Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review

Design 

• 162.9 x 77.6 x 8.5mm, 230g
• Aluminium frame, glass-fibre back
• IP68/IP69 rated

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra doesn’t look too dissimilar to its predecessor. The overall shape is similar, and you still get the same large centrally-placed camera hob on the rear panel. 

What’s changed this time, though, is that it’s much less curvy. The micro curves on the edge of the display and rear panel are both gone, replaced with completely flat panels. This is great when it comes to screen-protector compatibility, and I think I prefer it generally speaking, but some are sure to miss those curves.

It’s a sizable and fairly weighty device, but this is an “Ultra” after all, and that tends to come with the territory. It’s less than 2 grams heavier than its predecessor, and while that was no featherweight, I appreciate that it hasn’t bulked up further.

This time around, the IP rating has been bumped up to dual IP68/IP69K, rather than just IP68. Supposedly, it can now withstand immersion at up to 6m for 30 mins, rather than just 1.5m. It’s also immune to blasts from jets of hot water, which could prove useful for hot tub-related mishaps.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes with a basic clear case in the box, but it’s not the usual flexible TPU number. This one’s much more rigid and shouldn’t turn yellow quite as readily. I suspect scuffs might be an issue in the long term, though.

Unlike some rivals, there are no extra buttons on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, just the usual power button and volume combo. However, that changes if you spring for the Leica LeitzPhone edition, which adds a rotary control around the camera island that can be used to control your zoom.

I have the standard model in for testing, so I can’t speak to how well this control wheel works. In theory, it seems like a great idea, but in practice, I can imagine it being quite easy to knock it accidentally.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is available in three colours for the global market: black, white, or green. I have the white model in for testing, and it’s rather understated, with a uniform matt finish on the rear and matt aluminium side rails. The black model takes a similar approach, only with dark colour-matched side rails and a subtle red ring around the camera housing.

If you want to make a statement, though, you’ll certainly want to check out the green model. It has a flecked finish on the rear panel that makes it stand out from the pack, and matching siderails to finish it off.

If you opt for the Leica edition, you’ll be able to choose between black and white versions, both featuring a vegan leather rear panel, two-tone detailing, and the iconic circular red Leica badge. There’s also an optional photography grip kit, which looks to be quite similar to the previous generation.

Screen 

• 6.9-inch 120Hz 1200×2608 OLED
• Flat screen, 2160Hz PWM
• 3500 nits peak brightness

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra boasts a spacious 6.9-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3500nits, up from 3200 on the previous model.

The other big change is that the panel now supports 2160Hz PWM dimming, up from 1920Hz. I’m not someone who is sensitive to flicker, so I can’t say I noticed the difference, but for some, that could be a big deal.

What made more of an impact, for me, is the change from curved edges to a fully flat display. It seems to be the general trend at the moment, and I think I’m on board. I do like the way gesture controls feel on curved displays, but the durability, lack of glare, and screen protector compatibility might make flat displays the outright winner in my eyes.

Otherwise, the screen is as fantastic as you’d expect with specs like these. The colours are vivid and accurate, it’s plenty bright enough to see outdoors, and HDR content really pops. There are plenty of options if you prefer to tweak the colour balance, too, but I was fine with the default settings.

Cameras 

• 50MP main camera (1-inch sensor)
• 50MP ultrawide (1/2.76-inch)
• 200MP 3.2x – 4.3x telephoto (1/1.4-inch sensor)
• 50MP selfie camera (AF)

Xiaomi has shaken things up in the camera department. Instead of four separate sensors on the rear, you now get three. Rather than two separate periscope telephotos, you now get a single 200MP unit that can optically zoom between 3.2x and 4.3x.

We’ve seen similar tech from Sony and its Xperia flagships, but the difference here is with the sensor size and resolution. This zoom camera has a massive 1/1.4-inch sensor and a 200MP resolution, matching the likes of the Vivo X300 Pro and Honor Magic 8 Pro.

It’s super impressive technology, but I was a little disappointed when I realised how small the zoom range is. In full-frame terms, you can zoom from 75mm to 100mm, and honestly, that’s not a dramatic difference in framing.

Beyond that, you’ll be digitally cropping, but a combination of the extremely high-res sensor and very clever image processing means that you get shockingly good results when doing so.

What I found really disappointing, though, were the telemacro capabilities. This optical zoom configuration means that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra telephoto can’t focus as close as the Xiaomi 15 Ultra could – and it lags behind the rivals like the Magic 8 Pro and X300 Pro, too. You can still get decent macro shots, but you’ll need to digitally crop more to achieve the results, whereas with the previous model, you could just get closer.

Aside from the new telephoto setup, the main camera and ultrawide have similar specifications to their predecessors. That’s no bad thing, as they both produce fantastic results. Especially the main camera, which excels in low-light conditions and produces lovely bokeh with its 1-inch type sensor.

Around the front, the selfie camera has been upgraded, too. It’s now 50MP, up from 32MP, and it has a larger sensor, which makes it more usable in dim conditions. Selfies on this phone are sharp, detailed, and have excellent dynamic range.

Overall, I have been really pleased with the images I was able to take with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. It feels like Xiaomi has refined its image processing with this generation, and I’m no longer seeing the slight overexposure or heavy-handed sharpening that I normally associate with the brand. Images from this phone look wonderfully natural, more like what I would expect from a professional mirrorless camera.

Video performance is also excellent. You can shoot at up to 4K 120fps on both the main and telephoto cameras, while the selfie camera and ultrawide shoot at up to 4K 60fps. There’s a very decent Log profile, and the ability to record in Dolby Vision HDR, too.

