Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Which Ultra Flagship Has the Best Camera in 2025?

If you’re shopping for the ultimate Android camera phone in 2025, you’re likely torn between two of the most talked-about flagships right now: the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both phones are loaded with high-end specs, advanced AI software, powerful chipsets, and camera systems designed to push the limits of mobile photography.

Xiaomi has gained a solid reputation over the past few years for delivering elite camera performance at aggressive prices, and the 15 Ultra seems to follow the same formula—with added refinements in build, battery, and optics.

On the other side, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra continues to carry the legacy of the S series with meaningful software enhancements, longer support cycles, and the built-in S Pen, which still makes it the most versatile Android flagship on the market.

But what really separates these two?

We spent time analyzing every key feature—from camera results and battery life to design, performance, and AI features—to figure out which “Ultra” device truly earns its name in 2025.

So, if you’re trying to decide between these two premium Android beasts, this in-depth review will walk you through everything that matters—especially if your priority is top-tier mobile photography.

Let’s begin with the design and build quality.

Design and Build Quality:

Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra deliver that unmistakable flagship feel the moment you pick them up, but they take very different approaches when it comes to design. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra feels bold and unique with its curved back, a large circular camera module, and a distinct two-tone texture that combines eco-leather and glass fiber. It gives the phone a bit of a retro-futuristic vibe that’s meant to remind you of a professional camera body—and honestly, it kind of works.

Samsung, on the other hand, sticks to its refined industrial look with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It features a completely flat design with clean lines, a titanium frame, and a matte glass back. It’s a minimalist aesthetic that Samsung has perfected over the last few generations, and it definitely feels more premium and polished in the hand.

The S25 Ultra is also slightly larger, and that might appeal to people who like a big-screen device that feels substantial. Xiaomi’s model is slightly curvier, and while that helps ergonomics, it may not be for everyone. Both phones carry IP68 water and dust resistance, so you’re safe around water whether you go with either model.

One key design difference is the S Pen, which is built directly into the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It tucks into the corner of the frame and remains one of Samsung’s best productivity tools. On the Xiaomi side, there’s no stylus—but you can buy a separate photography kit that adds external camera controls and even lets you attach lens filters, which gives the 15 Ultra more of a DSLR feel.

In terms of durability, both phones use custom-toughened glass. The Xiaomi is protected by its own second-generation Xiaomi Shield Glass, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra opts for Gorilla Armor Glass, which also comes with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.

Overall, both are built to impress, but Xiaomi leans into a more camera-centric and creative aesthetic, while Samsung continues its trend of offering a powerful, professional-grade look.

 

Display Specs and Features:

When it comes to displays, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are two of the most visually stunning devices in the Android flagship space. They both deliver top-of-the-line screen quality, but each offers its own unique strengths. Starting with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, you’re getting a 6.73-inch OLED panel with QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It’s bright, sharp, and vibrant—everything you’d expect from a 2024 flagship. Xiaomi has used its second-generation Shield Glass here for protection, which is said to be quite durable, though still not as well-known as Corning’s Gorilla series.

Meanwhile, Samsung goes a step further with a slightly larger 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It too features a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, allowing the screen to dynamically scale from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the content, which helps conserve battery. But what really stands out is its Gorilla Armor Glass, which includes a special anti-reflective coating. This seemingly small addition has a huge real-world impact—it reduces glare in direct sunlight, improves legibility outdoors, and even helps reduce visible smudges on the glass.

Brightness levels are excellent on both phones. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra tops out around 1,600 nits in peak brightness, while Samsung pushes closer to 1,750 nits. In actual use, they both perform brilliantly even in harsh lighting conditions. You’ll have no issues reading or viewing content on either device, even under a blazing sun.

Both phones also support HDR10+ video playback, making them perfect for streaming high-quality content. Xiaomi adds Dolby Vision support into the mix, giving it a slight edge for users who care about futureproofed media standards. Whether you’re binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through high-res photos, both displays are crisp and detailed with excellent color calibration.

