Within the higher echelon of the preferred smartphone producers, each Xiaomi and Samsung sit fairly proper on the prime. Whereas Samsung has been king-of-the-hill with its vary of Galaxy smartphones for over a decade now, Xiaomi nonetheless stays a reasonably younger firm. Nonetheless, the Chinese language electronics large has managed to seize an enormous market share within the west in recent times.
Each producers depend on Android and canopy a large worth vary. Because of this, we are going to divide this text into the three worth classes of the flagship smartphone, mid-range, and entry-level models. As well as, we may even let you know how large the respective ecosystem is and the way Samsung and Xiaomi have adopted Android of their respective skins.
Leap to:
- Smartphone catalogs compared
- Software & Privacy
- Wearables and other hardware
- Value, stability & sustainability
- Conclusion
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 2022: the flagships. Right here, each Xiaomi and Samsung do showcase new applied sciences on supply at mouthwatering costs. Listed here are the 2022 fashions as compared.
Xiaomi vs Samsung: Flagships
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| Specs | 6.1 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA) 128 / 256 GB ROM 8 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 12 MP Telephoto digital camera: 10 MP 3,700 mAh February 2022 |
6.6 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA) 128 / 256 GB ROM 8 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 12 MP Telephoto digital camera: 10 MP 4,500 mAh February 2022 |
6.8 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 3088×1440 pixels Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA) 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB ROM 8 / 12 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 108 MP Extremely wide-angle: 12 MP Telephoto digital camera 1: 10 MP Telephoto digital camera 2: 10 MP 5,000 mAh February 2022 |
6.28 inch, Curved AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 128 / 256 GB ROM 8 / 12 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 13 MP Macro digital camera: 5 MP 4,500 mAh December 2021 |
6.28 inch, Curved AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Snapdragon 870 5G 128 / 256 GB ROM 8 / 12 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 13 MP Macro digital camera: 5 MP 4,500 mAh December 2021 |
6.73 inch, Curved AMOLED 3200×1440 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 128 / 256 GB ROM 8 / 12 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 50 MP Telephoto digital camera: 50 MP 4,600 mAh December 2021 |
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| Ranking | Read the Galaxy S22 review | Read the Galaxy S22+ review | Read the Galaxy S22 Ultra review | Read the Xiaomi 12 review | Read the Xiaomi 12X review | Read the Xiaomi 12 Pro review |
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Not out there |
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After the International launch of the Xiaomi 12 series, the stage is about for the massive flagship duel between Android’s largest manufacturers. Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy S22 series on February 9, 2022, and we already know the costs for each 2022 cellphone strains.
In March 2022, there are three fashions that signify each sequence. For Xiaomi, it is the Xiaomi 12, Xiaomi 12 X, and Xiaomi 12 Pro variants, whereas for Samsung, it is the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. As you already know from final 12 months, the variants can not actually be in contrast as Xiaomi would possibly launch a 12 Ultra, which can then be the direct rival to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Since you may check out the precise variations within the desk, we are going to concentrate on the obvious similarities and variations. Each smartphone sequence supply the most recent applied sciences like AMOLED displays with a 120 Hertz refresh price, a number of cameras at excessive resolutions, and present wi-fi requirements like 5G, Bluetooth 5.1/5.2, and WiFi 6, plus the most recent Android 12 working system with a number of years of updates.
Nonetheless, there are nonetheless some variations to be aware of. For instance, Xiaomi is forward by way of fast charging and battery efficiency. In return, you’ll lastly see optical telephoto lenses used throughout all 2022 Galaxy fashions, whereas you’ll have to attain for the Xiaomi 12 Pro to get pleasure from that.
Samsung has additionally managed to increase the replace guarantee as soon as once more in 2022. Whereas Xiaomi solely provides three years of main Android updates and 4 years of safety updates, Samsung pips it forward with 4 main Android updates and 5 years of safety updates.
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 do signify the most recent applied sciences within the smartphone world with their fashions.
