On the prime of the rating of the most important Android smartphone producers are Xiaomi and Samsung. Whereas Samsung has been main the way in which for over ten years with its Galaxy smartphones, Xiaomi stays a comparatively younger firm. Regardless of this, the Chinese language electronics big has managed to carve out an enormous market share in Europe lately.
Each producers use Android and canopy a large value vary. That is why we’re dividing this text into three value classes: high-end smartphones, mid-range smartphones, entry-level fashions and foldable smartphones. Additionally, we will let you know in regards to the two respective ecosystems in addition to Samsung and Xiaomi’s overlays.
Xiaomi vs. Samsung: Smartphone Catalogs In contrast
Flagship
Let’s start with a bang by wanting on the fashions that decide the picture of the manufacturers in 2024: the flagships. Right here, each Xiaomi and Samsung showcase new applied sciences on supply at mouthwatering costs. Listed below are the present fashions compared.
Xiaomi vs Samsung: Flagships
The worldwide launch of the Xiaomi 14 collection, which occurred as a part of MWC 2024, is contemporary in our minds. Samsung had already offered its Galaxy S24 collection in January. So we have already got an summary of what the 2 producers’ flagship fashions will appear like in 2024.
Within the orange ring nook are the Xiaomi 14, the Xiaomi 14 Professional, and eventually the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. Samsung names its fashions very equally and sends the Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24+, and the Galaxy S24 Extremely into the race.
Since you may have a look at the precise variations within the desk, we’ll consider the clearest similarities and variations. Each smartphone collection supply the most recent applied sciences equivalent to OLED shows with 120 Hertz, a number of cameras with excessive resolutions, and present wi-fi requirements equivalent to 5G, Bluetooth 5.3 / 5.4, and Wi-Fi 6E / 7. There’s additionally the most recent Android 14 with a number of years of updates.
Nevertheless, there are nonetheless some variations to be aware of. For instance, Xiaomi is forward by way of fast charging and battery efficiency. In return, Samsung negotiated a cope with processor maker Qualcomm to produce overclocked variations of the Snapdragon chips, which debuted within the Xiaomi telephones.
Samsung continues to outperform its rival in relation to software program updates. Whereas Xiaomi now gives 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of safety updates, Samsung is now forward with seven essential Android updates and 7 years of safety updates on its 2024 flagships.
As you may see: Xiaomi and Samsung hardly have something to separate themselves within the flagship market. Whereas there are minor variations between the lineups, each producers signify the most recent applied sciences within the smartphone world with their fashions.
Mid-range
In the event you nonetheless have a look at solely the most costly fashions in relation to smartphones, you might be lacking out on quite a bit. It is because the mid-range market continues to be probably the most thrilling one since 2021 till now. Each Xiaomi and Samsung have launched extraordinarily well-liked mid-range units over the previous two years, and almost all of them supply an excellent price-performance ratio.
Regardless of all the eye within the flagship area, probably the most heated battles in all probability occur within the mid-range area. With duels just like the Redmi Observe 12 Professional+ versus the Galaxy A54, the class contains a number of the best-selling fashions from each manufacturers.
Xiaomi is taken into account the producer with the most effective price-performance ratio within the smartphone world, and that’s to be taken fairly actually on this case. Not solely does the Chinese language firm supply superlative specs on its Redmi Observe 13 lineup, however it additionally counts on sub-brand Poco to supply flagship performing telephones for mid-range costs.
Along with its Redmi vary, Xiaomi additionally gives mid-range smartphones beneath the Poco model. These fashions are recognized for providing wonderful efficiency with high-end SoCs and extra daring designs.
Nevertheless, Xiaomi’s software program replace coverage is barely behind Samsung’s regardless of latest enhancements, and the pre-installed HyperOS working system does include loads of bloatware and even adverts that require you to deactivate in a somewhat awkward method. Additionally, their availability within the US is nearly zero, with solely independently imported fashions accessible in marketplaces.
Right here, Samsung clearly positions itself as a model for premium smartphones within the mid-range as nicely. The Galaxy A52, A52s, A52 5G, A72, and A32 fashions launched in 2021 already shone with one of many longest replace ensures on the smartphone market. Samsung now continues this with the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55.