Touch response is silky smooth on both thanks to high touch sampling rates, and animations look fluid and lively, especially while navigating through their respective UIs. Watching content or gaming on either screen is a joy, but for those who want less screen glare and the absolute best outdoor visibility, Samsung’s anti-reflective tech puts the S25 Ultra just a notch ahead.

Software Updates and Apps:

Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra run Android 15 out of the box, but the experiences feel distinctly different thanks to each brand’s custom UI. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with the new HyperOS 2.0, a revamped software layer that’s built with AI at its core. Xiaomi is clearly positioning HyperOS as an intelligent and smooth user experience, and it delivers on most fronts. The system includes AI-powered tools like smart photo editing, voice-based transcription, note summarization, and real-time translation—all under what Xiaomi calls “HyperAI.” It looks modern, feels snappy, and is tightly integrated with Xiaomi’s own apps and ecosystem.

On the other side, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra ships with One UI 7.0, and it’s arguably the most refined version of Samsung’s interface to date. It brings along Galaxy AI features that go beyond what Xiaomi offers. Things like instant slow motion from regular videos, live call translation, and contextual information cards in the new Now Panel make One UI 7 feel more intuitive and more useful. Samsung also makes multitasking easier with superior window management and deeper integration with its foldables and tablets.

When it comes to longevity, Samsung again has the edge. The S25 Ultra comes with a promise of 7 years of Android OS and security updates—something that’s almost unheard of in Android. Xiaomi is offering a respectable 4 major OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates, which is still excellent, but slightly behind Samsung’s incredible commitment.

For users who care about long-term support, smooth UX, and AI-powered convenience, Samsung feels slightly ahead. Xiaomi’s HyperOS is promising and improving quickly, but One UI 7 simply feels more complete right now.

Performance and Chipsets:

Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are powered by Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset—or more specifically, the slightly customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in Samsung’s case. While the standard version in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra already delivers blazing-fast speeds, Samsung’s tuned variant offers marginally higher clock speeds, giving it a slight edge in some synthetic benchmark results.

In real-world use, though, the difference is almost negligible—both phones fly through apps, handle multitasking effortlessly, and crush demanding tasks like 4K video editing or intensive gaming. Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a powerhouse. Samsung offers similar configurations with storage options reaching up to 1TB.

Thermal management is the only downside—both phones throttle under sustained heavy workloads, which is typical for current-gen Android flagships. If you’re into raw performance, neither phone will disappoint, but Samsung does have a slight edge in CPU optimization due to its exclusive tuning.

Gaming Performance and Tests:

When it comes to gaming, both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra offer flagship-grade performance. They can handle demanding titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and PUBG Mobile at max settings without major hiccups. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipsets inside, frame rates stay consistent across the board, with both phones often hovering around the 55–60fps mark in sustained sessions.

Xiaomi has an edge in sustained performance due to slightly better thermal control, especially in prolonged playtimes. The 15 Ultra also supports Xiaomi’s Game Turbo mode, which allows for more granular tweaking, like touch sensitivity and performance presets. On the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung’s Game Booster intelligently optimizes battery, CPU, and thermals during gameplay.

Both phones support haptic feedback and high refresh rate gaming, but the Xiaomi’s 1440p panel feels a tad more immersive due to Dolby Vision support. Overall, gamers will be happy with either, but Xiaomi gets a slight nod for thermal consistency and in-game customization.

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Connectivity:

Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra offer excellent connectivity features as you’d expect from premium flagships in 2025. They each come with support for 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.2 ports for high-speed data transfer and display out. When it comes to satellite connectivity, neither device currently supports two-way communication, but this could change with future updates.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra includes an IR blaster, allowing you to control TVs, air conditioners, and other household appliances—something the Galaxy doesn’t offer. GPS accuracy is top-notch on both, with dual-band GNSS systems and quick satellite locks. Samsung includes UWB (Ultra Wideband) for precise device tracking and SmartTag support, while Xiaomi does not. Voice call quality is clear and stable on both devices, with good noise reduction during calls.

eSIM and dual-SIM support are present on both, though regional availability may vary. In terms of extras, Xiaomi also supports native screen mirroring with Miracast, and Samsung has the upper hand with Samsung DeX for full desktop experience over wired or wireless connections. Overall, both phones provide flagship-level connectivity, but the extra utility of DeX and UWB gives the S25 Ultra a slight edge in versatility.

