The same chip, the same 6.9-inch diagonal, almost the same weight. And yet - two very different phones. Samsung makes "a phone for everything", Xiaomi makes "a camera that can make calls".
Short answer
Galaxy S26 Ultra - S Pen, two telephotos, a higher-resolution display, a lighter body and a lower price. Xiaomi 17 Ultra - a 1-inch sensor, a 200 MP Leica telephoto, a 6000 mAh battery, 90 W wired and 50 W wireless.
Key differences
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9", 1440×3120 | 6.9", LTPO OLED 1200×2608, up to 3500 nits |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 50 MP, 1" Light Fusion 1050L |
| Telephoto | 50 MP 5× + 10 MP 3× | 200 MP, 75-100 mm |
| Ultra-wide | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | 60 W / 25 W | 90 W / 50 W |
| Memory | 12/256 - 16/1024 GB | 16/512, 16/1024 GB |
| Stylus | S Pen | none |
| Weight | 214 g | 218.4 g |
| Price | current prices | current prices |
In common: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 120 Hz, IP68, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, stereo speakers.
Cameras
Xiaomi: a 1-inch main sensor means less noise, more natural blur and better dynamic range. And the 200 MP telephoto with variable focal length gives excellent zoom in the 3-4× range.
Samsung: a 200 MP main and two telephotos (3× and 5×). Stronger for long zoom and versatility. Both shoot 8K video.
In my opinion, if you photograph people and evening scenes - Xiaomi. If concerts, sports and distant subjects - Samsung.
Battery and charging
A clear win for Xiaomi: 1000 mAh more and noticeably faster charging, especially wireless.
Work and performance
The chip is the same. But the S Pen and One UI with Galaxy AI make the Samsung a better tool for working with documents. The Xiaomi has an IR blaster - a small thing, but nice.
Verdict: who should buy which
- Big-sensor photos and portraits - Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
- Long zoom - Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- Battery and charging - Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
- Notes, documents, S Pen - Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- Price - Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper.
FAQ
Are the chips the same?
Yes, both use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Which has the bigger battery?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra - 6000 mAh.
Does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra have a stylus?
No.