The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has some impressive additional features that make photography really fun.

In the United States, discussions about high-end camera phones primarily center around the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy series, and most recently, the Google Pixel. In contrast, people in Asia and parts of Europe have more choices as companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo step up their camera games.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, recently launched globally, is one such device that features a large camera bump that houses a different set of sensors and a partnership with renowned German camera manufacturer Leica to bring software-level changes and sensitivity to the way scenes are shot.

Cameras have tons of options to choose from, from different focal lengths on the hardware side to different filters and settings that change the look of the final image.

Xiaomi has also launched USB-based accessories that feature external add-ons that snap like a camera cover and hardware buttons for taking videos or photos. These additions don’t add a lot of functionality, but they do make the camera easier to operate with one hand.

Apart from the camera, Xiaomi has equipped the phone with the best components to compete with the best phones of the year. I’ll explain the camera in detail, but I’ll skip the rest of the hardware.

hardware

Xiaomi 17 Ultra uses Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, which will be the flagship choice this year. On the front, there is a 6.9-inch AMOLED screen with 1200 x 2608 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

The screen is quite bright, with a maximum brightness of 3,500 nits. This is useful for operating the phone in bright environments and provides a good video viewing experience.

The 6,000mAh battery is probably one of the best results of the silicon/carbon-ion technology used by Xiaomi. Given the size of the battery, you can expect it to last several days with light to moderate usage and the standby time is also good. Although the battery is larger, the phone is still lighter than the iPhone Pro Max, so this is also a win for the company’s engineering team.

The phone supports 90W wired charging and you can use the charger that Xiaomi provides with the phone or a PD (Power Delivery) 3.0 or PPS (Programmable Power Supply) based charger. Xiaomi’s own charger also supports 50W.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra has 16GB RAM and two memory options – 512GB and 1TB.

camera

Xiaomi is using a 1-inch 50-megapixel sensor with f/1.67 aperture for the main camera, aiming to collect more light. The camera takes sharp, vivid photos without losing white balance. The sensor is good at capturing details in a variety of lighting conditions. Like the iPhone Pro Max, the main camera lets you switch between 23mm, 28mm, and 35mm equivalent frames.

The phone features a rather unique 200-megapixel telephoto lens. Instead of offering parallax optical zoom options like 2x and 4x, it offers continuous optical zoom from 3.2x to 4.3x. It may not seem like a big deal at first glance, but it is very convenient when taking pictures of pets or putting certain objects in the frame. One limitation is that you can easily move to 75mm, 85mm, 90mm, and 100mm focal lengths in the camera UI, but if you need to move to a different focal length between 75mm and 100mm, you’ll have to press the zoom control and move around the dialer.

The company is using a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture. This lens is also useful for very impressive macro shots. All in all, this camera is good enough, but in certain scenes it loses a bit of detail compared to the other two cameras. There’s also a 50-megapixel selfie camera, but don’t forget to turn off all the beauty filters.

Camera control is a common feature, but there are many options for getting photos of an object in different shapes. By default the camera follows the original Leica color scheme, but can be changed to Leica Vibrant with one tap. There is a filter option that gives you options like positive and negative film. Leica exclusive filters such as Vivid, Natural, B&W, Spear, and Blue; There are also Xiaomi’s own filters such as Cinematic, Monsoon, Turquoise Mist and Scarlet.

The company’s two add-ons are The 17 Ultra Photography Kit and The 17 Ultra Photography Kit Pro. The basic version acts like a cover and clips directly onto the phone. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and has a two-stage shutter button (for autofocus and shooting) and a video record button. The case uses contact charging for the battery.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit Pro includes a cover and another camera grip-shaped controller that connects to your phone via USB-C. The Kit Pro also has a 2,000mAh battery to power its operation. The grip allows you to easily hold your phone with one hand.

There is a dedicated shutter button and video recording button on the top of the grip. There’s also another custom dial that lets you control exposure, filters, ISO, shutter speed, or white balance. You can also use this dial to scroll through the gallery. Kit Pro also comes with a ring to attach compatible 67mm camera filters.

I continued to use the Kit Pro when I was out and about on the street because it made it easy to hold the phone with one hand and take photos with tons of camera controls at my fingertips. Additionally, it was fun to take photos and videos using add-ons such as cameras. I really appreciated having hardware zoom controls.

Both kits enable FastShot software mode with easily accessible controls for street photography within the camera.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra will face competition in the global market from upcoming devices like Vivo X300 Ultra and Oppo Find However, the early launch of the phone may allow Xiaomi to enjoy this momentum. Aside from the camera, the phone is a powerful performer if you don’t mind having a large camera housing on the back.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts at €1,499 in Europe. The Photography Kit costs €99.99 and the Photography Kit Pro costs €199.99.