Mid-range
Should you nonetheless take a look at solely the costliest fashions with regards to smartphones, you might be lacking out on an entire lot. 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 widespread mid-range units over the previous two years, the place almost all of them supply an excellent price-performance ratio.
| Samsung Galaxy A mid-range telephones | Xiaomi Redmi mid-range telephones | |||||
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| Specs | 6.5 inch, Tremendous AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Exynos 1280 128 / 256 GB ROM 6 / 8 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 64 MP Extremely vast angle: 12 MP Macro digital camera: 5 MP Depth digital camera: 5 MP 5000 mAh March 2022 |
6.4 Inch, Tremendous AMOLED 2400×1080 Pixel Exynos 1280 128 GB ROM 6 / 8 GB RAM Quad Digital camera Essential Digital camera: 48 MP Extremely Extensive: 8 MP Macro Digital camera: 5 MP Depth Digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh March 2022 |
6.5 inch, Tremendous AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Snapdragon 778 5G 128 / 256 GB ROM 6 / 8 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 64 MP Extremely wide-angle: 12 MP Macro digital camera: 5 MP Depth digital camera: 5 MP 4500 mAh August 2021 |
6.67 inch, AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 64 / 128 GB ROM 6 / 8 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 108 MP Extremely wide-angle: 8 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh January 2022 |
6.43 inch, AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels MediaTek Helio G96 64 / 128 GB ROM 4 / 6 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 108 MP Extremely wide-angle: 8 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh January 2022 |
6.43 inch, AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 64 / 128 GB ROM 4 / 6 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 8 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh January 2022 |
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Read the Galaxy A53 review
Author |
Read the Galaxy A33 review
Senior Editor |
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In the meantime, Samsung has additionally introduced its new mid-range fashions Galaxy A53, Galaxy A33, and Galaxy A73 (this one out there solely in a couple of nations). Nonetheless, one earlier 12 months’s fashions, the A52s, nonetheless stay on the desk. The A52s as a result of it was solely launched late in 2021 and is a prime advice.
An uncommon product coverage, which we are able to focus on elsewhere. Within the commentary of my colleague Rubens, you may learn why he is disappointed by Samsung’s new A-Class.
Xiaomi is taken into account the producer with the very best price-performance ratio within the smartphone world, and that’s to be taken fairly actually on this case. The lately launched “Redmi Note 11” sequence provides shows with AMOLED and excessive refresh charges of as much as 120 Hertz, Fast Charging at a most of 67 watts, and highly effective cameras that seize as much as 108 megapixels with costs from round $179.
Nonetheless, Xiaomi’s software program replace coverage is much less convincing, and the pre-installed MIUI working system does include loads of bloatware and even ads that require you to deactivate in a rather awkward manner. Additionally, their availability within the US is sort of zero, with solely independently imported fashions out there in marketplaces.
Right here, Samsung clearly positions itself as a model for premium smartphones within the mid-range as effectively. 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 seamlessly continues this with the Galaxy A33, Galaxy A53, and Galaxy A73.
Nonetheless, the telephones do not need to cover by way of specs both. You get significantly high-quality AMOLED shows, quad cameras with optical picture stabilization, and sufficiently quick processors for the mid-range. Nonetheless, Samsung can not maintain a candle to Xiaomi with regards to quick charging instances for smartphones, particularly contemplating the Galaxy A fashions launched in 2022 doesn’t include the charger within the field.
Entry-level
If smartphones are primarily purported to be cheap, you may see an thrilling growth 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 Samsung Galaxy A13. Mainly, the identical professionals and cons apply as within the mid-range phase.
