Samsung or Xiaomi: a detailed comparison of smartphones on 10 criteria for an informed choice

The choice between Samsung and Xiaomi smartphones in 2026 has become more difficult than ever. Both brands offer devices on every budget, from affordable models for 15,000 rubles to premium flagships with price tags for 100,000. But what criteria are really important when comparing? Should you overpay for the Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, if the Xiaomi 14 Pro offers similar brightness for less money?

In this article, we will analyze key aspects, from the performance of chipsets (Exynos vs Snapdragon vs Dimensity) to the nuances of software (One UI vs MIUI), examine why Samsung leads the foldable smartphone segment, and Xiaomi in the ratio of price / quality, and most importantly, give clear recommendations for different categories of users: gamers, photographers, travelers and those who are looking for maximum autonomy.

Spoiler: In 2026, Xiaomi for the first time overtook Samsung in charging speed (240W vs. 45W) and base memory (256GB as standard vs. 128GB from the Korean brand). But that doesn’t mean that the Korean giant is losing ground — it has trump cards, which you will learn more about later.

1.Performance: Exynos vs Snapdragon vs Dimensity

The chipset race took an unexpected turn in 2026, with Samsung continuing to use its own Exynos processors in European flagship versions (such as the Galaxy S24+), while Xiaomi bet on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and Dimensity 9300 (in Redmi K70 Pro). The difference in benchmarks is as high as 20% in favor of the Chinese brand, but the real difference is only noticeable in resource-intensive tasks.

An important nuance: Samsung optimizes its chips for the screen with a high refresh rate (up to 120 Hz), so the animations in One UI look smoother than in MIUI on the same hardware. But in games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) Xiaomi leads thanks to better heat removal and support for Vapor Chamber technology in top models.

• 🔥 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Exynos 2400 (Europe) / Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US / China) - 12 cores, up to 3.3 GHz
• ⚡ Xiaomi 14 Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – 8 cores, up to 3.3 GHz, but with better cooling
• 💰 Redmi Note 13 Pro+: Dimensity 7200 Ultra – 4 nm, optimized for the budget segment
• 📊 Geekbench 6: Xiaomi 14 Ultra overtakes Galaxy S24 15% in multithreaded test

⚠️ Note: If you are buying a Galaxy S24 In Europe, check the processor model through Settings → Phone information, Exynos versions. 2400 They can lose in autonomy on the 10-15% Compared to Snapdragon variants.

2.Screen: AMOLED vs LTPO AMOLED - which is brighter and more economical?

Display technology is one of the key differences between brands. Samsung uses its own Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with HDR10+ support and adaptive frequency up to 120 Hz. Their main advantage is the peak brightness of 2500 nits (the Galaxy S24 Ultra), which is critical for use in the sun. Xiaomi in response offers LTPO AMOLED with similar characteristics, but with more flexible color profile settings (including Dolby Vision mode).

Interesting fact: in the budget segment (Redmi Note 13 vs Galaxy A54) the difference in the screens is huge. The Korean brand installs Super AMOLED even in the model for 25,000 rubles, while Xiaomi in this price range is limited to AMOLED without support for high refresh rates. But the Chinese manufacturer compensates for this with 1920 Hz PWM backlighting (versus 480 Hz from Samsung), which reduces the load on the eyes.

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To check the actual refresh rate of the screen, install the Display Tester app and select the Refresh Rate test. Some manufacturers underestimate the frequency on the menu, but in fact it only works at its maximum in games.

3.Camera: Megapixels vs processing algorithms

In 2026, Xiaomi finally caught up with Samsung in photo quality thanks to a partnership with Leica. the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra is equipped with four 50-MP modules (main, ultra-wide, telephoto 3.2x and 5x), while the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a 200-MP main sensor with pixel binning 16-in-1. On paper, the Korean giant won, but in real conditions, Xiaomi algorithms are better at night shooting and portrait mode.

The budget segment is another story, with Samsung leading the way, with even the Galaxy A34 shooting better for 22,000 rubles than the Redmi Note 13 for the same money, and the reason being the software optimization and optical stabilization (OIS) in the main camera, which most Xiaomi devices didn’t have before the POCO F series.

• 📸 Night shooting: Xiaomi 14 Pro overtakes Galaxy S24 30% in detail in dark scenes
• 🎥 Video 8K: Only Samsung supports the recording of 8K@30fps (Xiaomi is limited 4K@60fps)
• 🔍 Zoom: Galaxy S24 Ultra offers 100x Space Zoom (digital), but only really useful 10x optical
• 🎨 Xiaomi’s Leica profiles give more natural colors, while Samsung is prone to oversaturation

4. Battery and charging: who is faster, who is longer?

Xiaomi has definitely made it ahead of the curve here. Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Pro supports 240-watt charging that charges the battery 100 percent in 18 minutes. For comparison, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a maximum power of 45 watts, and it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to fully charge. But here’s a nuance: Xiaomi’s ultra-fast charging wears out the battery more. After a year, capacity can decrease by 15-20%, whereas Samsung’s usually does not exceed 10%.