I have no doubts that this is one of the best smartphone camera systems on the market right now. Whether it’s portraits, sports, landscapes, or long-range zooms, you name it, the 17 Ultra can hang with the best. It’s really only the lack of telemacro capabilities that holds this phone back – and how much that matters will depend on what you like to shoot.

Accessories

• Slimmed-down Photography Kit
• Full-featured Photography Kit Pro
• Tactile buttons, Wirst Strap, and 67mm filters compatibility

Xiaomi’s Ultra phones have come with optional photography grips for the last few years, so it’s not too surprising that Xiaomi has released anequivalent accessory for the 17 Ultra. What surprised me, though, is that there are now two different kits to choose from.

The design that we’re most familiar with, featuring a removable battery grip and separate phone case is now called the Photography Kit Pro, while the standard Photography Kit is a much slimmer all-in-one package.

Starting with the new addition, it’s basically a phone case with a sculpted grip towards the base. It has a two-stage shutter button and a video record button, and it connects to the phone via Bluetooth. There’s a built-in battery, but that’s only to power the Bluetooth buttons; it doesn’t charge the phone itself.

The video record button can be programmed to activate almost anything within the camera app, but the shutter button is limited to single photo or burst mode. It’s a two-stage button, though, so you can half-press to focus before taking your shot.

The styling is similar to the Leica edition phones, with a two-tone textured vegan leather lower and smooth upper. It looks great, in my opinion, but it’s not as functional as the Pro grip. For instance, you can’t attach filters over the lenses, and there’s no way to access the control ring on Leica edition handsets.

Other than some aesthetic tweaks, the Pro grip functions almost identically to the last few generations, incorporating a 2000mAh battery that charges the phone in use, as well as a tactile shutter button, video button, zoom rocker, and control dial. 

What’s new this time, though, is that the case has MagSafe-compatible magnets built in (and it works with Qi chargers). There’s also a clever new 67mm filter mounting ring that rotates, so you can add something like an ND filter or a mist filter, and still be able to use the zoom ring on Leica edition phones.

The Pro kit is definitely superior in terms of functionality, but if you never use filters, and you want something cheaper and more compact, it’s really nice that Xiaomi is providing an additional option.

Performance 

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• 12GB/16GB RAM, 512GB/1TB storage
• Dual stereo speakers

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has Qualcomm’s latest and greatest flagship SoC at its core, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, along with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage. I’m testing the 16GB+512GB version.

As you might expect, with specs like these, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a bit of a rocket. Whether you want to edit complex videos, run AI models, or play the most graphically demanding games, this phone will take it in its stride.

I played a couple of hours of Genshin Impact with the settings maxed out, and of course, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra took it in its stride. After a good 45 minutes of playing, the phone barely heated up, and there wasn’t a frame drop in sight. This phone clearly has a very impressive cooling system on the inside.

There’s a fairly full-featured game overlay built in, too. You can use it to boost performance, block notifications, lock your screen brightness, and even open messaging apps as a floating window.

The speakers on this phone are also very impressive. The bass is much stronger than that of most Android flagships, and it’s more controlled and less boomy than the Honor Magic 8 Pro. There’s plenty of detail and a decent stereo effect, too.

Software & AI 

• HyperOS 3, based on Android 16
• 4 OS upgrades, 6 years of security patches
• Loads of AI features

The 17 Ultra runs HyperOS 3, Xiaomi’s latest custom software built on top of Android 16. Functionally, it’s very similar to HyperOS 2, but this version comes with some significant aesthetic changes, and the iOS influence is more apparent than ever.

There are some very iOS-looking lock screen options, including the ability to have a massive clock, depth effects, so that the clock interacts with your wallpaper, and even the ability to animate your wallpaper with generative AI.

There’s also a fresh new Dynamic Island clone, which Xiaomi calls Hyper Island. It’s nothing particularly creative or new, but it’s super handy. Personally, I love having a way to quickly access the music that’s playing, my timers, or navigation.

Of course, there are plenty of AI features littered throughout the system, including the usual translation tools and writing assistance.  One that I found particularly handy is the ability to add AI-generated subtitles to anything you’re watching, regardless of the app it’s playing in.

There are plenty of AI features for photo editing, too, and they all work quite well. There’s outpainting, which I always find useful, as well as object removal and the ability to add background blur to a photo without having to have shot it in Portrait mode. 

Xiaomi is promising 4 major OS upgrades and 6 years of security patches for this model. It fails to match the likes of Google and Samsung, but it’s not a bad commitment.

Battery life 

• 6000mAh battery
• 90W charging
• 50W wireless charging

The battery situation with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a bit of a strange one. The global model gets a 6000mAh cell, which is a healthy increase over last year’s 5410mAh battery, but pales in comparison to the Chinese version of this phone, which gets a 6800mAh battery.

There’s nothing too strange about that; shipping regulations in Europe often mean the global versions of Chinese phones have their batteries nerfed. What makes this so peculiar, though, is that the global version of the smaller and cheaper Xiaomi 17 sports a larger 6300 mAh battery.

Regardless, for my needs, the battery life of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has been more than sufficient. It’ll get me through the day with ease. I’ll usually end the day with around 30% or more remaining, but it’s not a two-dayer like the Oppo Find X9 Pro is.

When it comes to charging, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is lightning quick. It supports up to 90W speeds with a wire and 50W wirelessly. There’s no charger in the box, though, so you’ll need to budget for an appropriately quick wall adapter.

I found that just 30 minutes on the charger would take me well over 60% charged, while a full charge took just over an hour. I should note, though, that I was using a third-party charger; it may be even quicker using an official Xiaomi adapter.

Should you buy it?