The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is one of the most camera-focused phones you can buy, with a 1-inch type main sensor, three Leica rear cameras and a brand new mechanical zoom telephoto. To see what it's really capable of, I took it to a professional portrait photo shoot in Sydney and shot everything in RAW plus JPEG, the same way I'd test a real camera.
In this Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera review I share real photo samples from every lens, unedited and edited, plus my thoughts on the video, selfie camera and the Photography Kit. You can see everything in motion, including the 100% crops and the video tests, in my full review below.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera specs and price
| Xiaomi 17 Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Main (1x) | 23mm equivalent, 1-inch type sensor, 50MP, RAW + JPEG in Pro mode |
| Ultrawide (0.6x) | 14mm equivalent, 50MP, 115° field of view |
| Telephoto (3.2x to 4.3x) | Mechanical zoom, 75mm to 100mm equivalent, up to 200MP JPEG and 12.5MP RAW, digital zoom up to 400mm |
| Selfie camera | 21mm equivalent, 50MP, 90° field of view |
| Video | Up to 8K 30p, 4K 120p with Dolby Vision, 4K 120p Log |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Price (Australia) | A$1,799 (512GB), A$1,999 (1TB) |
| Price (US) | Not officially sold in the US. It launched in Europe at around €1,499, roughly US$1,700 |
| Photography Kit Pro | A$349 in Australia, €199.90 in Europe |
All the edited photos in this post were edited from RAW with my Hazel, Bluebells and Meadow Lightroom presets, and I've labelled which one I used on each photo. I used the Leica Vibrant colour profile on the day, because it was gloomy and overcast and it gave the best colours for the location.
Main camera (1x) photo samples
The main camera is the 23mm equivalent with a 1-inch type sensor, and in Pro mode you can shoot RAW plus JPEG at up to 50 megapixels. As a photographer, I love having a RAW file, because it gives you so much more flexibility when you edit.
The main camera produces sharp images with lots of detail. One thing I noticed is how it handles exposure in 50MP mode compared to 12.5MP mode, and that's where the RAW files really came in handy. I show the difference and a simple fix in the video.
Unedited
Edited with Bluebells
1x camera: unedited RAW (left) and edited with my Bluebells preset (right).
1x camera at 50MP, edited with my Meadow preset.
1x camera in the laneway, edited with my Hazel preset.
Performance-wise, the Snapdragon chip kept up with hundreds of RAW plus JPEG photos over the shoot while I was screen recording at the same time, without a single slowdown.
1x camera, edited with my Meadow preset.
Ultrawide camera (0.6x) photo samples
The Leica ultrawide is a 14mm equivalent 50MP camera with a 115° field of view. I really enjoyed shooting portraits with it. The images are impressively sharp across the frame, with only minimal distortion in the far corners, which is expected at this focal length. Bigger poses look great at 0.6x.
Unedited
Edited with Hazel
0.6x camera: unedited RAW (left) and edited with my Hazel preset (right).
Where things get interesting is when you compare the ultrawide RAW files to the JPEGs. The RAW files are stunning, but the JPEG processing behaves quite differently. See the RAW vs JPEG comparison in the video before you decide which format to shoot in.
0.6x camera, edited with my Hazel preset.
More 0.6x portraits, edited with my Hazel preset.
Telephoto camera (3.2x to 4.3x) photo samples
The telephoto is the standout camera on the 17 Ultra. It's a mechanical zoom covering 75mm to 100mm (3.2x to 4.3x), and you can shoot up to 200MP JPEGs or 12.5MP RAW files in Pro mode. Telephoto focal lengths are perfect for portraits because of the compression, and this camera produced sharp, consistent results with beautiful colours, from close-ups to full body shots.
Unedited
Edited with Meadow
3.2x camera: unedited (left) and edited with my Meadow preset (right).
4.3x camera, edited with my Meadow preset.
3.2x and 4.3x cameras, edited with my Meadow preset.
I especially love how the greens render in these shots. I also tested portrait mode at 4.3x against a really busy background, and the edge detection results are in the video.
4.3x camera, edited with my Meadow preset.
Telephoto camera, edited with my Meadow preset.
Selfie camera
The front camera is a 21mm equivalent 50MP camera with a 90° field of view. I like that there isn't too much over-processing or sharpening, so selfies look natural and flattering. The sun finally came out for this part of the test, so the video shows it in a few different lighting situations.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra video and vlogging
You can film in up to 8K 30p, and one of the main upgrades is 4K 120fps with Dolby Vision, plus 4K 120fps in Log if you like colour grading. Video is sharp with the classic Leica colours, the stabilisation is smooth while still looking natural, and you can create custom camera presets and monitor with your own LUTs. If you shoot Log, my LOG to Rec 709 Essentials preset is a quick way to get a natural starting point.
A frame from the 4K 60p video test with the 1x camera.
I also tested vlogging with the selfie and rear cameras, stabilisation on vs off, and the built-in microphone in strong wind with noise reduction on and off. Watch the vlogging and audio tests to hear the difference for yourself.
Vlogging in 4K 60p with the selfie camera.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit
Xiaomi also sells a Photography Kit for the 17 Ultra. It's a case with a 67mm filter thread, so you can add filters like an ND, plus a grip that attaches to the bottom with a shutter button, a dial and a record button. It makes the phone feel much more like a camera in your hands.
The 17 Ultra with the Photography Kit and an ND filter.
Should you buy the Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
If you love photography and want a phone that behaves like a real camera, with RAW files from every lens and a genuinely great telephoto for portraits, the 17 Ultra is one of the most exciting phones I've tested. It's not perfect, though, and there are a couple of things to know about exposure and JPEG processing before you buy. Watch my full review for my honest take on where it shines and where it falls short.
Looking for something more affordable? Read my Xiaomi 15T Pro camera review. Comparing phones? Read my iPhone 18 Pro Max camera review, and if you edit your phone photos, see my guide to the best Lightroom presets for phone photos.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera review FAQ
Is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra good for photography?
Yes. It has a 1-inch type main sensor, three Leica rear cameras and a 75-100mm mechanical zoom telephoto, and it can shoot RAW from every lens in Pro mode. The telephoto is especially good for portraits.
How much does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra cost?
In Australia it costs A$1,799 for 512GB and A$1,999 for 1TB. It isn't officially sold in the US, and it launched in Europe at around €1,499.
Can the Xiaomi 17 Ultra shoot RAW?
Yes. In Pro mode you can shoot RAW plus JPEG, with up to 50MP on the main camera and 12.5MP RAW on the telephoto.
What is the zoom range of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra telephoto?
The telephoto is a mechanical zoom from 75mm to 100mm equivalent, or 3.2x to 4.3x, with digital zoom up to 400mm.
What video can the Xiaomi 17 Ultra record?
It records up to 8K 30p, plus 4K 120fps with Dolby Vision and 4K 120fps in Log.
What Lightroom presets did you use on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra photos?
I edited the RAW files with my Hazel, Bluebells and Meadow Lightroom preset packs.
Phone RAW files edit beautifully with presets. The photos in this review were edited with Hazel, Bluebells and Meadow. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
0 comments