Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Xiaomi 16 Ultra

Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Xiaomi 16 Ultra side by side: Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 108MP vs…

Samsung

16 Ultra

$1,299

12categories won

6 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Xiaomi 16 Ultra takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Xiaomi 16 Ultra proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the 16 Ultra. Choose the 16 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 Battery16 Ultra

16 Ultra takes battery honors offering 6,200 mAh alongside 120W charging.

🎮 Gaming16 Ultra

16 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 24GB RAM.

📸 CameraGalaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G wins photography with 108MP main imaging and 10x dedicated optical zoom.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1199 vs $1299.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs 16 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
Screen size	6.8"	6.73"
Resolution	1440 x 3200	1440 x 3200
Pixel density	516 ppi	521 ppi
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	1500 nits	3600 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
Chipset	Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
Process node	5 nm	2 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	870,000	3,200,000Winner
Geekbench multi	3800	10800Winner
Maximum RAM	12 GB	24 GBWinner
Maximum storage	128GB	2TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
Main sensor	108 MPWinner	50 MP
Rear cameras	4	4
Optical zoom	10xWinner	3.2x
Ultrawide	12 MP	50 MPWinner
Selfie camera	40 MPWinner	32 MP
Max video	8K at 24fps / 4K at 60fps all cameras	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
Capacity	5,000 mAh	6,200 mAhWinner
Wired charging	25 W	120 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	80 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
Weight	227 g	226 g
Thickness	8.9 mm	9.2 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back	Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
Operating system	Android 11	Android 17
OS updates	4 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	5 years	7 yearsWinner

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	16 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,199Winner	$1,299