Xiaomi vs Samsung: which tablet is better to buy – a detailed comparison of 2026

Choosing between Xiaomi and Samsung in 2026 The year is not just a brand issue, but a strategic decision that impacts your experience with the brand. 3-5 Both companies offer top-end devices, but they are suitable for very different scenarios: Samsung is traditionally strong in the premium segment with the Galaxy ecosystem and the S Pen stylus, and Xiaomi is capturing the market with a combination of innovations (for example, for example, the company is not a big player, 120 Hz AMOLED In the middle price range) and aggressive pricing.

In this article, we will analyze the real differences between the tablets of the two giants. 10 Key parameters — from displays with Dolby Vision support to battery life when watching video. S9+ Bypassing Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro in multi-tasking, but loses in price 30-40%, And where the pitfalls are hidden for each brand, based on DXOMark, AnTuTu and first-quarter user feedback. 2026 year-end.

Spoiler: If you want a tablet for professional work (design, notes, office tasks) the choice is obvious. If multimedia and games with a maximum price/quality ratio are the priority, then another brand will take the lead. To make sure you don't make a mistake, go through each section or immediately go to a comparison table.

1. Screens: AMOLED vs LCD — What's more important to your tasks?

The display is 80% of the tablet experience, where Samsung has traditionally led the way with Dynamic technology. AMOLED 2X, which is used in the flagship Galaxy Tab S9 tab S9+. These screens support:

• 🎨 120 Hz with adaptive frequency (1-120 Hz for battery savings
• 🌈 Color coverage 100% DCI-P3 (versus 94% for Xiaomi)
• ☀️ Brightness up to 600 nits (peak - 900 nits) for comfortable use in the sun
• 🎬 Dolby Vision Certification and HDR10+ cinematically

Xiaomi has a Pad lineup 6 Pad 6 Pro used to be used IPS LCD-resolution-matrix 2880×1800 (16:10) frequency 144 Hz. On paper, the refresh rate is higher, but in practice, the difference in smoothness between the two is 120 Hz and 144 Hz is only visible in games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile. LCD-Xiaomi screens win in the uniformity of the backlight AMOLED Samsung sometimes has a dirty screen effect on a gray background.

Critical: If you plan to draw or write an S Pen, Samsung’s latency is the most important factor. 2.8 MS (against) 6-8 This is noticeable when you write fast or sketch.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Pad 6 (not Pro!) is used in tablets LCD 90Hz, not 144Hz, is the key difference between the base and the Pro version.

2.Performance: Snapdragon vs Dimensity in 2026

V 2026 Samsung has completely switched to Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets even in European versions (previously there were problems with Exynos). S9 equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy - a special version with overclocking GPU on 10%. In the AnTuTu Test v10 this chip is dialing 1 350 000 Scores bypassing Dimensity 9000+ Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro on 15-20%.

However, in real tasks, the difference is manifested only in:

• 🎮 Games with maximum settings (e.g. Genshin Impact at 60) FPS)
• 📊 Video editing in LumaFusion or CapCut with effects
• 🤖 Simultaneous work 10+ DeX applications (Samsung)

For everyday tasks (social networks, videos, documents) Dimensity 9000+ Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro is more than enough, and Xiaomi has optimized the cooling system: in the heat tests (30 minutes of PubG Mobile), the body temperature remained at 41.°C against 47.°C at Galaxy Tab S9.

Playing game 90/120 FPS Android

The tablet has active cooling (fan or graphite plates)

A battery of at least 8000 mAh for long sessions

Support for a gamepad (Bluetooth or Bluetooth) USB-C)-->

Samsung guarantees 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security, whereas Xiaomi promises only 3 years of Android and 4 years of security.

3. Cameras: Why do you need them in a tablet?

Cameras in tablets are always a compromise. But if you have to take documents, make video calls or take pictures sometimes, the difference between the brands is noticeable. S9+ fitted:

• 📸 Core module: 13 MPP (f/2.0) autofocused and stabilised
• 📸 Ultrashirk: 8 MP (120)°)
• 🎥 Frontal: 12 MP (120)°) video-calling

Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro features are more modest:

• 📸 Basic module: 13 MP (but without autofocus in the basic version!)
• 🎥 Frontal: 8 MP (without ultra-wide)

According to the results of tests DXOMark (2023), the camera Galaxy Tab S9+ scored 102 points (against 85 in the Xiaomi Pad 6), especially standing out in the:

• 🌆 Low light shooting (due to larger pixel size)
• 📄 Scanning documents (automatic perspective correction)
• 🎤 Video recordings with stereo sound (4 microphones from Samsung)

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Pad 6 (not Pro!) does not have autofocus on the main camera – this makes it impossible to shoot close objects (for example, text from a book).