In autonomy, the lead is less clear. Despite the smaller capacity (5000 mAh for the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. 5300 mAh for the Xiaomi 14 Pro), the Korean smartphone lasts longer thanks to the optimization of the One UI and an energy-efficient processor. In the PCMark Battery 2.0 test, the difference was 2 hours in favor of Samsung.

⚠️ Caution: If you travel frequently, pay attention to support for reverse wireless charging. S24+ It works with a power of 4.5 W (you can charge headphones), while the Xiaomi 14 does not have this functionality.

5. Software: One UI vs MIUI

Choosing between One UI (Samsung) and MIUI (Xiaomi) is a matter of habit and priority. The former is famous for its long-term support for updates (4 years of major updates + 1 year of security) and minimalist design. The latter offers more customization (themes, animations, gestures), but suffers from advertising in stock applications (even in European firmware) and less predictable update times.

Key differences:

• 🔄 Updates: Galaxy S24 Android 18 will be available in 2027, and Xiaomi 14 will be available only on Android 17 (and that’s not a fact)
• 🛡️ Safety: Samsung Knox vs. MIUI Optimized Storage (the first one is more reliable for corporate use)
• 🎨 Customization: B MIUI You can change icons, fonts and even the shape of screen buttons
• 🗑️ Built-in garbage: One UI It has 10 pre-installed applications, MIUI — Up to 25 (many can be removed)

Disable personalized advertising in Settings → Google → Advertising

Remove Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video

Turn off recommendations on the home screen in Settings → Home screen

Install an alternative launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher)-->

6. Ecosystem and accessories: what do brands offer?

Samsung is winning over Xiaomi in integration with other devices, such as a Galaxy smartphone can:

• 🖥️ Work as a system unit for a monitor via DeX (full Windows-like interface)
• 🎧 Connect to Galaxy Buds with 60ms audio delay (vs. 120ms for Xiaomi Buds)
• 📺 Duplicate the screen on Samsung TVs QLED without additional adapters

Xiaomi, in turn, offers a wider range of budget accessories, from robot vacuum cleaners to smart lamps that are controlled through the Mi Home. But there is a problem – many devices (such as the Mi Band 8) require a separate application, whereas in the Samsung ecosystem everything is managed through SmartThings.

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If you already have Samsung appliances (TV, headphones, watches), choosing a smartphone from the same brand will give you maximum compatibility. For Xiaomi, this effect is less pronounced due to the fragmented ecosystem.

7.Price and price/quality ratio: where is the best?

In 2026, Xiaomi remains the champion in price/quality, but the gap is closing.

• 💎 Flagships: Xiaomi 14 (85 000) ₽) vs Galaxy S24 (95 000 ₽) — 10% difference with similar characteristics
• 📱 Mid-segment: POCO F6 Pro (45 000 ₽) overtakes the Galaxy A74 (50 000 ₽) 2 times the productivity
• 💰 Budget: Redmi Note 13 (18000) ₽) vs Galaxy A14 (20 000 ₽) — first AMOLED-The second one, just the screen. HD+ permit

However, Samsung will compensate for the overpayment with trading programs (for example, a discount of 10 000). ₽ Xiaomi prices can vary greatly by region and party (especially on AliExpress).

8. Which smartphone is for: checklist of choice

We will summarize the results in the form of recommendations for different categories of users:

• 📷 Photographers and videographers: Galaxy S24 Ultra (for) 8K-video 100x Zoom) or Xiaomi 14 Ultra (for night shooting and Leica profiles)
• 🎮 Gamers: Redmi K70 Pro (Dimensity 9300 + Active cooling or Galaxy S24+ (for optimizing in Fortnite/PUBG)
• 🔋 Travellers: POCO F6 Pro (battery 5500 mAh) + Fast charging or Galaxy XCover 6 Pro (for standard protection) IP68)
• 💼 Business users: Galaxy S24 (Knox, DeX and 4 years of updates)
• 💰 Economists: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (AMOLED + 200MP camera for 25 000 ₽)

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If you buy a smartphone for years, choose Samsung because of the long-term support of the software. If you plan to change the device every 1.5-2 years - Xiaomi will give more hardware for the same money.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Samsung and Xiaomi