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If you're shopping for a premium Android phone in 2026, two
devices deserve serious attention: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Both are expensive. Both run powerful processors. Both carry
sophisticated camera systems built to appeal to people who want more than just
a phone.
But their camera philosophies couldn't be more different.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra puts nearly all its weight behind
photography — partnering with Leica and building around a 1-inch main sensor
and a 200MP mechanical-zoom telephoto camera. Samsung takes a broader view,
pairing a 200MP main camera and multiple telephoto lenses with the S Pen, DeX,
Galaxy AI, and a full productivity suite.
So which one deserves your money? Let's compare them fairly.
Fair Square Tech research note: This is a
specification-based editorial comparison using current manufacturer
information. We haven't personally run laboratory camera, battery, or benchmark
tests on both devices, so we won't claim that one produces better real-world
photos in every situation without standardized testing.
Quick Comparison
|
Feature |
Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|
Display |
6.9" HyperRGB OLED |
6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
|
Refresh Rate |
1–120Hz |
Up to 120Hz |
|
Main Camera |
50MP, 1-inch sensor |
200MP |
|
Ultra-Wide |
50MP |
50MP |
|
Telephoto |
200MP |
50MP + 10MP |
|
Optical Zoom |
75–100mm mechanical |
3x + 5x |
|
Max Digital Zoom |
Up to 120x |
Up to 100x |
|
Front Camera |
50MP autofocus |
12MP autofocus |
|
Video |
Up to 8K/30fps |
Up to 8K/30fps |
|
Battery |
6,000mAh |
5,000mAh |
|
Wired Charging |
90W |
Up to 60W |
|
Wireless Charging |
50W |
Supported |
|
Processor |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
|
RAM/Storage |
16GB + 512GB |
Up to 16GB + 1TB |
|
Stylus |
None |
S Pen |
|
Desktop Mode |
No equivalent to DeX |
Samsung DeX |
Specs are based on both manufacturers' current Philippine
product information.
Design and Build
Both phones are large, premium devices, but Samsung edges
out Xiaomi on the numbers.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra measures 162.9 × 77.6 × 8.29mm and
weighs roughly 218.4–219g depending on the finish. The Galaxy S26 Ultra
measures 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9mm and weighs 214g — noticeably lighter and thinner
despite its similar footprint.
Xiaomi, meanwhile, leans into its camera-first identity,
building the phone visibly around its Leica partnership and photography
hardware.
Verdict: Samsung wins narrowly on weight and
thinness. Xiaomi carries a stronger photography-focused identity.
Display
Both phones ship with genuinely excellent screens.
Xiaomi's 6.9-inch HyperRGB OLED display runs at 2608 × 1200
with 1–120Hz adaptive refresh, up to 3,500 nits of multi-scenario peak
brightness, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 12-bit color. Samsung's 6.9-inch Dynamic
AMOLED 2X panel runs at a sharper 3120 × 1440 with up to 120Hz refresh and adds
its own Privacy Display technology — handy for anyone who uses their phone
frequently in public.
Verdict: Xiaomi claims the higher peak brightness;
Samsung claims the higher resolution. Call it a tie.
Camera: The Biggest Difference
This is where the comparison actually gets interesting.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The 50MP main camera uses a 1-inch
sensor, paired with a 200MP Leica telephoto running a 75–100mm mechanical,
optical zoom system, plus a 50MP ultraWide. That's an unusual configuration for
a smartphone. The large sensor matters because size affects light gathering,
dynamic range, noise handling, and depth of field — though a bigger sensor
still doesn't guarantee better photos on its own. Processing still has the
final say.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung goes a different
direction: a 200MP main camera, 50MP ultraWide, 50MP telephoto, 10MP telephoto,
and a 12MP front camera, supporting 3x and 5x optical zoom, 2x and 10x
optical-quality zoom, and up to 100x digital zoom. That gives Samsung more
dedicated telephoto options to work with.
So, which camera is actually better? This is exactly
where lazy tech coverage goes wrong. It's tempting to say Xiaomi wins because
of its 1-inch sensor, or that Samsung wins because of its 200MP count — but
neither conclusion holds up on its own. Photography quality comes down to lens
quality, sensor size, image processing, color science, HDR handling, autofocus,
stabilization, exposure, lighting, and software algorithms working together.
Breaking it down by category: Xiaomi has the more compelling
main-camera hardware thanks to that 1-inch sensor. Samsung has the edge in zoom
flexibility with its multiple dedicated telephoto cameras. Xiaomi's extreme
telephoto is particularly interesting because of its 200MP mechanical zoom.
