Vivo X300 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra, we put two of the best phones of 2026 in photography face to face

If you value the photographic section of a mobile phone above the rest, this year we are seeing very good proposals. Therefore, now that we have a greater variety of phones, we are going to take the opportunity to put two of the most notable ones this year face to face: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra.

The differences between the Vivo X300 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Camera configurations

Before getting into the matter, it is advisable that we take into account which sensors come in each of the mobile phones. Furthermore, it may not be the biggest complaint, but we will also mention the front sensor in each case.

Vivo X300 Ultra

50 MP front camera, f/2.45.

Rear camera module:

• 200 MP main sensor, f/1.85, OIS.
• 200 MP telephoto, f/2.67, OIS.
• 50 MP wide angle, f/2.0, FOV 123.4º, OIS.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

50 MP front camera, f/2.2.

Rear camera module:

• 50MP main sensor, f/1.7, OIS.
• 200 MP telephoto, f/2.4 – 3.0, 3.2x to 4.3x, OIS.
• 50 MP wide angle, f/2.2.

Sensor principal

Perhaps the most attractive thing about this section is the difference in megapixels in both main sensors. The Vivo X300 Ultra has 200 MP and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra with 50 MP. Is one better than the other? Well the truth is that no. To give you an idea, having more megapixels is relevant especially when we want to crop an image, since what we want is to be able to enlarge it without losing too much detail. But it is not the only thing we should focus on, because megapixels do not really equal image quality.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a one-inch sensor, being the largest on the current mobile market. This means it can capture much more light, offer truer colors and a much more natural blur effect. In this way, the Vivo

It is also especially relevant to stop at the focal aperturebecause it is different in both cases. The Vivo mobile phone offers an f/1.85 aperture while the Xiaomi phone has an f/1.67 aperture. The lower the number, the more light enters through the lens, which makes for better photos in low-light conditions.

Telephoto lens

In the telephoto sensor there are many points to discuss. First of all, both brands are betting on 200 MP sensors, which, as we have already mentioned, serves above all to not lose so much detail when enlarging an image to crop it.

In the focal aperture of this sensor we do find differences and some other peculiarities. The aperture of the Vivo is f/2.67 while that of the Xiaomi is f/2.4 – 3.0. And… what does this mean? The Xiaomi 17 Ultra can vary its focal aperture between f/2.4 and f/3.0, which allows it to adapt to different light conditions automatically.

We must also point out something important and that is that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra allows you to vary between 75 and 100 mm through zoom, which allows you to change between 3.2x and 4.3x. This previously had an impact on the image quality, but the mobile processing works very well, so it is practically not so noticeable. In addition, we also have a 200 mm, which is a sensor cutout, which approaches optical quality.

ultra wide angle camera

In both cases we find two 50 MP ultra-wide-angle sensors, so they offer the same detail. What does vary is the focal aperture: the Vivo’s (f/2.0) is more open than the Xiaomi’s (f/2.2), so more light will enter and it can perform better in difficult conditions.

The attractive thing about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is that it offers a 115º field of viewwhich means you can capture more information in a single photo. However, our recommendation is that to take close-up photos, we move away a little and take them at 100 mm and crop the image. The result is much better.

The accessories

Both phones have their respective photographic kits; However, they are very different. Xiaomi is betting on an accessory that, in general terms, is a case with a battery and physical controls to take photographs. There are two with different prices, with the most expensive being the one with the most controls.

On the other hand, the Vivo X300 Ultra comes with a much more attractive photographic kit, since in this comparison it is the only one that has a teleconvertidor. In this case, it is 400 millimeters and, although it works well for photographing at long distances, we loved the quality it offers in portraits.

Prices

Price is a key factor when choosing a mobile phone and here we are going to find a big difference. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (512 GB) is on sale right now for a price of 1,249 euros, without the photography kit. On the other hand, the Vivo X300 Ultra (1 TB) can currently only be purchased with the photography kit, so the price shoots up to 2,399 euros.

To understand the price difference between both phonesthe Xiaomi is available for 1,249 euros without kit. If we wanted the photography kit, we would have to pay an additional 280 euros for the Photography Kit Pro or 116 euros for the Photography Kit. The first has more buttons and a larger battery to function as a powerbank.

On the other hand, the Vivo X300 Ultra comes with the photography kit included in the price of 2,399 euros. That is, in addition to the mobile phone we find a Vivo ZEISS Gen 2 Ultra teleconverter with an equivalent focal length of 400 mm, a grip with an integrated battery to function as a powerbank and an adapter ring for a tripod.

In summary:

In any case, we are talking about two mobile phones with very powerful photographic sections. It is difficult to assess which is better and which is not considering that one of them (Vivo) comes along with a photography kit. In any case, breaking down each section, we are left with:

👉 Choose Vivo X300 Ultra if:

• You are looking for the main sensor that offers the most detail when enlarging or cropping a photograph.
• You are looking for the best ultra wide angle: the difference is not excessively large, but it is good to have a wider focal aperture.
• You are looking for the best photography kit: of the two mobile phones, the Vivo is the only one that currently has a teleconverter, thus offering very good long-distance photographs and spectacular portraits.

👉 Choose Xiaomi 17 Ultra if:

• You are looking for a main sensor that offers better image quality, especially considering that it is the sensor that we usually use the most.
• You are looking for the best telephoto lens: the sensor of this mobile phone has a very attractive zoom, as well as a focal aperture that can vary between f/2.4 and f/3.0.

Technical sheet with the main differences between the Vivo X300 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra

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Images | Amparo Babiloni, Alejandro Alcolea, Vivo, Xiaomi

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