Xiaomi 17 Ultra - More Camera than Phone!

Key Takeaways

• The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition represents a bold shift in smartphone design philosophy, prioritizing camera functionality over traditional phone features
• The device features a unique rotating metal ring around the camera module that serves as a customizable control interface for various camera functions
• The triple camera system includes a massive 1-inch main sensor, variable zoom telephoto with true optical zoom from 75-100mm, and a wide 14mm ultrawide camera
• Leica's partnership goes beyond mere branding, offering authentic camera profiles and processing modes that emulate classic Leica film cameras
• Despite its camera focus, the device maintains flagship smartphone specifications including Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 6.9-inch 120Hz display, and 6,800mAh battery
• The premium accessories package and camera-first design philosophy come with some practical compromises in daily usability

The Camera Phone Revolution Reaches Its Peak

Marques Brownlee examines what happens when smartphone manufacturers push the boundaries of mobile photography to their logical extreme. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition represents a fascinating experiment in device design philosophy, asking whether consumers are ready for a smartphone that prioritizes camera functionality above all else.

The device arrives at a time when smartphone cameras have become increasingly sophisticated, with manufacturers competing on sensor size, computational photography, and professional features. However, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra takes a different approach, essentially building a phone around a camera rather than adding camera features to a phone.

Unboxing Experience Sets Camera-First Tone

From the moment users open the package, Xiaomi makes clear that this device targets photography enthusiasts. The unboxing experience mirrors that of a premium camera purchase rather than a typical smartphone. The included accessories package alone represents significant value, featuring a custom MagSafe-compatible case, aluminum lens cap, high-quality microfiber cleaning cloth, and professional camera-style wrist strap.

The attention to detail in these accessories reflects the premium positioning of the device. The lens cap functionality, in particular, demonstrates how Xiaomi has thought through the actual user experience of someone treating this device as their primary camera.

Design Philosophy Breaks Smartphone Conventions

Camera-Centric Aesthetic

Unlike typical smartphones that prioritize portrait orientation, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra's design language clearly favors landscape use. All branding on the rear panel runs horizontally, reinforcing the camera-first mentality. The device features a distinctive two-tone design with textured lower two-thirds and smooth upper third, creating visual interest while providing practical grip advantages.

The Leica branding dominates the device's visual identity, appearing multiple times across the rear panel and sides. This extensive co-branding represents one of the most comprehensive partnerships between a smartphone manufacturer and camera company to date.

Physical Design Elements

The circular volume buttons with plus and minus symbols represent a thoughtful nod to classic smartphone design while maintaining the camera aesthetic. However, Brownlee notes the surprising absence of a dedicated camera shutter button on the side rail, which would seem like an obvious inclusion for a camera-focused device.

The most striking design element remains the rotating metal ring surrounding the camera module. This ring features knurled texturing for improved grip and provides satisfying haptic feedback that simulates mechanical detents when rotated.

Triple Camera System Technical Deep Dive

Main Camera Capabilities

The primary camera features a massive 1-inch sensor capable of capturing 50-megapixel images at f/1.67. This sensor size represents a significant step up from typical smartphone cameras and approaches the territory of dedicated compact cameras. The large sensor enables superior low-light performance and natural depth of field effects that don't rely heavily on computational photography.

Ultrawide and Telephoto Performance

The ultrawide camera offers a genuinely wide 14mm equivalent field of view with 50-megapixel resolution at f/2.2. Unlike many smartphone ultrawide cameras that serve as afterthoughts, this implementation provides usable image quality that matches the main camera's standards.

The telephoto camera represents perhaps the most technically impressive element of the system. Featuring a 200-megapixel sensor with true variable optical zoom from 75mm to 100mm equivalent, it provides smooth zoom transitions without digital interpolation. The aperture varies from f/2.39 to f/2.96 across the zoom range, maintaining good light-gathering capability throughout.

Revolutionary Camera Ring Interface

Customizable Control System

The rotating camera ring serves as the device's signature feature, offering unprecedented customization options for smartphone photography. In default configuration, the ring controls zoom levels, but users can reassign its function for each camera mode. Professional photographers can map the ring to manual focus, shutter speed, white balance adjustment, or exposure compensation.

This level of customization approaches what photographers expect from dedicated camera systems. The haptic feedback system convincingly simulates mechanical detents, providing tactile confirmation of adjustments without requiring visual attention.

Practical Implementation Challenges

Despite its innovative concept, the camera ring presents some usability challenges. When using the ring for zoom control, users frequently obstruct the lens with their fingers, particularly when zooming out to ultrawide settings. The ring's sensitivity also leads to accidental activation when simply holding the device, sometimes launching the camera app unintentionally.

These issues highlight the challenge of translating traditional camera controls to smartphone form factors, where ergonomics and size constraints create different usage patterns.

Leica Partnership Integration

Authentic Camera Profiles

The Leica collaboration extends far beyond superficial branding. The camera app includes "Leica Essential" mode, which offers authentic film camera emulations built into the capture process rather than applied as post-processing filters. The M9 profile locks daylight white balance and applies contrast characteristics that mirror the classic digital Leica camera.

