Why the choice between Samsung and Xiaomi Redmi is so difficult
Choosing between Samsung and Xiaomi Redmi is not just a matter of preference, but a strategic decision that will determine your smartphone experience for the next 2-3 years. Both brands are market leaders but are suitable for completely different categories of users. Samsung has traditionally been associated with premium quality, ecosystem services and long-term support, while Redmi (a sub-brand of Xiaomi) is famous for price-quality ratio, innovative chips for less money and aggressive pricing.
The main problem in the comparison is different priorities of manufacturers: Samsung is betting on the screen, camera and brand, and Redmi focuses on “iron”, autonomy and functionality for the minimum price. For example, the flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with a titanium body and stylus will cost 120+ thousand rubles, while the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a similar chipset (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2) and 200-MP camera costs 2-3 times cheaper. But does this mean that Redmi always wins?
In this article, we’ll look at 10 key aspects, from performance to ecosystem, so you can make an informed decision, and at the end, we’ll have an interactive test to help you determine which smartphone is right for you.
1. Performance: Chipsets and Optimization
If you’re critical to speed and multitasking, chipset comparison is the first step. Samsung’s flagships use its own Exynos (for the European market) or Snapdragon (for the US/China), while Redmi only sells Qualcomm Snapdragon or MediaTek Dimensity.
- 🔥 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) clocked up to 3.3GHz.In the test, AnTuTu dials ~1,500,000 points, but warms up under prolonged loads.
- ⚡ Redmi K70 Pro: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (same chip!, but with better cooling and acceleration GPU. AnTuTu shows up +5-7% Productivity through Optimization MIUI.
- 💰 Redmi Note 13 Pro+: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4nm) is the same chip as the Galaxy A54, But it's 30 percent cheaper.
- ❄️ Samsung Galaxy A34: Dimensity 1080 (6nm) – inferior to Redmi in synthetic tests, but works more stable in real-world tasks thanks to One UI.
⚠️ Note: If you play Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile at maximum settings, Redmi with Loop LiquidCool cooling system (as in the Loop LiquidCool system). K60 Ultra) will be preferred. Samsung flagships throttling through 20-25 AnTuTu Chipset model (scores) Trottling (%) Price (from) Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 1 520 000 18% 119 990 ₽ Redmi K70 Pro Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 1 610 000 12% 59 990 ₽ Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 980 000 8% 34 990 ₽ Samsung Galaxy A54 Exynos 1380 720 000 22% 39 990 ₽ 💡Redmi wins in raw performance and cooling, but Samsung offers more stable performance in the long run thanks to One optimization UI. 2. Screen: AMOLED vs IPS The refresh rate of the display is something you interact with on a daily basis, so its quality is critical. Samsung leads here unconditionally: all models from the Galaxy A34 and above equipped with Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen-support HDR10+ and adaptive frequency to 120 Hz. Redmi's got a mixed situation: 🌈 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120×1440, 1–120 Hz (LTPO), brightness 2600 Best screen on the market according to DisplayMate. 🔄 Redmi K70 Pro: 6.67" AMOLED, 2712×1220, 120 Hz, but without LTPO — fixed frequency. Brightness 1400 thread. ☀️ Redmi Note 13 Pro+: 6.67" AMOLED, 2712×1220, 120 Hz, but with PWM pulsating at low brightness (may cause eye fatigue). 📱 Samsung Galaxy A34: 6.6" Super AMOLED, 2340×1080, 120 Hz, but without Dolby Vision support. 💡If you are sensitive to screen ripple (PWM), check out Redmi models on NotebookCheck, where they publish data on the flicker frequency. DC-Brightness control (without PWM) in all Galaxy models A5x higher. ⚠️ Note: Redmi screens often have a greenish tint with minimal brightness due to cheap matrixes from the screen. BOE. Samsung uses its own Samsung Display, which lacks this drawback. 