Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Xiaomi Mi 9
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Xiaomi Mi 9 (2019) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855; launch prices were $1299 and $400. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 47/100 (a 37-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 3300); the main camera is 200 MP vs 48 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 824,513); the Xiaomi Mi 9 is noticeably lighter (173g vs 214g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Xiaomi Mi 9
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 824513
- Better Geekbench Single: 3601 vs 968
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 2731
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 3300 mAh
- Faster charging: 60W vs 27W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Higher refresh rate: 120Hz vs 60Hz
- Faster wireless charging: 25W vs 20W
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 54/100)
- Better camera (86/100 vs 44/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 22/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 56/100)
What makes Xiaomi Mi 9 better?
- Lighter: 173g vs 214g
- Cheaper at launch: $400 vs $1299
- Better portability (79/100 vs 51/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs the Xiaomi Mi 9, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 37 points higher (84/100 vs 47/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (96/100 vs 54/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 44/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (61/100 vs 22/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100, Xiaomi Mi 9 — 22/100; 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 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (96/100 vs 54/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (88/100 vs 56/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (86/100 vs 44/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (61/100 vs 22/100). In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (79/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | |
| AnTuTu | 3463142 | 824513 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3601 | 968 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 10686 | 2731 | |
| Display | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.4" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 3120x1440 | 2340x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 60 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 3300 mAh | |
| Charging | 60W | 27W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 20W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 157 | — | |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 16 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 20 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 6GB / 8GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 64GB / 128GB | |
| OS | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | Android 9 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2600 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | — | |
| Dimensions | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | 157.5×74.7×7.6 mm | |
| Weight | 214 g | 173 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $400 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Xiaomi Mi 9
- Main: 48MP f/1.75
- Ultrawide: 16MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 20MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi Mi 9
- 6.4" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Xiaomi Mi 9
- 3300 mAh
- Wired: 27W
- Wireless: 20W
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi 9, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Xiaomi Mi 9 by 320.0% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $899. Xiaomi Mi 9 was $899 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (96/100 vs 54/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (88/100 vs 56/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (86/100 vs 44/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 (61/100 vs 22/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (79/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi Mi 9?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 by 37 points (84/100 vs 47/100).
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi Mi 9?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 84/100, the Xiaomi Mi 9 — 47/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi Mi 9?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 44/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Xiaomi Mi 9?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on performance (96/100 vs 54/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra over the Xiaomi Mi 9?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers.