Xiaomi Mi 3 Vs Samsung Galaxy S5: Which Is The Best High-End Android Smartphone?

Despite having launched only a few months ago, Samsung's Galaxy S5 hasn't managed to impress consumers, resulting in lackluster sales. However, the smartphone is still one of the best in the market due to its unique features and high-end specs. We compare its specifications with the Xiaomi Mi 3, which was recently released in several markets around the globe.

Design

While it might appear to be a metal-bodied smartphone, users will realise that the Xiaomi Mi 3 uses a plastic body with a finish that's something between high-gloss plastic and matte. However, the product still manages to feel premium when held, but is somewhat slippery. The Mi 3 is a sturdy package thanks to the solid aluminium chassis that holds it together.

Samsung has failed to wow fans by repeating the use of plastic in its flagship smartphone. The S5, while boasting strong building quality, uses plastic, thereby denying it the opportunity to feel like a premium phone. While the company has tried making things better with a metal band around the edges, the phone still feels ordinary when held.

Display

Despite having a plastic body, Samsung has ensured that the S5 has been packed with some of the best hardware available in the market. It uses a gorgeous 5.1 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920. The display churns out a solid pixel density of 432 ppi, meaning that users can expect an amazing visual experience.

However, the Mi 3 also houses a display with a 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution that's spread over a 5in screen. It offers a powerful pixel density of 441 ppi and offers an amazing smartphone experience. All in all, the difference between both displays is minimal.

Hardware

While both smartphones use excellent processing packages, Samsung's Gaalxy S5 uses the more advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, which houses a Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 CPU and a Adreno 330 GPU.

The Mi 3 uses the slightly older Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with a Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 CPU and an Adreno 330 GPU.

Both smartphones use 2GB of RAM. However, the Mi 3 can deliver more on-board memory with a 64GB variant (although there is a 16GB variant). The S5 is being offered in 16GB and 32GB variants. However, Samsung's smartphone offers expandable storage up to 128GB unlike the Mi 3.

Imaging

Samsung has give the S5 a powerful 16 megapixel (MP) camera in the rear with phase detection autofocus and LED flash, apart from a 2 megapixel camera up front.

The Mi 3 offers a powerful 13 megapixel shooter in the rear along with a decent 2 megapixel camera up front.

Samsung clearly wins this round with its superior optics and image quality, however, the Mi 3 isn't too far behind in this department.

Software

Samsung has always been called out for the massive amount of bloatware that it adds to its phones, along with the company's custom made touch Wiz UI. Fans and experts have complained that apart from causing performance lag to an extent, Samsung's UI also lacks visual appeal.

However, the Mi 3 has a strong advantage in this department with its MiUI ROM, which is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Visually, it looks like a lovechild of iOS and Android. It offers users the simplicity of iOS along with the power and flexibility of Android.

Apart from an easy learning curve, users will also enjoy MiUI's amazing library of themes, which constantly gets new additions via users and fans. Icons, widgets, wallpapers, animations, transparency levels change entirely with each theme, while one can also mix and match elements of different themes to customise things to suit one's tastes.

Xiaomi has also added several of its own tweaks and customisations and the company has also made it possible for users to uninstall some of the pre-installed apps. Currently, most popular manufacturers do not allow this, including Samsung.

Bottom Line

While Samsung's S5 offers superior specs in many departments including processing and imaging, the smartphone happens to cost three times more than the Mi 3 in many markets.

If you're looking for the best specs and amazing imaging performance, the Galaxy S5 is the choice for you. Also, Samsung has worked on the S5 to ensure that the smartphone offers amazing battery backup, which extends to over an entire day in some cases. Additional features include a fingerprint scanner and more.

However, if you're on a budget and want solid performance at a low price with some excellent UI, then the Mi 3 is worth considering for its high value offering.