4. Battery and charging: who will live longer without a socket?

Battery capacity is not the only criterion for autonomy, but rather software optimization and hardware platform.

Despite the smaller capacity, the Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro supports faster charging (67W), which is convenient for short breaks.

• ⚡ Optimized One UI (lower background)
• 🔋 More energy efficient AMOLED-screen
• 📶 Better implementation 5G-modem (in versions with network support)

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If you travel frequently, bring a power bank with you. 20 000 Mach – it can fully charge even Galaxy Tab S9+ 1.5 once.

Critical: Xiaomi doesn’t support wireless charging, which can be inconvenient if you use wireless charging stations for other devices.

5. Stylus and Keyboard: Ecosystem Matters

If you plan to use a tablet for work or school, the accessory ecosystem is a crucial factor.

• ✍️ S Pen (Comprised!) with 4,096 sensitivity levels and 2.8 ms latency
• ⌨️ Official Book Cover Keyboard with trackpad (price) ~15 000 ₽)
• 🖥️ DeX mode for full-fledged work as on a PC

Xiaomi's situation is more complicated:

• ✍️ Xiaomi Smart Pen 2 is being purchased separately (~8 000 ₽) and has a 6ms delay.
• ⌨️ The keyboard is not in the official store (only third-party solutions)
• 🖥️ There is no analogue of DeX, but there is a mode of "Desktop" in the MIUI

According to reviews of artists (for example, on Reddit in a thread) r/Androidtablets), The S Pen is better suited for professional drawing in Clip Studio Paint or Krita, whereas the Xiaomi stylus is more focused on notes in Nebo or OneNote.

6.Software: MIUI vs One UI

The operating system determines how comfortable you'll be using the tablet. - Samsung One UI (Based on Android 14, it offers:

• 📱 Full DeX Mode with Multiple Windows Support
• 🔄 Seamless integration with other Galaxy devices (e.g. copying text between phone and tablet)
• 🛡️ 4 years of OS updates (up to Android 18)

MIUI 14 on Xiaomi tablets has its pros:

• 🎮 Game Turbo Mode to Optimize Game Performance
• 📂 Built-in folder encryption (useful for working with documents)
• 🔋 More aggressive control of background processes (holds charge longer)

The main minus MIUI — Advertising in system applications (in European firmware it can be disabled, but not completely). UI There are no ads, but there are unnecessary duplicate services (for example, two browsers: Samsung Internet and Chrome).

💡

If you want long-term support, go with Samsung, and if gaming and autonomy are the priority, Xiaomi might be better.

7.Price and price/quality ratio

Here Xiaomi traditionally wins. Compare prices at the beginning of 2026 (according to Yandex Market):

Conclusion: Xiaomi offers to 30-50% more affordable devices with comparable performance, but if you need to:

• 📝 Professional stylus and keyboard
• 📺 Premium AMOLED-screen
• 🔄 Long-term support for updates

The overpayment for Samsung may be justified.

8. Who's the tablet for?

Let us summarize the results in the form of a checklist for use scenarios:

• 🎨 Artists/Designers: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (Best stylus, color reproduction, DeX)
• 🎮 Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro (144 Hz, better cooling, cheaper)
• 📚 Students: Xiaomi Pad 6 (sufficient performance, low price)
• 💼 Business users: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (DeX, keyboard, security)
• 🎬 Movies: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (AMOLED, Dolby Atmos)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family use: Xiaomi Pad 6 Pro (universality, price)

If you are still in doubt, answer the questions:

1. Do you need a stylus for work/study?
2. Are you willing to pay 40% more for your brand and ecosystem?
3. Do you need long-term support for updates?

If all the questions are yes, go with Samsung, and in all other cases, Xiaomi will offer the best price/quality ratio.

FAQ: Frequent questions when choosing