Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (2019) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads — 89/100 vs 54/100 (a 35-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has the bigger battery (6000 mAh vs 3300); the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,667,711 vs 824,513); the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer is noticeably lighter (173g vs 226g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
What makes Xiaomi 17 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3667711 vs 824513
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 968
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 2731
- Bigger battery: 6000 vs 3300 mAh
- Faster charging: 90W vs 27W
- Faster wireless charging: 50W vs 20W
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 54/100)
- Longer battery life (80/100 vs 22/100)
- Better display (89/100 vs 83/100)
What makes Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer better?
- Lighter: 173g vs 226g
- Better portability (79/100 vs 40/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra scores 35 points higher (89/100 vs 54/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads (97/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads (80/100 vs 22/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (97/100 vs 54/100). In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a bit better (89/100 vs 83/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (80/100 vs 22/100). In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (79/100 vs 40/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Xiaomi 17 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | |
| AnTuTu | 3667711 | 824513 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3639 | 968 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 11047 | 2731 | |
| Display | 6.8" LTPO AMOLED | 6.4" Super AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 3200x1440 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | — | |
| Battery | 6000 mAh | 3300 mAh | |
| Charging | 90W | 27W | |
| Wireless charging | 50W | 20W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 166 | — | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | — | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 200 MP | 0 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 20 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB | |
| OS | Android 16 | Android 9.0 (Pie); MIUI 10 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3500 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | — | |
| Dimensions | 162.9×77.6×8.3 mm | 157.5×74.7×7.6 mm | |
| Weight | 226 g | 173 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | — |
Camera comparison
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
- Main: 50MP f/1.63
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 200MP
- Front: 32MP
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- Main: —
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Front: 20MP
Display comparison
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
- 6.8" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 3200x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- 6.4" Super AMOLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: —
Battery and charging
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
- 6000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 16:09 hrs, total 33:23 hrs
- Wired: 90W
- Wireless: 50W
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
- 3300 mAh
- Wired: 27W
- Wireless: 20W
Overall performance score
We compared Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 344.8% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (97/100 vs 54/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a bit better (89/100 vs 83/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer (80/100 vs 22/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (79/100 vs 40/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra significantly outperforms the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer by 35 points (89/100 vs 54/100).
What is the rating of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 89/100, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer — 54/100.
Which is more powerful: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra or the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra leads on performance (97/100 vs 54/100).
Should you choose the Xiaomi 17 Ultra over the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer?
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.