Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Which One Is Better?
Apr 07, 2023 • Filed to: Latest News & Tactics • Proven solutions
Xiaomi's rapid rise has seen the smartphone maker enter the top five vendors worldwide in terms of market share. Due to this, a popular debate has given rise to the question of which is the better smartphone maker between Samsung VS Xiaomi.
To know which brand is better, we will compare Samsung S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra in a side-by-side comparison in terms of its technical specifications, price, performance, camera, and more. Stick around and learn more.
- Part 1. Is Mi 11 Ultra Better Than S21 Ultra?
- Part 2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Overview
- Part 3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Price and Storage
- Part 4. Is Mi 11 Ultra Better Than S21 Ultra?
- Part 5. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Overview
- Part 6. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Design
- Part 7. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Display
- Part 8. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Battery Life
- Part 9. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: User reviews
- Part 10. How To Switch to a New Android Device?
Part 1. Is Mi 11 Ultra Better Than S21 Ultra?
This part will take a deep dive into the specifications and features of both smartphones if you’re considering Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Samsung S21 Ultra.
1. Reasons To Consider the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra?
One of the reasons people love Samsung’s S series is its integration with productivity apps from Microsoft, including Office, Outlook, and OneDrive. The S21 Ultra also works seamlessly with Google Workspace making the smartphone a great substitute for a laptop.
On another note, the optional S pen works exclusively with S21 Ultra, so you can make everything simpler, especially when eSigning documents and navigating your smartphone with precision. We haven’t even tackled the S21 Ultra’s camera, performance, and battery life, but we’ll get into that as we dive deeper into this comparison article.
2. Reasons To Consider the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra?
The Mi 11 Ultra is an excellent option if starters are into photography. It’s one of the best camera smartphones available today, especially for standard and zoom shots, making it a top choice for many people. But does it hold up well when pitted against one of the industry juggernauts?
The ultra-fast charging capabilities meanwhile power up the Mi 11 Ultra in no time, which is a huge advantage as you’re always ready on the go.
Part 2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Overview
Here’s a quick overview of the Samsung S21 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra in a head-to-head comparison.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Release Date | January 14, 2021 | March 29, 2021 |
Performance | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
Operating System | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 | Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
Dimensions | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
Weight | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
Screen | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
Main Camera | Quad, 108, 10, 10, 12 MP | Tri-camera, 50, 48, 48 MP |
Selfie Camera | Single, 40 MP | Single, 20s MP |
Memory |
· 128GB 12GB RAM · 256GB 12GB RAM · 256GB 16GB RAM · 512GB 12GB RAM · 512GB 16GB RAM |
· 256GB 8GB RAM · 256GB 12GB RAM · 512GB 12GB RAM |
Network |
· 5G: Available · 4G: Available · 3G: Available · 2G: Available |
· 5G: Available · 4G: Available · 3G: Available · 2G: Available |
Battery |
5000 mAh |
5000 mAh |
Sim Slots |
· Nano-SIM and eSIM · Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by) |
· Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
Sim Size |
· Sim 1: Nano · Sim 2: eSim |
· Sim 1: Nano · Sim 2: Nano |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Touchscreen |
· Capacitive Touchscreen · Multitouch |
· Capacitive Touchscreen · Multitouch |
Approximate price |
$999.99 |
$1,040.00 |
Both devices have a steep price tag, so you should research and take the time before deciding which smartphone works best for you and your personality.
Part 3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Price and Storage
Here’s a price comparison of both smartphones based on available online data.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Price |
· Samsung S21 Ultra 128GB 12GB RAM - $999.99 · Samsung S21 Ultra 256GB 12GB RAM - $1249.99 |
· Xiaomi Mi 11 128GB - $1,040.00 · Xiaomi Mi 11 256GB - $1,110.00 |
Winner (for the entry price) – Samsung
While both smartphones aren’t cheap, the Samsung S21 Ultra is more affordable than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. However, if you’re going for a phone with higher storage, then the Mi 11 Ultra 256GB costs less than Samsung’s 256GB variant. For the entry price alone, Samsung win’s the price-head-to-head matchup.
Part 4. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Performance & Software
Here’s a nifty chart comparing both smartphones in terms of their performance and software.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Chipset |
· Exynos 2100 (5 nm) – International · Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
· Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
Processor |
· Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) – International · Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA/China |
· Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 |
Architecture |
· 64 bit |
· 64 bit |
Graphics |
· Mali-G78 MP14 – International · Adreno 660 - USA/China |
· Adreno 660 |
Winner – Xiaomi
In raw performance alone, Xiaomi won the battle due to the Snapdragon 888’s faster performance against the Exynos 2100 based on various benchmark tests. The only worrying issue you should notice when using the Mi 11 Ultra is that it’s prone to overheating problems over long stretches.
