Xiaomi vs Samsung 2020: Which smartphone to choose? full comparison on 7 key criteria

Choosing Xiaomi and Samsung in 2020 is not just a matter of preference, but a strategic decision that will determine your smartphone experience for years to come. Both brands offered devices that were radically different in philosophy at the time: the Korean giant was betting on premium design and ecosystem, and the Chinese upstart was betting on price-quality ratio and innovative chips. But what is the point today, 4 years later? And should we even consider 2020 models for purchase in 2026?

In this article, we won’t be spraying on abstract pros and cons. Instead, a concrete comparison of 7 criteria that really matter: from the performance of the Snapdragon 865 vs Exynos 990 chipsets to the nuances of support for updates in 2026. We’ll analyze flagships (Mi 10 Pro vs Galaxy S20 Ultra), mid-range (Redmi Note 9 Pro vs Galaxy A51) and budget models, and reveal the main secret: why some Xiaomi 2020 smartphones are more stable today than Samsung’s updates of the same year. If you look for flagships, just a look at the current market condition, then you’ll see the current market.

1.Performance: Snapdragon vs Exynos in 2020

In 2020, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and Samsung Exynos 990 were the pinnacle of mobile performance, but their real-world capabilities didn’t come out as marketers had promised. The Snapdragon used in the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has proven to be more energy efficient in the long run: today, these chips are less likely to overheat and hold charge longer than the Exynos in the Galaxy S20.

But there's a nuance: The Exynos 990 had a graphics advantage in theory (Mali-G77 MP11 vs Adreno 650), but in practice it only affected synthetic tests. In real games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, the difference was minimal - but problems with overheating in Korean chips manifested after a year of operation. Galaxy S20 Ultra owners still complain of trottling under prolonged loads.

• 🔥 Snapdragon 865 (Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro): Best optimization for gaming, less heat, but weaker in video processing.
• ⚡ Exynos 990 (Samsung Galaxy S20): higher-frequency GPU, But problems with heat and support for custom firmware.
• 📉 Mid-segment: Snapdragon 720G Redmi Note 9 Pro bypasses Exynos 9611 in Galaxy A51 on all fronts, except for support 5G.

⚠️ Note: If you are planning to buy a Galaxy S20 Note 20 in 2026, note that the Exynos 990 does not support modern versions GMS (Google Mobile Services) without crutches, which can cause problems with banking applications and some games.

2.Cameras: megapixels vs processing

In 2020, Samsung and Xiaomi took different paths in the development of cameras: the Koreans relied on software processing (especially in Night Mode mode), and the Chinese on hardware innovation (108-MP sensor in the Mi 10 Pro and Mi Note 10).

For example, the Galaxy S20 Ultra with its 108-MP camera and 100-fold zoom on paper looked revolutionary, but in practice, photos at long distances were blurry, and autofocus worked slower than the Mi 10 Pro. But in the video Samsung was unquestionably in the lead: support for 8K@24fps and stabilization of Super Steady are still the benchmarks for many modern smartphones.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi Mi Note 10 (released at the end of 2019, but relevant for 2020) is still considered one of the best photophones for its money in the used market. Its 108-MP sensor with f/1.7 and 5-time optical zoom bypasses many modern mid-budget smartphones in detail.

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If you need a camera to shoot video, take the Galaxy S20+ or Note 20 — their stabilization still has no analogues in this price segment.

3. Screen: 120Hz vs AMOLED - which is more important?

2020 was a watershed for smartphone displays: Samsungfinally massively introduced 120 Hz in its flagships, and Xiaomi responded AMOLED-screens in the middle segment (for example, in Redmi) K30 Pro, but it's not that clear.

The Galaxy S20 and Note 20 displays had Dynamic AMOLED 2X with HDR10+ support and adaptive refresh rates, but the automatic switching between 60Hz and 120Hz worked a curve - many users turned this feature off manually. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro screen was slightly less bright (max. 1120 nits vs. 1300 at Samsung), but without the "soap" scrolling effect that plagued Korean smartphones.

• 📺 Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: the best screen for paper specifications, but with software bugs.
• 🎯 Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: More balanced AMOLED artifactless.
• 💰 Budget pick: Redmi Note 9 Pro IPS-The Galaxy is losing the matrix A51 (Super AMOLED) in contrast, but wins in durability (AMOLED Samsung often burns out through the 2-3 year-end).

