Xiaomi 17 Ultra after a week of use: A great flagship with incredible cameras

At the end of last month, Xiaomi globally unveiled the Xiaomi 17 series at a conference in Barcelona, which, in addition to the base model, also includes a camera phone bearing the Ultra moniker. This is the third generation of this device available on the Czech market, and in my opinion, it makes sense that Xiaomi imports this particular model to us and not, for example, the Pro variant, as it did before. 

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, like its previous versions, is an ideal device for users who want a premium-equipped phone and love photography. I’m no professional myself – I’ve only held an SLR camera to try it out, and I don’t force my friends to pose for the camera at events. Nevertheless, I want the photos capturing my experiences, loved ones, or just beautiful things around me to look good, not just during the day but also at night. I enjoy admiring details, quality background blur, and color rendition, and I dislike seeing noise. At the same time, I love playing with zoom, so a primary lens and an ultra-wide-angle camera simply aren’t enough for me. I also need a telephoto lens.

Until now, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the flagship model from the software giant two years ago, was able to provide all of this for me in its own way. However, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra takes everything to a much higher level. Unlike the American model, it doesn’t go all-in on software, but instead strives to bring the best possible sensors and technologically advanced optics. And it truly succeeds, thanks in part to Xiaomi’s partnership with the German company Leica, which is responsible for the lenses.

I’ve had the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for just over a week, and it is undoubtedly the best phone I’ve ever held. Currently, it’s quite challenging to beat it; there aren’t many devices on the market priced over 30,000 and only a few competitors offer better or comparable experiences. Join me as we look at my impressions from testing so far.

Cameras: Telephoto lens and LOFIC take photography a step further

I won’t keep you in suspense any longer: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s cameras are truly fantastic. However, you might be surprised that this time the manufacturer placed only three lenses instead of four in the enormous island that occupies roughly a third of the back. But don’t think it’s trying to shortchange you. The 200Mpx telephoto lens powered by Samsung’s ISOCELL HPE sensor simply boasts such advanced optics that an additional accompanying sensor for zoom photography is no longer necessary.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s telephoto lens relies on three groups of lenses and a movable mechanism that allows switching between four focal lengths: 75 mm, 85 mm, 90 mm, and 100 mm. This represents the equivalent of 3.2x to 4.3x magnification. When we also consider the possibility of digital cropping, we can achieve up to 17.2x zoom (400mm focal length) in optical quality. 

The results are fascinating. The excellent detail in the images, color consistency across focal lengths, and dynamic range are pleasing. When shooting at night, the sensor size (1/1.4”) becomes apparent, as the resulting images do not lose detail and contain no noise. 

Equally interesting is the main camera, which relies on a 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor. It operates with 50Mpx resolution and this time boasts LOFIC technology. Its mission is to increase the dynamic range of photos directly at the sensor level. It does this with the help of a photodiode and a capacitor, into which excess charge can flow in very bright backlight. In extreme cases, the camera doesn’t have to choose between details in highlights or shadows but can capture both.

The remaining sensors are also capable, though they don’t seem as exceptional next to the main camera and telephoto lens. The 50Mpx ultrawide camera with a Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor works very well, as does the 50Mpx front camera with autofocus and support for recording 4K videos at 60 FPS.

I really enjoy the ability to switch between color styles on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, even though I spent most of my time with the Leica Vibrant mode. It doesn’t deliver the most authentic, but certainly colorful and vibrant images.

The equipment is top-notch in other aspects too

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a full-fledged flagship with the bonus of top-tier cameras. This is evidenced by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which provides uncompromising performance for gaming, video editing, or demanding multitasking. 

I must also mention the 6.9” display, which is virtually flawless. While it’s true that some Chinese models have already pushed the refresh rate above 120 Hz, I’m certainly not upset that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra still adheres to the standard in this regard. On the contrary, we can praise it for its 12-bit color depth and 3,500-nit brightness. I can also highlight the ultrasonic fingerprint reader, which works quickly and reliably. 

A great pleasure for me is the constantly improving HyperOS. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes with HyperOS 3, built on Android 16, so it also offers a copy of Apple’s Dynamic Island and a set of AI features within applications that also work in Czech. The environment is smooth and its design suits me. The only drawback is still the same old story with bloatware…

Where I perceive a potential weakness is the battery. I intend to focus on it in more detail before writing the review, but purely subjectively, it seems to me that the 6,000mAh battery doesn’t last as long as I would have expected. However, Xiaomi generally doesn’t manage efficiency as well as some competitors, and this isn’t only true in the flagship class. On the other hand, 90W wired charging and support for 50W wireless charging will be appreciated by almost everyone, and the same applies to reverse wireless charging (which Xiaomi hardly mentions anywhere, but you can still charge headphones like Galaxy Buds4 Pro with it).

Verdict: A top-tier camera phone with minimal weaknesses?

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is simply a joy to use. This statement, of course, best applies to its cameras, for which competition is truly hard to find, but aside from the battery, from which I certainly expected more, the phone has nothing to disappoint you with. Or at least I haven’t found anything yet.

If we were to talk about upgrading from the previous generation, LOFIC technology or a telephoto lens with four different focal lengths are interesting improvements, but from my perspective, not significant enough to warrant paying many thousands more after selling an old device. We’ll see what the next model brings – currently, there’s speculation about a return to a four-camera setup or an improved ultrawide camera.

What do you think of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?