Nevertheless, the telephones shouldn’t have to cover by way of specs both. You get significantly high-quality AMOLED shows, triple or quad cameras with optical picture stabilization, and sufficiently quick processors for the mid-range. Nevertheless, Samsung can’t maintain a candle to Xiaomi in relation to quick charging instances for smartphones, particularly contemplating the Galaxy A fashions launched since 2022 do not include a charger within the field.
Entry-level
If smartphones are primarily imagined to be cheap, you may see an thrilling improvement on this division in the previous few years. For a very long time now, Xiaomi was the primary port of name for smartphones that price lower than $200. Samsung has reacted to this and even launched entry-level smartphones just like the Galaxy A15 5G. Mainly, the identical execs and cons apply as within the mid-range phase.
Which means Xiaomi usually gives a bit extra efficiency and options for a similar amount of cash. Samsung, nevertheless, convinces with stable {hardware}, usually actually good construct high quality, and its personal Android pores and skin, OneUI. Nevertheless, we have now to level out a particular caveat for Xiaomi on this entry-level class.
Xiaomi additionally sells smartphones which have a very good price-performance ratio beneath the Poco model. The producer’s plan right here is to supply the very best {hardware} on the lowest potential value. For a market overview, check out our record of the most effective smartphones you should buy at present for beneath $200.
Foldables
Since 2018, a complete new smartphone class has opened up: foldable telephones with touchscreens that merely fold in half. Though Xiaomi and Samsung launched their first foldables fairly promptly, Samsung is clearly forward of everybody else right here. From 2021 till now, Samsung’s foldable smartphones proceed to be the clear shopping for advice for distinctive handsets.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that foldable smartphones are nonetheless expensive. Whereas the Samsung Galaxy Z Folds gives a format that transforms a conventional smartphone right into a pill when opened, the Galaxy Z Flips is extra harking back to a basic flip telephone. From a “half-smartphone”, you get a full-size smartphone.
Xiaomi launched the Mi Combine Fold in 2021, which was adopted by the Mi Combine Fold 2 in 2022, and the Combine Fold 3 in 2023. The foldable follows an identical idea because the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, however it has not been formally launched outdoors of China. Current rumors, nevertheless, recommend that not solely Xiaomi will launch the Combine Fold 4 globally however it will likely be accompanied by its compact Combine Flip sidekick.
Since we don’t advocate importing the smartphone, we won’t go into extra element in regards to the gadget.
Software program and privateness
You may have already learn a bit about it within the earlier paragraphs regarding each smartphone choices: Samsung is healthier positioned than Xiaomi by way of software program updates. To give you a greater concept of this, we’ll take a more in-depth have a look at each working techniques as soon as once more.
Samsung’s One UI
Because the identify suggests, Samsung’s One UI is used on all Android units from the producer. The Samsung-optimized Android interface is taken into account a factor of magnificence amongst skins and gives quite a few extra options like prolonged multitasking options, assist for Samsung’s S Pen stylus, and native assist for Samsung companies like Samsung’s S Cloud.
In our assessment of Samsung’s newest One UI 6 pores and skin, you may learn in regards to the myriad of choices Samsung has carried out with the corresponding replace to Android 14.
Other than the options, you may stay up for the truth that, along with Samsung’s personal companies, there may be little or no bloatware pre-installed and also you generally get extraordinarily lengthy updates. A seven-year replace promise was made for flagship telephones—each for safety updates and the main Android variations.
Nevertheless, not the whole lot is ideal in Samsung’s software program both. The large dimension of Samsung’s working techniques tends to face out in evaluations. Thus, you need to dwell with having as much as 15% of the accessible space for storing used up even earlier than you arrange your Samsung smartphone.
Samsung additionally works more and more on implementing its personal {hardware} and software program ecosystem. For example, you may solely use the multi-pairing characteristic of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Professional with different Samsung units.
Xiaomi HyperOS
The MIUI working system emerged from a former customized ROM for rooted Android telephones. Xiaomi adopted the working system and has developed it considerably since then. Xiaomi is at present turning away from MIUI, and the primary flagships are already outfitted with the brand new HyperOS.
Xiaomi additionally significantly improved its OS replace insurance policies, particularly for flagship telephones, with 5 years of safety updates, the identical Samsung gives for its intermediate fashions. Within the mid-range market, Xiaomi is now promising 4 years of safety updates, which ought to be adequate for most individuals. However, Xiaomi repeatedly attracts unfavourable consideration with adverts and bloatware on its telephones.
