The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is one of the unexpected flagship superstars this year. The device was the company’s trump card while they prepare to launch the Mi 8 a few months back.
But despite the Mi 8 being official, people still see the Mi Mix 2S as one of the top options in the flagship space, which is unsurprising considering it has a slew of top-of-the-line specs to back up its high-end status.
However, this also means that the device needs to fight it out with some of the biggest names in the industry. One of them is the Samsung Galaxy S9, which is widely considered to be one of the best (if not the best) Android smartphones right now.
But for a fraction of the price, how does the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S stack up with the Galaxy S9? In this market, does “cheaper” actually mean better? Or can the Galaxy S9 prove that it is still the best Android flagship around? Go ahead and check out our Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S versus Samsung Galaxy S9 specifications and features comparison below to find out.
| Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S | Samsung Galaxy S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo MIUI 9.5 | Android 8.0 Oreo Samsung Experience 9 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS 2160 x 1080 resolution ~403ppi 18:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED 2960 x 1440 resolution ~568ppi 18:9 aspect ratio HDR10 Always-On display Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Processor | 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor | 2.9GHz Samsung Exynos 9810 octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Mali-G72 MP18 |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB non-expandable | 64GB UFS 2.1 expandable via microSD up to 400GB |
| Front Camera | 5-megapixel | 8-megapixel f/1.7 AR Emoji |
| Rear Camera | 12-megapixel (f/1.9, wide-angle) + 12-megapixel (f/2.4, telephoto) dual 4-axis OIS PDAF dual-LED flash | 12-megapixel Dual pixel sensor f/1.5-f/2.4 OIS 960fps slow-mo PDAF dual-LED flash |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint scanner Iris scanner Facial recognition |
| Audio | Single loudspeaker | Dual AKG speakers Dolby Atmos |
| Connectivity | HSPA+ 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 ac, hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP NFC GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C 3.5mm headphone jack adapter included | HSPA+ 4G LTE, Cat. 18, up to 1.28Gbps WiFi 802.11 ac, Hotspot Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX NFC GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Others | n/a | IP68 water and dust resistance Bixby 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 74.9 x 8.1mm | 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm |
| Weight | 191g | 168g |
| Colors | Black White | Midnight Black Lilac Purple Coral Blue |
| Battery | 3400mAh Li-Ion non-removable Fast charge, WIreless charging | 3000mah Li-Po non-removable Fast charge, Wireless charging |
| Price | 6GB/64GB: Php27,990 6GB/128GB: PHP29,990 | Php45,990 |
It is pretty clear that the Samsung Galaxy S9 has won this specs battle. However, that doesn’t mean that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is a lousy competitor. This handset is still a powerful flagship by itself. It’s more like a more humble counterpart of the Galaxy S9, with stripped down novelties to accommodate the more affordable price tag.
For starters, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S only has a Full HD+ screen, while the Galaxy S9 has a sharper QHD+ display. This is just a slight compromise as most people wouldn’t even notice the difference in sharpness and they almost have the same screen size as well.
Both devices also come with a powerful processor. In fact, most people might even favor the Mi Mix 2S as it runs on a more well-known and trusted Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. Meanwhile, Samsung went with their own Exynos 9810 chipset for the Galaxy S9. It is also available in a Snapdragon 845 variant, but it is only available in the US.
In the memory department, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S beats the Galaxy S9. The former is available in 6GB and 8GB RAM variants, while the Galaxy S9 only comes with 4GB. Xiaomi’s offering is also available in more storage variants, although Samsung’s only 4GB option might be forgivable as it uses a faster UFS2.1 storage.
See also: ASUS ROG Phone vs Samsung Galaxy S9: Specs Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is equipped with a better camera for selfies. It sports an 8-megapixel front camera with a slew of software novelties like AR Emoji which makes it fun to use. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S only has a 5-megapixel camera.
Moving to the primary cameras, the Mi Mix 2S gets the edge because of its dual-camera system. It features a 12-megapixel wide-angle and 12-megapixel telephoto dual camera setup. Both have 4-axis OIS. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S9 only has a single 12-megapixel camera with a dual-pixel sensor.
But as I said earlier, the Galaxy S9 ultimately won the specs fight because of its extra features. For one, it can shoot ultra slow-mo videos at 960fps. You might not use it often, but its there. What you’d really appreciate the most are its dual AKG front speakers, facial and iris scanner and its IP68 water and dust resistance.
To wrap it up, if you think those extra features of the Samsung Galaxy S9 are worth it, then you can go ahead and get it. But if you just want a powerful and straightforward smartphone, the Mi Mix 2S can surely satisfy your cravings without needing to break the bank.
Speaking of the price, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S retails for Php27,990 for the 6GB/64GB variant, while the 6GB/128GB model costs Php29,990. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is being sold for Php45,990 (4GB/64GB) — Php18,000 more expensive than the Mi Mix 2S.