Camera Specs and Performance:

Camera Hardware:

Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra are powerhouse camera phones with quad-camera setups. The Xiaomi packs a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP 3x telephoto, a 200MP 4.3x periscope zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide with autofocus.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a 200MP main sensor, a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 50MP 5x periscope lens, and a 50MP ultrawide with autofocus. Xiaomi’s approach is more uniform in resolution, while Samsung splits its zoom range between two sensors. Both phones have laser autofocus, OIS, and advanced AI processing for scene optimization.

Main Camera Photo Quality:

In daylight, both phones produce stellar shots. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra edges out the Galaxy in sharpness and finer textures, especially around the edges of the frame. Detail is more consistent, and Xiaomi’s color tuning leans more neutral and natural. The Galaxy S25 Ultra images are slightly punchier, with richer saturation and warmer white balance—ideal for social media sharing. Portraits look excellent on both, but Xiaomi handles skin tones and subject separation better without needing portrait mode.

Main Camera Low-Light:

Low-light performance is where the Xiaomi shines brightest—literally. Its larger battery allows it to push exposure longer, and its brighter lens captures more ambient light. Night shots from the Xiaomi are cleaner, less noisy, and offer superior dynamic range. Samsung performs well in dark scenes, too, but its photos tend to be a bit softer and with more aggressive noise reduction.

3x Telephoto Performance:

Both phones offer 3x optical zoom. Xiaomi delivers crisper photos with higher detail retention at this level. It also handles tricky lighting better, especially in portraits. Samsung’s 10MP 3x telephoto doesn’t match Xiaomi in resolution or low-light finesse, although it’s perfectly usable.

4.3x/5x Periscope Zoom:

At 4.3x and 5x, the battle intensifies. Xiaomi’s 200MP 4.3x periscope produces images with more texture and realistic color rendering. Galaxy’s 5x lens does better with longer reach but tends to soften fine details. In medium-zoom scenarios, Xiaomi’s higher pixel count wins, while Samsung’s lens shines past the 7x–10x range.

Long Range Zoom:

Zooming up to 10x, Xiaomi keeps images sharper and more usable in various conditions. It processes edges better and maintains contrast in structures and landscapes. At 20x and beyond, both begin to struggle, but Xiaomi remains slightly ahead in clarity, while Samsung’s images show more processing artifacts. At 30x, Xiaomi delivers cleaner results with fewer noise specks, though neither matches the quality of optical zoom.

Ultrawide Camera:

In daylight, the two phones are neck and neck with excellent color balance and sharpness. Xiaomi’s 50MP ultrawide, thanks to its autofocus and wider FOV, captures more immersive shots. However, in low light, Samsung regains the lead with cleaner and slightly more refined ultrawide photos that retain highlight detail and avoid color shifts.

Selfies & Front Camera Video:

Samsung leads here. Its 12MP selfie camera with autofocus captures sharper, more natural-looking selfies. Xiaomi’s 32MP front camera lacks AF and often results in slightly softer images, especially in motion or low light. Samsung also handles HDR better for dynamic lighting. Both phones shoot 4K selfie video, but the Galaxy does it with better skin tone preservation and less noise in dim settings.

Video Quality:

Both phones record 4K and even 8K video across multiple cameras. In daylight, they’re nearly tied, though Xiaomi’s footage appears slightly sharper across all zoom levels. In low-light video, Samsung performs better with the main camera, offering more stable exposures and smoother highlights. Xiaomi’s telephoto video, however, stands out with more natural-looking bokeh and dynamic contrast.

Price and Availability:

As of now, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is positioned as the more premium of the two, with its global 512GB model launching at around $1,299. Xiaomi also sells a photography kit separately for an additional cost—great for creators, but it adds to the total. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at a lower $1,199 for the base 256GB model and goes up to around $1,399 for the 1TB variant.

Given Samsung’s wide retail and carrier availability, it’s easier to find discounts or bundle deals on the S25 Ultra. Xiaomi’s global availability is growing but still not quite as widespread. Both phones are available in most major regions, including the US, Europe, and select parts of Asia.

