Head to head
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Xiaomi 14 Ultra leads 10 to 2 on the 12 rankable specs, but Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra costs $100 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
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Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 2 to 10
Buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
- Leads 10 of 12 rankable overall specs; Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes 2.
- Weight: 219.8 g vs 232 g
- RAM: 16 GB LPDDR5X vs 12 GB
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is $100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if weight matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · S Pen (integrated, IP68)Trips:Xiaomi 14 Ultra · No
- Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:Xiaomi 14 Ultra · No
- Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoClear:Xiaomi 14 Ultra · Yes (90W adapter in box)
- Clear:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · 7 major OS versions + 7 years securityTrips:Xiaomi 14 Ultra · 4 major Android OS updates + 5 years se…
- Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:Xiaomi 14 Ultra · No
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Samsung
232 g
Xiaomi
219.8 g
Size
Samsung
6.8 inches
Xiaomi
6.73 inches
Chipset≠
Samsung
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)
Xiaomi
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
RAM
Samsung
12 GB
Xiaomi
16 GB LPDDR5X
Max optical zoom≠
Samsung
5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital)
Xiaomi
5x optical (up to 120x digital)
Capacity≠
Samsung
5,000 mAh
Xiaomi
5,000 mAh (5,300 mAh CN model)
True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Pocket, Palm & Desk Usability Check
One-handed reachability, pocket weight, and table wobble when typing without a case.
One-Handed Palm Reach
6.8" display with 79.0mm wide squared edges (stretches palms)
Standard smartphone width
Desk Typing Table Wobble
Individual camera lens rings cause corner wobble on flat tables
Corner camera bump causes minor wobble
Pocket Weight & Heft
232g (substantial titanium brick)
Standard phone weight
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Samsung: What to watch for
- Ergonomics
Sharp 90-degree squared corners dig aggressively into palms.
- Hardware Quirk
Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass smudges easily with skin oils.
Xiaomi: What to watch for
- Hidden Cost
No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.
Body
leads 1-0| Dimensions | 162.3 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm | 161.4 × 75.3 × 9.2 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 232 g | 219.8 g (wins this row: lower) |
| Build | Gorilla Armor front and back, titanium frame | Xiaomi Shield Glass front, vegan leather back, aluminum frame |
| Water / dust rating | IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min) | IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min) |
| Colors | Titanium Black, Gray, Violet, Yellow (plus exclusives) | Black, White |
| Stylus | S Pen (integrated, IP68) | No |
Display
leads 2-1| Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, flat | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8 inches (wins this row: higher) | 6.73 inches |
| Resolution | 1440 × 3120 (QHD+) | 1440 × 3200 (WQHD+) |
| Pixel density | ~505 ppi | ~522 ppi (wins this row: higher) |
| Refresh rate | 1–120 Hz LTPO | 1–120 Hz dynamic |
| Peak brightness | 2,600 nits peak | 3,000 nits peak (wins this row: higher) |
| HDR | HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Armor, anti-reflective | Xiaomi Shield Glass |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Platform
3 differences| Operating system | Android 14, One UI 6.1 (upgradable) | HyperOS based on Android 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Software support | 7 major OS versions + 7 years security | 4 major Android OS updates + 5 years security |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| CPU | 8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520) | 8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 750 |
Memory
leads 2-0| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB LPDDR5X (wins this row: higher) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 256 GB UFS 4.0 | 512 GB UFS 4.0 (wins this row: higher) |
| Storage options | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | 512 GB / 1 TB |
| microSD | No | No |
Rear camera
leads 2-1| Main | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24 mm, 1/1.3", OIS, multi-direction PDAF (wins this row: higher) | 50 MP 1-inch Sony LYT-900, f/1.63–f/4.0 variable aperture, 23 mm, OIS |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120° | 50 MP Leica, f/1.8, 12 mm, 122° FOV (wins this row: higher) |
| Telephoto | 10 MP 3x + 50 MP 5x periscope (both OIS) | 50 MP 3.2x optical (75 mm, f/1.8, OIS) + 50 MP 5x periscope (120 mm, f/2.5, OIS) (wins this row: higher) |
| Max optical zoom | 5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital) | 5x optical (up to 120x digital) |
| Stabilization | OIS on main and both telephotos | OIS on main and both telephoto cameras |
| Video | 8K 30 fps, 4K 120 fps, HDR10+ | 8K 24/30 fps, 4K 24/30/60/120 fps, 10-bit Log, Dolby Vision |
Front camera
leads 1-0| Selfie camera | 12 MP, f/2.2, punch-hole | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22 mm (wins this row: higher) |
|---|---|---|
| Selfie video | 4K 60 fps | 4K 60 fps |
Battery & charging
leads 2-0| Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh (5,300 mAh CN model) |
|---|---|---|
| Wired chargingNot on the official sheet | 45 W (charger sold separately) | 90 W HyperCharge (100% in ~33 min) (wins this row: higher) |
| Wireless charging | 15 W Qi / Fast Wireless | 80 W wireless HyperCharge (100% in ~46 min) |
| Reverse wireless | 4.5 W Wireless PowerShare | 10 W reverse wireless |
| Charger in box | No | Yes (90W adapter in box) (wins this row: has it) |
Audio
1 differences| Speakers | Stereo tuned by AKG | Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Headphone jack | No | No |
Connectivity
5 differences| Cellular | 5G (sub-6 + mmWave, region-dependent) | 5G (sub-6) |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| NFC | Yes (Samsung Pay / Google Wallet) | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) |
| SIM | Dual nano-SIM + eSIM (region-dependent) | Dual nano-SIM |
Features
3 differences| Biometrics | Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint + face unlock | Optical in-display fingerprint + AI Face Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Extra controls | S Pen button, programmable side key | Optional Leica Photography Kit with physical shutter button |
| Standout features | S Pen, Samsung DeX, Galaxy AI, Vision Booster | Leica Summilux lenses, 1-inch sensor, Stepless variable aperture |
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Android flagship with S Pen, 200MP camera, 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED, and seven years of OS updates.
- S Pen built in
- 200MP main + 5x periscope telephoto
- 7 years of OS and security updates
What you give up
- Larger and heavier than iPhone 16 Pro
- No charger in the box
- Flat 6.8-inch body is harder one-handed
Pick this one if
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Grey import in the US; official in other regions. Photography juggernaut with 1-inch LYT-900 sensor, stepless variable aperture, and quad Leica camera array.
- Quad 50MP Leica cameras with 1-inch stepless variable aperture
- Exceptional manual photography and 8K log video controls
- Bright C8 AMOLED display with 90W fast charging
What you give up
- Bulky camera bump affects flat tabletop resting
- HyperOS software has more bloatware than stock Android
Best for each use
Photos
For photos, buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Battery & updates
For battery & updates, buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Games & video
For games & video, buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ↗ · Xiaomi 14 Ultra ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Xiaomi 14 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra costs $100 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or Xiaomi 14 Ultra?
Xiaomi 14 Ultra has this deal-breaker: no stylus. No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.
Which is better for photos, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Xiaomi 14 Ultra?
For photos, buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Leads 3 of 4 rankable photos specs; Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes 1. Ultrawide: 50 MP Leica, f/1.8, 12 mm, 122° FOV vs 12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 48 specs tracked here, 36 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.