Galaxy S26 Ultra
Xiaomi 17
🏆 Verdict
Xiaomi 17 is the better pick overall by 6.7 points, leading in Battery, Charging and Display. Galaxy S26 Ultra remains a strong contender elsewhere.
Xiaomi 17 offers more for the money ($630 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 17 has the higher-resolution selfie camera (32 MP vs 12 MP).
Battery
Xiaomi 17's battery is 2,000 mAh larger (7,000 vs 5,000 mAh), about 40% more. Real battery life also depends on chip and display efficiency.
Charging
Xiaomi 17 charges faster over cable (100W vs 60W). Wireless charging is faster on Xiaomi 17 (50W vs 15W).
Display
Galaxy S26 Ultra has the larger screen (6.9" vs 6.3"). Xiaomi 17's screen gets brighter (3,500 vs 2,600 nits), which shows outdoors.
Build & durability
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a titanium frame. Xiaomi 17 is 23 g lighter.
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 17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| 12 GB / 16 GB | RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Display | 6.3" LTPO AMOLED |
| 120 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 3120×1440 (498 ppi) | Resolution | 2656×1220 (464 ppi) |
| 2,600 nits | Peak brightness | 3,500 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 | 7,000 mAh |
| 60 W | Wired charging | 100 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) | 4 years |
| $1,299 | Launch price | CNY 4,499 (≈ $630) |
| 2026-02 | Released | 2025-09 |
Official source: Galaxy S26 Ultra · Official source: Xiaomi 17
⚠ Data pending confirmation: Galaxy S26 Ultra، Xiaomi 17
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Pros
- 5× optical zoom
- 200 MP main camera
- 6.9" screen
- Titanium frame
- 7 years of updates
Cons
- Smaller battery
- Slower charging (60W)
- Dimmer screen
- Heavier (214 g)
Xiaomi 17
Pros
- 7,000 mAh battery
- 100W charging
- 3,500 nits peak
- Light at 191 g
- Lower price ($630)
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.