Bombshell! Chinese Brands vs Samsung: Which Is Best for Buying in Installments in Argentina?

If you’re thinking about upgrading your phone, hold on tight because this will blow your mind. In Argentina, the smartphone war is hotter than ever: Chinese brands, led by Xiaomi, are hot on Samsung’s heels, while Motorola and Apple fight for their slice of the pie. But beware, here not only quality matters, but also how you’ll pay. Is a high-end phone with fixed installments better for you, or a Chinese one with a good camera? We tell you all the details.

Let’s start with the heavyweights. Samsung, the undisputed king, has the Galaxy S24 Ultra as its flagship. This behemoth comes with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 120 Hz refresh rate, and Gorilla Glass Armor protection. Its 5000 mAh battery lasts all day, but fast charging is stuck at 45W, a lot by current standards. The camera is insane: 200 MP with 5x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom. All powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The price? An arm and a leg: around $1,500,000 in fixed installments with banks, or up to 18 interest-free installments with some cards.

But don’t leave yet, because Xiaomi is coming strong. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is a beast: 6.73-inch AMOLED LTPO display with 120 Hz, 4880 mAh battery with 120W fast charging (yes, you read that right, it charges in 20 minutes), and a 50 MP Leica camera with 3.2x optical zoom. Its processor is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. And here’s the best part: in Argentina you can get it for about $1,200,000 in installments, even with 12 interest-free installments in some stores. The catch? It doesn’t have the same service network as Samsung, but hey, for the price difference you can buy a Bluetooth speaker.

Motorola is not far behind with the Edge 50 Pro: 6.7-inch pOLED display at 120 Hz, 4500 mAh battery with 125W charging, and a 50 MP camera with 30x zoom (hybrid). Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. Its price is around $900,000, and it often has long installments with banks like Galicia or Santander. Ideal if you want to spend less but with good quality.

And Apple, as always, is the star. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display at 120 Hz, 4422 mAh battery with 27W charging (yes, Apple is still in the Stone Age), a 48 MP camera with 5x optical zoom, and the A17 Pro chip. The price is crazy: over $2,000,000, and installments usually come with high interest or financing plans of up to 24 fixed installments. Messi? Yes. Worth it? Only if you have the money.

In summary: if you want the best performance for your money, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is a steal. If you prefer something cheaper with local service, Motorola is a solid choice. Samsung is the balance, but expensive. And Apple… well, Apple is for those with deep pockets. Now, tell me: which one would you choose?

Updated Price Comparison

If you’re thinking about buying a new phone, these are the most sought-after models. All with 12 interest-free installments:

• Samsung Galaxy A55 – From $450,000 in 12 interest-free installments (VAFTS9-E4CH)
• Motorola Edge 50 Fusion – From $520,000 in 12 interest-free installments (VAFTS9-HVNV)
• Xiaomi Redmi Note – From $350,000 in 12 interest-free installments (VAFTS9-WF9A)

Approximate prices. 12 interest-free installments subject to each seller. Look for the codes on Mercado Libre.