For many individuals, Xiaomi’s working system can also be questionable as a result of it isn’t solely clear with how the collected knowledge is dealt with. As a Chinese language firm, Xiaomi has to strongly adjust to the nation’s knowledge safety rules. Thus, if you wish to make certain that your knowledge will not be handed on to the Chinese language Communist Celebration, you may wish to search for one other producer. It is a political challenge, however we don’t wish to enter this territory.
Wearables and different units
Each Xiaomi and Samsung don’t solely see themselves as smartphone rivals. It is because, with the acquisition of a brand new smartphone, you additionally achieve a doorway into an ecosystem of different units. Each producers supply smartwatches, health trackers, tablets, TVs, in-ear Bluetooth headphones, and even washing machines or good rest room seats. Nevertheless, we solely assessment wearables and tablets from these product classes.
Wearables and different units
Within the desk above, you will discover present evaluations of those units from Xiaomi and Samsung. Nevertheless, we solely wish to spotlight this phase to you in an effort to illustrate the ecosystems of each producers. General, Xiaomi and Samsung don’t give one another a lot elbow room on this respect. In the event you really feel comfy with units from a sure producer, you may sit again and proceed buying with each Samsung and Xiaomi.
Value stability and sustainability
Xiaomi is a main instance of a producer that produces so-called “fast phones”. In different phrases, smartphones are cheap to purchase and attain the top of their life cycle after round two years. The producer gives quick-charging applied sciences that shorten the battery lifespan and an replace assure that corresponds to an identical timeframe. Solely the most costly Xiaomi smartphones supply an extended replace assure with three years of safety updates.
The story is barely totally different in relation to Samsung. As talked about earlier, quite a few Samsung smartphones will now obtain long-term assist updates. The brand new units from the S24 collection, for instance, might be safely used till 2031 like latest Pixel telephones. The workmanship on these handsets is sweet sufficient that the units ought to have the ability to final till then with a little bit bit of additional care and warning. Nevertheless, even Samsung will not be resistant to the quick telephone tradition with its entry-level smartphones. The rule of thumb right here is: The dearer a Samsung smartphone is, the longer you may theoretically use it.
Nevertheless, neither model is a very sustainable smartphone producer. Samsung omits the chargers in lots of its dearer smartphones and depends on plastic elements created from recycled fishing nets within the S22 collection. Xiaomi did plan one thing related with the Mi 11 however finally determined towards leaving the charger out of the packaging for the Western market.
Nevertheless, avoiding digital waste by omitting the charger will not be a main instance of sustainability at Samsung both. Small steps in the precise course ought to due to this fact not be a purpose to purchase Samsung in any case. If sustainability is essential to you, you must go for fashions just like the Shiftphone or Fairphone 5, which might be repaired and upgraded attributable to their modular kind issue.
Conclusion
Xiaomi or Samsung—which smartphone producer gives extra ultimately? This query might be tougher to reply for another pair of manufacturers than for the rivals from China and South Korea. In any case, each producers supply fashions for newbies all the way in which to the high-end market or area of interest markets equivalent to foldables.
Nevertheless, Samsung nonetheless positions itself extra towards being a producer of premium smartphones in 2024, which is justified by fashions just like the costly Galaxy S24 Extremely and the most recent foldables. Even with its personal Extremely flagship, Xiaomi nonetheless carries the status of being a extremely really helpful bang-for-the-buck smartphone producer with incredible mid-range choices, as these are the strengths of the corporate by stretching your hard-earned greenback.
Samsung’s massive ace up its sleeve, nevertheless, is One UI, and it additionally gives a very lengthy replace guarantee from entry-level to flagship telephones. Thus, Samsung can additional strengthen its picture as a premium model for this 12 months. Xiaomi continues to attempt to slender this hole, and the 14 flagships handle to match the Galaxy S in most essential specs. However whereas its fashions might be simply present in Europe, the Chinese language model will not launch its telephone in America…
The duel between the 2 smartphone giants stays thrilling! It’s purpose sufficient so that you can take one other have a look at this text often for the most recent updates.
Article up to date on July 2024 with extra telephones reviewed and the brand new Galaxy Z foldables.