| Samsung Galaxy A entry-level telephones | Xiaomi Redmi entry-level telephones | |||||
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| Specs | 6.5 inch LCD 1600×720 pixels MediaTek Dimensity 700 64 / 128 GB ROM 4 / 6 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh December 2021 |
6.6 inch LCD 2408×1080 pixels Unnamed octa-core SoC 64 GB ROM 4 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely-wide-angle: 5 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh March 2022 |
6.5 inch LCD 1600×720 pixels MediaTek MT6765 Helio P35 32 / 64 GB ROM 2 / 3 / 4 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 13 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh August 2021 |
6.53 inch, LCD 2340×1080 pixels MediaTek MT6853 Dimensity 800U 64 / 128 GB ROM 4 / 6 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 48 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh January 2021 |
6.43 inch, AMOLED 2400×1080 pixels MediaTek Helio G95 64 / 128 GB ROM 4 / 6 / 8 GB RAM Quad digital camera Essential digital camera: 64 MP Extremely-wide-angle: 8 MP Macro digital camera: 2 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh March 2021 |
6.56 inch, LCD, 90 Hz 2408×1080 pixels MediaTek Dimensity 700 64 / 128 GB ROM 4 / 6 GB RAM Twin digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Depth digital camera: 2 MP 5000 mAh March 2022 |
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Read the Redmi Note 9T review |
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Which means that Xiaomi usually provides a bit extra efficiency and options for a similar sum of money. Samsung, nevertheless, convinces with strong {hardware}, usually actually good construct high quality, and its personal Android pores and skin, OneUI. Nonetheless, 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 worth. For a market overview, check out our listing of the best smartphones you can buy today for under $200.
Foldables
Within the final 4 years, an entire 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.
| Xiaomi’s challenger | The foldable benchmark | Compact flip | |
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| Specs | 8.92 inch, AMOLED 2160×1914 pixels 6.56 inch, AMOLED 2520×1080 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 256 / 512 / 1024 GB ROM 12 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 13 MP Telephoto digital camera: 8 MP 4,500 mAh August 2022 |
7.6 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2176×1812 pixels 6.2 inch, Tremendous AMOLED 2316×904 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 256 / 512 / 1024 GB ROM 12 GB RAM Triple digital camera Essential digital camera: 50 MP Extremely wide-angle: 12 MP Telephoto digital camera: 10 MP 4,400 mAh August 2022 |
6.7 inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2640×1080 pixels 1.9 inch, AMOLED 512×260 pixels Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 128 / 256 / 512 GB ROM 8 GB RAM Twin digital camera Essential digital camera: 12 MP Extremely wide-angle: 12 MP 3,700 mAh August 2022 |
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Read the Galaxy Z Fold 4 review |
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Nonetheless, you continue to should reckon with a crease within the show and excessive costs. Whereas the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 provides a format that transforms a traditional smartphone right into a pill when opened, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 performs up the nostalgia issue of utilizing a basic flip cellphone. Thus, you flip half a cellular phone right into a handset in customary smartphone format.
Xiaomi introduced the Mi Mix Fold in 2021, with a follow up in 2022. The foldable follows an identical idea because the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, but it surely has not been formally launched outdoors of China. Since we don’t suggest importing the smartphone, we is not going to go into extra element concerning the system. For extra info, simply observe the hyperlink to our evaluation web page of the Xiaomi Mi Combine Fold.
Software program and privateness
You might have already learn a bit about it within the earlier paragraphs regarding each smartphone choices: Samsung is best positioned than Xiaomi by way of software program updates. To give you a greater thought of this, we are going to take a better take a look at each working methods as soon as once more.
Samsung’s OneUI
Because the identify suggests, Samsung’s OneUI 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 provides quite a few further options like prolonged multitasking options, help for Samsung’s S Pen stylus, and native help for Samsung providers like Samsung’s S Cloud.
In our review of Samsung’s latest One UI 4.0 skin, you may learn concerning the myriad of choices Samsung has applied with the corresponding replace to Android 12. Other than the options, you can even stay up for the truth that Samsung’s personal providers will not be preloaded with lots of bloatware and that software program updates are normally supplied for longer. Observe that the producer solely prolonged the replace guarantee for chosen (high-end) fashions to 4 Android variations and 5 years of safety updates in the beginning of 2022.
Nonetheless, not all the things is ideal in Samsung’s software program both. The large measurement of Samsung’s working methods tends to face out in opinions. Thus, you must dwell with having as much as 15% of the out there cupboard space used up even earlier than you arrange your Samsung smartphone. Samsung additionally works increasingly more on implementing its personal {hardware} and software program ecosystem. For example, you may solely use the multi-pairing function of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro with different Samsung units.
Xiaomi MIUI
The MIUI working system pores and skin emerged from a former customized ROM that labored on rooted Android telephones. Xiaomi has taken over the working system and has developed it much more since then. In comparison with Samsung’s OneUI, MIUI appears a bit cooler and provides much more customization choices. As soon as once more, you may greatest try the options of the most recent MIUI operating system in the linked review.