📊 What type of screen is more important to you?AMOLED high-brightnessIPS It doesn't matter, the main thing - the frequency of 120 HzEcran is not principled 3. Camera: megapixels vs processing Photography is one of the most controversial points. Redmi likes to boast about the number of megapixels (for example, 200 MP in the Note 13 Pro).+), But in practice, Samsung’s software processing often produces better results. Compare flagship models: Samsung Galaxy setting S24 Ultra Redmi K70 Pro Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Main camera. 200 MP, f/1.7, 1/1.3" 50 MP, f/1.6, 1/1.56" (Sony IMX890) 200 MP, f/1.67, 1/1.4" Super-wide 12 MP, f/2.2, 120° 8 MP, f/2.2, 119° 8 MP, f/2.2, 119° zoom 10 MP (periscope, 10x optical) 2 MP (macro, no zoom) 2 Night shooting Nightography algorithm (takes up to) 8K) Night mode 2.0 (before 4K) Simple night mode (noisy) Video 8K@30fps, HDR10+ 8K@24fps, Dolby Vision 4K@30fps In practice: 📸 Samsung wins in detail (thanks to the fact) 200 MP with binning 16-into-1) zoom (10x Optical vs. Digital in Redmi). 🌃 Redmi K70 Pro better copes with night shooting in automatic mode (less relighting). 🎥 Samsung’s Video Out of Competition: Super Steady Stabilization and Support 8K@30fps s HDR. 💰 In the budget segment (<30ce ₽) Redmi Note 13 Pro+ bypasses the Galaxy A34 It's a little bit detailed, but it's losing color?1. Take a test photo in bright light and at zoom 2x/5x — Look at the noise level. 2. Try night mode in a dark room (Redmi often has artifacts on the edges). 3. Record a video with movement – Samsung stabilizes smoother. 4. Battery and charging: who lives longer? Autonomy is a sore topic for Samsung. S24 Ultra with battery 5000 mAh barely reaches the end of the day when used actively, while Redmi with a similar battery is easy to hold. 1.5-2 The reasons: ⚡ Fast charging: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ supportive 120W (100% post 19 minutes, and Galaxy S24 Ultra - only 45W (100% post 60+ minute). 🔋 Optimization: MIUI It aggressively closes the background processes, while One UI Keeps more applications active. 📉 Discharge in simple: Samsung loses 5-8% overnight, Redmi — 1-3%. ☀️ Sunshine: AMOLED-Samsung screens consume more energy at high brightness. Capacity (mAh) Max. Charging Full Charging Time Autonomy (screen) 5h/day Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5000 45W 60 mine 1 day-day K70 Pro 5000 120W 19 mine 1.5–2 Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5000 120W 19 mine 2 Samsung Galaxy A54 5000 25W 90 mine 1.2 day-day ⚠️ Note: If you travel frequently, Redmi 120W But remember, this high power, this high power, it reduces the life of the battery. 15-20% after 500 charge-cycle. 5. Software: One UI vs MIUI The operating system and the company shell determine how comfortable you will be using the smartphone. Samsung has an undeniable advantage here: 📱 One UI (Samsung): 4 Years of Major Android Updates + 5 Minimalist design, no intrusive advertising, Windows integration (Link to Windows feature) DeX support). 🤖 MIUI (Redmi): 2-3 Update year (for budget models — 1 Advertising in system applications (manually disabled), more out-of-the-box features (e.g. Second Space for two accounts), support for design themes and super-stands (always-on display with animations). Are there security updates for the last few years? 3 month|Is there advertising in system applications (for example, in Themes or Browser)|Is bootloader unlocking supported (important for custom firmware)|Does it work? NFC Russian banks (in some versions) MIUI Global NFC disconnected)--> Key point: Samsung guarantees 7 years of support for flagships (starting with the Galaxy) S24), Redmi does not even support the top models. 3 If you want long-term relevance, the choice is obvious. 6. Price and price/quality: Redmi's main trump card is pricing. Even the top models. K70 Pro or Note 13 Pro+ stand 2-3 It's cheaper than a Samsung, but there's a nuance: 💰 Budget up to 20 000 ₽: Here's Redmi's undisputed leader. Like Redmi. 