Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra
It’s Samsung against Xiaomi in the flagship smartphone class, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are the models carrying each flag. Taken area by area, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins 3 of 4. That doesn’t make the Galaxy S26 Ultra a bad choice, but it does set the baseline.
At a glance
- Performance Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins
- Memory & Storage Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins
- Camera Galaxy S26 Ultra wins
- Battery & Charging Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins
- Memory & Storage4.5
- Camera10.0
- Battery & Charging3.7
- Memory & Storage8.1
- Camera3.6
- Battery & Charging6.6
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has 4 GB more RAM
On ram, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra posts 16 GB against 12 GB for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. Extra memory also gives the Xiaomi 17 Ultra more headroom for heavier apps and for software updates in the years ahead.
-
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has 20% more battery capacity
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 6,000 mAh for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra versus 5,000 mAh for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Extra capacity also ages better: after a few years of charge cycles, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has more headroom left.
-
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has 512 GB of base storage instead of 256 GB
The Galaxy S26 Ultra lists 256 GB; the Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes in at 512 GB. That’s not a rounding error. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
-
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera
At 200 MP versus 50 MP, this is a decisive lead for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
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The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has faster 90 W wired charging
If wired charging is one of your priorities, this settles it: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads clearly with 90 W to the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 60 W. Peak charging speeds depend on a compatible charger, which may not come in the box.
Design & Size
The Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra take up almost exactly the same space.
Design & Build
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | N/A (not specified) | 6.41 in |
| Width | N/A (not specified) | 3.06 in |
| Thickness | N/A (not specified) | 0.33 in |
| Weight | N/A (not specified) | 7.69 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68/IP69 (winner) |
| Frame | N/A (not specified) | Aluminum |
Display
Names, not numbers: the display rows below show what each one is built with, and it’s worth reading them side by side.
Performance
Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads
No contest in performance: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the stronger of the two. Here the Xiaomi 17 Ultra offers 4 GB more RAM. More RAM lets a phone keep more apps open in the background, so switching back to them is instant instead of a reload. Net result: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads this part of the comparison.
RAM
Galaxy S26 Ultra: 12 GB Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 16 GB Opening a single app, you won’t feel the difference. With lots of tabs, a game and the camera in rotation, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has more room to work with.
Memory & Storage
Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads
This is one of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s strongest areas. On memory & storage, the Galaxy S26 Ultra falls well short. Point to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for 512 GB of base storage instead of 256 GB. If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years. The memory & storage verdict goes to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
Base storage
Galaxy S26 Ultra: 256 GB Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 512 GB Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
Camera
Galaxy S26 Ultra leads
For camera, the verdict is easy: the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads, and not by a little. The Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer. Weighing only camera, the Galaxy S26 Ultra comes out ahead.
Main camera
Galaxy S26 Ultra: 200 MP Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 50 MP Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
Rear cameras
Galaxy S26 Ultra: 4 Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 3 More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s extra lens adds.
Battery & Charging
Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins the battery & charging section decisively. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra pulls ahead with 20% more battery capacity. A bigger battery usually means longer days between charges, although chip efficiency and screen size also shape real endurance. For battery & charging, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the one to beat.
Battery capacity
Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5,000 mAh Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 6,000 mAh Capacity isn’t everything, but when two phones are otherwise close, more milliamp-hours is the simplest endurance advantage there is.
Wired charging
Galaxy S26 Ultra: 60 W Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 90 W Faster wired charging means a short top-up before you head out goes further.
Software & Updates
The software & updates entries below are descriptive rather than numeric. Read them side by side to see where the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra part ways.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.9 in | 6.9 in |
| Panel type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 | 2608 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | N/A (not specified) | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | N/A (not specified) | 3,500 nits |
| Always-on display | Yes | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| CPU cores | N/A (not specified) | 8 |
| Process node | N/A (not specified) | 3 nm |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB (winner) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 256 GB | 512 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 200 MP (winner) | 50 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | N/A (not specified) | 50 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 200 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 4.3× |
| Rear cameras | 4 (winner) | 3 |
| Front camera | N/A (not specified) | 50 MP |
| Max video | N/A (not specified) | 8K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 5,000 mAh | 6,000 mAh (winner) |
| Wired charging | 60 W | 90 W (winner) |
| Wireless charging | N/A (not specified) | 50 W |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 16 (One UI 8.5) | HyperOS 3 (Android 16) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | 7 years | N/A (not specified) |
Design & Build
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Height | N/A (not specified) | 6.41 in |
| Width | N/A (not specified) | 3.06 in |
| Thickness | N/A (not specified) | 0.33 in |
| Weight | N/A (not specified) | 7.69 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68/IP69 (winner) |
| Frame | N/A (not specified) | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,300 | N/A (not specified) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (200 MP vs 50 MP)
- you like switching between focal lengths (4 vs 3 cameras)
- you’re comfortable with how Samsung does things
Choose the Xiaomi 17 Ultra if…
- you keep lots of apps open at once (16 GB vs 12 GB of RAM)
- you want the bigger battery (6,000 mAh vs 5,000 mAh)
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (512 GB vs 256 GB)
- you want the faster cable charging (90 W vs 60 W)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if you know that a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera would make a real difference in your routine.
Which has better battery life, the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes out ahead on battery capacity, with 6,000 mAh compared with 5,000 mAh on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Which is larger, the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are so close in size that you’d struggle to tell them apart on dimensions alone.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra perform better than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the edge in performance thanks to 4 GB more RAM.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra have a stronger camera setup than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has the edge for photography, offering a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera and an extra rear camera.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra have more storage than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
On storage, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads: 512 GB compared with 256 GB.
Executive Summary
The Galaxy S26 Ultra versus the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a matchup I find genuinely interesting, because Samsung and Xiaomi made different bets. Honestly, 4 GB more RAM on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra does a lot of the persuading for me. On top of that, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra adds 20% more battery capacity. Where the Galaxy S26 Ultra fights back is a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera.
The way I see it, people who prioritize camera will be happier with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and those who prioritize performance with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
My pick: if it were my money, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, unless you’d rather have a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.