Apple iPhone Air vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra
The Apple iPhone Air (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro, while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $999 and $999. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads — 89/100 vs 75/100 (a 14-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the bigger battery (6000 mAh vs 3149); the main camera is 48 MP vs 50 MP; the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,600,724 vs 2,538,751); per DXOMark lab testing, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the stronger camera (166 vs 141); the Apple iPhone Air is noticeably lighter (165g vs 226g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone Air
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
What makes Apple iPhone Air better?
- Better Geekbench Single: 3850 vs 3639
- Lighter: 165g vs 226g
- Better portability (96/100 vs 40/100)
What makes Xiaomi 17 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3600724 vs 2538751
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 9800
- Bigger battery: 6000 vs 3149 mAh
- Faster charging: 90W vs 40W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 48MP
- Faster wireless charging: 50W vs 25W
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 92/100)
- Better camera (93/100 vs 73/100)
- Longer battery life (80/100 vs 26/100)
- Better display (89/100 vs 85/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone Air vs the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra scores 14 points higher (89/100 vs 75/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads (93/100 vs 73/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads (80/100 vs 26/100). Value score: Apple iPhone Air — 60/100, Xiaomi 17 Ultra — 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 is a bit better (97/100 vs 92/100). In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air are nearly equal (89/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra notably outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (93/100 vs 73/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (80/100 vs 26/100). In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (96/100 vs 40/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Xiaomi 17 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 2538751 | 3600724 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3850 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9800 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.8" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2736x1260 | 3200x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3149 mAh | 6000 mAh | |
| Charging | 40W | 90W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 50W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 141 | 166 | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 200 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | iOS 26 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 3500 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 6.0×74.7×5.6 mm | 162.9×77.6×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 165 g | 226 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $999 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Front: 12MP
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
- Main: 50MP f/1.63
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 200MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2736x1260
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
- 6.8" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 3200x1440
- 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
- 6000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 16:09 hrs, total 33:23 hrs
- Wired: 90W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone Air and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads Apple iPhone Air by 29.5% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $0. Same launch price.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a bit better (97/100 vs 92/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air are nearly equal (89/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra notably outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (93/100 vs 73/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (80/100 vs 26/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (96/100 vs 40/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone Air or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is noticeably better than the Apple iPhone Air — the overall rating gap is 14 points.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone Air and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone Air has a MobileRank rating of 75/100, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone Air or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads on camera score (93/100 vs 73/100).
Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone Air or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads on performance (97/100 vs 92/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone Air over the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone Air is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.