smartphones that can be crucial when choosing:
- 🤖 Samsung: DeX - turning a smartphone into a full-fledged PC (you need a monitor and keyboard). S24 Ultra is a stylus for drawing and taking notes. Samsung Pay with support MST (It works with terminals without NFC).
- 🚀 Xiaomi: HyperOS Connect — control Xiaomi smart home from the phone (including robot vacuum cleaners and lamps). AI-Eraser — remove objects with a single touch (works better than Google Photos). Dual wireless charging — you can charge your phone and headphones at the same time.
For whom is it more important:
- 💼 Business users will need DeX and Samsung Knox.
- 🎮 Gamers – 192 Hz in Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Game Turbo (mode for games).
- 📸 Bloggers – AI-Eraser and manual camera settings in Xiaomi.
8 Repairability and reliability
According to iFixit, Samsung smartphones are easier to repair than Xiaomi:
- 🔧 Galaxy S24 Ultra scored 6 out of 10 for its maintainability (removable rear panel, modular design).
- 🔧 Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 4 points (adhesive battery mount, fragile screen).
Typical breakdowns:
- 📱 Samsung: Type-C connector fails more often (especially after moisture hits).
- 📱 Xiaomi: Vibrator motors and speakers break down (in the Redmi Note series).
⚠️ If you drop your phone often, pay attention to the Galaxy S24 Ultra with aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Xiaomi 14 Ultra glass is thinner, and when falling from 1 meter cracks in 60% of cases (JerryRigEverything test).
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Xiaomi smartphones are cheaper to repair but break more often. Samsung is more expensive to repair but last longer without breakdown.