Xiaomi skipped “16” and named the Xiaomi 15 series successor as Xiaomi 17 to compete with the iPhone 17 series. Xiaomi also claimed that the Xiaomi 17 series represents a major generational leap. Last year I reviewed the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for several weeks. This year, I had a chance to try out the Xiaomi 17 Ultra thanks to NXT.
First, let’s compare the differences:
| Feature | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), up to 4.32GHz | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), up to 4.6GHz |
| GPU | Adreno GPU | Adreno GPU |
| RAM & Storage | 16GB LPDDR5X + 512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 | 16GB LPDDR5X + 512GB UFS 4.1 |
| Dimensions & Weight | 161.3 × 75.3 × 9.35mm, 226–229g | 162.9 × 77.6 × 8.29mm, 218–219g |
| Display | 6.73″ WQHD+ AMOLED, 3200 × 1440, 522ppi, 3200 nits peak | 6.9″ HyperRGB OLED, 2608 × 1200, 12-bit color, 3500 nits peak |
| Rear Cameras | Leica quad system: 50MP main (1″), 200MP telephoto, 50MP 70mm telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide | Leica triple system: 50MP main (1″), 200MP 75–100mm telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide |
| Front Camera | 32MP f/2.0 | 50MP f/2.2 with autofocus |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps, Dolby Vision | Up to 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps Dolby Vision, Academy Color Encoding |
| Battery | 5410mAh, 90W wired, 80W wireless | 6000mAh, 90W wired, 50W wireless |
| Cooling | Xiaomi 3D Dual-Channel IceLoop | Xiaomi 3D Dual-Channel IceLoop |
| Security | Ultrasonic fingerprint, AI face unlock | Ultrasonic fingerprint, AI face unlock |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC |
| OS | Xiaomi HyperOS 2 | Xiaomi HyperOS 3 |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (1.5 metres, 30 min) | IP68 (6 metres, 30 min) |
Obviously the new model is better across the specs – except for one. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has only 3 lenses instead of 4 on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. There is no more dedicated camera lens for the 70-100mm focal range. That means that photographers that shoot 70mm will have to rely on the main camera lens digital crop to get the same view. Between 75 to 100mm though, Xiaomi’s new telephoto lens is operated through mechanical optical zoom enabled by 3 groups of lenses, hence there is no digital cropping.
Also, the size of the phone is now slightly thinner and wider, albeit lighter. I find the width a little too wide for comfort, and prefers a less wide phone so that I can hold it more comfortably on my hand.
In terms of image quality, both phones are on-par, I don’t really feel any major difference. Image capture is snappy and does not feel there is lag. The LEICA Vibrant colour style looks more contrasty and slightly richer colours, while the LEICA Authentic style is more balanced. There is only very slightly difference. The best shooting range is below 100mm.
Once it goes into the super zoom territory, I find that the images are not that convincing. Granted, the noise level is virtually non-existent thanks to AI, but it lacks the ability to actually “see” the image and fix the missing details.
In comparison, the Honor Magic 8 Pro is able to process the super zoom image to be more usable.
Here is another side-by-side comparison. Granted, Xiaomi’s image appears more authentic but Honor’s image is what I want and will use. Moreover, Honor has the option to diable AI+ processing while Xiaomi does not.
Putting aside the super zoom section, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera system still delivers visually stunning images, versatile story telling through the lenses.
But if you prefer cost-friendly options and do not need the LEICA brand to snob-up the photos, then there are other smartphones to go for.