4.Software: MIUI vs One UI in 2026

If in 2020 the difference between MIUI 12 and One UI 2.5 was more a matter of taste, today it has become critical. Samsung guaranteed 3 years of updates for the flagships of 2020, and this promise was fulfilled: the Galaxy S20 received Android 13 (One UI 5.1) and is no longer updated.

Officially, the Mi 10 Pro was also supposed to receive only 3 years of updates, but thanks to the MIUI Pilot program, some users were able to install Android 14 informally. Moreover, custom firmware (such as LineageOS 20) on Xiaomi Snapdragon devices are more stable than on Samsung Exynos models. This makes the Mi 10 Pro or POCO F2 Pro more resilient in 2026.

⚠️ Note: If you are buying a Galaxy S20 or Note 20 today, note that Samsung Knox blocks custom firmware installation without the Knox flag trigger 0x1, Which deprives you of warranty (if it is still valid) and can cause problems with Samsung Pay.

Another important point is the built-in software. Samsung in 2020 stuffed its smartphones with duplicate services (such as Samsung Browser + Chrome), which could not be removed without root. Xiaomi sinned with advertising in MIUI, but at least allowed to disable most preinstalled applications.

5. Battery and charging: who lives longer?

In 2020, Xiaomi bets on fast charging (up to 65 watts in the Mi 10 Ultra) and Samsung on battery capacity (5,000 mAh in the Galaxy S20 Ultra).

According to the results of tests in 2026, the Mi 10 Pro with a 4500 mAh battery and support for 50-watt charging in real conditions holds a charge longer than the Galaxy S20 Ultra with 5000 mAh. The reason is due to the optimization of the MIUI background and less voracious processor. However, Samsung has the advantage: reverse wireless charging (up to 9 watts), which Xiaomi did not have at that time.

The secret to the longevity of the POCO F2 Pro and Redmi K30 Pro was the less aggressive MIUI optimization for these models, which did not have as many background processes as the flagships, which had a positive impact on the time of operation.

Turn off background activity of unnecessary applications |Use dark theme (for AMOLED)|Use up to 80% (if you don't need full capacity)|Avoid overheating (do not play while charging)|Every 3 months perform calibration (discharge to 0% and charge to 100%)

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6.Price on the used market in 2026: which is more profitable?

If in 2020 Samsung was positioned as a premium brand, today the price difference between the Galaxy S20 and Mi 10 Pro in the secondary market is minimal - about 10-15%.

Average prices for Avito/Yula in early 2026:

• 💎 Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G (12/256 GB): 25 000–30 000 ₽ (battery-worn).
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (8/256 GB): 18 000–22 000 ₽ (Battery condition is usually better).
• 💰 POCO F2 Pro (8/256 GB): 12 000–15 000 ₽ — Best Price/Quality Rate Among Flagships 2020-go.
• 📉 Samsung Galaxy A51 (6/128 GB): 10 000–12 000 ₽ — overrated because of the brand.

Bottom Line: If you want a flagship for gaming or photography, the POCO F2 Pro or Mi 10 Pro is the best choice. If the brand and ecosystem are important (for example, for syncing with the Galaxy Watch or Samsung TV), then the Galaxy S20 FE (cheap version of the flagship) will cost less than the S20 Ultra, but will last longer.

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In 2026, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and POCO F2 Pro are objectively more profitable than the Samsung Galaxy S20 in terms of price / performance, but lose in support of accessories and services (for example, DeX or Samsung Pay).

Ecosystem and accessories: which is more important - compatibility or price?

In 2020, Samsung already had a developed ecosystem: Galaxy Buds, SmartThings, DeX and even its own Samsung Pay with MST support (which allowed paying almost everywhere, even at older terminals). Xiaomi responded to the Mi Band, smart lamps and Mi Pay, but the latter worked only in China.

Today, the situation has changed:

Samsung continues to support older devices in the ecosystem (e.g., the Galaxy S20 can be used with the Galaxy Watch 6), but many features (e.g., Quick Share) require updates.

Xiaomi has expanded its accessories lineup, but intergenerational compatibility is worse – for example, the Mi Band 7 does not sync with the Mi 10 Pro on the latest versions of MIUI.

If you want long-term compatibility with smartwatches, headphones, or TVs, Samsung is the obvious winner; if you want just a good smartphone without being tied to the ecosystem, Xiaomi will offer more hardware for the same money.

FAQ: Frequent questions about choosing between Xiaomi and Samsung 2020 year-end