Part 5 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Camera & Video
Here’s a breakdown of the Samsung S21 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra’s main and selfie cameras.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Main Camera Specs |
· 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS · 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24”, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom · 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24”, 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom · 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
· 50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12”, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS · 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom · 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128° (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF |
Functions |
LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie display |
Video |
· 8K@24fps · 4K@30/60fps · 1080p@30/60/240fps · 720p@960fps · HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
· 8K@24fps · 4K@30/60fps · 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps · gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. |
Front Camera Specs |
· 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
· 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
Functions |
Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
HDR, panorama |
Video |
· 4K@30/60fps · 1080p@30fps |
· 1080p@30/60fps · 720p@120fps · gyro-EIS |
Winner: Samsung
Both smartphones yield great results when testing their camera’s detail and dynamic range. It’s a matter of personal preference as you won’t go wrong with either camera. However, the S21 Ultra’s camera is more sophisticated and flexible, even with zoomed-in photos. It also has a superior secondary camera which tends to make Samsung punch more when compared to its rival.
Part 6. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Design
We’re halfway through the head-to-head battle between the S21 Ultra and the Mi 11 Ultra. This section will talk about both smartphone designs.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Dimensions |
165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
Weight |
227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
234 g (8.25 oz) |
Build |
Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame |
Colors |
· Phantom Black · Phantom Silver · Phantom Titanium · Phantom Navy · Phantom Brown · Navy |
· Ceramic White (Cosmic White) · Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black) |
Winner: Samsung
Regarding the overall design, both smartphones have large bodies, so it’ll be hard to fit into pockets. They’re also a little bit heavy for a mobile device, and the Mi 11 Ultra is slightly heavier than the S21 Ultra. Samsung wins the design comparison as its camera module is far more elegant than Xiaomi, and you can get it in a broader range of colors.
Part 7. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Display
After the design aspect of both devices, here’s a comparison chart between the two smartphone’s displays.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Type |
Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak) |
AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak) |
Size |
6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
Resolution |
1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
Protection |
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Always-on display |
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
Winner: Xiaomi
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has a hairline advantage in total display size as it utilizes a 6.81” 120 Hz AMOLED display with a 1440 x 3200 resolution. This is compared to the S21 Ultra’s 6.8” AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Xiaomi’s smartphone produces a maximum of 1700 nits of peak brightness compared to the S21 Ultra’s 1500. Xiaomi wins the display battle.
Part 8. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Battery Life
Now that we’re past the design and display aspect, here’s how both smartphones differ regarding battery life.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Capacity |
5000 mAh, non-removable |
5000 mAh, non-removable |
Charge power |
· 25W wired, PD3.0 · 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) · 4.5W reverse wireless |
· 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min (advertised) · 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min (advertised) · 10W reverse wireless |
Battery type |
Li-Ion |
Li-Po |
Replaceable |
No |
No |
Winner: Xiaomi
Both smartphones provide users with a vast 5,000 maH non-removable battery. However, due to the addition of 120 Hz and 5G capabilities, expect your battery to only last a through a day, especially when you frequently use your phone.
While the Mi 11 Ultra tends to get hot relatively, you’re more likely to fully charge it faster thanks to its accompanying 67W charger. Samsung doesn’t bundle a charger, so you’re expected to get one on your own. Even with Xiaomi’s overheating issues, the Mi 11 Ultra wins the battery life battle.
Part 9. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: User reviews
In this part, we will provide a user review for both devices factoring in all the aspects we’ve tackled above.
Samsung S21 Ultra | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
Price & Storage |
Win |
Lose |
Performance & Software |
Lose |
Win |
Camera & Video |
Win |
Lose |
Design |
Win |
Lose |
Display |
Lose |
Win |
Battery Life |
Lose |
Win |
Winner: Samsung
While both smartphones are 3-3 in win/lose ratio, the Samsung S21 Ultra’s wins are apparent runaways, while Xiaomi’s wins in performance, display, and battery life offer some caveats. For instance, the performance and battery life of Xiaomi are mitigated by the fact that you’re prone to overheating issues.
Meanwhile, the S21 Ultra is simply the clear winner in terms of price, storage, camera, and design aspects at a glance. Factoring all the different advantages and disadvantages of each device, Samsung is definitely the clear winner.
Part 10. How To Switch to a New Android Device?
Suppose you’re already an android user or you’re transferring from another OS. In that case, migrating all your data into another smartphone is as easy as doing a few clicks with Wondershare Dr.Fone.
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Key Features
Here are some of Dr.Fone’s key features you can immediately take advantage of.
- Move data between different operating systems.
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- Fully compatible with the latest versions of Android and iOS.
Conclusion
Getting the phone you want is not a decision you should take lightly. Nowadays, smartphones cost a ton of money, so you should treat them as an investment whether you use them for fun or productivity.
Once you’ve chosen the suitable device for you, using Dr.Fone – Phone Transfer to migrate your data from your old device into the new one should take a few clicks and a few minutes. Be sure to check it out to learn more.
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Daisy Raines
staff Editor