The choice between Xiaomi and Samsung Galaxy smartphones in 2026 has become more difficult than ever. Both brands offer top-end devices, but they are suitable for completely different categories of users. If you are looking for maximum performance for reasonable money, Xiaomi often wins in price/quality ratio. But if you are critical ecosystem, long-term support and premium design, the Samsung Galaxy remains out of competition.
In this article, we will compare the flagship and budget models of both brands in detail on 10 key parameters: from camera and autonomy to software and service. You will learn which phone is best for gaming, video shooting, document work or just for everyday use.
Spoiler: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra bypasses Xiaomi 14 Ultra in video shooting stability, but loses in autonomy when used intensively. But in the segment up to 30,000 rubles Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ confidently leads in configuration and performance.
1. Performance and Iron: Who is faster at gaming and multitasking?
In 2026, Xiaomi and Samsung are taking different approaches to “stuffing” their smartphones: the former put on maximum power with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors (in flagships) and aggressive cooling; the latter on the balance of performance and energy efficiency, combining the Exynos 2400 chips (for Europe) and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (for the US and Asia).
According to the results of the AnTuTu 10 and 3DMark Wild Life tests:
Xiaomi 14 Pro scores ~2,100,000 points (the leader among Android smartphones).
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – ~1,950,000 points, but with better optimization for long gaming sessions.
In the budget segment Poco F6 Pro (with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) bypasses the Galaxy A54 almost 2 times in graphics performance.
- 🎮 For gamers: Xiaomi Black Shark 6 Pro or RedMagic 9 Pro (a sub-brand of Xiaomi) with physical triggers and active cooling.
⚠️ Note: Samsung models with Exynos 2400 processor (sold in Russia and Europe) may overheat when recording video in the long term 8K. The problem is solved by disabling the Adaptive refresh rate function in the screen settings.
Camera: daytime vs night shooting, video and photo processing
The Samsung Galaxy has traditionally led the way with advanced image processing and a partnership with Leica experts (in the S24 Ultra models), but Xiaomi is catching up with Leica (in the Xiaomi 14 line) and unique night shooting algorithms.
Let's compare the flagships:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: The main module 200 pixelated-binning MP 16-into-1, zoom 10×, video 8K@30fps autofocus.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra: 50 MP (SONY IMX989, 1 inch) + variable aperture f/1.6–f/4.0, zoom 3.2× (optical) + 120× (digital), 8K@24fps video with Dolby Vision.
| Parameter | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Poco F5 Pro (budget) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime photo (details) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Night photo (noise/light) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐½ |
| Video (stabilization) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Portrait mode (blurring) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Key differences:
Samsung is better at autofocus in video and color reproduction in complex scenes (e.g. sunset).
Xiaomi wins in night shooting (thanks to Night Mode 2.0 algorithms) and the flexibility of manual settings (ProPhoto and ProVideo modes).
In the budget segment of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a 200 MP camera bypasses the Galaxy A34 in detail, but loses in color processing.
How to check the quality of the camera before buying?
3. Screen: refresh rate, color reproduction and durability
Samsung Galaxy displays are a benchmark for the industry: AMOLED with HDR10+ support, factory color calibration and protection Gorilla Glass Victus 2. But Xiaomi does not lag behind: in flagships, it uses Samsung E6 screens (the same as in the Galaxy), and in budget models, AMOLED from BOE with an adaptive frequency of up to 192 Hz.
Comparison of key characteristics:
- 🔍 Brightness: Galaxy S24 Ultra – 2600 nits (peak), Xiaomi 14 Pro – 3000 nits (but with automatic decrease after 5 minutes).
- 🎨 Color rendering: Samsung covers 100% DCI-P3 "Out of the box, Xiaomi requires manual profile settings DCIP3.
- ⚡ Adaptive frequency: In the Galaxy S24 smoothly regulated 1 before 120 Hz, at Xiaomi. 14 — fixed-step (60/90/120 Hz).
- 🛡️ Protection: Samsung has Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Xiaomi has Gorilla Glass 5 (in budget models) or Schott Xensation (in flagships).
⚠️ Attention: In smartphones Xiaomi with screens BOE (For example, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) You can get a green hue at low brightness, and you can fix it by updating the firmware or replacing it with a warranty.
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To check the screen for broken pixels, install the Screen Test app and turn on Monochrome mode. Pay special attention to the edges of the display - there are often defects.
4.Software: MIUI vs One UI
Samsung is clearly winning against Xiaomi in three key ways:
1. Support Duration: Galaxy S24 will receive Android updates until 2028 (4 OS versions + 5 years of security), while Xiaomi 14 will only receive updates until 2026.
Stability: One UI is optimized for multitasking and rarely slows down, whereas MIUI can slow down due to background processes (especially in budget models).
3.Ecosystem: Samsung offers Dex (desktop mode), Knox (data protection) and deep integration with Galaxy Watch/Budds devices.
