Xiaomi 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S24: Which is the Best Default Flagship in India in 2024?

The Xiaomi 14 has officially dropped in India. Xiaomi appears to have skipped the launch of its 'Pro' phone this year in favor of its vanilla 14 flagship, which aims to offer a perfect balance of size, specifications, design, and software.

However, as the brand's premium smartphone, the Xiaomi 14 demands a premium price, squaring it against the Samsung Galaxy S24. In our comparison, we'll see how the Xiaomi 14 fares against what may very well be one of the best default flagships of 2024. It is worth mentioning that we will only be comparing the specifications of the two devices here.

Xiaomi 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S24: Full Specs Compared

Design, Display, Build

Both phones opt for a more compact design, although Xiaomi does strike a better balance so far as size is concerned. It maintains a slightly larger 6.36-inch display, while the difference in overall size is similar. The Xiaomi 14's curved back is easier to grip and more comfortable to use.

And while we haven't tested the Galaxy S24, its fully flat back and edges may not offer the same level of comfort. In terms of build quality, the Galaxy S24 uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back with an aluminum frame that Samsung claims is extra tough.

The Xiaomi 14, on the other hand, uses Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and unnamed glass on the back. It also comes with an aluminum frame. Both phones feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, while Xiaomi also includes a case in the box for added protection.

Both the Xiaomi 14 and Samsung Galaxy S24 come with LTPO OLED screens, although the former features a higher 1.5K resolution. The Samsung Galaxy S24's display boasts a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, while the Xiaomi 14 one ups it, maxing out at 3,000 nits. Additionally, the Xiaomi 14's screen also supports Dolby Vision over the HDR10+.

Performance, Battery, Software

In terms of performance, it is a 'no-brainer'! A lot of heads sunk after Samsung announced that the Exynos 2400 chip would be powering the vanilla Galaxy S24 in India and most other parts of the world. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip on the Xiaomi 14 outperform its Samsung counterpart.

Additionally, the Chinese smartphone maker has also made several improvements to the Xiaomi 14's cooling system. Additionally, Xiaomi also offers more value in its base model, further increasing the price-to-performance gap. It is worth noting that Samsung is putting a major emphasis on AI performance, which may help the S24 bridge the gap in sustained performance.

While Samsung has bumped up the size of the Galaxy S24's battery, it is nowhere near as big as the one on the Xiaomi 14. Despite a minor difference in size, the Xiaomi 14's battery is 15% larger than that of the Galaxy S24. But Xiaomi's advantages don't stop there as it supports significantly faster wired and wireless charging, while including an adapter in the box for the former.

Xiaomi's HyperOS definitely feels like a step up from MIUI. However, it is still a far cry from Samsung's One UI, particularly considering the latest version of Samsung's software comes with a myriad of AI magic. Moreover, Samsung also offers better and longer software support than the Xiaomi 14.

Cameras

For optics, the Xiaomi 14 comes with a triple-camera setup on the back with a 50 MP Leica ultra-dynamic main camera that uses a custom Hunter 900 sensor that features an f/1.62 aperture, 23mm equivalent focal length, Laser AF, and OIS support.

The main camera is paired with a 50 MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, and a 115-degree FOV. Lastly, there's a 50 MP Leica 75mm floating telephoto lens with a 75mm equivalent focal length, and OIS support.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 also features a triple-camera setup with a 50 MP primary sensor that supports OIS, a 23mm focal length, and an f/1.8 aperture. The main camera is paired with a 12 MP ultrawide shooter with an f/2.2 aperture and a 10 MP telephoto unit with an f/2.4 aperture and OIS support.

The Xiaomi 14 can record 4K video at up to 60fps or 8K video at 24fps. Lastly, there's a 32 MP selfie snapper up front that can also record 4K 60fps videos. The Samsung Galaxy S24 can also capture 4K video at up to 60fps or 8K video at 24/30fps. Lastly, there's a 12 MP selfie snapper up front that can also record 4K videos at 60fps.

Since we haven't tested the cameras on the Galaxy S24, this really isn't a fair fight as Xiaomi's camera hardware is miles ahead of Samsung. However, Samsung has upped the ante in the camera software department, which should make this an interesting competition. But for now, it is unclear whether those software improvements will help the S24 overcome the superior hardware on the Xiaomi 14.

Xiaomi 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S24: Conclusion

We can't really say which phone is the better of the two without testing both, but we can tell you where the differences between the two smartphones lie and what are their respective advantages.

When it comes to the Xiaomi 14, the evidence is laid bare for all to see. Xiaomi's hardware advantages are clear on the specification sheet, winning the battle on the performance, display, battery, charging, and camera fronts. We haven't tested the Galaxy S24's cameras, but the Xiaomi 14 was rated to have the third-best camera of any smartphone in the world, according to DXOMARK.

The Samsung Galaxy S24, on the other hand, brings its 'A' game to the software department, aiming to offer a seamless and connected experience. It also offers the best software support of any smartphone. Moreover, the Galaxy S24 also features a better build.

However, if we had to pick between one of the two, our choice based on the specifications alone would be the Xiaomi 14. While hardware alone was not enough to sway us, it is the camera performance on the Xiaomi 14 that seals its victory over Samsung. Stay tuned to Gizbot for our full Xiaomi 14 review.