Galaxy S26 Ultra
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
🏆 Verdict
Xiaomi 15 Ultra is the better pick overall by 2.7 points, leading in Charging, Display and Battery. Galaxy S26 Ultra remains a strong contender elsewhere.
Galaxy S26 Ultra offers more for the money ($1,299 vs $1,619 at launch).
By category
Performance
Both run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with practically the same performance.
Camera
Galaxy S26 Ultra's main camera is 200 MP vs 50 MP. More pixels help cropping and digital zoom, but final quality depends on sensor size and processing. Galaxy S26 Ultra zooms further optically (5× vs 4.3×). Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the higher-resolution selfie camera (32 MP vs 12 MP).
Battery
Xiaomi 15 Ultra's battery is 410 mAh larger (5,410 vs 5,000 mAh), about 8% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
Xiaomi 15 Ultra charges faster over cable (90W vs 60W). Wireless charging is faster on Xiaomi 15 Ultra (80W vs 15W).
Display
Galaxy S26 Ultra has the larger screen (6.9" vs 6.73"). Xiaomi 15 Ultra's screen gets brighter (3,200 vs 2,600 nits), which shows outdoors.
Build & durability
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a titanium frame.
Updates
Galaxy S26 Ultra should get OS updates for longer (7 vs 4 years, per the maker's policy at launch).
Specifications
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| 12 GB / 16 GB | RAM | 16 GB |
| 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | Storage | 512 GB / 1 TB |
| 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Display | 6.73" LTPO AMOLED |
| 120 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 3120×1440 (498 ppi) | Resolution | 3200×1440 (521 ppi) |
| 2,600 nits | Peak brightness | 3,200 nits |
| 200 MP | Main camera | 50 MP |
| 50 MP | Ultrawide | 50 MP |
| 50 MP · 5× | Telephoto | 200 MP · 4.3× |
| 12 MP | Front camera | 32 MP |
| 5,000 mAh | Battery | 5,410 mAh |
| 60 W | Wired charging | 90 W |
| 15 W | Wireless charging | 80 W |
| IP68 | Water & dust rating | IP68 |
| titanium | Frame | aluminium |
| 214 g | Weight | 226 g |
| 7 years | OS updates (estimated) | 4 years |
| $1,299 | Launch price | EUR 1,499 (≈ $1,619) |
| 2026-02 | Released | 2025-02 |
Official source: Galaxy S26 Ultra · Official source: Xiaomi 15 Ultra
⚠ Data pending confirmation: Galaxy S26 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Pros
- 5× optical zoom
- 200 MP main camera
- Titanium frame
- 7 years of updates
- Lower price ($1,299)
Cons
- Smaller battery
- Slower charging (60W)
- Dimmer screen
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Pros
- 5,410 mAh battery
- 90W charging
- 3,200 nits peak
Cons
- Shorter update window
- Pricier ($1,619)
How is the score calculated?
Each phone gets 0–100 points in seven categories (performance, camera, battery, charging, display, build, updates), computed only from its published specs, then combined with fixed, published weights. A gap under 2.5 points counts as a tie. The performance index is an estimate based on benchmark results published at launch.
Figures come from the manufacturers’ official pages. Some specs vary by market. We do not sell devices or earn commissions.