The benefits of MIUI:
More customization (themes, animations, gestures).
- Functions for gamers (Game Turbo).
Quick updates for flagships (for example, Xiaomi 13T received Android 14 2 months after release).
| Criteria | One UI (Samsung) | MIUI (Xiaomi) |
|---|---|---|
| Term of support (flagships) | 7 years | 3-4 years |
| Number of Bloatware (pre-installed applications) | Medium (can be turned off) | Many (including advertising in system utilities) |
| Integration with PC | Samsung Dex, Link to Windows | MIUI+ (limited functionality) |
| Security updates | Monthly | Every 2 to 3 months |
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If you want long-term support and stability, go for Samsung. If you want flexible customization and quick updates for new features, go for Xiaomi.
5. Autonomy and charging: who lives longer without an outlet?
According to the results of the PCMark Battery 2.0 tests:
Xiaomi leads in reading time (up to 18 hours) thanks to optimized Dimensity processors and large batteries (5000-5500 mAh in budget models).
Samsung loses in autonomy due to less capacious batteries (3900-5000 mAh) and energy-intensive screens, but wins in wireless charging (up to 15W vs 50W at Xiaomi).
Flagship comparison:
Xiaomi 14 Ultra: 5300 mAh, fast 90W charging (100% in 35 minutes), wireless 80W.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 5000 mAh, 45W fast charging (100% in 60 minutes), wireless 15W.
- ⚡ Fastest charging: Xiaomi RedMagic 9 Pro (165W, 100% in 15 minutes).
- 🔋 Longest Autonomy: Poco M6 Pro (67W + battery).
- 🔌 Best wireless charging: Xiaomi 14 Pro (80W — faster than the iPhone 15 Pro Max).
⚠️ Attention: In smartphones Xiaomi with ultra-fast charging (100W+) Charging from third-party manufacturers can lead to overheating of the battery and reduce its life by 20-30%.
6. Design and Assembly: Premium vs. Practicality
The Samsung Galaxy has traditionally been associated with premium design: glass panels, aluminum frame, IP68 protection. Xiaomi offers more practical solutions, such as the plastic case in the Redmi Note or the ceramics in the Xiaomi 14 Ultra (which is less slippery than glass, but more fragile).
Key differences:
Weight: Galaxy S24 Ultra – 232 g, Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 244 g (due to ceramics).
All flagships of Samsung have IP68, Xiaomi has only IP65 (except for Xiaomi 13T Pro with IP68).
- Colors: Samsung offers exclusive shades (for example, Titanium Violet), Xiaomi - more classic (black, white, green).
Shake the phone - there should be no extraneous sounds (squeaking, knocking)
Click on the screen at the edges - there should be no "waves" (OLED defect)
Check the gaps between the body and the screen (especially in Xiaomi models with curved displays)
Make sure the buttons don't backfire (a common problem in the Redmi Note 12)
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7.Price and price/quality ratio: where is the best?
Xiaomi is the undisputed leader here.
Xiaomi 14 (flagship) costs ~70,000 rubles, while Galaxy S24 - ~95,000 rubles with similar characteristics.
In the budget segment of the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (35,000 rubles) bypasses the Galaxy A54 (40,000 rubles) in performance and charging.
Exceptions where Samsung justifies the price:
Ecosystem: If you already have a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Buds, data synchronization will be seamless.
Guarantee and Service: Samsung has centers in every major city, while Xiaomi’s service is often limited to capitals and regional centers.
Resale: Samsung loses in price by 30-40% per year, Xiaomi – by 50-60%.
| Model | Price (2026) | Price/quality ratio | Who's good for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | ~120 000 ₽ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Photographers, lovers of premium devices |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | ~140 000 ₽ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Business users, fans of the ecosystem |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | ~35 000 ₽ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Students, gamers on a limited budget |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 | ~40 000 ₽ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Users who care about reliability and updates |
8. Ecosystem and additional chips
Samsung offers a closed but advanced ecosystem.
Samsung Knox for data protection (certified for government agencies).
Samsung Pay with MST support (works even with conventional terminals).
SmartThings for smart home management (compatible with 1000+ devices)
Xiaomi is betting on openness and integration with IoT:
Mi Home (now Xiaomi Home) supports 4,000+ smart home devices (from light bulbs to robot vacuum cleaners).
HyperOS (new shell) promises better optimization for Xiaomi tablets and laptops.
Xiaomi Cloud gives 5 TB of free storage for photos (vs 15 GB from Samsung).
- 🏠 For a smart home: Xiaomi – if you have a device Mi/Aqara; Samsung – if you use SmartThings.
- 💳 For payments: Samsung Pay works with any terminals, Xiaomi Pay – only with NFC.
- 🎮 For gamers: Xiaomi has Black Shark and RedMagic with physical triggers.
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If you already have smart home devices (like Yeelight light bulbs or Mi robot vacuum cleaner), the choice is obvious for Xiaomi.