Xiaomi 17 Ultra tested: One camera less, but still better
28/2/2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Jan Johannsen
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has to make do with one less telephoto camera, but this offers a real optical zoom.
New design, a telephoto camera replaces two lenses, more power and a larger battery are added. Only the front camera does not keep up with the many improvements compared to the predecessor model.
Less curves
When I look at the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, I immediately notice that its edges are less rounded than its predecessor. This makes it look more compact and I like it better visually. At 8.29 millimetres (mm) and weighing 219 grammes, it is Xiaomi's thinnest and lightest Ultra model to date. In return, it has become wider and longer. However, when I hold both smartphones in my hand, I don't notice the 1.11 mm to 2.3 mm. Especially as the camera hump remains as massive as ever - even if it looks less bulky.
Xiaomi also uses a flat AMOLED display without rounded edges in the 17 Ultra. At 6.9 inches, it is slightly larger and takes up a higher proportion of the smartphone's surface area at 92.3 per cent. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has 6.73 inches and 89.7 per cent. The manufacturer has reduced the resolution to 2608 × 1200 pixels, but the pixel density of 461 ppi is still sufficient for a sharp display.
The refresh rate adjusts dynamically from 1 to 120 Hertz to the screen content. This works well and looks pleasant. The brightness of around 1300 nits is sufficient for use in sunshine. Xiaomi only specifies a peak brightness of 3500 nits. However, the 17 Ultra only achieves this for short periods with HDR content and not in standard mode.
The manufacturer relies on Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 from its own production for the protective glass. This is said to be 30 per cent more resistant to drops than the 2.0 version of its predecessor. Xiaomi is not more specific. The entire housing of the 17 Ultra is IP68 water and dust resistant. If necessary, the smartphone can survive up to 30 minutes in 1.5 metres of deep, clean fresh water.
Only one telephoto camera, but with optical zoom
Xiaomi equips the 17 Ultra with a telephoto camera. The predecessor model, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, had two telephoto cameras with focal lengths of 70 and 100 millimetres. This is not a step backwards. The periscope telephoto camera of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra covers a focal length range of 75 to 100 millimetres. The range in between uses an optical zoom, not a digital zoom. Compared to the main camera, the telephoto camera corresponds to a zoom factor of 3.2× to 4.3×. Xiaomi has paid particular attention to the reduction of red and green casts at the edge of the image and has received APO certification from Leica for this.
The other changes to the camera system concern the main and front cameras. In the main camera, a new lens structure allows more light to fall on the sensor. This remains one inch in size and, with the Light Fusion 1050L, is a newer model than the previous smartphone. The aperture has also become slightly smaller. The front camera has a higher resolution, a larger sensor and a smaller aperture than the 15 Ultra.
One telephoto camera replaces two telephoto lenses
Xiaomi visually emphasises the telephoto camera area in the camera app. When using the different zoom levels, however, there is no noticeable difference to its predecessor. When taking photos, I also benefit from the larger image sensor at the smaller focal lengths from 75 mm, but at the same time have to cope with less light due to the smaller aperture.
In daylight, there are colour differences, especially on the red brick in the example picture. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has slightly more yellow in the picture, making the image appear warmer. This may look more stylish, but the colour reproduction of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is better suited to the cloudy and cold day.
In night mode, I clearly favour the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The colours look a little more intense and the image contains less red. It is also sharper right up to the house in the backyard opposite.
Main camera with new sensor
The 1-inch sensor of the main camera is new, but the most important parameters have not changed. In daylight, I don't see any qualitative differences compared to its predecessor. In terms of colour, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra appears somewhat brighter and more intense. As with the telephoto camera, I recognise a little more yellow in the image.
In the dark, I can see subtle differences in night mode. The images from the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are slightly brighter. I don't have a clear favourite, but I'm leaning towards the 15 Ultra.
Ultra wide-angle camera without changes
I don't expect any differences with the unchanged ultra-wide-angle camera. In daylight, it confirms my assessment. As soon as it gets dark, the night mode delivers a brighter image compared to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, in which some areas are overexposed. I like the picture from the older smartphone better.
A brand new front camera
The front camera of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is completely new and has problems in the dark. If I hadn't wiped the glass above it clean myself, I'd say there was a greasy film on it. The exposure in night mode is good, but the sharpness leaves a lot to be desired.
Lots of power and long battery life
Xiaomi doesn't dare to experiment with the performance of the 17 Ultra and has installed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, currently the most powerful chipset from Qualcomm. It is supported by 16 gigabytes of RAM. I have not yet been able to carry out all of our usual benchmark tests. In the tests carried out so far, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is on a par with other smartphones with the chipset. Namely, these include the OnePlus 15, the Realme GT8 Pro or the Honor Magic 8 Pro - and the Xiaomi 17.
Xiaomi has added 590 mAh to the silicon-carbon battery of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. At 6000 mAh, its capacity in the global version remains 800 mAh less than in the Chinese model. At 20:41 hours, the PCMark Work 3.0 battery test measures a runtime at half display brightness that will easily get you through the day.
When charging, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra accepts up to 90 watts via the Hypercharge fast charging technology. As with wireless charging with up to 50 watts, this requires a suitable charger.
HyperOS 3 with AI, interconnectivity and years of updates
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra runs Android 16 out of the box. The manufacturer provides the operating system with its HyperOS 3 interface, which brings a range of AI tools in addition to visual customisations and apps from Xiaomi. They complement the Gemini AI assistant from Google. Xiaomi HyperAI includes several translation tools and generative tools for images and texts.
The interconnectivity of HyperOS is expanding Xiaomi with more and more functions and devices. Multiple devices can be connected and used with one Xiaomi account - and this also includes products from other manufacturers and with operating systems other than Android.
My biggest criticism of HyperOS remains the many pre-installed apps. In addition to the usual Google apps, there are also some functional duplicates from Xiaomi and third-party apps.
Xiaomi plans to provide the Ultra 17 with Android updates for five years. The smartphone will receive security updates for six years. This is still not the seven years of Google and Samsung, but it is still a long period of time.
In a nutshell
Excellent camera smartphone
With the 17 Ultra, Xiaomi once again delivers an outstanding camera smartphone. Its cameras offer options for different subjects and impress with good image quality. Compared to its predecessor, the new telephoto camera in particular shows improvements. Surprisingly, the front camera is out of focus and has serious problems with sharpness in the dark. If you want to take a lot of selfies, I would wait until Xiaomi has rectified the shortcoming at software level.
I like the new design of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra without rounded edges. Its display looks beautiful, the computing power is top-notch and the battery life is very long. You don't have to do without AI tools and you can connect other gadgets to the smartphone. The many pre-installed apps annoy me.
In the end, the price of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra remains very high despite all the praise, but it is not overpriced. The improvements compared to the cheaper Xiaomi 15 Ultra as the predecessor add up, but remain manageable depending on the price difference.
Pro
- Excellent cameras on the back
- Long battery life
- Flat design
Contra
- Blurred front camera in the dark
- Many pre-installed apps
Header image: Jan Johannsen
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deAs a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
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