Choosing a smartphone between three giants — Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei — becomes a quest. Each brand offers unique chips, from the revolutionary Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra cameras to the super-fast charging Xiaomi 14 Pro and Huawei’s innovative HarmonyOS operating system. But how not to get lost in a sea of specs and choose the one that is perfect for you?
In this article, we'll look at key choices, from productivity and autonomy to ecosystems and pricing, and you'll see which models are leading in 2026, where the pitfalls lie, and which brand is better at specific tasks: video, gaming, multitasking, or long-term work without an outlet, and at the end you'll find an interactive survey and an FAQ answering the hottest questions.
1. Performance: Who is faster and more stable?
The race between the brands is not abating: Samsung in flagships uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in most regions) or its own Exynos 2400 (for some markets). Xiaomi and Huawei are going their own way: the former bet on the same Snapdragon, and the latter on the Kirin 9000S (with restrictions due to sanctions).
According to the results of tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 6 in 2026, the leader in raw power was Xiaomi 14 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by 5-7% in multithreaded tasks. However, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro surprised with optimization – despite a less productive chip, it shows a smooth interface at the level of competitors thanks to HarmonyOS 4.0.
- 🏆 Power leader: Xiaomi 14 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, up to 24 GB of RAM)
- 🎮 Best for gamers: Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Optimization for Game Launcher)
- 🛠️ The most stable firmware: Huawei P60 Pro (minimum lags even after a year of use)
⚠️ Attention: If you plan to use a smartphone longer than 3 years, avoid models with Exynos - they historically warm more and lose performance faster than the Snapdragon.Exception: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with improved cooling.
2 Cameras: megapixels vs real quality
Marketing wars for megapixels have long lost meaning - today more important processing algorithms and hardware synchronization. Samsung is betting on versatility: flagships of the Galaxy S24 series are equipped with a 200-MP main module with an adaptive aperture, and Xiaomi surprises with Leica optics in Xiaomi 13 Ultra (released in 2023, but still relevant).
Huawei has traditionally led the way in night photography and portet mode thanks to its XMAGE chip. For example, the Huawei P60 Pro beats competitors in detail in low light conditions, but loses in dynamic range during the day.
| Model | Main camera. | Video shooting (max.) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 200 MP, f/1.7–f/4.9 | 8K@30fps | 100x zoom, expert mode Pro |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 50MP (Leica Summicron) | 8K@24fps | Double OIS, 6.73" AMOLED |
| Huawei Mate 60 Pro | 50 MP (XMAGE) | 4K@60fps | Variable aperture, night shooting without noise |
Critical: Huawei has no support for Google Camera APIs after the sanctions, which limits the capabilities of third-party camera applications (such as GCam).
Ecosystem and software
Here, Samsung and Huawei offer closed ecosystems with a wide range of branded services, while Xiaomi remains closer to “pure” Android.
- 🌐 Samsung (One UI): Integration with Windows (Link to Windows), Dex Mode for PC, Samsung Pay with support for MIR.
- 🔄 Xiaomi (HyperOS): Minimalist interface, but with a lot of advertising in budget models, the advantage is an unlocked bootloader for custom firmware.
- 🚫 Huawei (HarmonyOS): No Google Play Services, but there's a proprietary AppGallery and Petal Search to install APK. Not for everyone!
⚠️ Note: If you are actively using Google services (Gmail, Maps, YouTube), Huawei will create problems – many applications require Google Mobile Services, which are not available on new models of the brand.
Make sure the apps you need work without Google Services|
Check for analogues in AppGallery (e.g. Yandex.Maps instead of Google Maps)|
Assess the importance of push notifications (they work differently on HarmonyOS)|
Think of a backup Android smartphone for critical tasks-->
4. Autonomy: Who lives longer without a power outlet?
In 2026, the leader in time was Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ with a battery of 5000 mAh and ultra-economic Kirin 9000S. In the tests PCMark Battery 3.0, he lasted 16 hours 42 minutes against 14 hours at the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and 13 hours 15 minutes at Xiaomi 14 Pro.
Xiaomi, however, offsets the less autonomy with record charging speeds: the Xiaomi 14 Pro supports 120W wired and 50W wireless charging (full charge in 18 minutes!).Samsung and Huawei have maximum power capped at 45W and 66W respectively.
Traveller’s Tip: If you’re interested in wireless charging, take Samsung – their Wireless PowerShare technology allows you to charge other devices (like headphones) right from the back of your smartphone.
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To extend battery life, avoid charging to 100% and discharging below 20%. Optimal range is 30-80%. Samsung and Xiaomi have a Charge Limitation feature in battery settings (Settings → Device Care → Battery).
Price and price-quality ratio
The budget segment is traditionally owned by Xiaomi and Huawei. for example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ $35,000 ₽ offers a 200MP camera and 120W Charging, which is not available in the Samsung Galaxy A54 Samsung is winning in long-term support: 4 years of updates vs. 2-3 years of competition.
In the premium segment, the gap is smaller: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at 120,000 ₽, Xiaomi 14 Ultra – from 110,000 ₽, Huawei Mate 60 Pro – from 130,000 ₽. But here it is important to consider the cost of ownership: repair screen Samsung will cost 2-3 times cheaper than Huawei (due to shortage of spare parts).
| Brand | Budget model (2026) | Price, ₽ | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Galaxy A34 5G | 28 000 | 4 years of updates, IP67 |
| Xiaomi | Redmi Note 13 Pro | 25 000 | 120W charging, 200MP camera |
| Huawei | Nova 12 SE | 30 000 | Designed by HarmonyOS 4.0 |
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If you plan to sell a smartphone in 1-2 years, take Samsung – their devices lose in price by 20-30% less than Xiaomi or Huawei.
6. Design and Ergonomics: Which is more comfortable in the hand?
Samsung and Huawei are betting on premium materials: Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and aluminum frames. Xiaomi in budget models often uses plastic, but compensates for this with ultra-thin frames (for example, Xiaomi 14 with a thickness of 8.2 mm).
In ergonomics, the leader is the Huawei P60 Pro with a curved screen and weighing 200 g. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is heavier (232 g) and less convenient for single use due to sharp edges. And Xiaomi 14 occupies the middle ground: light (188 g), but without compromises on the assembly.
For women and users with small hands, the best choice is the Huawei Nova 12 (72 mm wide) or Samsung Galaxy S24 (70.6 mm).
7. Features for specific tasks
If you need a smartphone for specific tasks, pay attention to these nuances:
- 🎮 For gamers: Xiaomi Black Shark 6 Pro (physical triggers, 144 Hz) or Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Optimization for Fortnite and Genshin Impact).
- 📸 For bloggers: Huawei P60 Pro (best color rendering for Stories) or Xiaomi 14 Ultra (flexible settings for video).
- 💼 For Business: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (S Pen, Knox Security, Dex Mode).
- 🔋 For travel: Huawei Mate 60 Pro (longer charge, support for two) SIM + eSIM).
⚠️ Note: If you are overseas frequently, avoid Huawei with one nano-SIM - many models do not support eSIM, which creates problems with local carriers. Samsung and Xiaomi in flagships offer hybrid slots or dual-SIM + eSIM.