Xiaomi 17 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23+: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Xiaomi 17 and Samsung Galaxy S23+ represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology, but cater to slightly different priorities. The Xiaomi 17 aggressively pursues peak performance with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the S23+ focuses on a more balanced approach, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Samsung’s established software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw processing power and blazing-fast charging, the Xiaomi 17 is the clear winner. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23+ offers a more refined experience with superior battery endurance and a proven track record of software stability, making it the better choice for the average user.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 17 Samsung Galaxy S23+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only)
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, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 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, LTE-A (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2025, September 252023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, September 27Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Dragon Crystal Glass), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions151.1 x 71.8 x 8.1 mm (5.95 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm (6.21 x 3.00 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionXiaomi Dragon Crystal GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1220 x 2656 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~464 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 97.1 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 2160Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 840Adreno 740
OSAndroid 16, HyperOS 3Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 60mm (telephoto), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 2.6x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video8K@30fps (HDR), 4K@30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaDual video call, Auto-HDR, HDR10+
Single50 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), PDAF12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos)Yes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 50W wireless 22.5W reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 7000 mAhLi-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Pink, WhitePhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
Models-SM-S916B, SM-S916B/DS, SM-S916U, SM-S916U1, SM-S916W, SM-S916N, SM-S9160, SM-S916E, SM-S916E/DS
PriceAbout 540 EUR$ 780.00 / C$ 1,399.99 / £ 919.08 / € 1,185.89 / ₹ 94,999
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.77 W/kg (head)     1.45 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 111h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 1234077 (v9) GeekBench: 5073 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi 17

  • Unmatched processing power with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • Blazing-fast 100W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially superior gaming performance due to Oryon CPU

  • Battery life potentially compromised by power-hungry processor
  • Camera specs currently unknown
  • Software experience may be less refined than Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23+

  • Excellent battery life (111h endurance)
  • Balanced performance and efficiency with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Refined software experience and long-term support

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Xiaomi 17
  • Less raw processing power than Xiaomi 17
  • Reverse wireless charging is significantly slower

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a high-quality AMOLED panel, though specific peak brightness data is missing. While the Xiaomi 17’s display specs are absent, Xiaomi typically employs high-refresh-rate AMOLEDs. The S23+'s contrast ratio implies deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Without knowing the Xiaomi 17’s panel technology (LTPO or not), it’s difficult to assess power efficiency. The S23+'s established display calibration is likely more accurate out-of-the-box.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specifications for the Xiaomi 17 are unavailable. The Samsung Galaxy S23+’s camera system, while not detailed in the provided data, is expected to feature a high-resolution main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). The absence of information regarding the Xiaomi 17’s sensor size and aperture makes a direct comparison impossible. Samsung’s image processing is known for its vibrant colors and detail enhancement, while Xiaomi often leans towards a more natural look. Without further details, it’s difficult to assess the Xiaomi 17’s low-light performance or video capabilities.

Performance

The Xiaomi 17’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built on a 3nm process, is the key differentiator. Its octa-core CPU, featuring Oryon V3 Phoenix cores (2x4.6 GHz L + 6x3.62 GHz M), promises significant performance gains over the S23+'s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Oryon architecture, designed by Nuvia, prioritizes single-core performance, crucial for responsive UI and app loading. However, the 4nm process of the S23+'s chip offers better thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. The S23+'s CPU configuration (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) is a more traditional ARM setup, optimized for a balance of performance and power consumption. Both devices utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the Xiaomi 17’s faster processor will likely benefit more from the increased bandwidth.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ boasts an impressive 111-hour endurance rating, indicating excellent battery life. While the Xiaomi 17’s battery capacity is unknown, its 100W wired charging (PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS) and 50W wireless charging significantly outperform the S23+'s 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Xiaomi 17 can likely achieve a full charge in under 30 minutes, while the S23+ takes longer. The 22.5W reverse wireless charging on the Xiaomi 17 is also a substantial advantage over the S23+'s 4.5W offering.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi 17 if you demand the absolute fastest Android performance for demanding tasks like video editing, high-end gaming, and need the convenience of 100W charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if you prioritize all-day battery life, a polished software experience, and a more compact form factor, even if it means sacrificing some peak processing speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Xiaomi 17 overheat during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 offers incredible performance, its higher clock speeds and power draw could lead to thermal throttling. Xiaomi will need to implement an effective cooling solution to prevent overheating and maintain sustained performance during demanding games. The S23+'s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, built on a 4nm process, is inherently more thermally efficient.
❓ How does the Oryon CPU architecture in the Xiaomi 17 impact real-world app performance compared to the Cortex-X3 in the S23+?
The Oryon architecture prioritizes single-core performance, which directly impacts app launch speeds and UI responsiveness. This means the Xiaomi 17 should feel snappier in everyday tasks. However, the Cortex-X3 in the S23+ is optimized for sustained multi-core workloads, potentially offering better performance in tasks like video rendering or complex calculations.
❓ Is the 100W charging on the Xiaomi 17 safe for long-term battery health?
While 100W charging is incredibly fast, concerns about long-term battery degradation exist. Xiaomi likely incorporates charging algorithms to mitigate this, such as slowing down the charging rate as the battery nears full capacity. However, consistent use of ultra-fast charging *could* accelerate battery wear over several years.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy S23+ support variable refresh rate (VRR) for smoother scrolling and gaming?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Samsung Galaxy flagships typically include VRR technology (likely LTPO) on their displays. This dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother visuals and improved power efficiency during less demanding tasks.