Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Xiaomi 18 Pro Max

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not clearly ahead in any section, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads in battery; they are even on performance, camera, display, design & durability and connectivity & features.

The biggest difference is battery: 84 vs 100 points.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is the newer model, announced 7 months after the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Galaxy S26 Ultra leads in 4 fields
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max leads in 7 fields
27 ties

38 scored fields compared

Score by section

Section scores	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
Overall
Performance	100	100
Camera	96	94
Battery	84	100
Display	95	95
Design & durability	83	81
Connectivity & features	81	82

Full specifications

Only differences

Performance

Chipset performance index: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 100/100; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 100/100
Chipset: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
RAM (max): Galaxy S26 Ultra: 16 GB; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 16 GB
Storage (max): Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1 TB; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 1 TB
Process node: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 3 nm; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 2 nm

Camera

Main camera resolution: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 200 MP; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 200 MP
Main sensor size: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1/1.3″; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 1/1.28″(Better)
Optical stabilization (OIS): Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Ultra-wide camera: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Telephoto camera: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Periscope lens: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Optical zoom: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5×(Better); Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 3.2×
Video recording: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 8K; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 8K
Front camera: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 12 MP; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 50 MP(Better)
Front camera 4K video: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes

Battery

Battery capacity: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5000 mAh; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 8500 mAh(Better)
Battery endurance (EU label): Galaxy S26 Ultra: 55:00 h; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown
EU label cycles: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1200; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown
Wired charging: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 60 W; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 100 W(Better)
Wireless charging: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 25 W; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 50 W(Better)
Reverse charging: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Reverse charging type: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Wireless; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Wireless

Display

Screen size: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.9″; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 6.9″
Panel type: Galaxy S26 Ultra: LTPO OLED; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: LTPO OLED
Refresh rate: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 120 Hz; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 120 Hz
Pixel density: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 500 ppi(Better); Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 418 ppi
Peak brightness: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 2600 nits; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 4000 nits(Better)
Resolution: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1440x3120; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 1208x2624
Screen protection: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Corning Gorilla Armor 2; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3

Design & durability

Weight: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 214 g(Better); Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 235 g
Thickness: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 7.9 mm(Better); Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 8.4 mm
Dust & water resistance: Galaxy S26 Ultra: IP68; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: IP68
Back material: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Glass; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown
Frame material: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Aluminum; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Aluminum
EU repairability class: Galaxy S26 Ultra: C; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown
EU drop resistance class: Galaxy S26 Ultra: A; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown
EU energy class: Galaxy S26 Ultra: A; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown

Connectivity & features

5G: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Wi-Fi: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Wi-Fi 7; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.0; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 6.0
USB speed: Galaxy S26 Ultra: USB 3.x; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: USB 3.x
USB port: Galaxy S26 Ultra: USB-C 3.2; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: USB-C 3.2
DisplayPort output: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No
NFC: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
eSIM: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Ultra-wideband (UWB): Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
Satellite connectivity: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No
Stereo speakers: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes
3.5 mm headphone jack: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No
Fingerprint reader: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Under display (ultrasonic); Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Under display (ultrasonic)
3D face unlock: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No
Infrared blaster: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Yes(Better)
FM radio: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No
microSD slot: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No
Card slot: Galaxy S26 Ultra: No; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: No

General

Operating system: Galaxy S26 Ultra: Android 16; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Android 17
OS updates (major versions): Galaxy S26 Ultra: 7; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: Unknown
Launch price: Galaxy S26 Ultra: $ 898.99; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: About 920 EUR
Year: Galaxy S26 Ultra: 2026; Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: 2026

Show raw spec text

Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.

—	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
Network
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - USA unlocked	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA unlocked	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE (CA), 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Launch
Announced	2026, February 25	2026, September 23
Status	Available. Released 2026, March 06	Available. Released 2026, September 23
Body
Dimensions	163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)	163.4 x 77.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 3.06 x 0.33 in)
Weight	214 g (7.55 oz)	235 g or 240 g (8.29 oz)
Build	Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame	Glass front (Dragon Crystal Glass 3), aluminum frame
SIM	· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus Armor Aluminum 2	· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 6m for 30 min)
Display
Type	Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)	LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 2160Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, BT.2020, 4000 nits (peak)
Size	6.9 inches, 115.9 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.9 inches, 116.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution	1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)	1208 x 2624 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~418 ppi density)
Protection	Corning Gorilla Armor 2 DX anti-reflective coating Privacy Display	Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3 Secondary display (on the back): LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, BT.2020, 4000 nits (peak) 2.9 inches, 596 x 976 pixels
Platform
OS	Android 16, upgradable to Android 17, One UI 9, up to 7 major OS updates	Android 17, HyperOS 4
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8850-1-AD Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)	Qualcomm SM8975 Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (2 nm)
CPU	Octa-core (2x4.74 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)	Octa-core (2x5.01 GHz Prime + 3x4.03 GHz Performance + 3x3.74 GHz Performance)
GPU	Adreno 840 (1.3GHz)	Adreno 850
Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM UFS 4.X	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM UFS 4.1
Main Camera
Quad	200 MP, f/1.4, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.9, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video	–
Features	Laser AF, Best Face, Horizon Lock, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Video	8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS	8K@30fps (HDR), 4K@30/60/120fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Triple	–	200 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 0.61µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 200 MP, f/2.4, 75mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.56", PDAF (12cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF
Selfie camera
Single	12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF	50 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF
Features	HDR, HDR10+	HDR, panorama
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Sound
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers (3 speakers, with Dolby Atmos)
3.5mm jack	No High-bitrate audio support	No 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res & Hi-Res wireless audio Snapdragon sound
Comms
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth	6.0, A2DP, LE	6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 5
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS	GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS
NFC	Yes	Yes
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTG
Infrared port	–	Yes
Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Type	Li-Ion 5000 mAh	Si/C Li-Ion 8500 mAh
Charging	60W wired, PD3.0, 75% in 30 min 25W wireless (Qi2.2) 4.5W reverse wireless	100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 50W wireless 27W reverse wireless
Misc
Colors	Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold	Black, White, Pink, Red, Blue, Violet Red
Models	SM-S948B, SM-S948B/DS, SM-S948U, SM-S948U1, SM-S948W, SM-S948N, SM-S9480, SM-S948E, SM-S948E/DS	2611FPNFAG
SAR	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)	–
SAR EU	1.28 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body)	–
Price	$ 898.99 / € 979.00 / £ 802.99 / ₹ 139,999	About 920 EUR
EU LABEL
Energy	Class A	–
Battery	55:00h endurance, 1200 cycles	–
Free fall	Class A (270 falls)	–
Repairability	Class C	–