After two weeks with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, this flagship camera phone delivers meaningful upgrades over its predecessor and rivals like the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The 6.9-inch OLED display is vibrant and bright, while the 6,000mAh battery easily lasts all day. Xiaomi's design improvements make the phone feel better in hand, with a flat profile and rounded edges that enhance usability.

Camera performance stands out with the 1-inch 50MP main sensor and new 200MP telephoto lens offering 3.2x to 4.3x optical zoom. The telephoto doubles as an excellent portrait shooter, though Vivo's X300 Pro still holds a slight edge in tuning. Low-light photography is particularly impressive, though the camera struggles with fast-moving subjects. Software reliability has improved significantly, with fewer crashes and better memory management than previous Xiaomi flagships.

The phone launches globally at €1,499 ($1,770) and £1,299 ($1,750), positioning it as a premium alternative to foldables. While the price reflects current RAM shortages driving up costs, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra delivers on its promise as a top-tier camera phone. The Leica collaboration brings enhanced shooting modes and distinctive branding, though the dedicated Leica Edition with mechanical zoom ring remains China-exclusive. For photography enthusiasts seeking flagship performance without the Samsung premium, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra makes a compelling case.