Xiaomi 17 Ultra

DXOMARK praises the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for its outstanding camera performance, particularly in still photography where it excels in texture, noise control, and telephoto zoom capabilities. The phone’s large 1-inch sensor and advanced telephoto module deliver impressive detail and sharpness, making it a top contender for portrait, sports, and low-light photography. While photo results are strong across focal lengths, autofocus occasionally misfocuses in real-world scenarios, and some exposure and contrast handling issues prevent it from reaching the absolute top tier. Video performance is solid but less impressive, with good color accuracy and stabilization, though it falls short of best-in-class devices due to occasional autofocus stepping, exposure instabilities, and module transition jumps during zoom. The review highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a significant upgrade over its predecessor and a compelling choice for users prioritizing photo quality, though with some room for improvement in video and autofocus consistency.

Harish Jonnalagadda from Android Central highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as one of the best camera phones of 2026, praising its outstanding 1-inch main sensor and innovative 200MP telephoto lens with continuous zoom. He applauds Xiaomi’s refined design, noting the phone feels more comfortable and premium than its predecessors, with a vibrant 6.9-inch OLED display and impressive battery life. The review expresses genuine enthusiasm for the camera performance, especially in low light and video capture, while acknowledging minor shortcomings like less effective handling of fast-moving subjects and some software quirks. Jonnalagadda appreciates Xiaomi’s progress in software stability and memory management but calls for improvements in notification gestures and update policies. Despite a higher price point and a few small inconveniences, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is positioned as a compelling global alternative to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, matching or surpassing rivals like the Find X9 Pro and Vivo X300 Pro, making it a highly recommended flagship for photography enthusiasts.

Andy Boxall from Android Police highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a standout camera phone and a strong early contender for 2026’s best, thanks to its superb Leica-tuned optics and versatile mechanical zoom system that delivers sharp, vibrant, and professional-quality photos across a wide range of focal lengths. The reviewer praises the phone’s excellent biometric security, solid performance powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and a bright, smooth 6.9-inch OLED display. However, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra struggles with significant drawbacks, including poor battery life that falls short of competitors and concerns about hardware durability after experiencing a charging port issue. The design shift away from previous Ultra models results in a less distinctive, somewhat unbalanced device that can feel fatiguing to hold. While the camera’s excellence almost redeems these flaws, the reviewer cautions that the phone’s inconsistent fundamentals make it a risky purchase, ultimately rating it 8/10 for its brilliant imaging but notable compromises elsewhere.

Luke Baker from Trusted Reviews highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a superb all-round flagship, with particular emphasis on its outstanding camera system that rivals professional equipment. Praising the innovative triple 50MP cameras—including a unique 200MP telephoto with real optical zoom—the review underscores the phone’s photographic strengths, especially in low light and video capabilities. The device also impresses with its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, excellent 6.9-inch OLED display, strong speakers, and solid battery life with fast charging. While the flat display and improved IP68/IP69K rating add practical benefits, some compromises are noted: the telephoto zoom range is limited, and telemacro performance lags behind competitors like the Oppo Find X9 Pro and Honor Magic 8 Pro. Despite these minor drawbacks, the reviewer appreciates Xiaomi’s refined image processing and versatile photography accessories, concluding that the 17 Ultra is among the best camera phones available, ideal for photography enthusiasts seeking a high-performance, well-rounded flagship.

GSMArena Team highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (Global) as a powerful flagship smartphone that builds on the strengths of its Chinese predecessor while adapting for international markets. The review expresses clear enthusiasm for the device’s impressive hardware, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a large and vibrant 6.9-inch LPTO OLED display, and versatile camera setup featuring a 50MP 1-inch main sensor and an advanced 200MP camera with continuous optical zoom. The selfie camera’s upgrade to 50MP with autofocus is also noted positively. While the global model’s battery capacity is slightly reduced from the Chinese version, it still represents a significant improvement over the previous generation. The review also provides unique insights into Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica, explaining the distinct “Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi” branding for a related model. Some minor criticisms include the exclusion of a charger in the European retail package, but overall, the tone is appreciative and detailed, emphasizing the phone’s premium features and thoughtful design choices.

Simon Hill from WIRED highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a near-flawless flagship smartphone, especially appealing to photography enthusiasts. The review expresses clear enthusiasm for the device’s powerful and versatile camera system, including the innovative Leica-designed Leitzphone variant with its elegant design touches and fine zoom control. Hill praises the large 1-inch sensor, high-resolution telephoto zoom, and improved ultrawide and front cameras, noting superb image quality across scenarios. Performance is described as silky smooth, powered by the latest Snapdragon chipset and ample RAM, while the large 6,000mAh battery delivers impressive stamina. The optional Photography Kit adds useful physical controls and extra battery life, enhancing the photo-centric experience. Criticisms include the bulky, awkward camera module, lack of native Qi2 wireless charging, and some preinstalled bloatware. Software is mostly solid, though not as polished as competitors. Overall, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is enthusiastically recommended for those seeking a powerful, photography-first phone, despite minor trade-offs and its limited official availability in the US.

