Xiaomi 15vsSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Xiaomi 15 wins
Verdict
Xiaomi 15 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Xiaomi 15 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. At USD 899, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Xiaomi 15 takes Performance — led by performance score (2,500,000 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Display — led by screen size (6.9 in).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Battery — led by charging speed (90 W).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Price — led by price (899 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,500,000 pts vs 2,200,000 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,200 nits vs 2,600 nits.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a better camera — 147 pts vs 146 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want longer battery life — 5,400 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want faster charging — 90 W vs 45 W.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a lower price — 899 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.9 in vs 6.36 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 505 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 95 pts.
At a glance
- Xiaomi 15
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Xiaomi 15
Choose Xiaomi 15 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 899, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if display matters most. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
Xiaomi 15
- Elite chipset
- 90 W charging
- Compact flagship
- HyperOS bloatware
- Limited availability
- No charger in box
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Class-leading performance
- 200 MP main camera with dual telephoto
- S Pen built in
- Very expensive
- Heavy at 218 g
- 45 W charging trails rivals