Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: A Premium Cameraphone Experience
- Lawrence Ng
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Xiaomi has once again aimed for the top of the flagship mountain with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, establishing it as one of the premier cameraphones of the year. The phone is an absolute powerhouse, packed with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a stunning 6.9-inch 120Hz display that can reach an eye-searing 3,500 nits of peak brightness. But if you are buying the 17 Ultra, you are primarily buying it for the camera system.
The star of the show is the 50-megapixel main camera, which utilises a massive 1-inch type sensor with an f/1.67 aperture with Optical Image Stabiliser. While this is excellent, I would love to have a lower aperture like an f/1.5 to create a more natural bokeh in my shots. Interestingly, Xiaomi has moved away from Sony this year in favour of the new "Light Fusion 1050L," a sensor co-developed by Xiaomi, OmniVision, and Leica. It introduces "LOFIC" technology, which claims to offer massive improvements to dynamic range by using individual pixel capacitors to store more light information. While the technology sounds fancy, it isn't drastically different from a top-tier Sony sensor in day-to-day use, though it does help to keeps highlights from blowing out slightly. The main camera is complemented by a 200MP telephoto lens featuring a custom module that physically shifts to provide continuous, true optical zoom anywhere between 3.2x (75mm) and 4.3x (100mm).
The software plays just as big a role as the hardware. You get access to a dedicated "fast shot" street photography mode and a variety of Leica colour tuning options. In my experience, Leica profiles are not really just filters; you can see the difference in the gorgeous contrast, tones, and vintage camera vibes they produce, especially the striking negative film profile. Overall, it's a very good smartphone camera and it's up there with other top smartphone cameras on the market right now.
However, don't expect it to replace your dedicated camera anytime soon. It still has a few smartphone-specific quirks, such as slightly soft 4K video recording that leaves a little to be desired regarding sharpness.
Beyond its imaging capabilities, the phone introduces several standout features. One of these feature is the new “Super Island” on HyperOS 3, built around the camera cutout. Functioning much like Apple’s Dynamic Island, it supports selected apps, allowing you to navigate and control them quickly without cluttering your screen.
The Xiaomi Notes app is another pleasant surprise. Pre-installed and free, it’s a robust note-taking tool with rich text editing, checklists, sketching, and voice recording. Though not new, the recent updates add AI-powered features for research, summarising, expanding, and polishing text - making it a simple yet powerful choice for everyday organisation.
For photography enthusiasts, Xiaomi offers the optional Photography Kit Pro at SGD$199. This accessory adds a camera grip, extra buttons, a lanyard, and a filter adapter ring, transforming the phone into a point-and-shoot–style device. The grip doubles as a 2000mAh power bank, ensuring you have enough power for a full day of shooting.
There’s also a clear distinction between the Global release and the exclusive Leica Edition. The Leica Edition enhances the shooting experience with an adjustable ring around the camera module, enabling physical control of zoom and aperture, much like a real DSLR. This means photographers can concurrently adjust zoom and aperture on the fly, giving them quick access to critical features and reducing the chance of missing a shot. On top of that, the Leica edition boasts a larger 6,800mAh battery compared to the Global version’s 6,000mAh cap (probably due to EU regulations), offering noticeably longer endurance for all-day photography.
Finally, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra positions itself firmly in the premium segment, priced at SGD$1,799. While it sits alongside other flagship phones in cost, it’s worth remembering that even with its rich features, it won’t replace the versatility and picture quality of a dedicated camera anytime soon.
