Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Xiaomi 17, Comparison of Featured Phone Specifications
comparison of samsung galaxy s26 and xiaomi 17
Two high-end phones, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Xiaomi 17, were launched in Indonesia in the early quarter of 2026. Both offer strong specifications, premium designs, and modern photography features. The prices of these two devices are also relatively equivalent. When compared, which one is superior between Samsung or Xiaomi? Let’s peel it deeper.
design and screen
The Samsung Galaxy S26 retains the distinctive features of Samsung’s simple but still elegant design. The body appears flat with a pill-shaped camera module that stands out slightly. IP68 rating provides protection against dust and water.
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 carries a design language similar to its predecessor, but the camera module at a glance resembles an iPhone. The back panel is opaque, while the sides use aluminum material. The phone also has an IP68 rating.
In the screen sector, the Galaxy S26 uses a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 has a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2565 x 1220 pixels, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a maximum brightness of 3,500 nits. In terms of the screen, the Xiaomi 17 looks superior.
Performance
For the kitchen runway business, the Galaxy S26 relies on the Exynos 2600 made by Samsung, while the Xiaomi 17 uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Antutu 10 test shows that the Xiaomi 17 is able to achieve a score of 2.67 million, ahead of the Galaxy S26 with a score of 2.4 million. The performance of the Xiaomi 17 is more equivalent to the Galaxy S26 Ultra which uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset for Galaxy.
Even though it was less fast, the Galaxy S26 is still capable and able to handle almost all activities. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 deserves to be championed for users who need high performance.
The Galaxy S26 runs with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16, which adds a new AI feature. Xiaomi 17 also runs with Android 16 Plus interface HyperOS 3, which focuses on connectivity and AI, including XiaoAI assistant.
Camera
The Galaxy S26 retains the previous model camera system, namely the 50MP main camera, 10MP 3x telephoto camera, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 12MP front camera. The photo quality of the main camera is okay, especially during the day. The telephoto camera shots are decent, with a wide dynamic range and good details. The front camera offers sharp selfies and slick colors.
Xiaomi 17 does not want to lose, relies on a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultrawide camera, supported by Leica. On the front, the 50MP camera replaces the 32MP camera. The results of the main camera shot during the day are extraordinary, as well as when there is no light. The telephoto camera also displays adequate images, while the front camera provides positive selfies.
Battery
In the battery sector, the Galaxy S26 must recognize the advantages of the Xiaomi 17. Samsung phones only carry a 4,300 mAh battery, while the Xiaomi 17 has a 6,330 mAh battery. With a larger battery, the Xiaomi 17 is more durable. This phone is said to last for almost 12 hours to play games, while the Galaxy S26 ‘only’ lasts about 9.5 hours.
Xiaomi 17 also supports 100W and 50W wireless fast charging, while the Galaxy S26 only supports 25W and 15W wireless fast charging.
Price
For the Indonesian market, Samsung released the Galaxy S26 12GB/256GB at a price of Rp. 16,499,000, while the 12GB/512GB variant is offered at a price of Rp. 19,499,000. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 17 is sold at a lower price, starting from Rp. 14,999,000 for the 12GB/256GB model and Rp. 15,999,000 for the 12GB/512GB variant, available in Black and Venture Green colors.
