Xiaomi's recently launched flagship, the 17 Ultra, showcases one of the best smartphone cameras available, featuring a large sensor and impressive zoom capabilities. However, its bulky design, unsatisfactory battery life, and high price could deter potential buyers.
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The Xiaomi Ultra series has always aimed to compete in the smartphone camera market, and the 17 Ultra continues that trend with several design and functional updates. A long-term review shows that while it delivers an extraordinary photography experience, users must make certain compromises.
Differing from prior models that echoed classic Leica aesthetics, the 17 Ultra adopts a modern, flat design reminiscent of the iPhone. It features a fiberglass back, an aluminum frame, and a sleek finish. Despite being only 8.3 millimeters thick, the phone feels top-heavy due to its extensive camera array, weighing 219 grams, making it less pocket-friendly. This bulkiness might be a significant compromise for everyday users.
The device is equipped with a sizable 6.9-inch OLED display that supports a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz, providing smooth visuals for various applications. Notably, the peak brightness can reach 3,500 nits, ensuring readability even under harsh sunlight.
In terms of camera capabilities, the collaboration with Leica yields promising results. The main camera features a remarkable 1-inch sensor that excels in low-light conditions, producing sharp images with vibrant color accuracy. The standout feature is its telephoto lens with a 200-megapixel sensor, which offers a unique mechanical zoom that allows seamless transitions between 3.2x and 8.6x magnification without noticeable shifts in quality. It can digitally zoom up to 100x with AI enhancements that optimize image clarity.
The front camera, upgraded to 50 megapixels, captures high-quality selfies, and the phone supports video recording up to 8K at 30 frames per second, alongside Dolby Vision capabilities. Overall, it can be said that Xiaomi provides one of the leading camera systems currently available.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage in its base configuration. This ensures swift performance for demanding applications. Running HyperOS 3 based on Android 16, the device includes numerous AI features, yet Xiaomi’s commitment to six years of security updates and five OS upgrades lags behind competitors like Samsung and Apple.
Battery performance is a disappointment; although the phone features a substantial 6,000mAh battery, actual usage reveals average longevity likely due to high demands from the camera and display. Despite this, the phone supports fast charging at 90 watts and wireless charging at 50 watts, enabling quick power restoration.
Priced at around 5,250 shekels ($1,600) in Israel, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra sits in the premium market segment alongside high-end devices from Apple and Samsung. It targets photography enthusiasts seeking advanced capabilities in a smartphone. However, typical users who do not require professional photographic features may find the device's drawbacks—such as weight, balance issues, and battery life—overshadow its advantages.