Xiaomi and Samsung have unveiled their latest flagship smartphones, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both devices boast top-tier specifications, powerful cameras, and cutting-edge performance. Here’s how they compare.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: A Detailed Comparison of Design, Display, Performance, Cameras, and More

Design and Build

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra features a curved screen and a metal frame, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra continues with its industrial design. The titanium frame makes it lighter and stronger compared to aluminum, resulting in Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the back and Gorilla Armor 2 at the front. At 218g it’s a little lighter than Xiaomi’s 226g–229g. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which is built in aerospace-grade glass fiber or eco-leather, is thicker: 9.4mm, probably due to its big 6,000mAh battery. Both are IP68-rated for water and dust.

Display

Both models get LTPO AMOLED displays with QHD+ resolution and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra peaks at 3,200 nits of brightness, which is brighter than the 2,600 nits of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, Samsung has its own answer, which is to use an anti-reflective coating to help make it more visible. The S25 Ultra continues to support the S Pen, though it does not have Bluetooth capability this year.

Performance and Software

Both feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), though Samsung’s version is slightly faster, with its Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores reaching 4.47 GHz instead of the 4.32 GHz found in Xiaomi’s offering. In actual usage, both shine in gaming and multitasking. If it helps, Samsung’s One UI 7 has seven years of Android updates, while Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2 boots only four years.

Cameras

Samsung sticks with its 200MP primary sensor, while Xiaomi opts for a 50MP 1-inch sensor with an f/1.6 aperture for better low-light performance. Samsung uses a 10MP 3x optical zoom and a 50MP 5x periscope zoom, while Xiaomi sports a 50MP 3x optical zoom and a 200MP 4.3x periscope zoom. Xiaomi’s Leica glass brings better detail and bokeh, and Samsung’s AI Best Face feature is aimed at casual snaps. For selfies, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra gets 32MP, while Samsung provides 12MP.

Battery and Charging

Samsung’s 5,000mAh is trumped by Xiaomi’s 6,000mAh (5,410mAh worldwide). It’s also juiced up at 90W wired and 80W wireless speeds, as opposed to Samsung’s 45W wired and 15W wireless, and it can hit a full charge in less than 40 minutes.

Price and Availability

The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at ₹129,999 in India and $1,300 in the US. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, currently China-exclusive, starts at 6,499 yuan ($893), with a global release on March 2.