Xiaomi 17 Ultra hands-on: Incredible cameras, but maybe hard to get

"The 17 Ultra has a huge 1-inch 50-megapixel main camera sensor with a f/1.67 lens, and a telephoto setup with a 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor and going up to 4.3x optical zoom. Xiaomi claims it's capable of up to 17x "optical-level zoom," but quality doesn't measure up to, say, the Oppo Find X9, with its dedicated telescopic lens add-on."

"The main camera is very impressive, delivering plenty of detail and performing incredibly well in low light, seemingly before any computational photography kicks in. A new Light Fusion 1050L sensor features LOFIC HDR technology, delivering stronger control over highlights and more detail in darker areas of your shots."

"China's biggest phone makers continue to relentlessly forge ahead with high-spec phones that you may never see in the US. With the Xiaomi 17 Ultra this year, the company has continued its pattern from previous iterations by focusing on powerful camera sensors, huge batteries and... being selective about global availability."

Xiaomi continues releasing high-specification phones primarily in Asia and Europe, with limited US availability. The 17 Ultra represents the company's latest flagship, skipping the 16 series designation to align with Apple's numbering. Developed in partnership with Leica, the device prioritizes photography capabilities. The main camera features a 1-inch 50-megapixel sensor with f/1.67 aperture, complemented by a 200MP telephoto lens offering 4.3x optical zoom and claimed 17x optical-level zoom capability. The Light Fusion 1050L sensor incorporates LOFIC HDR technology for improved highlight control and shadow detail. Performance excels in low-light conditions with balanced color and contrast, though computational photography algorithms occasionally introduce artifacts.

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