Galaxy S26 Ultra
Xiaomi 15
🏆 Verdict
Galaxy S26 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 are very close overall — less than 3 points apart. Pick by the category that matters most to you below.
Xiaomi 15 offers more for the money ($1,079 vs $1,299 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 2.6×). Xiaomi 15 has the higher-resolution selfie camera (32 MP vs 12 MP).
Battery
Xiaomi 15's battery is 240 mAh larger (5,240 vs 5,000 mAh), about 5% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
Xiaomi 15 charges faster over cable (90W vs 60W). Wireless charging is faster on Xiaomi 15 (50W vs 15W).
Display
Galaxy S26 Ultra has the larger screen (6.9" vs 6.36"). Xiaomi 15's screen gets brighter (3,200 vs 2,600 nits), which shows outdoors.
Build & durability
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a titanium frame. Xiaomi 15 is 23 g lighter.
Updates
Galaxy S26 Ultra should get OS updates for longer (7 vs 3 years, per the maker's policy at launch).
Specifications
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| 12 GB / 16 GB | RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Display | 6.36" LTPO AMOLED |
| 120 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 3120×1440 (498 ppi) | Resolution | 2670×1200 (460 ppi) |
| 2,600 nits | Peak brightness | 3,200 nits |
| 200 MP | Main camera | 50 MP |
| 50 MP | Ultrawide | 50 MP |
| 50 MP · 5× | Telephoto | 50 MP · 2.6× |
| 12 MP | Front camera | 32 MP |
| 5,000 mAh | Battery | 5,240 mAh |
| 60 W | Wired charging | 90 W |
| 15 W | Wireless charging | 50 W |
| IP68 | Water & dust rating | IP68 |
| titanium | Frame | aluminium |
| 214 g | Weight | 191 g |
| 7 years | OS updates (estimated) | 3 years |
| $1,299 | Launch price | EUR 999 (≈ $1,079) |
| 2026-02 | Released | 2024-10 |
Official source: Galaxy S26 Ultra · Official source: Xiaomi 15
⚠ Data pending confirmation: Galaxy S26 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Pros
- 5× optical zoom
- 200 MP main camera
- 6.9" screen
- Titanium frame
- 7 years of updates
Cons
- Slower charging (60W)
- Dimmer screen
- Heavier (214 g)
- Pricier ($1,299)
Xiaomi 15
Pros
- 90W charging
- 3,200 nits peak
- Light at 191 g
- Lower price ($1,079)
Cons
- Shorter update window
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.