We now have to immediately tackle the elephant within the room regarding MIUI: Not solely is the latest version MIUI 13 solely out there on only a few smartphones, however the working system additionally continues to be based mostly on Android 11 in some fashions, with the Android 12 roll-out starting with the Xiaomi 12 line. This implies you’ll have to make do with out the brand new options that Google launched in Android 12. Moreover, Xiaomi repeatedly attracts unfavourable consideration with quite a few advertisements and bloatware on its smartphones.
For many individuals, Xiaomi’s working system can be questionable as a result of it isn’t fully 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 is just not handed on to the Chinese language Communist Social gathering, you would possibly wish to search for one other producer. It is a political subject, however we don’t wish to enter this territory.
Wearables and different units
Each Xiaomi and Samsung don’t solely see themselves as smartphone producers rivals. It is because, with the acquisition of a brand new smartphone, you additionally acquire a doorway into an ecosystem of different units. Each producers supply smartwatches, fitness trackers, tablets, TVs, in-ear Bluetooth headphones, and even washing machines or good rest room seats. Nonetheless, we solely evaluation wearables and tablets from these product classes.
Wearables and different units
Within the desk above, you could find present opinions of those units from Xiaomi and Samsung. Nonetheless, we solely wish to spotlight this phase to you so as to illustrate the ecosystems from each producers. General, Xiaomi and Samsung don’t give one another a lot elbow room on this respect. Should you really feel snug with units from a sure producer, you may sit again and proceed purchasing with each Samsung and Xiaomi.
Worth stability and sustainability
Xiaomi is a primary instance of a producer that produces so-called “quick telephones”. In different phrases, smartphones which can be cheap to purchase and attain the top of their life cycle after round two years. The producer provides quick-charging technologies that shorten the battery lifespan and an replace assure that corresponds to an identical time-frame. Solely the costliest Xiaomi smartphones supply an extended replace assure with three years of safety updates.
The story is barely completely different with regards to Samsung. As talked about earlier, quite a few Samsung smartphones will now obtain long-term help updates. The brand new units from the S22 series, for example, can be used until 2027. The workmanship on these handsets is sweet sufficient that the units ought to have the ability to final till then with somewhat bit of additional care and warning. Nonetheless, even Samsung is just not resistant to the quick cellphone 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.
Nonetheless, neither model is a very sustainable smartphone producer. Samsung omits the chargers in lots of its dearer smartphones and depends on plastic components created from recycled fishing nets within the S22 sequence. Xiaomi did plan one thing comparable with the Mi 11 however finally determined in opposition to leaving the charger out of the packaging for the western market.
Nonetheless, avoiding digital waste by omitting the charger is just not a primary instance of sustainability at Samsung both. Small steps in the suitable route ought to subsequently not be a motive to purchase Samsung in any case. If sustainability is vital to you, it’s best to go for fashions just like the Shiftphone or Fairphone 4, which will be repaired and upgraded as a result of their modular type issue.
Conclusion
Xiaomi or Samsung – which smartphone producer provides extra in the long run? This query might be tougher to reply for another pair of manufacturers than for the rivals from China and South Korea. In spite of everything, each producers do supply fashions for inexperienced persons all the way in which to the high-end market or area of interest markets equivalent to foldables.
Nonetheless, Samsung nonetheless positions itself extra towards being a producer of premium smartphones in 2022, which is justified with fashions just like the Galaxy S22 Extremely and the most recent foldables. Xiaomi nonetheless carries the fame of being a extremely advisable entry-level smartphone producer with implausible mid-range choices, as these are the strengths of the corporate by stretching your hard-earned greenback.
Samsung’s large ace up its sleeve, nevertheless, is OneUI, and it additionally provides a very lengthy replace guarantee. Thus, Samsung can additional strengthen its picture as a premium model for this 12 months. Xiaomi continues to attempt to slender this hole with a barely improved replace coverage, a world guarantee, and by protecting the charger within the field.
Now all that’s left for us is to check each smartphone ranges and see how the market will react to every lineup.
Article up to date in October 2022, after the Xiaomi Mi Combine Fold 2, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold & Flip 4 launches.
