Xiaomi Takes the 17 Ultra Global

Following its initial domestic launch in China back in December 2025, Xiaomi is bringing the 17 Ultra to global markets this month. It is a device clearly designed to pick a fight with heavyweights like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it does so by behaving like a point-and-shoot camera first and a smartphone second. Somehow, Xiaomi managed to cram a massive 6,000mAh battery into a chassis that is just 8.29 millimeters thick and weighs 218 grams. Holding it, you immediately notice how they've ditched the top-heavy bulk of last year's model, making this the thinnest and lightest Ultra in the company's lineup to date.

Ditching the Curves

If you've followed the Ultra series, the first thing that jumps out is the screen: Xiaomi finally abandoned the curved edges. Framed by a high-strength aluminum alloy core and remarkably thin bezels, the completely flat 6.9-inch HyperRGB OLED display feels incredibly modern. It pushes a 2608 x 1200 resolution and hits a blinding 3,500 nits of peak brightness outdoors, yet Xiaomi claims the panel draws less power than typical 1.5K screens while matching standard 2K clarity.

The rest of the display tech reads like a top-tier wish list. Operating on a variable 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate, the panel supports HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and 68 billion colors. To keep all that safe, they've slapped on Shield Glass 3.0—which supposedly offers 20 times the drop resistance of standard glass—backed up by the expected IP68 rating against dust and water.

Refining the Camera Bump

Flip the phone over, and you are greeted by a familiar sight: a massive, textured circular camera bump co-engineered with Leica. Thankfully, Xiaomi tweaked the ergonomics this time around. By shrinking the module's diameter and shifting it slightly higher on the back panel, the phone feels noticeably better balanced in the hand, and you are far less likely to accidentally rest your index finger across the lenses.

In practice, the 17 Ultra is a tale of two cameras: an absolute powerhouse for still photography, but a mixed bag the second you hit record.

The hardware itself is ridiculous. The primary shooter is a 23mm Leica 1-inch ultra-dynamic sensor, flanked by a 14mm ultra-wide lens housing a 50-megapixel Type 1/2.88 sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. Then there is the frankly absurd Leica 200MP 75-100mm optical zoom telephoto camera. If you manage to track down the dedicated Leica edition of the phone, you even get a tactile, physical manual zoom ring built right around the camera unit.

On paper, the video specs seem just as robust. The system captures 8K video at 30 frames per second, alongside 4K Dolby Vision and 4K Log at up to a buttery 120 fps. There's even a clever directional microphone setup that lets you easily isolate audio from the front, rear, or all directions. Actually shooting video, however, reveals the underlying weak points. Complex panning movements often trip up the stabilization, and when the sun goes down, the low-light video output noticeably lags behind what Apple, Google, and Samsung pull off effortlessly.

Underlying Power

Driving all these pixels and lenses is the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform. Unlike the initial Chinese release, this international version natively supports electronic SIM cards and runs a fully functional, Google-equipped build of the Android-based Hyper OS 3 right out of the box.

You can pick up the 17 Ultra in black, white, or a rather striking Starlit Green. Ultimately, choosing this phone comes down to your daily priorities. If reliable, point-and-shoot mobile videography is your main focus, the Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max will still give you a smoother, more consistent experience. But if you are a photography purist looking for an excuse to leave your mirrorless camera at home, the sheer hardware flex of a 1-inch main sensor, a 200MP telephoto, and a multi-day 6,000mAh battery makes the 17 Ultra a very compelling reason to switch camps.