Xiaomi 12S Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: The Ultimate Flagship Battle

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra represent the pinnacle of smartphone technology, boasting impressive cameras, powerful processors, and stunning displays. But which one truly deserves your money? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into every aspect, helping you decide which flagship reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra edges out the Xiaomi 12S Ultra thanks to its superior software, broader availability, and slightly better battery life. However, the Xiaomi offers a more powerful chipset and potentially better camera versatility, making it a compelling alternative for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 12S Ultra Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, July 042022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 09Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.2 x 75 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.36 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight225 g (7.94 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 730Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)-
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@3840fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K, 1080p)8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensingSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 41 min 50W wireless, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4860 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Dark GreenPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
Models2203121CSM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
Price$ 288.00€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 93h Endurance rating 108h
Camera Photo / VideoPhoto / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.6 LUFS (Very good) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1039412 (v9) GeekBench: 4300 (v5.1) GFXBench: 51fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 12S Ultra

  • Exceptional camera with 1-inch sensor
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Fast wired and wireless charging
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Limited availability in some regions
  • Software experience may not appeal to everyone
  • Slightly lower battery life than S22 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Excellent display with high peak brightness
  • Versatile camera system with impressive zoom
  • Polished software experience with S Pen support
  • Wider availability

  • Exynos variant may have slightly lower performance
  • Slower wired charging compared to Xiaomi
  • Reverse wireless charging is slower

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning AMOLED displays with excellent color accuracy and infinite contrast ratios. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes a slight lead with a measured peak brightness of 1266 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Xiaomi's 1065 nits. Both support adaptive refresh rates for smooth scrolling and power efficiency.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts a larger 1-inch sensor, promising exceptional image quality and low-light performance. The S22 Ultra's versatile camera system, including its impressive zoom capabilities, provides greater flexibility. Both phones capture excellent photos and videos, but the Xiaomi leans towards more natural colors while the Samsung tends to boost saturation.

Performance

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 generally outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, particularly the Exynos variant. While both offer flagship-level performance, the Xiaomi's chipset provides a noticeable edge in demanding tasks and gaming. The S22 Ultra with Snapdragon offers comparable performance.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra demonstrates slightly better battery endurance, achieving an endurance rating of 108 hours compared to the Xiaomi 12S Ultra's 93 hours. Both support fast wired and wireless charging, but the S22 Ultra's wired charging is slightly slower (45W vs 67W). The Xiaomi's reverse wireless charging is also a useful feature.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi 12S Ultra? Photography enthusiasts and those seeking raw processing power will appreciate the Xiaomi's impressive camera system and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G? Users prioritizing a polished software experience, S Pen functionality, and wider availability will find the S22 Ultra a better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has the better camera overall?
It's a close call. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra excels in low-light conditions and offers a unique perspective with its 1-inch sensor. The S22 Ultra provides greater versatility with its zoom capabilities and more consistent performance across different scenarios.
❓ Is the Snapdragon or Exynos version of the S22 Ultra better?
The Snapdragon version generally offers better performance and efficiency compared to the Exynos variant. However, the differences are becoming less noticeable with software optimizations.