Apple iPhone Air vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)
The Apple iPhone Air (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro, while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) (2025) runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $999 and $892. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) leads — 87/100 vs 75/100 (a 12-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) has the bigger battery (6800 mAh vs 3149); the main camera is 48 MP vs 50 MP; the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is faster in AnTuTu (3,950,082 vs 2,538,751); the Apple iPhone Air is noticeably lighter (165g vs 224g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone Air
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)
What makes Apple iPhone Air better?
- Better Geekbench Single: 3850 vs 3639
- Lighter: 165g vs 224g
- Better display (85/100 vs 81/100)
- Better portability (96/100 vs 42/100)
What makes Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3950082 vs 2538751
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 9800
- Bigger battery: 6800 vs 3149 mAh
- Faster charging: 90W vs 40W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 48MP
- Faster wireless charging: 50W vs 25W
- Cheaper at launch: $892 vs $999
- Higher performance (98/100 vs 92/100)
- Better camera (87/100 vs 73/100)
- Longer battery life (83/100 vs 26/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone Air vs the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) scores 12 points higher (87/100 vs 75/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) leads (87/100 vs 73/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) leads (83/100 vs 26/100). Value score: Apple iPhone Air — 60/100, Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) — 88/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is a bit better (98/100 vs 92/100). In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone Air and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) are nearly equal (85/100 vs 81/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is a bit better (87/100 vs 73/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (83/100 vs 26/100). In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) (96/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 2538751 | 3950082 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3850 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9800 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.9" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2736x1260 | 1200x2608 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3149 mAh | 6800 mAh | |
| Charging | 40W | 90W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 50W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 141 | — | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 200 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | iOS 26 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 6.0×74.7×5.6 mm | 162.9×77.6×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 165 g | 224 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $892 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Front: 12MP
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 200MP
- Front: 50MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2736x1260
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)
- 6.9" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 1200x2608
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone Air
- 3149 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 7:48 hrs, total 22:15 hrs
- Wired: 40W
- Wireless: 25W
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)
- 6800 mAh
- Wired: 90W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone Air and Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China), covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) leads Apple iPhone Air by 35.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $107. Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) was $107 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is a bit better (98/100 vs 92/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone Air and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) are nearly equal (85/100 vs 81/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is a bit better (87/100 vs 73/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (83/100 vs 26/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) (96/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone Air or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is noticeably better than the Apple iPhone Air — the overall rating gap is 12 points.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone Air and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)?
The Apple iPhone Air has a MobileRank rating of 75/100, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) — 87/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone Air or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) leads on camera score (87/100 vs 73/100).
Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone Air or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) leads on performance (98/100 vs 92/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone Air over the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China)?
The Apple iPhone Air is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (China) is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.