Looking for a phone with a massive display and long-lasting battery? The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 and Samsung Galaxy A54 both offer compelling features, but cater to different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior performance, brighter display, and more modern features. While the Mi Max 3 boasts incredible battery life, the A54's improvements in other areas make it a more well-rounded choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, July. Released 2018, July | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 176.2 x 87.4 x 8 mm (6.94 x 3.44 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | To be confirmed | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~350 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 122.9 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 720p/1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5500 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Champagne Gold, Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | M1804E4A | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 310 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | 1.58 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.0dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 115h
|
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1462 (nominal), 3.061 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 83dB
|
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 119229 (v7)
GeekBench: 4907 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Mi Max 3
- Massive 6.93-inch display
- Exceptional battery life (115h endurance)
- Affordable price
- Outdated chipset
- Lower camera quality
- Bulky design
- Slow charging (18W)
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Bright and vibrant display (980 nits)
- Powerful Exynos 1380 chipset
- Improved camera system
- Modern design
- Faster charging (25W)
- Higher price
- Battery life slightly less than Mi Max 3
- Can be bulky
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54's display is a clear winner. Its 980 nits max brightness provides excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, a significant advantage over the Mi Max 3. The 'infinite' contrast ratio on the A54 suggests superior color accuracy and deeper blacks, while the Mi Max 3's 1462:1 ratio is still respectable. Both offer large screens, but the A54's quality is noticeably better.
Camera Comparison
While both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities listed, the Galaxy A54 is expected to have a superior camera system. Samsung's image processing is generally considered excellent, and the A54 likely features better sensors and features. The Mi Max 3's camera is functional but lacks the advanced features and image quality of the A54.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 (5nm) chipset significantly outperforms the Mi Max 3's Snapdragon 636 (14nm). The A54's Cortex-A78 cores deliver faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking. The Mi Max 3 is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with demanding games or applications. The A54 offers a much more responsive and fluid experience.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with endurance ratings of 115h and 119h respectively. The Mi Max 3's sheer size allows for a larger battery capacity, but the A54's more efficient chipset helps it maintain comparable battery performance. Active use scores show the A54 lasting around 11 hours and 15 minutes, which is very competitive.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life above all else and who appreciate a truly massive screen for media consumption. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking a balance of performance, camera quality, and a vibrant display, with a more modern and refined user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Mi Max 3 still worth buying in 2024?
If you absolutely need the largest possible screen and longest battery life on a budget, the Mi Max 3 can still be a viable option. However, be aware of its limitations in performance and camera quality.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 will receive longer software and security updates compared to the Mi Max 3, which is no longer actively supported.
