Lava Play Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy M17e
The Lava Play Ultra (2025) runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, while the Samsung Galaxy M17e (2026) runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300; launch prices were $175 and $140. By overall MobileRank rating, the Lava Play Ultra leads — 53/100 vs 43/100 (a 10-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy M17e has the bigger battery (6000 mAh vs 5000); the main camera is 64 MP vs 50 MP; the Lava Play Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (879,714 vs 528,398); the Lava Play Ultra has NFC for contactless payments, the Samsung Galaxy M17e doesn't; the Lava Play Ultra is noticeably lighter (182g vs 199g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Lava Play Ultra
Samsung Galaxy M17e
What makes Lava Play Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 879714 vs 528398
- Better Geekbench Single: 1011 vs 771
- Better Geekbench Multi: 2813 vs 1980
- Faster charging: 33W vs 25W
- Better main camera: 64MP vs 50MP
- Lighter: 182g vs 199g
- Higher performance (55/100 vs 43/100)
- Better camera (39/100 vs 30/100)
- Better display (79/100 vs 55/100)
- Better portability (71/100 vs 57/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy M17e better?
- Bigger battery: 6000 vs 5000 mAh
- Cheaper at launch: $140 vs $175
- Longer battery life (52/100 vs 46/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Lava Play Ultra vs the Samsung Galaxy M17e, the Lava Play Ultra scores 10 points higher (53/100 vs 43/100). In the "performance" category, the Lava Play Ultra leads (55/100 vs 43/100). Value score: Lava Play Ultra — 74/100, Samsung Galaxy M17e — 62/100; 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 Lava Play Ultra is a bit better (55/100 vs 43/100). In the "display" category, the Lava Play Ultra notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy M17e (79/100 vs 55/100). In the "camera" category, the Lava Play Ultra is a bit better (39/100 vs 30/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy M17e is a bit better (52/100 vs 46/100). In the "portability" category, the Lava Play Ultra is a bit better (71/100 vs 57/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Lava Play Ultra | Samsung Galaxy M17e | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 | |
| AnTuTu | 879714 | 528398 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1011 | 771 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 2813 | 1980 | |
| Display | 6.7" AMOLED | 6.7" PLS LCD | |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 6000 mAh | |
| Charging | 33W | 25W | |
| Main camera | 64 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 13 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB | 4GB / 6GB | |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB | |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 16, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 1000 nits | 800 nits | |
| NFC | yes | no | |
| Protection | IP64 | IP54 | |
| Dimensions | 162.1×75.4×7.8 mm | 167.4×77.4×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 182 g | 199 g | |
| Launch price | $175 | $140 |
Camera comparison
Lava Play Ultra
- Main: 64MP
- Front: 13MP
Samsung Galaxy M17e
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Lava Play Ultra
- 6.7" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1080x2400
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Samsung Galaxy M17e
- 6.7" PLS LCD
- Resolution: 720x1600
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Lava Play Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 33W
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy M17e
- 6000 mAh
- Wired: 25W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Lava Play Ultra and Samsung Galaxy M17e, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Lava Play Ultra leads Samsung Galaxy M17e by 66.5% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $35. Samsung Galaxy M17e was $35 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Lava Play Ultra is a bit better (55/100 vs 43/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Lava Play Ultra notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy M17e (79/100 vs 55/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Lava Play Ultra is a bit better (39/100 vs 30/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy M17e is a bit better (52/100 vs 46/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Lava Play Ultra is a bit better (71/100 vs 57/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Lava Play Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy M17e?
The Lava Play Ultra is noticeably better than the Samsung Galaxy M17e — the overall rating gap is 10 points.
What is the rating of the Lava Play Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy M17e?
The Lava Play Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 53/100, the Samsung Galaxy M17e — 43/100.
Which has the better camera: the Lava Play Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy M17e?
The Lava Play Ultra leads on camera score (39/100 vs 30/100).
Which is more powerful: the Lava Play Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy M17e?
The Lava Play Ultra leads on performance (55/100 vs 43/100).
Should you choose the Lava Play Ultra over the Samsung Galaxy M17e?
Neither model stands out enough to recommend it for a specific use case: the clearest difference is display — better on the Lava Play Ultra (79/100 vs 55/100).