Overall versatility is genuinely close.
Verdict: Xiaomi wins the camera-hardware battle,
narrowly — though we'd want standardized photo testing before calling it the
universally better camera phone.
Xiaomi's Mechanical Telephoto Zoom Is Genuinely Different
One of Xiaomi's most interesting engineering choices is its
75–100mm mechanical-optical zoom system. Rather than relying purely on digital
cropping, Xiaomi physically moves lens groups to shift between focal lengths,
with the company claiming optical-quality zoom equivalent to 400mm.
That's a genuinely impressive concept for a phone camera,
and it should appeal to anyone shooting wildlife, portraits, travel, sports,
architecture, or distant subjects regularly.
Samsung takes a more conventional route with its dedicated
3x and 5x optical zoom cameras plus additional optical-quality zoom options,
giving you several useful focal lengths without leaning on one telephoto
mechanism to do everything.
Verdict: Xiaomi brings more innovative telephoto
hardware; Samsung brings more conventional multi-camera flexibility. Call it a
tie.
Selfie Camera
An easy win for Xiaomi on paper.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra ships with a 50MP autofocus front
camera, dwarfing Samsung's 12MP autofocus selfie camera in resolution.
Megapixels still aren't the whole story here, but for creators who lean heavily
on the front camera, Xiaomi's hardware is clearly the more capable option.
Verdict: Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
Video Recording
Both phones can shoot up to 8K at 30fps. Samsung adds
slow-motion recording up to 240fps at Full HD.
Xiaomi goes further, offering 8K/30fps, 4K/120fps, Dolby
Vision, Log recording, ACES color support, and dedicated pro video controls — a
genuinely strong toolkit for creators who want more control over their footage.
Verdict: Xiaomi wins narrowly on paper, though spec
sheets never fully replace actual footage comparisons.
Performance
Both phones run Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with
Samsung using its own customized Galaxy version.
Xiaomi's Philippine configuration ships with 16GB of RAM and
512GB of storage. Samsung scales up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. For
everyday use — gaming, video editing, AI features, multitasking, photography,
productivity — both phones sit firmly in flagship territory.
Verdict: Too close to call without standardized
benchmarks.
Battery and Charging
This is one of Xiaomi's clearest advantages.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra runs a 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired
charging and 50W wireless charging. Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra runs a 5,000mAh
battery with up to 60W wired charging — a meaningful gap in both capacity and
charge speed.
Verdict: Xiaomi 17 Ultra. It wins on both battery
capacity and maximum charging speed.
Storage
Samsung has the advantage here.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra scales up to 1TB, while Xiaomi's
current Philippine listing tops out at 16GB of RAM paired with 512GB of
storage. For creators storing large volumes of 4K footage, RAW photos, movies,
games, or offline files, that extra headroom on the Samsung side can matter.
Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Productivity: S Pen vs. Camera Focus
Samsung holds one card Xiaomi simply doesn't match: the S
Pen.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's stylus support is genuinely useful
for note-taking, sketching, photo markup, document annotation, content
planning, and precise editing. Samsung backs it up with DeX, which turns the
phone into a more desktop-like computing experience when needed.
Xiaomi, by contrast, puts its energy almost entirely into
photography, video, and AI rather than productivity tools.
Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
AI Features
Both phones lean on AI, just in different directions.
Xiaomi's HyperAI suite includes AI Writing, AI Speech
Recognition, AI Interpreter, AI Search, an AI Creativity Assistant, Google
Gemini integration, and Circle to Search — though Xiaomi notes that
availability can vary by region, language, and device. Samsung integrates
Galaxy AI throughout its own software ecosystem in a similarly broad way.
Since AI features shift constantly through software updates,
we won't call either one permanently superior.
Verdict: Tie — the better choice depends on which
specific AI tools you actually use.
Which is better for photographers?
Choose Xiaomi if you want: a large 1-inch main
sensor, Leica-tuned photography, a 200MP telephoto, mechanical-optical zoom, a
50MP selfie camera, a 6,000mAh battery, and 90W charging.
Choose Samsung if you want: multiple dedicated
telephoto cameras, a 200MP main camera, flexible zoom, the S Pen, DeX, up to
1TB of storage, and strong all-around flagship performance.
For photography hardware specifically, Xiaomi takes it. For
overall versatility, Samsung takes it.
