One of the biggest dilemmas for anyone looking into buying a mini flagship this year. Looking for a high-end compact phone? Look no further than the Xiaomi.
Looking for a high-end compact phone? Look no further than the Xiaomi 14 and Samsung’s Galaxy S24. This is perhaps one of the biggest dilemmas an Android user could have in 2024, in case you haven’t moved up from the smaller form factor.
We don’t want to spoil the ending, but it’s not an easy choice. On the one hand, the Xiaomi 14 makes a compelling case with a better specs sheet overall, but on the other, it’s the more expensive choice too.
There’s much to unpack here, so let’s start.
For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor’s assessment in the text further down below.Table of Contents:Size comparison
Expectedly, both handsets are just about the same size, with the Xiaomi 14 standing slightly taller. After all, it has a 6.36-inch display as opposed to the Galaxy S24’s 6.2-inch screen.
However, the Galaxy S24 is 20+ grams lighter, which you can feel, but doesn’t feel all that smaller than the Xiaomi 14. We suspect it’s because of the Galaxy S24’s completely flat edges and back. The Xiaomi 14’s curved back is a sound design choice as it makes the grip a tad more comfortable.
At the end of the day, both devices are easy to handle, but the Galaxy S24 makes a better case for itself in terms of overall build due to its Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back panels and the extra tough side aluminum frame, which Samsung calls Aluminum Armor 2. Xiaomi, on the other hand, discloses only a first-generation Gorilla Glass Victus on the front.Display comparison
We can say outright that both phones have excellent displays that would suit pretty much everyone. They have all the bells and whistles, and the only deciding factor for most people would probably be the size. Get the Xiaomi 14 if you want the larger display, or get the Galaxy S24 if you want a more compact handset.
Those of you looking for a bit more detail, however, would want to consider the subtle differences between the two devices. The Xiaomi 14 has a higher resolution screen and supports Dolby Vision, whereas the Galaxy S24 has a slightly higher maximum brightness in bright light (1,400 nits vs. 1,200 nits, according to our tests).Battery life
Both handsets offer dependable battery life despite their smaller-than-average batteries. In fact, it’s interesting to see the Galaxy S24 keeping up with the Xiaomi 14 with its smaller 4,000 mAh battery – that’s 610 mAh less than the Xiaomi 14.