13C (15k ₽) Galaxy A14 (18k ₽) — first G85, 5000mAh and 90Hz screen, while Samsung offers Exynos 850 and 60Hz. 💵 Mid-segment (20–50k) ₽): Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (35k ₽) With 200MP camera and Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 bypasses the Galaxy A54 (40k ₽) It's iron, but it's losing out in the ecosystem. 💎 Flagships (80k)+ ₽): Galaxy S24 Ultra justifies the price with a titanium body, stylus and best camera.Redmi K70 Pro is cheaper, but inferior in premium. 💡If the budget is tight, Redmi will give you more hardware for the same money.But if you plan to use the phone for longer than 2 years, the investment in Samsung pays off with long-term support and stability. 7. If you already have Samsung devices (such as the Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Buds), the choice is obvious – synchronization between devices works perfectly. Xiaomi also offers an ecosystem, but with reservations: 🌐 Samsung: One Samsung Account for all services. Samsung Pay with support for MIR and magnetic stripe (works even on a phone that is turned off); SmartThings for managing a smart home. DeX is a full desktop when connected to a monitor. 🏠 Xiaomi/Redmi: Integration with Mi Home (smart home), but many devices are not certified for Russia. Mi Pay does not work with Russian banks. HyperOS support (new firmware that integrates all Xiaomi devices). IR port in most models (technique management). ⚠️ Attention: B 2026 Xiaomi has started blocking some features (for example, the company has been doing so, NFC for payments) in global versions of firmware for Russia. Before buying, check whether the model supports Google Pay or SBP. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions 📱 Which smartphone is better for gaming: Samsung or Redmi? Redmi wins thanks to more powerful chipsets in its segment and better cooling.Redmi, for example K70 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Loop LiquidCool shows you the 10-15% Better gaming performance than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which throttles due to overheating. For budget gaming, the Redmi Note will suit 13 Pro+ Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 — He pulls Genshin Impact on mid-size settings. 🔋 Why is Samsung running out so fast? Causes: One UI Keeps more background processes in mind. AMOLED-high-brightness screens (up to) 2600 Exynos chipsets are less energy efficient than Snapdragon (120 Hz consumes the battery even in simple. Solution: turn off Adaptive Brightness and set the refresh rate to 60 Hz in Settings → Screen. 📸 Can you take photos on Redmi like Samsung? Partly yes, if you use third-party apps: GCam (Google Camera) improves processing on Redmi (especially night shooting); Lightroom Mobile for post-processing (color and exposure correction); Manually set up Pro mode in a standard camera app (show it on) ISO 100-400 and endurance 1/100But the hardware limitations (no optical zoom, worse matrices) will still be noticeable. 🔄 Should you buy a used Samsung or a new Redmi? Depends on model and price: If you find a Galaxy S22 Ultra (2022 (d) 50-60ce ₽ — It's better than the new Redmi. K70 Pro (60ce ₽), Since Samsung is still 2-3 The year will be updated. b/m Galaxy A5x or A7x post 15-20ce ₽ — bad idea: their batteries are usually worn out and support is already out. - New Redmi Note 13 Pro+ post 35ce ₽ objectively better than the used Galaxy A53 For the same money (better iron, faster charging). Check the used Samsung for battery wear through the code ##4636## (Section Battery information). 🛡️ Which brand is more reliable in the long run? Samsung is definitely more reliable for three reasons: Long-term support: 4-7 years of updates against 1-3 Build quality: aluminum/glass case (Redmi often has plastic), protection IP68 Service network: Samsung has centers in every major city, spare parts are original. Xiaomi service often refuses to repair older models 2 Exception: if you buy a phone on the phone 1-2 The Redmi could be more profitable.