Between the Galaxy S26 and Xiaomi 15, the Galaxy S26 comes out ahead in weight and promised os updates, while the Xiaomi 15 wins on wireless charging and front camera. Overall, the Galaxy S26 scores 64.6 and the Xiaomi 15 scores 70 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Xiaomi 15 edges ahead on the Mars Score (64.6 vs 70), but the 5.4-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the Galaxy S26 if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight, promised os updates.
Pick the Xiaomi 15 if you photograph or shoot video regularly and want the better imaging pipeline of the two. Its strongest claims are wireless charging, front camera, wired charging, among others.
Both ship with comparable ram, main camera, refresh rate, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Xiaomi 15 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Samsung - Galaxy S26 wins
- ▲Weight — 24.00 g less. 168 vs 192.
- ▲Promised OS updates: 7 (vs 4).
Why Xiaomi 15 wins
- ▲Wireless charging — 233.33% more. 50 W vs 15 W.
- ▲Front camera — 166.67% more. 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- ▲Wired charging — 100.00% more. 90 W vs 45 W.
- ▲Battery capacity — 35.00% more. 5400 mAh vs 4000 mAh.
- ▲AnTuTu — 24.65% more. 2680000 vs 2150000.
- ▲Pixel density — 8.24% more. 460 ppi vs 425 ppi.
- ▲Screen size — 2.58% more. 6.36 " vs 6.2 ".
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S26 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 168 glead | 192 g |
| Thickness | 7.4 mmlead | 8.1 mm |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP68 | IP68 |
| Form factor | bar | bar |
Display
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S26 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizeⓘ | 6.2 " | 6.36 "lead |
| Pixel densityⓘ | 425 ppi | 460 ppilead |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightnessⓘ | 2400 nits | 3200 nitslead |
Performance
Cameras
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S26 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Main cameraⓘ | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MPlead |
| Optical image stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S26 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 5400 mAhlead |
| Wired chargingⓘ | 45 W | 90 Wlead |
| Wireless chargingⓘ | 15 W | 50 Wlead |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S26 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G supportⓘ | true | true |
| Headphone jack | false | false |
| microSD slot | false | false |
Operating System
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S26 | Xiaomi 15 |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android | Android |
| Promised OS updates | 7 yearslead | 4 years |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery, Galaxy S26 or Xiaomi 15?+
Xiaomi 15 has 35.0% more battery — 4000 mAh vs 5400 mAh.
Which is lighter, Galaxy S26 or Xiaomi 15?+
Galaxy S26 is 24g lighter — 168g vs 192g.
Is Galaxy S26 waterproof?+
Galaxy S26 has an IP68 rating.
Does Xiaomi 15 support 5G?+
Yes, Xiaomi 15 supports 5G.
Which has a better camera, Galaxy S26 or Xiaomi 15?+
Xiaomi 15 has a 50 MP main camera vs 50 MP.
Spec-level deep dives
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