HomeXiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – Xiaomi’s vs Samsung’s flagship

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – Xiaomi’s vs Samsung’s flagship

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – Xiaomi’s vs Samsung’s flagship. Chinese OEM company Xiaomi has been trending in the smartphone world since they released the Xiaomi Mi 8. It will be the first the company will release a smartphone with three different models. The Xiaomi Mi 8 comes with Xiaomi 8 Special Edition and Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer. Normally, OnePlus is nicknamed “the flagship killer” cause of how affordable their phones with premium specs are. But we can’t overlook Xiaomi’s flagships too.

In my opinion, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S is also a flagship killer and so is the Xiaomi Mi 8 and the Explorer edition. The Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer edition comes with an on-screen fingerprint sensor and transparent back. Going against the new Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer will be Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. Let’s see if the Mi 8 Explorer can kill Samsung’s flagship.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – The Design

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer
Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Xiaomi looks to have followed the trend of back and front glass as they ditch their ceramic back for the Mi 8 Explorer. The Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer comes with a rear and front glass with an aluminum frame (7000 series alloyed with zinc). While on the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is an aluminum frame with gorilla glass 5 front and back. The glass on the Mi 8 Explorer is an unspecified version of gorilla glass. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is rich in body colors with Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red and Sunrise Gold. While the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer comes in only a black color, the black is transparent which is one of the highlights of the smartphone, enabling you to see internal components.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is water/dust resistance with IP68 rating while the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer isn’t. I was really hoping it does, we didn’t see much in the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S either. Anyway, the Mi 8 Explorer comes lighter, weighing 177 grams and slimmer with 7.6mm thick to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus that weighs 189 grams and measures 8.5mm thick. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus has its dual rear camera at the top center while the dual rear camera of the Mi 8 Explorer is at the top left. They both feature a fingerprint sensor, which is rear mounted for the Galaxy S9 Plus and on-screen for the Mi 8 Explorer.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – The Display

They both feature the Super AMOLED touchscreen panel. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus sports a 6.2-inch screen size, an 84.2% screen-to-body ratio, an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, 1440 x 2960 pixels resolution and 529 PPI density. While the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer sports a 6.21-inch screen size, an 83.8% screen-to-body ratio, an 18.7:9 aspect ratio, 1080 x 2248 pixels resolution and 402 PPI density. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus features better pixels resolution and pixels per inch density and will have brighter sharper pictures.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – The Camera

This is where it gets interesting for both phones. According to popular camera rating website DxOMark, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and Xiaomi Mi 8 scored 99 points. We know the Xiaomi Mi 8 has the same camera properties with the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer. So it’s pretty easy to say the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer also scored 99 points. That’s means we have a draw here.

But on papers, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer sports a dual 12MP camera sensors. The primary sensor features f/1.8 aperture, 1.4µm pixel size, 4-axis OIS and dual-pixel PDAF. While the secondary sensor features f/2.4 aperture and 1.0µm pixel size. Up front, is a 20MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture and 1.8µm pixel size.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus also sports a dual 12MP camera sensors. Hmm, who’s believing DxOMark now? The primary sensor features a dual aperture of f/1.5-2.4, 1.4µm pixel size and dual-pixel PDAF. While the secondary sensor features a f/2.4 aperture and 1.0µm pixel size. At the front of the Galaxy S9 Plus is an 8MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture and 1.22µm pixel size.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – Hardware and Software

Powering both the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, Adreno 630 graphics processing unit and Octa-core processor. The Mi 8 Explorer runs on MIUI 10 skin with Android 8.1 Oreo underneath while the Galaxy S9 Plus runs on Samsung experience skin with Android 8.0 Oreo underneath.

DONT MISS: Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Xiaomi Mi 8 – What’s the difference?

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer comes in only an 8GB memory with 128GB storage. While the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus comes in only a 6GB memory with either 64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – The Battery

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus packs a non-removable Li-lon 3500 mAh battery while the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer packs a non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery. The Galaxy S9 Plus supports fast battery charging 2.0 and Qi/PMA wireless charging. While the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer supports only fast battery charging 4.0+.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – The Price

You can get the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer for about $582 (N203,700). While the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus cost about $1,155 (N404,250). Same camera and hardware, still the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer is almost half the price of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. Though, the Galaxy S9 has water-resistant, better pixels resolution and battery. But money wise and value, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer is better.

SEE ALSO: Sony Xperia XZ2 VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus – Specs Comparison

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer VS Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Full Specs Comparison

Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Dimensions and Weight 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm. Weight – 177 g 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm. Weight – 189 g
Display 6.21 inches (83.8% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 2248 pixels with 402 PPI density and Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen 6.2 inches (84.2% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2960 pixels with 529 PPI density and Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
Memory RAM – 8GB. ROM – 128GB RAM – 6GB. ROM – 64/128/256GB
Software Android 8.1 Oreo (with MIUI 10.0) Android 8.0 Oreo (with Samsung experience)
Hardware Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with Octa-core (4×2.8GHz & 4×1.8GHz) processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with Octa-core (4×2.8GHz & 4×1.7GHz) processor
Camera 20MP f/2.0 aperture front camera + Dual – 12MP f/1.8 aperture and 12MP f/2.4 aperture with dual-LED flash 8MP f/1.7 aperture front camera + Dual – 12MP f/1.5-2.4 aperture and 12MP f/2.4 aperture with LED flash
Connectivity 2G/3G/4G Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS 2G/3G/4G Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
Battery Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery Non-removable Li-lon 3500 mAh battery
Additional Features Fingerprint (under display), Fast battery charging (Quick Charge 4.0+), Infrared face recognition Fingerprint (rear-mounted), Irish Scanner, Samsung DeX (desktop experience support), Fast battery charging (Quick Charge 2.0), Qi/PMA wireless charging (market dependent)

Buy Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer & Pay On Delivery

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Buy Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus & Pay On Delivery

GearBest |from $53 View Price Offers, Click Here!

Jumia Ghana |from GHc159 View Price Offers, Click Here!

Jumia Nigeria |from N13,995 View Price Offers, Click Here!

Jumia Kenya |from Ksh3,530 View Price Offers, Click Here!


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About Author

Samuel Afolabi is a lazy tech-savvy that loves writing almost all tech-related kinds of stuff. He is the Editor-in-Chief of TechVaz. You can connect with him socially :)

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