The M3 monochrome mode emulates Leica's famous black and white film characteristics, including specific grain patterns and contrast curves. These modes sacrifice some technical image quality for artistic character, appealing to photographers who value distinctive aesthetics over clinical perfection.

Processing Pipeline Authenticity

Unlike typical smartphone camera filters, these Leica modes affect the actual image capture process. Users cannot undo these effects in post-processing, forcing deliberate creative decisions during capture. This approach mirrors traditional film photography workflows and appeals to photographers seeking more intentional creative processes.

Flagship Smartphone Specifications

Core Performance

Despite its camera focus, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra maintains flagship smartphone performance standards. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.1 storage ensure responsive performance for both photography applications and general smartphone tasks.

The 6.9-inch flat display offers 120Hz refresh rates and peaks at 3,500 nits brightness, providing excellent outdoor visibility for photography work. The large screen real estate proves valuable for reviewing and editing captured images.

Battery and Charging

The 6,800mAh silicon carbon battery addresses the power demands of intensive camera usage and large display operation. Fast charging capabilities include 90-watt wired and 50-watt wireless charging, ensuring minimal downtime during extended photography sessions.

Remarkably, the device maintains IP69 dust and water resistance despite the mechanical camera ring, demonstrating sophisticated engineering to protect the moving components.

Software Experience and Limitations

Camera App Functionality

The camera application offers extensive manual controls and shooting modes, including professional video recording capabilities up to 8K resolution. Unique features include 1920fps slow-motion recording at 1080p resolution, showcasing the device's computational photography capabilities.

However, the software exhibits some frustrating behaviors for serious photographers. The camera app consistently resets to 12-megapixel binned mode when reopened, forcing users to manually switch to full-resolution capture each session. This behavior contradicts the professional camera experience the device aims to provide.

User Interface Considerations

The camera interface balances accessibility for casual users with advanced controls for enthusiasts. Multiple shooting profiles and customization options provide flexibility, but the complexity can overwhelm users seeking simple point-and-shoot functionality.

Market Positioning and Competition

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra occupies a unique position in the smartphone market, targeting photography enthusiasts willing to compromise on traditional smartphone priorities for superior camera capabilities. This approach differentiates it from competitors who balance camera performance with other smartphone features more evenly.

The device's success will likely depend on whether sufficient market demand exists for camera-first smartphones. Early adopters and photography enthusiasts may appreciate the focused approach, while mainstream consumers might find the compromises limiting.

Real-World Photography Experience

Brownlee's extended use reveals that while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra may not produce the absolute best smartphone images in clinical terms, it offers the most engaging photography experience he's encountered on a mobile device. The combination of physical controls, authentic camera profiles, and professional features creates an experience that encourages creative experimentation.

The device excels in situations where users have time to engage with its advanced features, making it particularly suitable for deliberate photography rather than quick snapshots. This aligns with its positioning as a camera-first device rather than a general-purpose smartphone with good cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra's camera performance compare to traditional smartphones?

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra prioritizes photography experience over pure image quality metrics. While it produces excellent images with its large 1-inch main sensor and advanced features, it may not consistently outperform the best traditional smartphone cameras in technical image quality. However, it offers a more engaging and professional photography experience with extensive manual controls, authentic Leica camera profiles, and the unique rotating control ring. The device excels when users have time to explore its advanced features rather than quick point-and-shoot scenarios.

Q: Is the rotating camera ring actually useful or just a gimmick?

The rotating camera ring provides genuine functionality with extensive customization options, allowing users to control zoom, manual focus, shutter speed, white balance, and exposure compensation across different camera modes. However, practical use reveals some limitations: fingers often obstruct the lens when zooming, and the ring can be accidentally triggered when handling the phone. While innovative and satisfying to use, it requires adaptation to avoid these usability issues. The feature works best for deliberate photography rather than casual smartphone use.

Q: What makes the Leica partnership different from typical smartphone camera collaborations?

Unlike superficial branding partnerships, the Leica collaboration with Xiaomi integrates authentic camera characteristics into the image processing pipeline. The "Leica Essential" modes emulate specific film cameras like the M9 and M3, affecting the actual capture process rather than applying post-processing filters. Users cannot undo these effects later, forcing deliberate creative decisions during shooting. This approach provides genuine artistic character that mirrors traditional Leica cameras, appealing to photographers seeking distinctive aesthetics over clinical perfection.

Q: How practical is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a daily smartphone?

Despite its camera focus, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra maintains flagship smartphone capabilities with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, 6.9-inch 120Hz display, and 6,800mAh battery. However, the camera-centric design creates some daily use compromises: the large camera module affects pocketability, the rotating ring can accidentally trigger the camera app, and the horizontal branding suggests landscape-first usage. The device works well as a daily driver for users who prioritize photography, but those seeking balanced smartphone functionality might find the camera-first approach limiting.