Peter Kostadinov from PhoneArena highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a flagship smartphone that excels in hardware, particularly its impressive camera system, powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and a bright, vivid OLED display. The phone’s design is sleek and premium, though somewhat conservative and lacking distinctive flair. The camera setup offers excellent versatility and image quality, though it slightly trails last year’s Xiaomi 15 Ultra in sharpness and consistency. Performance and battery life are strong points, with the device handling demanding tasks and gaming smoothly while delivering solid endurance. However, the review expresses clear frustration with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3 software, describing it as underdeveloped, buggy, and less customizable compared to competitors’ Android skins. The reviewer advises potential buyers to try the phone firsthand due to these software shortcomings and the subtle camera trade-offs, ultimately offering a cautiously positive recommendation for those prioritizing hardware excellence but willing to overlook software flaws.

Alex Walker-Todd from TechRadar highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a compelling evolution in Xiaomi’s flagship camera phone lineup, emphasizing its innovative Leica partnership and standout imaging technology. The review conveys genuine enthusiasm for the Ultra’s advanced 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR, and the unique mechanically shifting telephoto lens offering impressive optical zoom without cropping. Walker-Todd appreciates the device’s slimmer, lighter design and improved thermal management, which enhance usability and sustained performance. The display also receives praise for its brightness, efficiency, and immersive quality. While the reviewer notes some missed opportunities—such as the tactile focus ring and shutter button being limited to the Leica edition—the overall tone is optimistic and appreciative of Xiaomi’s bold, less predictable generational improvements compared to competitors. The review balances excitement with thoughtful critique, suggesting the 17 Ultra offers meaningful innovation and depth for photography enthusiasts.

Andrew Lanxon highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a highly promising flagship smartphone, especially for photography enthusiasts and professionals. Building on the success of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s large 1-inch sensor, the 17 Ultra introduces a new LightFusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR technology, enabling true HDR images from a single exposure and potentially delivering dynamic ranges up to 20 stops—surpassing many current smartphones and even some professional cameras. Lanxon appreciates Xiaomi’s hardware-focused approach, contrasting it with competitors’ reliance on AI-driven software enhancements, which often produce artificial-looking photos. The phone’s continuous optical zoom and deepening Leica partnership, including a special Leica edition with physical controls and custom software, further elevate its appeal. While some specs like battery capacity may vary by region, the 17 Ultra’s top-tier Snapdragon chipset, ample RAM, and sleek design round out a compelling package. Lanxon’s enthusiasm as a professional photographer and Leica user underscores his anticipation to test the phone’s real-world capabilities.

Eric Zeman from PCMag highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a standout flagship that blurs the line between smartphone and professional camera. He expresses clear enthusiasm for its Leica partnership, praising the advanced camera system featuring multiple 50MP sensors, a 200MP zoom lens, and near-professional video capabilities like 8K30 and 4K120 Log capture. The reviewer is impressed by the vivid colors and sharp focus in sample shots, as well as the optional camera grip accessory that enhances handling and control. The phone’s 6.9-inch display impresses with extreme brightness (3,500 nits), vibrant color accuracy, and smooth variable refresh rates, making it excellent for outdoor use. Performance-wise, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is described as a “spec monster” with top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 8 chipset, ample RAM/storage, and a large battery with fast charging. While the design is praised for its smooth curves and lightweight feel, some AI features are noted as limited by region. Overall, Zeman conveys a strong, positive impression, especially for photography enthusiasts, while also providing context on Xiaomi’s broader product lineup.

Digital Camera World highlights the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a bold and technically impressive smartphone that pushes mobile photography further with its large 1-inch main sensor and innovative 75–100mm mechanical telephoto zoom. The reviewer praises the phone’s outstanding image quality, especially its Leica-tuned color profiles that deliver a distinctive, filmic photographic style rarely matched by competitors. Performance is excellent, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with smooth handling of demanding tasks like 4K video editing. However, the review tempers enthusiasm with measured criticisms: the mechanical zoom’s limited range feels less transformative in practice, color and white balance inconsistencies between lenses detract from reliability, and macro capabilities have regressed slightly. Battery life is solid but not exceptional, though fast charging eases concerns. The flat, bright OLED display and refined design add to the appeal, while the software offers useful AI editing tools despite some minor usability frustrations. Overall, the 17 Ultra excels as a photographer’s phone with familiar trade-offs.