Which is better for content creators?
Here the answer gets a bit more nuanced.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra's combination of Leica optics, a 200MP
telephoto, 4K/120fps Log video, a 50MP selfie camera, and 90W charging makes it
extremely appealing for visual-first creators.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra counters with a broader productivity
package — the S Pen, DeX, multiple telephoto cameras, up to 1TB of storage, and
a powerful flagship platform behind it all.
If you're a photography-first creator, Xiaomi is the
stronger pick. If you're a video-focused creator, Xiaomi still deserves serious
consideration. If you're an all-around creator or lean heavily on productivity,
Samsung is the better fit.
Pros and Cons
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
Pros: excellent camera hardware, a 1-inch main
sensor, a 200MP telephoto, mechanical optical zoom, a 50MP selfie camera, a
6,000mAh battery, 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, strong video
features, and the Leica partnership.
Cons: only 512GB listed for the Philippine
configuration, a large camera housing, a heavy photography focus that may not
matter to every buyer, and some AI features that vary by region.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Pros: an extremely versatile camera system, a 200MP
main camera, multiple telephoto cameras, S Pen support, Samsung DeX, storage up
to 1TB, strong performance, a lighter 214g body, the Privacy Display, and
notably long software support — Samsung lists security updates for the Galaxy
S26 Ultra through February 2033.
Cons: a smaller 5,000mAh battery than Xiaomi, slower
maximum wired charging, a 12MP front camera, premium pricing, and a large
overall footprint.
\
Fair Square Scorecard
|
Category |
Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|
Design |
9.5/10 |
9.7/10 |
|
Display |
9.8/10 |
9.9/10 |
|
Main Camera Hardware |
10/10 |
9.8/10 |
|
Zoom |
10/10 |
9.9/10 |
|
Selfie Camera |
10/10 |
9.2/10 |
|
Video |
9.9/10 |
9.8/10 |
|
Performance |
9.8/10 |
9.9/10 |
|
Battery |
10/10 |
9.5/10 |
|
Charging |
10/10 |
9.4/10 |
|
Productivity |
9.2/10 |
10/10 |
|
Storage |
9.2/10 |
10/10 |
|
Overall Editorial Score |
9.7/10 |
9.8/10 |
These are Fair Square Tech editorial scores, not
laboratory measurements.
Fair Square Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
After weighing everything, our answer is fairly simple.
Choose the Xiaomi 17 Ultra if photography comes
first. Its 1-inch main sensor, Leica optics, 200MP telephoto, mechanical zoom
system, and 50MP selfie camera make it one of the most photography-focused
flagships on the market.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the
more complete, all-purpose flagship. It combines a strong camera system with
the S Pen, DeX, multiple telephoto cameras, high storage capacity, solid
performance, and unusually long software support.
Breaking it down by strength: Samsung takes the overall win.
Xiaomi wins on camera hardware, telephoto innovation, and battery and charging.
Samsung wins on productivity and storage.
The Bottom Line
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the phone for someone who looks at a
smartphone and thinks: I want a serious camera that happens to also be a
phone.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is for someone who thinks: I want
one powerful device that can do almost everything.
Neither is a bad choice. The better phone simply depends on
what you actually value — and that's exactly what Fair Square Tech is here for.
Fair Square Tech — Honest Comparisons. Clear Choices. No
Hype.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra better than the Samsung Galaxy S26
Ultra? For camera hardware and charging, Xiaomi has clear advantages. For
overall versatility, productivity, storage, and ecosystem features, Samsung has
the stronger package.
Which has the better camera? Xiaomi's setup is
genuinely impressive, built around a 1-inch main sensor and a 200MP
mechanical-zoom telephoto. Samsung offers a more versatile multi-camera system.
Without standardized side-by-side testing, we wouldn't claim either one
produces better photos in every situation.
Which has better zoom? Both are excellent. Xiaomi's
75–100mm mechanical telephoto is genuinely innovative, while Samsung provides
dedicated 3x and 5x optical cameras for everyday flexibility.
Which has the larger battery? The Xiaomi 17 Ultra,
with a 6,000mAh battery compared to 5,000mAh on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Which charges faster? The Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports up
to 90W wired charging versus up to 60W on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Which is better for content creators? For photography
and advanced video controls, Xiaomi is particularly attractive. For creators
who also need productivity tools, storage, and multitasking, Samsung is the
more complete package.
Which should I buy? Buy the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for photography and charging. Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra for overall versatility and productivity.
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