BUY>> SAMSUNG Galaxy S25 Ultra Here

BUY>> Xiaomi 15 Ultra Here

Xiaomi 15 Ultra And Galaxy S25 Ultra “Pros And Cons”:

Pros of Xiaomi 15 Ultra (Compared to S25 Ultra):

• Superior rear camera performance across all focal lengths, especially in zoom and low light.
• Better battery life thanks to its larger 5,410mAh battery.
• Faster charging with 90W wired charging and efficient wireless charging.
• Optional photography kit adds physical camera-like controls and lens filter support.
• Eco-leather two-tone design adds grip and uniqueness.
• IR blaster and Dolby Vision support for better home control and media experience.

Pros of Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Compared to Xiaomi 15 Ultra):

• Longer software support – 7 years of OS and security updates.
• Better selfie camera with sharper results and autofocus.
• Integrated S Pen offers unmatched productivity tools.
• Anti-reflective screen coating makes visibility better in direct sunlight.
• More consistent low-light ultrawide camera performance.
• Typically lower launch price, making it a better value for some users.

Shared Cons (Across Both Phones):

• Both experience thermal throttling under long sustained loads.
• Large camera bumps make them wobble on flat surfaces without a case.
• No expandable storage on either model (despite large built-in options).

Conclusion:

Choosing between the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is no easy feat. Both are elite-tier Android flagships that bring cutting-edge technology, stunning displays, and powerful chipsets to the table. However, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra asserts itself as the better camera-centric smartphone. With superior zoom quality, sharper night photography, and that optional photography kit, it’s a content creator’s dream. It also leads in battery life and charging speed, plus its Eco-leather finish gives it a unique premium touch.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 Ultra counters with a significantly lower starting price, a more polished software experience, and longer-term software support. The S Pen is a major productivity bonus, and its better selfie camera might appeal to frequent video callers or vloggers. Its flatter design, anti-reflective glass, and broader AI features further solidify its flagship appeal.

At the end of the day, if mobile photography is your main priority, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra gets the nod. But if you want a powerful all-rounder with a stylus and broader long-term support, the Galaxy S25 Ultra still reigns supreme.

BUY>> SAMSUNG Galaxy S25 Ultra here

BUY>> Xiaomi 15 Ultra Here

(FAQ) About Xiaomi 15 Ultra And Galaxy S25 Ultra:

Which phone has the better camera: Xiaomi 15 Ultra or Galaxy S25 Ultra?

• The Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes the lead with superior image sharpness, cleaner zoom performance, and better low-light shots across its main and telephoto lenses. However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra does offer better selfies thanks to its front-facing autofocus camera and more consistent ultrawide shots in low light.

Is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra worth buying over the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

• Yes, if you’re prioritizing rear camera quality, battery life, and charging speed, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers more photography versatility. But if you want long-term updates, S Pen functionality, and a better selfie experience, the Galaxy S25 Ultra may be a better choice — and it usually comes at a slightly lower price.

Does the Galaxy S25 Ultra have better software support than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?

• Yes. Samsung promises 7 years of major Android updates and security patches, while Xiaomi offers 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches for the 15 Ultra.

Which phone charges faster: Xiaomi 15 Ultra or Galaxy S25 Ultra?

• The Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports 90W fast charging, which is nearly twice as fast as the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 45W. In real-world use, both reach similar levels after 30 minutes, but the Xiaomi finishes a full charge slightly quicker.

Which phone has better build quality: Xiaomi 15 Ultra or Galaxy S25 Ultra?

• Both phones offer premium build quality. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra features an aluminum frame with a unique eco-leather back, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a more durable titanium frame and flat Gorilla Armor glass. The Samsung is more scratch- and reflection-resistant.

BUY>> SAMSUNG Galaxy S25 Ultra here

BUY>> Xiaomi 15 Ultra Here

•  See also:
• Oppo Reno13 F 5G vs. Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G: Which Mid-Range Beast Should You Buy
• Galaxy A56 vs. A55 vs. A54: What’s Actually Changed?
• Xiaomi 15 vs Oppo Find X8: A Flagship Showdown + “Pros & Cons”