Just a few days ago, Samsung launched its most powerful lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, with groundbreaking features including a privacy display and horizontal lock. However, Xiaomi also introduced its premium Xiaomi 17 Ultra, a photography-focused flagship with a 1-inch 50MP LOFIC main sensor. The 17 Ultra delivers a DSLR-like image quality. But photography is not the only feature that matters when judging a phone. In this comparison, I break down the Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra to find out which phone suits your needs better.
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Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Price And Availability
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra price is Rs. 1,39,999 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Customers using an SBI credit card can get a discount of Rs. 10,000. For people buying it between March 13 and March 17, there is a special offer where they can receive a Xiaomi Professional Photography Kit Pro worth Rs. 19,999 for free.
For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S26 has different models. The 12GB + 256GB version costs Rs. 87,999, and the 12GB + 512GB version costs Rs. 1,07,999. The Plus model prices are Rs. 1,19,999 and Rs. 1,39,999. The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at Rs. 1,39,999 for the 256GB model, and the 512GB version costs Rs. 1,59,999.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Specs At A Glance
| Feature | Xiaomi 17 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
| Launch | Dec 2025 (China) / Global 2026 | Feb 2026 |
| OS | Android 16, HyperOS 3 | Android 16, One UI 8.5 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| CPU / GPU | Oryon cores, Adreno 840 | Oryon cores, Adreno 840 |
| Display Size | 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED | 6.9-inch AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2608 × 1200 pixels | 1440 × 3120 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz | 120Hz adaptive |
| Peak Brightness | Up to 3500 nits | Not officially stated (QHD+ panel) |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP (1-inch) + 200MP periscope + 50MP ultra-wide | 200MP + 50MP telephoto + 50MP ultra-wide + 10MP telephoto |
| Front Camera | 50MP | 12MP |
| Video | Up to 8K | Up to 8K |
| RAM Options | 12GB / 16GB | 12GB / 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Battery | 6800mAh (China) 6000mAh global | 5000mAh |
| Charging | 90W wired, wireless charging | 60W wired, wireless charging |
| Build & Protection | Glass back, IP68/69 | Gorilla Armor 2, IP68 |
| Dimensions / Weight | 162.9 × 77.6 × 8.3 mm, 218g | 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9 mm, 214g |
| Special Features | Leica cameras, variable zoom periscope | Privacy Display, Galaxy AI, S Pen support |
Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Design And Display
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a rounded design with body dimensions of 162.9 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm and weighs 218 grams. Moreover, it has a fibre-reinforced plastic back (eco leather) or a silicone polymer back and an aluminium alloy frame for added strength. Xiaomi added Aerospace-grade glass fibre with Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 to protect the front glass from accidental damage. This phone also has an IP68/IP69 rating for dust-tight and water-resistant. So, it can withstand high-pressure water jets and be immersed to a depth of 6 meters for 30 minutes.
It has an 6.9 inches LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 2160Hz PWM, and Dolby Vision support. For high-quality content, it also has HDR10+ and 3500 nits (peak) for oerfect visibly in sunlight.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a design similar to its previous models. It has a body dimension of 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm and weighs 214 grams. Samsung uses two different types of glass on the front and back, like Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the back. It has an Armour aluminium 2 frame for durability. It also comes with an IP68 rating for dust-tight and water-resistant, which makes it immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min. Moreover, it supports Stylus in enhancing productivity.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.9 inches Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with 120Hz refresh rate. It also has an HDR10+ and 2600 nits peak brightness. Samsung has introduced a new technology called Privacy Display with a special coating that reduces reflections. Before, people had to use privacy protectors to keep their messages safe from others around them. Now, Samsung has built this feature into the device’s hardware, which helps protect your screen from being seen by others.
Note: The Xiaomi 17 Ultra stands out with its brighter display and stronger IP69 durability. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, meanwhile, adds S Pen support and a new Privacy Display for better usability.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Camera And Battery
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a Leica-tuned triple-camera setup led by a 50MP 1-inch main sensor with OIS for improved low-light photography. It is paired with a 200MP periscope telephoto lens offering 3.2x to 4.3x continuous optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 115-degree field of view.
A standout feature is the physical zoom ring on the camera module, which allows users to adjust zoom smoothly for a more DSLR-like photography experience. The phone also supports 8K video recording, while the 50MP front camera can shoot up to 4K video.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a 6000 mAh battery, offering almost two days of battery life on a single charge. It also supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. It also has 22.5W reverse-wired and 10W reverse-wireless charging, allowing you to charge earbuds and a smartwatch.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a quad-camera setup led by a 200MP main camera, which captures more light for improved low-light photography and sharper details. It is paired with a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5× optical zoom, and a 10MP 3× telephoto lens for versatile zoom photography.
Samsung also enhances the camera with its ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI processing, delivering better HDR, colour optimisation, and advanced editing tools. The phone supports 8K video recording and improved stabilisation features such as Horizon Lock for steadier footage.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery, offering almost one day of battery life on a single charge. It also has a 60W wired which can charge 75 per cent in 30 min. Moreover, it supports 25W wireless (Qi 2.2). It also has a 4.5W reverse wireless support as well.
Note: Xiaomi clearly focuses on camera hardware and battery life with its 1-inch sensor, physical zoom ring, and larger battery. Samsung counters with smarter Galaxy AI photography and a more versatile zoom setup.
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Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Performance And Software
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) processor. It is a new processor from Qualcomm that promises faster performance, better power efficiency, and improved artificial intelligence capabilities. The processor delivers a seamless user experience while running resource-intensive games and other demanding applications.
Samsung also uses the same processor in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. As a result, both flagships deliver similar raw power, offering faster processing speeds, improved graphics performance, and better AI capabilities for features like cameras. However, Samsung’s Galaxy AI features remain more advanced compared to the AI tools available on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by One UI 8.5 software running on Android 16. The interface is smooth and seamless. Samsung’s interface is famous for its customisation capabilities. The interface is thus customizable according to users’ needs. The other advantage is that Samsung promises up to 7 years of Android updates for this device. The device is thus expected to remain relevant for a long time.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by Android 16 running on top of HyperOS 3. The interface is smooth and seamless. The HyperOS interface is famous for its better system optimisation capabilities. The interface is thus visually clean as well. The other advantage is that Xiaomi promises up to 6 years of software updates for this device. The device is thus expected to remain relevant for a long time.
Note: Both phones deliver similar flagship performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. However, Samsung gains an edge with Galaxy AI features and a longer seven-year software support promise.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra impresses with its innovative camera hardware, larger battery, faster charging, and brighter display. It is clearly designed for users who want a photography-focused flagship with strong endurance.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, on the other hand, offers a more refined ecosystem experience with S Pen support, powerful Galaxy AI tools, and longer software updates. It is a better option for users who value productivity features and long-term software support.
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