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Samsung Galaxy M17 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Side-by-side comparison of specifications, price, camera, battery and performance in India

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Phone 1

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G

4.1(7,752)

₹17,999

View details →
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Phone 2

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

4.7(605)

₹1,39,999

View details →
Expert verdict

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Comparison Summary

Price

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G is priced lower at ₹17,999, giving it an affordability edge. The price gap is ₹1,22,000.

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G wins
Display

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G features a 6.7" Super AMOLED, 90Hz display. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra wins
Performance

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G runs the Samsung Exynos 1330. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Different chipsets mean benchmark scores and power efficiency will vary; check independent reviews for real-world impact.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G offers a 50MP + 5MP + 2MP camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP. Both phones support 4K video recording.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G packs a 5000 mAh, 25W setup. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra uses 5000 mAh, 60W. Both phones have the same battery capacity.

Software & Ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G runs Android 15, One UI 7. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra ships with Android 16, One UI 8.5. Software update timelines and AI features differ significantly between the two ecosystems.

Spec score

Overall rating breakdown

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G

81%

Very Good

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

89%

Very Good

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros and cons

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G

₹17,999

Pros

  • Super AMOLED at under ₹13,000
  • 5G connectivity
  • OIS on main camera

Cons

  • 90Hz — not 120Hz
  • 25W charging on 5000 mAh could be faster
  • Exynos 1330 not fast for gaming

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

₹1,39,999

Pros

  • 200MP camera with 5× periscope telephoto
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — class-leading performance
  • Privacy Display feature is unique
  • S Pen stylus included
  • 60W fast charging is fastest in the S series
  • 7-year software guarantee

Cons

  • Starts at ₹1,39,999 — very expensive
  • Large and heavy at 214g
  • No 100W+ charging like OnePlus 13
  • No charger in the box
Full specifications

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — Complete specification table

At a Glance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Starting Price
₹17,999
Lower price
₹1,39,999
Network
5G
5G
Launched
October 2025
March 2026
User Rating
4.1/5 (7,752 ratings)
4.7/5 (605 ratings)
Higher rating
Available colours
Sapphire Blue, Gravity Black, Sapphire Blue
Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue
Display
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Size
6.7 inches
6.9 inches
Type
Super AMOLED
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
2340 × 1080 (FHD+)
3120 × 1440 (QHD+, 499 ppi)
Refresh Rate
90Hz
1–120Hz (adaptive)
Brightness
—
3000 nits peak
Protection
—
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Privacy Display
—
Yes (world first)
Performance
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Processor
Samsung Exynos 1330
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Architecture
5nm
3nm TSMC
RAM
4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4X
12 GB / 16 GB LPDDR5X
Storage
128 GB UFS 2.2
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 4.0
AnTuTu Score
—
~3,900,000
Camera
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main
50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
200 MP, f/1.7, OIS, 100× Space Zoom
Ultra-wide
5 MP, f/2.2
50 MP, f/1.9, 120° FOV
Macro
2 MP, f/2.4
—
Front Camera
13 MP, f/2.0
12 MP, f/2.2
Video
Full HD @30fps
8K @30fps, 4K @60fps
Telephoto 1
—
50 MP, f/2.9, 5× optical zoom, OIS
Telephoto 2
—
10 MP, f/2.4, 3× optical zoom
Battery & Charging
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity
5000 mAh
5000 mAh
Wired Charging
25W fast charging
60W super fast charging
Wireless Charging
—
25W wireless
Reverse Wireless
—
4.5W
Connectivity
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Network
—
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE
Wi-Fi
—
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
—
6.0
NFC
—
Yes
USB
—
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
S Pen
—
Yes (included, with Air Actions)
Design & Build
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Dimensions
—
78.1 × 163.6 × 7.9 mm
Weight
—
214 g
Build
—
Armour Aluminium frame, Gorilla Armor 2
Water Resistance
—
IP68 (1.5m/30 min)
SIM
—
Nano SIM + eSIM
Software
Specification
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
OS
Android 15
Android 16
UI
One UI 7
One UI 8.5
Updates
4 years OS + 5 years security
7 years OS + security
AI Features
—
Galaxy AI (Now Assist, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Call Screen, Privacy Alerts)
Price comparison

All variants and prices

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G

4GB RAM / 128GB· Sapphire Blue
₹12,499
6GB RAM / 128GB· Gravity Black
₹13,999
8GB RAM / 128GB· Sapphire Blue
₹15,499

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

12GB RAM / 256GB· Cobalt Violet
₹1,39,999
12GB RAM / 512GB· Black
₹1,59,999
16GB RAM / 1024GB· Sky Blue
₹1,89,999
Common questions

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Samsung Galaxy M17 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy M17 5G and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra target similar market segments. The Samsung Galaxy M17 5G starts at ₹17,999 and runs Android 15, One UI 7 with a 6.7" Super AMOLED, 90Hz display and Samsung Exynos 1330 chip. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 and offers 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 120Hz with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. If battery life is the priority, compare their mAh capacities. If display quality matters, compare refresh rates and panel types. Neither has a universal advantage — the choice depends on your use case and ecosystem preference.
What is the price difference between Samsung Galaxy M17 5G and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy M17 5G starts at ₹17,999 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 in India. The price difference between base models is ₹1,22,000. Both phones are available in multiple RAM/storage variants at different price points.
Does Samsung Galaxy M17 5G have a better camera than Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G offers a 50MP + 5MP + 2MP camera system. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra provides 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP. Camera quality depends on factors beyond megapixels — including sensor size, aperture, OIS, and computational photography. For the most accurate comparison, refer to independent review sites that run controlled camera tests in the same conditions.
Which phone has longer battery life: Samsung Galaxy M17 5G or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy M17 5G comes with a 5000 mAh, 25W battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra includes 5000 mAh, 60W. Battery life also depends on the display resolution, refresh rate, and software optimisation. A larger mAh does not guarantee proportionally longer life if the display or processor is more power-hungry.
Is Samsung Galaxy M17 5G a good buy under ₹15,000?
Yes. The Galaxy M17 5G is one of the few phones to offer a Super AMOLED display and 5G under ₹15,000. The Exynos 1330 handles everyday tasks well, the OIS camera produces stable photos, and 5000 mAh battery delivers good endurance. Its main competition is the Realme and Moto G series in this budget.
Is Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra worth buying over S26?
Yes, if camera versatility and S Pen productivity matter. The S26 Ultra has a 200MP camera (vs 50MP on S26), 5× periscope telephoto, 100× Space Zoom, integrated S Pen, faster 60W charging, QHD+ display, and Privacy Display technology. At ₹1,39,999 vs ₹87,999, the premium is for dedicated photographers and power users.
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Editorial note

Specifications on Gadzela are sourced from official brand announcements and cross-referenced against published datasheets. Prices shown reflect India launch prices and may vary by retailer or over time. Always verify before purchasing. This page does not contain sponsored placements.