Xiaomi 17 Ultra - More Camera than Phone!
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
The year is 2026, and most smartphones are 50% computer, 50% camera, with the camera increasingly important. This is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, a camera that happens to have a phone attached.
Unboxing emphasizes Leica edition with heavy logo use. Includes the phone, custom MagSafe case with Leica logo, aluminum lens cap with larger Leica logo, soft high-quality microfiber cleaning cloth, and wrist strap attaching to case corner like a camera lanyard. Accessories package costs $50-60 based on quality.
Unlike Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max, which followed iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max design, the 17 Ultra differs. Cream colorway with two-tone look: bottom two-thirds textured, top third smooth. Super clicky circular volume buttons with plus/minus, throwback to iPhone 4 era. Horizontal branding on back: Leica logo more prominent than Xiaomi text (Xiaomi once, Leica multiple times including on camera plateau, 'Leica camera Germany' on side above knurled grip texture). Camera plateau in circle with textured metal ring that moves.
No dedicated camera shutter button on side for landscape mode photos.
Triple camera: main (1-inch 50MP f/1.67), ultrawide (14mm 50MP f/2.2), telephoto (200MP variable focal length zoom from 75mm to 100mm equivalent, f/2.39 to f/2.96).
Not the absolute best quality smartphone cameras (high quality but flaws, not super clinical), but best overall fun shooting experience. Thoughtful execution beyond Leica branding. Camera app fun: reliable quick autofocus, big sensor for detail and shallow depth of field, great point-and-shoot images (Xiaomi brightens skin tones). Shot Tesla Model Y Performance review in 8K video autofocus mode—looks great, easy. Microphones not great, but external mic solves it.
- Ultrawide very wide (14mm equivalent), decent quality, usable.
- Variable zoom smooth (75-100mm), full 200MP before cropping, powerful.
- Leica profiles: Vibrant or Authentic (uses Vibrant mostly); Leica Essential mode (emulates M9: locked daylight white balance, contrasty, organic, sharp but less processed); M3 monochrome (emulates Leica Mono 50 film: contrasty, less dynamic range, grain). Baked into capture, not undoable filters. Dozens of other looks/modes.
- 200MP telephoto allows cropping for respectable far zoom without AI.
- 1920x1080 video at 1920 fps.
Metal ring around camera turns fluidly with haptic clicks simulating notches. Twist quickly opens camera app. In photo mode, turns for zoom. In video mode, adjusts exposure value (EV) by default. Customizable per mode/sensitivity: e.g., pro mode manual focus, shutter speed, white balance Kelvin. More physical/flexible than iPhone Camera Control.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, LPDDR5X RAM, UFS 4.1 storage. 6.9-inch flat 120Hz display to 3500 nits. 6800mAh silicon carbon battery, 90W fast charging, 50W wireless. IP69 rating despite moving ring. HyperOS 3 on Android 16.
- Camera ring awkward in real life: fingers in shot when zooming (especially ultrawide), easy to accidentally trigger/launch camera.
- Variable zoom (3.2x-4.3x) not much range—could walk closer.
- Camera app resets to 12MP binning from 50MP when reopened, unlike real cameras.
Best camera is the one you have with you. In 2026, full-fledged Leica experience fits in pocket. Well played, Xiaomi.
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